Dahlia was the only servant in this mansion.
As far as I knew, there were no other attendants.
Winter Winslet was the type of man who trusted no one—and on top of that, he was a villain secretly dabbling in illegal businesses.
The more people in the house, the easier it was to leave a trail, so he didn’t even bother hiring servants.
The reason why Professor Winslet allowed only one maid to stay near him wasn’t because he trusted Dahlia.
It was simply a calculated decision—because a fragile girl like Dahlia could never harm him, and he had prepared several safeguards to ensure she would never be able to betray him.
On the other hand, Dahlia was a servant of unwavering loyalty.
An orphan with no one in the world, she held endless gratitude and respect for Professor Winslet, who had taken her in.
And why would such a person raise a Death Flag for her master? …Of course, because of the crimes Winter Winslet had committed.
To explain further would take too long, and it was related to the main storyline of <Judgment of Candela>, so I knew this Death Flag wouldn’t become an actual threat for a long time.
That’s why I felt safe enough to head into the bedroom and sprawl out for a nap.
And the next morning—
“I’ll prepare your shave.”
The owner of this body I’d possessed was a professor at the Academy, and professors had to go to work.
Therefore, as part of my morning routine, I had to receive skin care from my servant.
What a damn comfortable life.
“It’s not too hot, is it?”
The curly-haired girl removed the steamed towel from my face and began to gently apply shaving foam with a fine brush.
Lying still while being served felt like being in a luxury barbershop.
However, that comfort didn’t last even five seconds.
I grabbed Dahlia’s wrist.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Stop.”
Dahlia flinched in surprise.
In her right hand, which I was holding, was a short, sharp razor.
“D-Did I do something wrong?”
“…No.”
Dahlia hadn’t done anything wrong.
Of course, once the foam was applied, the next step was to shave.
The problem was the alert hovering above Dahlia’s head.
[Alert]
[This character’s Death Flag has been activated.]
“……”
I knew Dahlia’s Death Flag wasn’t immediately dangerous yet.
I knew, but… damn, it was creepy.
I made Dahlia put the razor down.
“I won’t be shaving for a while.”
“Are you going to grow a beard? That would look great on you! It’ll suit you perfectly!”
I didn’t bother correcting her misunderstanding.
Professor Winslet was an absurdly handsome man with long golden hair that reached his waist.
Instead of shaving, I decided to just have my hair brushed more thoroughly, and while Dahlia brushed, I reached for the newspaper nearby to pass the time.
The newspaper was The Langbart Daily.
Players of the original game <Judgment of Candela> would be familiar with it.
It was essentially a world-building device introducing events happening on the game’s stage to increase immersion. Sometimes it contained foreshadowing for the main storyline, random events, or even quest hints, making it quite useful.
But as Winter Winslet—not as a player—I had to think about how I could use the information I got from here.
With that in mind, I flipped through the pages one by one.
First, I checked the date.
And I found something reassuring.
It was the early stage of the original game’s timeline.
In other words, if I were still a player, this would be right when the game had just started, and the protagonist of <Judgment of Candela> would have only just arrived in this city.
Winter Winslet was a villain in this game, and his subjugation by the Candela Knights was a major event of the Year 3 main storyline. There was still time before that happened.
So for now, I could relax.
I kept flipping through the pages.
<The Republic of Livron Strengthens Its Iron Ore Export Restrictions. How Will the Decrease in Supply Affect Domestic Manufacturing?>
<The Lorencia Royal Domain Increases Karafin Consumption by 20% Compared to Last Year. Minister of Magic Declares: “Streetlight Operation Time Will Be Shortened.”>
<Is Prince Henry About to Be Granted the Duke of Shenkenberry Title? Exclusive Interview with an Anonymous Court Secretary.>
All interesting headlines, but none immediately useful to me.
There was, however, one headline that mentioned my name.
<Heroic Deeds of Baron Winter Winslet, Who Subdued a Notorious Criminal Escaped from Prison Last Night. However, Public Anxiety About Security Remains.>
After domestic and foreign affairs, the paper moved on to social gossip.
Reading the column idly, I almost choked.
Because it wasn’t something I could just laugh off.
***
At the same time, in the outskirts of Langbart—
In a mansion in Stanbridge, a middle-class residential district, Baron de Azeta spat out his coffee while reading the morning paper.
“Pfft!”
Clattering as he set the cup down, Baron de Azeta steadied his voice and called to his daughter sitting across the table.
“Josefin.”
“Yes? Why are you calling me?”
“You’ve finally brought disgrace to our family.”
Chill.
Josefin, who had just started her breakfast, hurriedly put her bread back on the plate.
Then she stiffened, racking her brain.
‘Why is he acting like this first thing in the morning? Did I do something wrong?’
After thinking for a moment, Josefin remembered—she had done something.
Something very big.
“Ah.”
Straightening her posture like a child expecting to be scolded, Josefin still tried to feign ignorance.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“Your face already gives you away. You’ve been terrible at lying since you were a child, so stop.”
“Yes, sir…”
The Azeta family had long been a household of knights known for their strong will, and its head, Marcel, was still an iron-willed man despite being nearly fifty.
Growing up watching such a father naturally made Josefin’s back stiffen in moments like this.
In the end, Josefin confessed in a small voice.
“T-The rumors about yesterday have already spread? Ah… even to the capital?”
“It’s not just rumors!”
Baron Marcel de Azeta shoved the newspaper in front of her face.
“See for yourself.”
The fourth page of The Langbart Daily, still damp with coffee, bore the following article:
<Caught in the Moment! What Happened at Everett Garden?>
Last night’s social gathering at Everett Garden was attended by numerous noble heirs, as well as prominent figures from business and politics, to discuss the kingdom’s future and development.
But as the night deepened, an unknown woman burst into the salon and assaulted one of the guests.
The victim was a famous professor at the Royal Academy, Mr. W, while the attacker, Ms. J, was believed to be his fiancée. She allegedly assaulted him out of suspicion that he had been unfaithful.
Whether to see this public act of violence as outright humiliation or as a private lovers’ quarrel remains controversial.
What’s clear is that, unlike the civilian victim, Ms. J was trained in martial arts, and a guard at the villa claimed that she broke his wrist when he tried to stop her from entering the salon with a sword.
Meanwhile, at around the same time as the incident, a suspicious young man was reported to have caused a commotion outside Ms. J’s home, calling her name repeatedly.
This has led to speculation that Ms. J might have a secret lover.
A special feature on this mysterious lover will be covered in issue No.132 of Rose Blanc, available from 2 PM today in all Langbart bookstores and affiliated shop stands for only 60 Peblancs… (continued).
“My god.”
Josefin didn’t even finish reading before her vision went dark.
The famous professor at the Royal Academy, Mr. W, was Winter Winslet.
And Ms. J, his fiancée, was none other than herself.
Anyone in Langbart who enjoyed gossip would know immediately who was being talked about.
‘Then why even bother writing initials?!’
It was nothing but a malicious article with a flimsy excuse for anonymity.
‘And that editing! How malicious…’
What made her even gloomier was that, malicious or not, there was nothing inaccurate in the report.
Marcel chided his daughter with restrained irritation.
“If you’re going to make the papers, it would be better for it to be for something honorable.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Well, at least you seem to regret it.”
After a long sigh, Marcel softened his tone.
“So? Did you feel better after barging in like that?”
“…Huh?”
“I heard you confronted that man last night. Did he apologize? Or was he shameless as usual?”
“No. He… he…”
Suddenly, Josefin’s face burned red.
Because the kiss from last night flashed through her mind.
To hide her embarrassment, she lowered her head almost to the table.
Marcel, of course, misunderstood her reaction completely.
“Did he humiliate you further? Well, that arrogant man would never admit his fault.”
“That’s not it. I just…”
Josefin stopped herself.
How could she talk about kisses and glances in front of her father?!
As Josefin sighed silently, Marcel misunderstood again and tried to console her.
“I know the man caused this in the first place.”
“Father…”
“But you crossed the line this time.”
Josefin squeezed her eyes shut, knowing what he would say next.
“You know as well as I do that Winter Winslet is not someone to make an enemy of. I don’t know why he’s teaching at the Academy, but he was recognized as a 6-class Mage in Karaf before he was even twenty. Now he’s reached 7-class, hasn’t he?”
Karaf was known as the homeland of magic, and its mage rankings were the continental standard.
A 7-class Mage was an elite—fewer than forty existed across the continent, most of whom lived in seclusion in Karaf.
“In Lorencia, only two 7-class Mages exist: Court Mage Wendrick and Winter Winslet. And while Wendrick only achieved that rank in his eighties, Winter Winslet is only thirty. Do you realize how extraordinary that is?”
“Yes. I know…”
“Even if he was stripped of his right to inherit, he’s still the eldest son of the Winslet Count family, which holds vast lands in the south. People gossip about him being disowned, but your engagement was only possible because the Count supported it.”
It was already public knowledge that Winter Winslet was not the heir to the Count’s family.
But even without his family’s backing, he had earned a barony by contributing to the kingdom.
Josefin had heard her father’s words so many times she could recite them by heart.
“That man will become a key figure in this kingdom someday. And you are his fiancée. I know you didn’t choose this engagement yourself, but still…”
Growl.
Josefin clutched her stomach, embarrassed, as Marcel cleared his throat awkwardly.
“I’ve nagged you enough this morning.”
“It’s fine. And… I really do regret what I did yesterday.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes. I went too far yesterday.”
“Too far?”
“Well… a little too far?”
Marcel rubbed his temples.
“In any case, the sooner you apologize, the better. Go to him today and ask for his forgiveness.”
“Today? Right now?”
Glare.
“Ugh, fine…”
Josefin reluctantly nodded under the unspoken pressure.
***
It was the first day of March.
Early spring, and at Lorencia Royal Academy, the semester had just begun, though classes hadn’t started yet.
Before the opening, today was the monthly faculty meeting at the College of Magic, so of course, I had to attend as a professor.
Walking through the nearly empty campus, I pondered why Winter Winslet, with all his talent, had chosen to become an Academy professor.
The Academy was one of the royal family’s major projects, but the professors didn’t hold particularly high social status.
The pay was average at best, and it was far from a position of power or authority.
Of course, Winter Winslet was the Academy’s star professor and could extort as much money as he wanted, but I was sure he had another reason for choosing this job.
That reason was diplomatic immunity.
Academy faculty couldn’t be arrested on campus unless caught in the act of a crime.
The headmaster could grant special permission for an arrest, but for someone like Winter Winslet, who constantly danced on the edge of criminal activity, it was an excellent safeguard.
Moreover, Winter Winslet had a powerful faction within the Academy, which could pressure the headmaster into withholding such permission.
So yes, the Academy was my safe zone.
Even if it wasn’t in my destiny, I’d keep up this professor act for now.
With that thought, I arrived at the front gate of the First College of Magic.
My first day reporting to work as Winter Winslet began with a flowerpot falling from the sky.
[Warning]
[A Death Branch has been updated.]
…Well, of course.
No villain’s day ever starts quietly.