Ecaros’ consciousness returned to reality with the system’s prompt.
“So that’s what Her Majesty was like as a child.” But wasn’t my sim-self a little too harsh?
She nearly beat Her Majesty to death right after meeting her, and then turned around and treated her wounds…
Is this what happens when someone grows up alone in Victoria under the influence of Seven Faces of the Heart, and successfully secures her title surrounded by hungry wolves?
The personality of this other me in the simulation is truly unfathomable…
Lying on her bed, Ecaros recalled the previously vivid, hyper-realistic experience.
She was filled with emotions about the Theresa she had witnessed in the simulation—and even more so about her sim-self.
That Ecaros had acted like a complete villainess.
Pure villainess ojou-sama energy.
All that was missing was the stereotypical triple-laugh.
And that dangerous way of thinking—Ecaros truly couldn’t understand it.
Anyway, she was definitely not that kind of person.
She even cooked for her childhood friend!
Look how gentle she was.
As expected, a simulation was just a simulation.
Shaking her head, Ecaros honorably drew a clear line between herself and her sim-self.
After all, having experienced the first-person mode, she could confirm that the simulated Ecaros was, in a sense, indeed another possible version of ‘herself.’ The two were fundamentally the same.
In other words, if the simulated Ecaros possessed such a dangerous personality and a hint of ‘madness,’ then her real self likely had a talent for it too.
But how was that possible?
Recalling her own past, Ecaros saw nothing but a normal set of values—warm, cheerful, with a talented and beautiful childhood friend.
If not for being parentless, she’d practically be a standard life-winner.
So it was absolutely impossible for her to harbor such potential.
Of this, Ecaros was firmly convinced.
Still, after wasting a bit of time in reality with these idle thoughts, she still needed to continue watching the simulation.
Although the first-person experience within the simulation had felt like it took nearly an hour, only a minute had passed in reality.
Thus, she now fully trusted the system’s assurance that the simulation’s duration would not interfere with her daily life.
Naturally, she would finish watching the rest.
It also served as something interesting to pass the time during this usually boring window.
…
[After your first meeting with Theresa, you formed the game’s pact with her.] [You had brutally beaten Theresa, then healed her.
And through words that seemed casual but were in fact meticulously crafted, you left the young little Sarkaz feeling neither fully favorable nor unfavorable toward you.] [It must be admitted—you are a villainess.
In the end, you even exploited Theresa’s care for her brother, coaxing the freshly healed little Sarkaz to go fetch water, while you stayed inside the carriage drinking delicious black tea with Theresis.] [This act caused the faint smile at the corner of Theresa’s lips—when she hurried back with water, droplets still trickling down her fair feet—to be replaced by utter dead silence.] [Seeing Theresa so utterly deflated filled your heart with immense pleasure.
But outwardly, you only smiled charmingly and beckoned her to come drink tea.
Theresa, however, fiercely refused your goodwill, grabbed the inexplicably guilty Theresis by the horn, and dragged him to the corner of the carriage.] [You originally intended to rebuke Theresa for the rudeness of her refusal.
But the sight of Theresis’ death-row expression as Theresa dragged him away, and the inexplicable black aura emanating from Theresa…] [You showed a delighted smile once more, forgiving Theresa’s discourtesy this time, and resolved to repay it double the next time she showed such insolence.] [Afterwards, watching the affectionate interaction between the siblings—and Theresis, subsequently tied up by Theresa’s rope, receiving your permission, and then being kicked out of the carriage by Theresa with a single foot, running behind the carriage crying…] [You once again revealed a joy-filled smile, and realized that your journey back to Victoria would not be boring.] [You had to admit—your assessment was spot on.] [On the subsequent carriage ride back to Victoria, the interactions between Theresa and Theresis were all highly entertaining.] [Including, but not limited to: Theresa, who knew no swordsmanship, attempting to teach the empty-handed Theresis sword techniques with a wooden stick whenever the carriage stopped.
Theresa accidentally feeding Theresis’ portion of travel rations to a roadside puppy when buying provisions, then dark-faced and reluctant, having to come begging to you for help.
And, when buying clothes, you being too lazy to go to the men’s store, leading to a misunderstanding by Theresa—who, through gritted teeth, ended up stuffing Theresis into a lace-trimmed maid’s dress.
And many other such incidents.] [These events brought you both vexation and delight along the journey.
You were simultaneously annoyed by the siblings’ unconscious antics, and vaguely looked forward to the surprises the pair—so full of life—would bring you tomorrow.] [At the same time, you grew even more certain of Theresa’s similarity to your past self.] [The only difference, perhaps, was Theresa’s somewhat strange attitude toward you.
It seemed due to the game; Theresa would often place herself on equal footing with you, refusing to give you a pleasant face based on status differences.] [You didn’t mind.
After all, within the game, you and Theresa were indeed equals.
Besides, you didn’t dislike this conduct from Theresa.] [At least during the game, so long as she didn’t openly provoke you, or commit actions or words that harmed or insulted you, you would do nothing.
Theresa could stand as your equal—even if her actual status remained that of a slave.] [Of course, these were merely minor interludes during those two months.
Aside from these matters, Theresa also conducted a second assassination attempt in the second month.] [Unfortunately, the little lady was not very skilled and far too nervous.
She had originally intended to poison you, but ended up confusing the laxatives she bought with sugar.
Apart from making your black tea much sweeter, nothing happened.] [You mercilessly mocked Theresa.
For you knew full well that even if she had truly added poison, she could never have poisoned you.] [After all, before this, Theresa had never willingly poured tea for you, let alone brewed it.
And her nervous expression completely gave her away—even Theresis wondered if his sister had taken the wrong medicine.] [Over the two months of traveling together, the relationship between you and the two siblings improved somewhat.
But only somewhat.] [After all, to keep the game going, you hadn’t deliberately deepened your bond with them.
At the same time, to prevent them from becoming overly dependent on you, you maintained an attitude that was always slightly detached—the familiar stranger to them.
Nothing more.] [In any case, after two months of travel, you returned to Victoria, and ultimately re-entered Londinium, which you had not seen for several years.] [Your manor remained as immaculate and opulent as ever.
Your businesses had, bizarrely, maintained normal operations without being swallowed up by other nobles.] [This was strange, actually.
But after confirming there were no traps, you gladly accepted this ‘help’ from whoever had provided it.] [The days that followed unfolded methodically around four focal points: training Theresa, deliberately teasing her, provoking her to anger, and casually dealing with her challenges.] [As for Theresis?
Ah, he—she…
he was casually packed off by you to school.
Theresa, on the other hand, stayed by your side to study.
With your high-level academic credentials and vast reservoir of knowledge, you were confident in being an excellent teacher.] [However…
for some reason, you couldn’t help but notice that Theresa, after being separated from Theresis, had grown listless and dejected.
She responded to your teasing and pranks with absentmindedness, and even tripped while walking on flat ground.] [This made you realize something was wrong.
You instinctively sensed that your subsequent actions could very likely cause certain repercussions.
Thus, after deep consideration, several thoughts surfaced in your mind…] [Branch 1: There’s no need to care so much.
As long as Theresa is here, it’s fine.
As long as it doesn’t affect the game, everything is irrelevant.] [Branch 2: Understand the situation a little first, then decide what to do.
Anyway, House Manchester is not that big or prosperous—might as well show a little concern for Theresa.] [Branch 3: Immediately!
At once!
Carry the adorable little Majesty into the room and enter the pink appreciation CG mode!!!] In reality, Ecaros paused briefly upon seeing the options suddenly pop up.
After a moment’s thought, she immediately selected the second option.
It was obvious from the simulator’s text description that something was clearly wrong with Her Majesty.
This was bound to be an event flag.
Branch 1 was just slacking off; Branch 3—no need to elaborate, straight into the trash it goes.
Thus, without a doubt, Ecaros chose Branch 2.
[After deep deliberation, you ultimately decided to intervene in this matter.
Because you wanted to tame Theresa through the game, you had no desire for external factors to disturb it.] [Of course, there was another reason—Theresa had also become absentminded when facing you.
This displeased you nine out of ten, even ten out of ten.
But this version of Theresa fell within your tolerance range, so you were inclined to restore her to her usual self.] [Thus, you began investigating the matter.
You soon discovered it was closely connected to Theresis—or more precisely, to certain ‘treatment’ Theresis had been receiving at school…] [And you quickly followed the trail to untangle the whole story, realizing that hidden behind it all was a scheme—one could barely call it a confrontation—targeting the Grand Duchess of Manchester.
Which meant, targeting you.] [Having realized this, and having investigated the entire affair from start to finish, you swiftly dealt with the matter and made certain people pay the price.] [However, just as you had finished dealing with these matters, Theresa—looking rather pale—appeared at your door, bearing a faintly pleading expression.] [This was an expression Theresa had never shown before.] [You did not like this version of Theresa.
So, unlike usual, you refrained from teasing her.
Instead, you assumed the full bearing of a Duchess when facing this girl who seemed to have come to ask something of you.] [You more or less knew why she had come.
You could dismiss her with a single sentence.
But you felt you could use this opportunity to make Theresa realize certain things.] [For example—that even as a slave, Theresa was still your slave, the slave of the Grand Duchess of Manchester of Victoria.] [And Theresis, too, was the same.]