The Guest keeps winning the Countess’s favor by inviting her to meals, gladly fulfilling difficult requests, and using his body at night—couldn’t he achieve his goal just by continuing this?

It doesn’t seem like he escaped because he gave up on the wager by losing his obsession with the Countess.

After some time, the Guest visits the mansion again, and the wager apparently restarts then.

Would he really give up all the favor and goodwill he built up to start over from scratch?

Why?

What is the purpose of the escape route, which seems unnecessary for the Guest’s goal?

Why on earth is a restart necessary?

While pondering, my gaze landed on the platinum rose trapped in the glass dome.

The mysterious flower has been wilting faster lately, and its meaning seems ominous.

“Ah.”

A natural conclusion popped into my mind, and my expression soured.

“...I hope it’s not what I think it is.”

Then—

[‘The Scales That Judge the Soul’ suggests you shouldn’t worry alone but interrogate Reid directly.]

I was startled.

‘Scales? How did you get here?’

[‘The Scales That Judge the Soul’ says it came secretly while evading the ‘World-Building Word Spirit’ and shushes.]

[‘The Scales That Judge the Soul’ wonders how your night was as it spent the night awake in tears.]

‘Should I call the Word Spirit?’

[‘The Scales That Judge the Soul’ says it’ll just advise and leave quickly, shaking its head.]

‘Hmm, advice?’

I guessed it would just be some seductive words to feed my genre greed, but I decided to listen.

[‘The Scales That Judge the Soul’ says the pillow talk is the best method for requests, comfort, and interrogation, actively recommending you use a 19+ charm offensive!]

Ah, I knew it! Such black-hearted intentions!

My face heated as I fanned myself.

‘No, no way... I can’t do that. It’s not my style.’

[‘The Scales That Judge the Soul’ shines its eyes, saying that’s why it wants to make you try harder.]

‘No, I said I can’t. I prefer honest, sober conversations face to face when I want something from someone!’

Like a true Word Spirit believer, I explained my mature approach.

[‘The Scales That Judge the Soul’ confidently claims it will work well on Reid.]

‘Well, maybe it will...’

Wait, what am I thinking?

[‘The Scales That Judge the Soul’ slaps its chest, saying 19+ romance fantasy is its main genre, so trust it.]

No, this conversation is never-ending.

‘Okay, okay. Got it. I’ll keep that in mind. Please stop now.’

[‘The Scales That Judge the Soul’ claps happily like a seal but gets caught by the ‘World-Building Word Spirit’.]

As I saw the Scales off, I kept drifting into thought for some reason.

Would it... work?

The claim it would work well on Reid oddly resonated in my heart.

Just as genres have laws, strategies should be adapted to the genre too, right?

How can I know if it suits me or not without trying?

Maybe it’s just about choosing the right place and time to talk?

...Thinking that far, I realized.

‘Wait. I’ve already been persuaded?’

Looking at my reflection, I set a determined expression.

After all, this genre was made for this. Might as well try.

✠

But most things in life don’t go as planned, and especially since entering this dungeon, I painfully realized that.

‘I didn’t plan to go this far!’

My plan to coax Reid gently and make him reveal the truth was seriously obstructed. The obstruction was—

[ Warning. ‘Chaos Praise’ trait status is going berserk.]

...Unfair. I want to say it’s all Reid’s fault.

Chapter 20. Route achievement is imminent!

I took a nap—deep and long like nighttime sleep—and woke to see the sun already setting in the west.

Unintentionally, I had stocked the most important factor for plan execution: stamina.

Turning my head while lying down, I saw the handsome profile of the man reading by candlelight.

His long black hair framed his perfectly sculpted nose and jaw, looking like a masterpiece crafted by a master obsessed with aesthetics for decades.

‘Hmm, what’s with Reid?’

Lately, when I woke, he was always right beside me. But # Nоvеlight # now he kept a distance, making it a bit awkward.

This feeling is probably most like a child deprived of their favorite doll.

This strange feeling that naturally makes me act spoiled is really fascinating.

As I continued these thoughts and looked at Reid’s face, his red eyes stopped shifting side to side and fixed on me.

“Awake?”

“Ah, yes.”

“You can sleep more.”

Reid went back to reading. Only the flutter of pages sounded, and I thought again.

‘Really, what’s with today?’

I got up with no kisses or touches—today really felt oddly different.

His matter-of-fact attitude annoyed me a little. I interrupted his reading.

“What are you reading?”

“A picture fairy tale book.”

“A fairy tale? There are such books in this mansion?”

“Not only magic books. If you look carefully, there’s quite a bit to read.”

“Is the content normal? The books here all seem to have strange content.”

Because it’s a dark story dungeon, after all.

“Not particularly strange. It’s a normal princess and prince story.”

“Really?”

Half doubtful, an answer came from above.

[‘The World-Building Word Spirit’ says it was originally a cruel fairy tale but was heavily edited and adapted using divine power.]

That was a relief. Given Reid’s mind getting patched by dark story elements, gore wasn’t good.

“Is it fun?”

“Yes.”

“Really? Aren’t fairy tales all stories you already know?”

“The illustrations are pretty.”

He flipped the book, showing me one illustration after another. Somehow, all the main characters had pink hair.

[‘The World-Building Word Spirit’ asks if you like it.]

Looks like they even edited the illustrations.

While I was a little embarrassed, Reid laughed happily.

“It really feels like a small world revolving around you and me.”

Oh no, Word Spirit, Reid likes it even more now.

Then Reid slammed the fairy tale book shut and stood.

“Ai, you must be hungry. Where do you want to eat?”

“Hmm... anywhere?”

“Then the dining room.”

“Okay.”

“When you’re ready, come down.”

He left the room first, seemingly to give me time to change. Holding my dress, I stared at the door where his back disappeared.

“Hmm.”

The clothes were tied with a bow on the back. Until yesterday, he tied ribbons like this himself. Having undone them several times, he was surprisingly good.

Today, too, he was matter-of-fact.

So matter-of-fact that there was even a strange sense of distance.

‘No, I’m probably just too conscious of it.’

Reid was always like this. A fallen man but still a gentleman.

I mustn’t forget his true nature just because he acted cold the past few days. If I fell for unintended mind games alone and panicked, I’d feel very wronged.

‘Reid is just the same as always. I should act as usual too.’

Yet even after going down to the dining room, the nagging feeling didn’t disappear.

“Welcome. Sit, Ai.”

A table richly filled with food, perfectly set, and Reid politely pulling out my chair. Everything seemed perfect, but after sitting, my expression sank.

‘What is this now?’

Our seats were very far apart—almost at opposite ends of the table.

Reid’s attitude was cold.

“Hurry and eat.” 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

“......”

Is this really a mind game?

I quietly picked up my fork and knife, keeping proper table manners.

While I lightly clinked my cutlery, Reid nibbled food or sipped drinks.

Cutting steak with a sharp knife, juicy meat seeped out enticingly. I speared it with a fork and slowly chewed.

During the whole process, my gaze was fixed on Reid’s face across the table.

“......”

“......”

He pretended not to notice my suspicious and searching eyes and spun a wine glass on his left wrist.

How annoying.

Still, I knew I had to calm down and respond appropriately.

“Reid.”

Though he pretended not to notice, he couldn’t ignore my calling. I offered in my brightest smile and gentlest voice.

“Shall we eat and then take a walk?”

“......”

Our calm, lingering eyes met across the long table. After a patient wait, an answer finally came.