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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Quest
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Perhaps thanks to Calix’s concern, Lellia arrived at the cabin without incident and was searching for the ingredient.
[95%]
She anxiously watched the gauge rise, then carefully peered out the window.
‘Thank goodness.’
Emperor Perseus had attended the banquet, so he wouldn't be able to come here.
[100%]
Lellia looked at the screen floating in the air and clasped her hands together.
‘Please be there.’
If she couldn't find the ingredient here, it would be a complete disaster.
Just then, with a *ding*, a smiling alchemy tool and a speech bubble appeared.
[You have discovered the special ingredient ! o(*'▽'*)/☆ﾟ]
[Special Ingredient Compendium cleared!]
[As an achievement reward, you can purchase 100,000 Crystals at a 20% discount! (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و̑̑]
A sense of relief washed over her at the following messages. She felt so relieved that her legs almost gave out.
‘If I hadn't found it here, I wouldn't have been able to heal Grandma…’
Lellia plopped down onto an old chair placed beside her.
She needed to return to her quarters quickly, but a brief moment of rest seemed fine.
‘This place is just as it was…’
Unlike yesterday, when she had been flustered by Emperor Perseus, today she had the presence of mind to look around the cabin's interior.
With a gaze full of longing, Lellia quickly took everything in.
The events of her childhood came back to her as vividly as if they had happened yesterday.
She had thought she had no memories with her mother, but now she realized that the time she had spent in this space was itself a collection of fond memories.
Lellia stared blankly into space for a long while before finally leaving the cabin.
She didn't forget to lock the door, just as she had when she first arrived.
What she thought was a short time must have been quite a while. The sky had already turned pitch black.
Lellia hurriedly made her way to her quarters.
However, as she neared her residence, she encountered someone unexpected and had to stop in her tracks.
The person Lellia spotted was Calix.
However, there was someone else beside him.
Lellia immediately hid in the bushes next to the corridor.
‘Why on earth is Calix taking a walk with Yuriana?’
Hiding and watching, she saw Calix and Yuriana drawing closer.
Looking closely, she saw several young ladies who appeared to be Yuriana's handmaidens following them at a distance.
Lellia was bewildered by the sight of the two of them walking together, something she had never imagined.
Yuriana chattered on like a little bird, her face lovely and animated.
Her flushed expression was adorable.
Calix, on the other hand, looked bored and distracted, as if he wasn't listening at all.
Lellia sighed at the sight.
Lellia herself wouldn't say she was an expert in etiquette, but thanks to the tutor her grandfather had hired, she knew the basics.
Calix, however, was a completely different story.
Was it because he had run away from the Imperial Palace as a child?
To be honest, Calix seemed like someone who had no concept of the words ‘manners’ or ‘escort’.
‘This is too much…’
To think there was a man who would ignore a lady he was walking with so blatantly.
Lellia watched the two with a strange sense of admiration.
Yuriana, seemingly tireless, chattered on, occasionally glancing around.
As for Calix… he looked so oblivious that it wouldn't have been strange at all if Yuriana were simply erased from the scene.
That was how freely and unconsciously he was ignoring Yuriana.
As the two passed through the corridor and disappeared from view, Lellia let out a sigh of relief and stepped out from the bushes.
“……!”
But as soon as she emerged, she came face to face with someone.
It was Lute, who was coming out from the bushes on the opposite side at the same time.
Lellia tried to ignore him and act as if she hadn't seen him, but Lute approached her with a somewhat angry expression and asked.
“Who are you?”
“……”
What kind of question was that?
Lellia was dumbfounded.
Of course, Lute was probably surprised to see an unfamiliar face, but… the Imperial Palace wasn't his property. How could he be so rude out of the blue?
Lute, too, seemed to realize there was something odd about his question, shook his head, and asked again.
“My apologies. I was just startled... Were you secretly watching the people who just passed by?”
“…It seems the same could be said for you.”
Lellia deliberately lowered her voice as she retorted, so he wouldn't doubt she was a man.
Lute looked Lellia up and down.
Fortunately, contrary to Lellia's worries, Lute didn't seem to suspect her at all.
On the contrary.
“…You didn’t sneak into the Imperial Palace to see Princess Yuriana, did you?”
“……”
Lellia was speechless at Lute’s question.
Right, you were the original male lead.
A man so utterly smitten with Yuriana that his entire world revolved around her.
“Answer me.”
When Lellia didn't respond, he seemed to take it as a confirmation and pressed her in a low, intimidating voice.
In the end, Lellia blurted out her fake identity.
“I am a distant relative of Prince Romeo from the Rosebery Kingdom. I am staying in the Imperial Palace thanks to His Majesty the Emperor's consideration.”
“……!”
“Is there a problem?”
“…I have been rude. My apologies.”
At Lellia's calm reply, Lute's face turned red. It was understandable that he would be embarrassed.
He had, after all, just accosted a complete stranger and essentially declared, ‘I like Princess Yuriana.’
Now that the misunderstanding was cleared, she tried to pass by, but Lute blocked her way.
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Lute Castrille.”
“…Raymond Levester.”
“Please forgive my rudeness.”
“It’s fine.”
Lute’s strangely downcast expression was a bit bothersome, but it was none of her business.
Lute gave a slight bow, and with slumped shoulders, he went and sat on a bench near where he had been hiding.
Lellia glanced at him before turning away.
She took one step, two steps, three steps.
*Ding.*
The sudden sound effect made Lellia’s brow furrow.
A rectangular window abruptly appeared before her eyes.
[Oh no! =͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪ ‧̣̥̇) You've found a young man deep in sorrow! Will you help solve his troubles? You might even receive a special gift…! (ง•̀ө•́)ง✧]
∙ The Young Man's
∙ Special Shop System Unlocked
‘No way…’
Lellia’s mouth fell open in surprise. On a hunch, she turned around.
There was Lute, sitting dejectedly on the bench.
The problem was the red [!] floating above his head.
It meant he was undoubtedly the quest target.
‘Of all the people…’
She had no intention of getting involved with the original male lead, not in the slightest.
The only thing she wanted from him was the Holy Relic he possessed.
She stared blankly at the quest window.
As she slowly reread the text, her eyes stopped on the phrase ‘The Young Man's Treasure’ in the reward list.
‘Could it be the Holy Relic…?’
She looked at the treasure chest icon with a question mark next to the words ‘The Young Man's Treasure’, and a small information window popped up.
[A secret treasure obtained by the young man! The temple is said to be very covetous of it. ✧(•́⌄•́๑)]
‘I’m sure of it.’
But…
‘Wouldn't it be easier to just swipe it when Lute loses it…?’
And if she declined this quest, she might be able to unlock the Special Shop through another sub-quest.
Hoping against hope, Lellia inwardly said, ‘Decline.’
However, the system casually kicked her hopes to the curb.
[Are you sure you want to decline the quest? (๑•́₋•̩̥̀๑)]
※Warning
If you decline this quest, access to the Special Shop will be permanently blocked.
“……”
Well, she had no choice then. She had to change her way of thinking.
‘This might actually be a good opportunity.’
If she just completed the quest, she could get the Holy Relic and unlock the Special Shop.
Of course, there was no guarantee that the treasure was the Holy Relic, but the possibility was high.
Besides, if the Special Shop opened, she would probably be able to use the lottery system.
She didn't know what she would get if she won the lottery, but it might have a strong connection to the game's final objective, the ‘Philosopher's Stone.’
‘I might be able to take care of everything cleanly before leaving the Imperial Palace.’
Having made up her mind, Lellia immediately turned around and walked toward Lute.
“Excuse me, is something troubling you?”
She asked, trying her best to look composed.
