Why the hell was that bastard taking his clothes off?
I never undressed him.
Even as the system chimed, Elysia's gaze remained fixed on Tristan's sturdy upper body.
Setting aside how absurd the situation was… he really did have the body of a beast. Was it because he'd trained so much? His broad shoulders and massive chest gave him an intensely wild air. Looking at him standing there half-naked, practically radiating raw masculinity, her judgment nearly grew hazy enough to make her forget what kind of situation she was even in.
“…….”
Then her eyes met Tristan's sharp gaze.
[System]
Penalty for Failure to Maintain Isolation
['Suspicion Mode' has been unlocked.]
The two Strategy Targets are beginning to harbor suspicions about you.
Displaying currently formed suspicions.
─
['Valentin de Arcane's Suspicion']
-Why did Elysia Gray hide the fact that Tristan Loch was here?
─
['Tristan Loch's Suspicion']
-Why did Elysia Gray hide the fact that he was here from Valentin de Arcane?
─
[!] Suspicions will follow and torment you until they are resolved.
-Unaddressed suspicions may grow and change.
-An incorrect explanation may turn suspicion into certainty.
-A suspicious character may react more sensitively and impulsively than usual.
The moment the system announced the penalty, Elysia felt as though she'd been doused in cold water.
[System]
Resolve the suspicions within the time limit.
[Time Remaining Until 'Suspicion Deepens' – 00:09:59]
On top of everything else, it was a timed challenge.
Suspicion Deepens. Whatever that meant, one thing was certain: the situation would only get worse from here.
“This has turned into quite an amusing situation.”
After glancing at Tristan's bare torso, Valentin turned his attention back to Elysia.
“Why did you hide him? As if there were some reason you absolutely couldn't let me find out.”
“She must've had a reason. It's already happened anyway. Does the reason really matter that much?”
Before Elysia even had a chance to answer, Tristan cut in and snapped at him.
“I came here because I was injured. If you have eyes, you should be able to see that. Forget the prayer and leave.”
“I wasn't asking you, Sir Loch. Get some rest.”
Even as Tristan aggressively pressed him, Valentin drew a line and ignored him. Once he'd assessed the situation, he didn't even spare Tristan another glance. As though he weren't worth engaging with at all.
[System]
Resolve the suspicions within the time limit.
[Time Remaining Until 'Suspicion Deepens' - 00:09:27]
They had exchanged only a few words, yet thirty seconds had already passed.
'I have to resolve this before it gets worse.'
Ultimately, both of their suspicions came down to the same thing.
[Why did Elysia Gray hide Tristan Loch when Valentin de Arcane entered?]
'I didn't want to hide him either!'
It was ridiculous. Honestly, Elysia had only hidden him for one reason.
'The game told me to. It even threatened me with a penalty.'
The injustice of it nearly made her blood boil.
But she couldn't exactly confess, 'I wanted to live, so I had no choice but to obey the system.' Even if she told them, there was no way they would believe her. And if they didn't believe her in the first place, how could that possibly resolve their suspicions?
What do I do?
[System]
BALANCE MODE : Measuring the weight of affection.
Valentin de Arcane 29 < Tristan Loch 45 (+16)
The difference was 16. It wasn't in the danger zone yet, but she couldn't relax.
The system had said that suspicious characters could react more sensitively and impulsively than usual. There was every possibility that could affect increases and decreases in Affection as well.
Tristan is hot-tempered, but he's straightforward, so when he's angry, it shows immediately. Valentin isn't the type to show it, though. Even if he acts perfectly calm on the outside, once he starts suspecting something, he's persistent. If his suspicion deepens, he'll be even more dangerous.
There had already been the incident at the wall with Tristan, and letting Valentin become even more suspicious here couldn't possibly lead to anything good.
[System]
Resolve the suspicions within the time limit.
[Time Remaining Until 'Suspicion Deepens' - 00:08:54]
Time was evaporating in the blink of an eye.
“So.”
So was Valentin's patience.
“Are you still not going to answer?”
“You don't owe him an explanation. Ignore him.”
Tristan was urging her to ignore Valentin, but he was just as suspicious himself. Apparently irritated by the entire situation, even his voice had turned sharp.
Right. Something that sounds like Elysia Gray. Something they'll accept.
“I'll be honest with you. I didn't want you to misunderstand.”
As Elysia slowly began to speak, both men's gazes immediately locked onto her.
“Especially you, Valentin.”
She looked back and forth between them as well.
Unlike Valentin's subtle reaction, she saw a clear crack appear in Tristan's expression.
“What does that mean?”
Tristan immediately pressed her.
Honestly, she was a little afraid of how he might react. But she had to say it to dispel their suspicions.
What mattered right now was balance. There was some risk involved, but ultimately, this was a balance game.
Elysia took a breath as though carefully choosing her words, then said,
“After what happened at the wall, I suddenly got scared you'd misunderstand again. Sir Loch and I have been friends since we were young. There's absolutely nothing like that between us.”
With that, the direction of their suspicions changed completely.
She hadn't hidden Tristan because there was something suspicious between them.
Tristan was merely her friend.
She had hidden him because she didn't want Valentin to misunderstand.
At the very least, she'd made it sound convincing enough.
It didn't contradict Elysia Gray's past unrequited love for Valentin either.
[System]
['Valentin de Arcane's Suspicion' has been resolved.]
-Why did Elysia Gray hide the fact that Tristan Loch was here? (Deleted)
['Tristan Loch's Suspicion' has been resolved.]
-Why did Elysia Gray hide the fact that he was here from Valentin de Arcane? (Deleted)
“I see.”
Valentin seemed to accept her explanation immediately.
[System]
Strategy Target 'Valentin de Arcane' is relieved by your answer.
[Valentin de Arcane Affection: +10]
No, considering his Affection had even gone up, he seemed quite pleased with it.
Both suspicions had been resolved, but Tristan's expression looked anything but relieved.
[System]
Strategy Target 'Tristan Loch' is disappointed by your answer.
[Tristan Loch Affection: -15]
And that immediately showed in his Affection as well.
[System]
The weight tips to one side.
[System]
BALANCE MODE : Measuring the weight of affection.
Valentin de Arcane 39 (+9) > Tristan Loch 30
A single answer had reversed the tilt of the scales. The gap was still within a safe range, but regardless of that, Tristan looked thoroughly miserable.
“Guess I'm not getting any rest here. Have fun.”
Holding his shirt in one hand, Tristan stormed out of the infirmary. An awkward silence settled over the room, but Valentin remained as composed as ever.
“You must have had a difficult few days, working in a place like this.”
“No. I'm comfortable here. I'm used to it.”
Honestly, anywhere was fine as long as she didn't have to be tormented by those two bastards.
The biggest problem was that even this infirmary had now been breached. But since she'd decided not to avoid them anymore, there was no point in hiding either. She had made her decision, yet after everything that happened today, the future looked nothing but bleak.
“I'll arrange for you to work somewhere more comfortable.”
“…What?”
“Then, I'll be going.”
Valentin gave her a brief farewell like a man who had already made up his mind, then left. Once the door closed, silence descended over the infirmary again.
What the hell is that bastard talking about now? But she didn't have the energy to think deeply about it.
[System]
Surprise Quest: 'Two Patients Behind the Curtain' Cleared!
The system announced the successful completion of the quest.
“Haa…….”
Elysia stared blankly at the empty infirmary before her legs finally gave out and she sank to the floor. She was so exhausted that every ounce of strength had drained from her body.
At least she'd patched things up for now. She'd resolved their suspicions and somehow managed to bring their Affection back to roughly the same level.
But… why did she still feel so uneasy?
His eyes had looked hurt. Elysia remembered the moment Tristan had been disappointed by her words and the moment he had been unable to take it anymore and stormed out.
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd screwed something up.
She had somehow survived today, but the real problem was what came next. She had no idea what she was supposed to do from here. Everything ahead looked pitch-black.
Elysia was rubbing both hands over her face when—
“Busy, aren't you?”
She'd thought no one else was there. But the curtain around the bed directly in front of her opened, and someone poked their face out.
Ah! Elysia was so startled she nearly screamed.
“Two lovers, huh? You certainly have your hands full.”
At the sight of the woman snickering at her, Elysia could only stare in shock once again.
The uninvited guest who had been hiding there was none other than 'Madam Rosalie.'