DFBE 28

Chapter 28

Having thoroughly botched the second quest, Lucy collapsed onto a sofa set against the wall of the Great Hall.

A wine glass hung loosely from her hand.

She drained it in one go and let out a deep sigh.

The system definitely has something against me.

Otherwise, there was no way it would have produced such absurd random responses.

There were things a person should say and things they absolutely should not say.

Especially at a social party where etiquette and manners mattered above all else.

But Lucy’s mouth had unleashed the truth.

And in the worst possible way.

It was literally a Mouth of Disaster.

Only a hair’s breadth apart from Lips of Truth.

What exactly was the Lips of Truth skill?

A highly useful ability that allowed someone to reveal the right truth at the most important moment.

It was also a skill that greatly influenced the story.

If she had obtained a skill like that at this gathering, Lucy would have welcomed it with open arms.

But Mouth of Disaster?

What in the world was she supposed to use this skill for?

Lucy thought about the quests she still had ahead of her.

What would happen if the Mouth of Disaster interfered every single time?

She would fail to reach the true ending and remain trapped inside the game forever.

What did I even do to deserve this?

Was it because of the negative review she had left?

Still, if they made a game like garbage, they should have been prepared to hear criticism.

If you made a game unnecessarily difficult, of course people would curse at it.

Lucy blamed her own arrogance for believing that just because she had transmigrated into a game she had never managed to clear in her previous life, she would somehow be able to beat it now.

What if the system keeps sabotaging me like this from now on?

I can’t even speak freely anymore.

Lucy picked up another glass of wine.

I miss Bartholomew.

Bartholomew, who allowed her to talk and act freely without interference from the system window.

At this point, Lucy no longer cared what Bartholomew’s true identity was.

She even found herself wishing he were one of the romance targets.

With Bartholomew, she didn’t have to put on pretenses and could act comfortably.

Of course, Bartholomew still wasn’t quite that comfortable around her yet, but time would solve that eventually.

I should’ve brought Bartholomew to the party.

What would it have been like if he were here beside her?

She wouldn’t have had to choose random dialogue options caused by her low stats.

Even if he found her troublesome, Bartholomew still took good care of her.

She had confirmed that much during her private audience with the Emperor.

If she had offered Cerberus as a condition, would Bartholomew have come?

Lucy soon shook her head.

Bartholomew might be her only lifeline, but that didn’t mean she should manipulate him however she pleased.

If she did, she would merely be using him.

At the same time, another thought crossed her mind.

What was wrong with using a mere supporting character?

Right now, she was on the verge of being trapped in the game forever. Was this really the time to worry about other people?

But still…

Lucy quietly stared down into her wine glass.

She didn’t want to do that.

She didn’t want to use Bartholomew.

When Lucy called him a friend, she hadn’t meant it as an empty phrase.

Since he had helped her so much, she genuinely wanted to repay him someday.

Even now, in this moment of despair, she wished Bartholomew were beside her.

Because she wanted to confide in him and ease the weight in her heart.

“Ugh…”

Lucy sighed again and tilted her wine glass back.

Since she was already here, she intended to enjoy as much free wine and food as possible before leaving.

Even if she had become the human equivalent of a durian.

While she sat there lamenting her fate—

The young noble ladies and gentlemen observing her whispered among themselves.

Naturally, none of the things they said were good.

She had certainly shed the label of fool at tonight’s gathering.

But in exchange, she had gained a new reputation.

A woman completely lacking in grace.

The nobles had been intensely curious about Lucy’s first appearance at a social gathering.

They wanted to see with their own eyes what the girl they had only heard rumors about was really like.

They had wondered whether someone who spent all her time confined to the detached palace would be able to adapt to high society.

There had been no surprises.

Her social debut could only be described as a complete disaster.

What would happen once news of today reached the Emperor’s ears?

She would probably be locked away in the detached palace once more.

Some of the nobles believed Elisha also bore part of the responsibility.

Lucy was her younger sister.

As such, Elisha had a duty to ensure her successful debut into society.

Since she had failed to do so, Elisha’s reputation had taken a hit as well.

And just as the nobles believed, Elisha herself felt troubled.

Watching Lucy self-destruct had been satisfying, but…

She never imagined Lucy would ruin the party to this extent.

And instead of leaving after making such a mess, she shamelessly remained, stuffing herself with food.

This party had been hosted by none other than Elisha herself.

She had an obligation to see it through successfully.

Why do I have to clean up after her?

Though irritated, Elisha approached the men Lucy had offended.

“I’m sorry. You were all quite startled, weren’t you?”

Her gaze moved between Logan, Cecil, and Patrick.

“Lucy is still recovering physically, so please don’t take it too much to heart.”

At Elisha’s words, the three men nodded.

After all, a gentleman’s virtue was to overlook a lady’s flaws rather than expose them.

But how did Lucy know so much about Logan when she spent all her time shut away in the detached palace?

Like the fact that Logan had attended this gathering to seek sponsorship from nobles.

And what did she mean by Patrick despising nobles?

Elisha’s head ached because Lucy had practically slandered innocent people.

“We understand.”

The one who spoke was Cecil.

Though Lucy’s bluntness had shocked him, he could not refute her because what she said was true.

He had newly realized just how rude he himself had been toward her.

In truth, he had already begun recognizing the error of his arrogance after Lucy found his mother’s keepsake.

Because he felt indebted to her, he was even more conscious of it.

“Princess Lucy has only recently risen from her sickbed. As the healer who personally attended her all this time, I am simply relieved that she was able to walk and speak safely at today’s gathering.”

Elisha’s brows twitched upward slightly.

What? Why isn’t he angry?

Instead of expressing displeasure toward Lucy, Cecil was defending her.

And Logan was no different.

“She didn’t make anything up, after all.”

Logan believed that everyone else probably thought the same things Lucy did—they simply hid it better.

So even if Lucy openly pointed it out, he didn’t find it especially surprising.

In fact, he found people who spoke honestly easier to deal with than those who hid behind pretenses.

When even Logan defended Lucy, Elisha turned toward Patrick.

Patrick was staring at Lucy.

“Young Master Patrick?”

At Elisha’s call, he finally tore his gaze away and looked at her.

“I especially feel apologetic toward you. What my sister said was practically slander.”

Patrick smiled faintly.

“It’s alright.”

In truth, Patrick found himself intrigued by Lucy, who had seen straight through his inner thoughts.

He was known for his pleasant smile and impeccable manners.

But in reality, he was sick of gatherings filled with nobles and exhausted from pretending to curry favor with them.

He believed everyone wore masks.

And among them all, his own mask was particularly flawless.

Then, amidst all those masked people, he encountered Lucy—someone wearing no mask at all.

He became curious.

Why did she think that about him?

Where exactly had he slipped up enough for her to see through him?

“Still, I think I should reassure Princess Lucy herself in case she worries about it.”

With those words, Patrick headed toward Lucy.

Elisha watched him with a stunned expression.

It was certainly fortunate for her that the people Lucy had offended weren’t upset.

It meant she wouldn’t have to struggle to smooth things over.

But for Patrick—who always maintained polite distance from everyone—to show interest in Lucy was entirely unexpected.

Especially because Elisha secretly harbored feelings for him.

Whether Elisha liked it or not, Patrick continued toward Lucy.

Lucy looked up at the man standing before her.

“Princess Lucy.”

Just as he was about to say something—

Lucy abruptly sprang to her feet.

The Mouth of Disaster skill might activate again.

Giving him only a quick greeting, Lucy hurriedly fled the scene.

Patrick stared blankly at the spot where she had escaped.

Then he noticed a handkerchief lying on the floor.

Picking up the handkerchief embroidered with Lucy’s name, he smiled faintly.