Chapter 17.1

‘He’s not a gentleman either.’

The restaurant, which the Marquis used, was connected to the dining room. The stained glass that decorated the upper wall brought life and beauty to the place.

The sunlight pouring through the red glass scattered over Curtis’ neatly trimmed black hair like a beautiful painting. He found me and Jian, and then walked toward us.

“Jian.”

Seeing that he looked at Jian first and not me made me sick. I frowned at the strange sensation. Why did my heart ache? Was it because he was my favorite character?

<SYSTEM> Curtis Caballero – Heartless Woman + Regretful Man Route in progress.

I sighed at the message that popped in front of me. Oh, I guess it’s because I was taking this route.

‘That’s right, a nonchalant woman must have a bit of a sad side…’

However, I wanted to be indifferent, so I picked a sugary brioche bread in front of me, even as Jian burst into laughter as she and Curtis talked in front of me.

Yum… It’s quite chewy.

Curtis, who noticed I was there as well, glanced at me as I drank the milk that Martha poured for me. Jian smiled broadly and clasped his hands.

“Lord Curtis! I decided to help Young Lady Edith today!”

“Jian, no, the saint?”

Curtis seemingly called Jian’s name comfortably when they were alone, but he was quite careful of what he said in front of other people, perhaps conscious of the servants.

However, rumors already spread that he already was in a special relationship with the saint that descended from another world.

‘Maybe that’s why the servants are nicer to me,’ I thought.

In this mansion, Edith was a poor girl who was suddenly abandoned by everyone. Both to her family and Curtis, who used to be her knight.

“Yes,” Jian chirped, “These kinds of chores must be too much for a beautifully grown young lady.”

She looked back at me with moist eyes as if she really felt sorry for my situation.

‘No, I think you’ve grown a hundred times more beautiful than me,’ I thought sarcastically at the back of my mind, trying my best to hold a poker-face.

I had no talent in housekeeping, but I’d never throw away a dessert that others were still eating in the trash. I merely focused on swallowing the bread, even though I knew Jian had looked my way and was trying to make eye contact.

“So why did you come forward to do something that doesn’t suit you?” Curtis clicked his tongue.

At the same time, a status window flashed above his head.

<SYSTEM> Curtis Caballero – Heartless Woman + Regretful Man related quests will occur.

<QUEST> Build the karma of Curtis, the man of regret!

Curtis’ karma has always been with you.

Explore Edith and Curtis’ past and earn the karma that has built up.

Reward for success: 50 Holy Power, 30 Charm, and the title of Maiden.

Penalty if failed: Regretful man route closed and death

Would you like to accept the quest?

YES

NO

‘It rewards me 50 holy power?’

The small pouch I received as a reward for entering the route had a holy power limit of 50. If I filled it, I could change jobs as a saint, as long as I completed the karma quest, and I no longer had to work as a maid.

‘I’m already used to mopping, but I think something bad would happen if I don’t change to the saint’s job.’

I didn’t really want the charm or maiden title, but it was good that I could fill the pouch with holy power in one shot.

‘All right, let’s do this.’

I tried to nod my head without much thought, but I somehow read a letter written like a bean on the penalty for failure.

‘…death?’

If you’re not a scammer, why the hell would you write such an important detail with small letters that were barely visible?

‘Let’s not do this. Why should I die if I fail…?’

<SYSTEM> If you refuse to accept, the quest will automatically fail.

As if it read my mind, a new message popped up. The corners of my mouth lifted in a sardonic grin, determined to beat Helper and the system to dust one day.