As I thought, this mansion was just too huge. It’s impractical! Who would want to walk this much just to get to the dining room? As someone who spent the last five years living alone in a “cozy” one bedroom apartment, my new home felt like a gigantic waste of space.

Emma was trailing behind me, and it looked like she had already gotten used to her role as my guide. Whenever I was about to make a wrong turn, she’d cough and I’d promptly change direction. The two of us made for a very good team. Should I just ask her to escort me everywhere until I got used to the mansion’s layout?

“Greetings, young master.”

We passed by a maid cleaning the windows along the way. She stopped what she was doing to bow to me. Her voice was emotionless, yet not the least bit disrespectful.

“Mm, good evening,” I replied with a friendly smile.

“Hiii-!?”

The maid’s face contorted and her skin paled by several shades. She lowered her head again, but I’m pretty sure that I saw her tremble.

…Hey.

Isn’t this supposed to be the part where she blushes after being warmly greeted by the out-of-character noble? Why does she look like a cockroach just crawled up her skirt?

Feeling slightly bothered by it, we continued on our way. But when we passed by two kitchen workers, I tried greeting them cheerfully as well. They looked like they saw a ghost and hurried away as fast as possible, almost dropping the sacks they carried in the process. Does my face get scarier when I smile!? Gah, maybe I should practice it in front of a mirror later.

Lastly, we came across another maid who was hanging up fresh curtains. She was startled when she saw me, and in her haste to get down, the girl actually slipped and fell from her stepladder. From the angle, there was a good chance she’d hit her head, so I immediately moved forward.

“HUGYAAAH!”

The maid let out a high pitched shriek.

No, not because she fell.

Because I caught her.

“Are you alright? Be more careful, you could have hurt yourself,” I said, trying my best to look and sound non-threatening. It didn’t work.

“ForgivemeyoungmasteritwasanaccidentpleaseIwon’tdoitagain-!” She blabbered off at a machine gun pace, tears welling up in her eyes.

Suppressing my steadily growing annoyance, I helped her to a standing position. Then before I could say anything else Emma walked forward and whispered something into the panicking maid’s ear. The girl seemed to come to her senses, and immediately bowed, thanking me for saving her. I just halfheartedly accepted her gratitude and brought Emma along.

When we were a fair distance away, I asked her a question

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“Emma, tell me. Why does everyone react like that when I’m being so nice towards them?”

The girl hesitated. But when I stared intently at her, she finally talked.

“Young master, it’s because you’re acting nice. They’re not used to it. I believe... they’re afraid that you have sinister intentions. I’m sorry, please don’t get mad!”

“I’m not.”

I was pretty depressed though.

Soon we reached a large pair of double doors. More guards were stationed outside, and they saluted as we approached. However, Emma suddenly tugged on my sleeve.

“What is it?”

“Um, young master,” Emma said quietly, “Lady Francesca is inside. Could I…?”

The girl looked extremely reluctant to go any further, and I understood why. “Of course. Go on then, I’ll be fine on my own from here.”

Relief flooded her face. “Thank you, young master!”

I watched with a wry grin as she hurried away. If only I could escape from here too.

__________________________________________________________

Woooooow. Color me impressed.

Even though I was already shocked by the extravagance of our mansion’s tea room, the dining hall was on a whole other level. It was truly fitting for the most powerful duke’s household. This place was probably designed so that it would suit even the king’s entourage if they decided to visit. Yet within that massive hall, only four people were currently seated.

Those two middle-aged aristocrats were probably my parents. They looked so stereotypically snobbish, but at the same time they were surrounded by a strange aura of power. It was as if the air around them was being visibly distorted if you looked carefully. Could that be magic?

“Father, mother. Good evening.” I greeted them as I approached.

“Ah, there you are boy. Sit down and eat!” Duke Halesworth waved a chicken drumstick at me. His fat body and thick moustache really made him look like a walrus. Thank goodness I didn’t inherit his looks.

Duchess Halesworth smiled warmly at me from beside him. “Good, we were starting to wonder when you would show up.”

The two of them were seated at the head of the table. My breath caught in my throat for a moment when I had a good look at the girls with them, though.

One was Francesca, of course. Her earlier viciousness seemed like a complete lie, as she ate with refined sophistication and a shy smile. She had transformed into the very picture of a perfect young lady. If this was our first meeting, I might have been completely fooled and had my heart stolen.

And the other was someone I’d recognize from a mile away. Christine Halesworth, my younger sister and the tormentor of Lost in Love’s protagonist. A prideful face, blond hair done up in an elegant bun, and sharp blue eyes just like mine, that appearance was unmistakable. Her petite body looked as delicate as glass, completely at odds with the cruelty I knew she was capable of. She was a beauty, but still looked a little immature compared to her in-game self. Right, she’s only fifteen right now, so that’s a given. Please don’t be evil yet sis.

“Elder brother.”

“Alex!”

Both of them greeted me, one indifferently and the other affectionately. Francesca’s sweet voice only gave me the creeps though.

I smiled and sat down next to Christine without really thinking about it. But everyone suddenly stopped eating.

“Elder brother?” She looked at me warily.

Ah. Judging by the surprised looks on their faces, did I usually sit next to the psycho? Whoops. Sorry, but I’d immediately lose my appetite. Rot on that side of the table by yourself for all I care.

“What, I can’t eat next to my little sister?” I teased her, trying to play it off.

Christine just glared at me and turned away. “I don’t really care what you do.”

Our father chuckled heartily. “Hoho, it’s good to see you two getting along for once. Now eat up boy, or we won’t leave anything for you.” He took another chicken leg and resumed eating noisily. This glutton, what do you mean we? You could probably finish everything here on your own.

Thanks to that, the awkward atmosphere lifted somewhat. But I noticed that Francesca’s smile seemed a bit forced now.