I Put all my Stats into Charm - Chapter 3

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Put All My Stats Into Charm Episode 003

I couldn’t believe it.

His favorability actually went up from such a line.

Just as I was wondering whether something was wrong with the game or with Jerome’s head, Jerome opened his mouth.

“…Having a stranger visit the Duke’s Palace would indeed help change the atmosphere.”

Well, should I be happy since the skill worked anyway?

Just as I let out a sigh of relief at the successfully executed skill, I turned my head at a gaze I felt.

Then I met eyes with Rowell, who was staring at me intently with slightly widened eyes.

‘Uh…’

His expression seemed to be saying, ‘What kind of person is this?’

“…”

I didn’t want to say such lines either!

I had no choice if I wanted to raise favorability.

As I consoled myself inwardly, Rowell smiled gently and opened his mouth.

“It will be good practical experience. Let’s go together.”

Thank you for pretending not to notice.

I silently thanked Rowell.

Anyway, I felt satisfied that I had succeeded in creating an opportunity to get involved with Jerome.

Just wait a little, Jerome Winston. I’ll make you my man.

Returning to reality felt like just a matter of time.

I traveled by carriage with Rowell to the Northern Belcadia Empire.

As is typical in romance fantasy settings, the Duke’s Palace where Jerome, the Northern Duke, lived was in a snow-covered highland area.

The weather at the Imperial Palace had been quite warm. Coming to the north, I couldn’t adapt to the sudden cold.

Upon arriving at the Duke’s Palace, I saw Jerome who had come out to greet us.

He was dressed in a black uniform just like when I first saw him. The only difference was that he wore a black fur cloak.

Jerome approached and greeted us in a somewhat businesslike voice.

“You must be tired from traveling such a long distance. Would you like to warm yourselves first?”

In the time we hadn’t seen each other, the shadows under Jerome’s eyes had doubled in darkness.

Rowell answered with a worried tone.

“Your complexion has gotten even worse in the meantime. Let’s resolve the urgent matter first. Could you guide us through the Duke’s Palace?”

“Please follow me. I’ll show you around.”

In just a few days, Jerome’s condition had deteriorated to the point where it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed at any moment.

Since it would be troublesome if Jerome died from the curse, I hurriedly followed the two men.

The Duke’s Palace, with its unified black interior design, was spotlessly clean without a speck of dust, but it felt somehow desolate.

Only furniture and household items necessary for daily life were visible, and even the common decorative items found in nobles’ houses couldn’t be seen anywhere.

‘I heard minimalism is trendy these days.’

Or not? Since this is inside a game, maybe such trends don’t exist?

After being shown around the Duke’s Palace dining room, study, and other areas while having such idle thoughts, we arrived at the bedroom.

Then, Rowell opened his mouth.

“I can definitely feel a strong aura of black magic.”

The bedroom, true to Jerome’s nature, also had no decorative items except for practical necessities.

Except for one thing – an incense burner placed on the nightstand.

The incense burner decorated with gold leaf had various gems embedded in it. It seemed far from Jerome’s taste, who pursued minimalism.

Rowell, who discovered the incense burner, opened his mouth.

“This is purification incense used in the Temple.”

“After hearing that he suffers from headaches and nightmares, the Angus Nobility has been regularly sending purification incense.”

At the familiar surname, I flinched.

Vivian Angus.

The villainess who poisoned me and the opponent I needed to settle accounts with.

Meanwhile, Rowell continued his questioning.

“Was it effective?”

“The headaches did weaken while burning the incense, but only temporarily.”

“Things made by the Temple are always like that.”

Rowell clicked his tongue as if displeased.

“Have you tried changing the room’s location?”

“I tried, but nothing changed.”

While Rowell and Jerome continued their conversation, I went in front of Jerome’s bed.

The bed was spacious enough for four people to lie down with room to spare.

“Could I possibly lift up this bed mattress? I think it would be good to examine underneath.”

At the sudden request, Jerome looked at my face for a moment. Then he called servants to lift the mattress.

“Tear it open.”

The servants brought sharp knives and tore open the bottom of the mattress.

When white goose feathers fluttered from the torn section, the servants discovered something.

“There’s something inside the mattress.”

“Take it out.”

The servants pulled out a small, old wooden box from inside the mattress.

The box emanated a damp and heavy aura like an old coffin. Its worn surface, ready to crumble, was stained with unidentifiable marks, and just looking at it caused a nauseating unpleasantness.

When everyone in the bedroom frowned, Rowell stepped forward.

“Please step back. This is my specialty from now on.”

As the servants stepped back as if they had been waiting, Rowell muttered an incomprehensible incantation quietly.

Then when he opened the box, short black hair and blackened feathers came out.

“It’s a curse using black magic. The unholy hair is the cause of headaches, and the blackened crow feathers are the medium for nightmares.”

Rowell continued.

“I don’t know who it was, but they played a nasty trick.”

Jerome’s expression darkened at the curse items that appeared before his eyes.

He had expected that someone had cursed him, but seeing it directly seemed to shock him.

Rowell closed the box lid and said.

“Could you send the servants out?”

When Jerome gestured, the servants left the bedroom.

When only the three of us – me, Rowell, and Jerome – remained in the bedroom, Rowell asked.

“Do you have anyone in mind?”

“It’s not that I don’t have suspects.”

Jerome stroked his chin tip as if troubled.

Well, someone of a Grand Duke’s status would have complex political interests intertwined.

There wouldn’t be just one or two people who held hostility toward Jerome, so it was difficult to deduce the culprit immediately.

But I didn’t know how the culprit might harm Jerome next.

Since I had decided to get involved with him, I needed to find the culprit who cast the curse as soon as possible.

Rowell picked up the curse box and continued.

“Let’s get rid of the curse first. Could you guide us to an outdoor area where we can light a fire?”

“Follow me.”

I went outside with the two men.

After walking for some time, we reached the Training Grounds.

The Training Grounds were spacious and covered with sand, so there was no need to worry about fire even if we lit one.

Rowell placed the curse box on a prepared shelf. He closed his eyes, put his hands together, and chanted an incantation in a gentle voice.

“Comburo Maledictum.”

An intense explosive sound that didn’t match his sweet voice erupted. At the same time, the box began to burn.

In the briefly but intensely blazing fire, the box was completely incinerated without a trace.

When the box had completely disappeared, Jerome staggered.

“Gasp…!”

“Are you alright?”

I quickly grabbed Jerome’s arm.

While I was genuinely worried about him, my real intention was to create an opportunity to get entangled with him.

The two of us needed to become thoroughly entangled.

Only then could I return to reality quickly.

Jerome leaned against my body to steady himself, breathing heavily.

Just then, Rowell approached.

“When a curse connected to the body is severed, it can cause momentary shock. How does your body feel?”

Jerome, having caught his breath, examined his own body. He looked slightly surprised.

“The headache is gone.”

“That’s good. It seems the curse was successfully lifted.”

“You truly are the mage His Majesty trusts most. I should properly reward you for this…”

At that moment, Jerome’s gaze fell on his captured arm.

“…!”

Suddenly, Jerome startled and shook off his arm.

Pushed by the unexpected rough force, my body swayed.

“Ah…!”

Just as my body was about to fall backward, Rowell quickly extended his arm and caught me.

Finding myself suddenly in Rowell’s embrace, I looked at Jerome with surprised eyes.

Jerome seemed equally startled, staring at me with widened eyes. His blue eyes were shaking unsteadily.

Then, the system window chimed.

[Jerome Winston’s affection has decreased by 10.]

[Jerome Winston’s affection: 0]

Huh?

What’s happening?

Affection can decrease too?

While I stared blankly at Jerome’s plummeted affection, Jerome spoke.

“…We’re preparing dinner. I’ll send someone to guide you to a room where you can rest.”

Jerome quickly turned and left.

As I watched Jerome’s departing figure with dazed eyes, Rowell spoke to me.

“Are you alright, Lady?”

“Ah…!”

Belatedly realizing I was in Rowell’s embrace, I hurriedly escaped from his arms.

“I-I’m fine.”

I was still in shock.

The affection I had worked so hard to build up had dropped.

Affection could decrease too?

As I stood there in dismay, Rowell spoke.

“I knew the Duke disliked physical contact, but I didn’t realize it was to that extent.”

“He dislikes physical contact?”

“Yes. It’s well-known within the Imperial Palace. Many women approach the Duke, but what do you think is the reason he’s still unmarried?”

I had no idea.

It seemed my affection had dropped because I grabbed Jerome’s arm.

But still, wasn’t that too harsh? I was just trying to help him!

Though I was full of resentment, I was the one who needed something.

As a slave to affection points, if I wanted to return home, I had to endure such injustices.

As I resolved to avoid physical contact while pursuing him from now on, Rowell continued.

“There’s something I’d like to ask you, Lady.”

“What is it?”

“How did you figure out the location of the curse?”

I hesitated.

The fact that curse items were hidden under the bed mattress was information I had discovered early in my gameplay.

The only difference between then and now was that it was Rowell, not me, who had found the curse’s location.

Rowell took a step closer to me.

“The box had a barrier cast on it to hide the curse’s aura. Even I, as an Imperial Mage, would have needed time to detect it.”

His deep, mysterious purple eyes slowly examined me as if trying to see through my soul.

“How did you immediately know the curse was under the bed?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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