Gacha Kingdom Building

Before our return to the Academy, we stayed in Isabella's house in Evretis for a few days.

While she would probably be able to rest better at the capital, I had a few things I needed to check at the main residence.

One of them was the shift in the culture over there.

They lost their fall guy in Isabella's absence, causing their stress to amount over time.

When it came to their mistakes, their only choices were to blame each other or assume responsibility.

Slowly, the incompetent ones were isolated or fell behind, being promptly replaced by Pamela who prioritized the image of her house above all else and couldn't afford to keep third rates around.

Because of that, to Isabella's surprise, our stay in her home was actually quite positive and relaxing.

Most of the new hires were extremely respectful towards Isabella, and even when accidents happened due to her predisposition to attract them, they would always reassure her, taking care of the mess instead of purposefully blowing it out of proportion, provoking or blaming her for it.

Pamela had shown herself able to make the necessary changes fairly with the information she was provided, but I was a bit surprised to see how ruthless she could really be.

According to Isabella, some of the people she had let go of worked in the residence for over a decade.

Still, I was glad to see Isabella being able to rest at her own home. It even sounds strange to think this wasn't the case before, but alas, things were getting better for her in many ways.

Isabella: "I couldn't have dreamed about this before..."

Miwen: "If you're considering rewarding me for a job well done, can I ask for a day off?"

Isabella: "Hmmm?"

After I came to this world, the idea of a day off ceased to exist.

I had been taking care of Isabella practically every day of every week for more than half a year.

To call it a job is a little of a stretch though.

I honed a bunch of different skills to help with my sister's everyday life, however, she was always overly independent and capable, so it was more like sharing responsibilities and tasks than me actually helping her.

Isabella is her complete opposite, so I have a lot of fun teaching and lending her a hand.

It was especially fun in the early days when she would look at me with amazed eyes for a brief moment whenever I showed her how simple it was to do certain tasks.

Isabella: "So... What are you planning? I heard that a day off for you is just an opportunity to play around with girls, right?"

I wonder who told her that...

The worst part is that she pretty much nailed my plans with the last sentence.

Although playing is quite a vague word.

Miwen: "As you know, I promised to visit a special place with Sabrina when your academy returns."

Isabella: "You're going to accept her date invitation..."

Miwen: "Yes..."

Isabella: "...Is this a one-time thing?"

Much as I'd like it not to be...

Miwen: "I believe she'll invite me often."

The gazebo is one of the most efficient ways to develop a strong relationship with the characters without relying on random events.

Currently, I'm probably Sabrina's target with the least favorability since I rarely leave Isabella's side.

If she's focusing on increasing all targets' favorability, she'll probably abuse the gazebo and my time as much as possible.

Even though I knew it would be somewhat dangerous for me considering my current status in this world, I still found this to be a good opportunity to probe a little more into Sabrina since I haven't had much time alone with her.

However, there was also the matter of Isabella's feelings.

She's grown a lot over the past few months, to the point where I think she would be able to stand on her own even without me around.

But it's hard for her to realize this. Unconsciously, she can't separate the idea of me being the pillar that allowed her to reach the current stage from her own newly found stability.

In other words, she's afraid that if I were to leave her, she would fall back to where she started.

Still, while such fears existed, the Isabella I know has quite the cunning and analytical side to her deep down.

She quickly realized that I was asking for her permission as a gesture to reassure her that she could intervene whenever she wanted, but instead of going along with it, she decided to take the opportunity to extract as much as she could from me.

Isabella: "Hm... I'm not sure then. After what you did to Marin, I don't think I should trust you too much."

Miwen: "...Anything I can do to change your mind?"

Sadly, she's not used to her schemes working so well, so I easily noticed the excitement in her eyes and the change in her mood as soon as I answered her with exactly what she wanted to hear.

Isabella: "Well... I've been thinking about a few things. Back in Cobierzh, you had a few private meetings with Queen Lyra, right?"

Miwen: "...You're curious about what we discussed?"

Isabella: "Yes, but I know you won't answer truthfully, otherwise, you would've done it in my presence. I just wanted to point it out."

Miwen: "And what's the point of making me aware of it?"

Isabella: "It's not just this that I noticed. There was the whole deal with Marin as well."

Right.

Even Marin had a vague idea of what I was planning due to how direct I was with my words at the time...

Isabella: "You said Lana would never refuse food, and while I do think it's true, I've done a few tests, and sometimes, the snacks I drop in my shadow simply hit the floor and stay there... Almost like she's Lana is not there at all."

Hm... I wasn't expecting her to keep actively testing her shadow like that...

Due to how Lana's Gift allows her to move from shadow to shadow, it's almost impossible to tell if she's there or not.

Actively testing it in intervals is bothersome, but it is a good way to confirm if she's there or not in case you are suspicious.

Miwen: "Maybe she was sleeping?"

Isabella: "Sometimes. But I usually test it multiple times a day."

And to think I even defended her when Sabrina called her out for dropping her meal once... I've never felt so betrayed before.

If you've already confirmed your theory, stop wasting food, idiot.

Isabella: "No, that one wasn't on purpose..."

Oh... Pfft.

I should've guessed. It was way too ungrateful for it to have been a test.

But her tendency for such incidents might've clouded my view as well, otherwise, I'm sure I would've caught on to it.

Isabella: "Back on the topic at hand... Whenever Lana is not around, I've also noticed suspiciously familiar mana outside my room."

Alright... She was way more prepared than I thought.

Isabella: "Let's see... What's more... Oh yeah, how could I forget? There's your whole shopping spree as well."

Miwen: "I've already told you I was using your family name for that."

Isabella: "Right... But that can only take you so far, right? I mean, once we entered the academy, the word of you being my personal butler rather than the Evretis' house should've quickly spread among the noble families."

.....

Miwen: "You're not giving me enough credit. Maybe I'm just that good at the art of-"

Isabella: "Uh-huh. And then there are the still unsolved kidnappings..."

Miwen: "Isabella..."

Isabella: "Please, I need to know. I really want to trust you. I think I won't ever believe anyone again if you too-"

Even though she was paying such close attention, she had not yet pieced everything together.

There were a bunch of things she was sure about, but many she was left in the dark about, being only able to take a guess.

In the end, there must've been a bunch of different theories going in her head, and I'm sure quite a few of those scared her quite a lot.

Especially the idea that what I'm doing might somehow be used against her.

Probably the scenario she feared the most, considering how many people have abandoned or betrayed her in some way throughout her life.

Without revealing my hand, there wasn't much I could do to reassure her, and sadly, I needed to keep her in the dark for a while longer.

It wouldn't be fair to any of us if I allowed her to choose right now.

Not when I know what the future holds for her.

However, I still didn't like to see her like that.

Even though she was cornering me, I'm much more fond of her when she feels in control.

It feels much more natural. Like things are finally the way they should always have been.

Or perhaps I just don't like seeing her doubting herself and her fate so much...

The moment I accepted this event, I knew it was going to end up like this, but...

I wonder if I'm also able to do what's right when the time comes.

Miwen: "I'll say it again, Isa. I hope for nothing but a happy ending for you, but... Like today, some things might happen that will hurt you... And I'm afraid there's nothing I can do."

Isabella: "...What do you mean?"

Isabella and I were at a table in the garden of her mansion.

It was as much of a peaceful day as the others had been.

The table we were on was a little far from the main building. Just enough to be out of the way of the servants so that they wouldn't interrupt us, but still close enough for the girls to keep an eye on us from the windows of the building. Just in case.

Still, because of this, most servants would calmly walk towards us in case we needed to attend to something, as showing an unsightly appearance could be seen as disrespectful.

Thus, a maid desperately running towards us was not only odd, but it also carried a foreboding feeling.

As if something drastic had happened.

Maid: "Lady Isabella... Your presence is urgently required in the mansion. Please, would you kindly follow me?"

The girl had run with all her might.

Her breathing was ragged.

Whatever had happened, it was important enough to where a new hire, one of the maids most respectful to Isabella, decided that appearances wouldn't matter.

Isabella: "Huh? What's this about?"

Maid: "An unfortunate event has occurred and... Duke Albris is... No longer with us."

It was only a minute of silence, but it felt like an eternity.

To the point where the Maid almost repeated herself, thinking that perhaps Isabella had not heard her.

However, that wasn't the case.

Isabella: "...Miwen?"

As she looked at me for confirmation, all I could focus on was her face.

Shock and confusion were written all over it, masked only by the sadness that accompanied them.

She was strong enough to hold back her tears.

I had seen so much bullshit happen to this girl throughout our time, but I might've never seen her so sad.

Sadly... As I told her, and like I had told Marin before...

There wasn't much I could do.

Or... There wasn't much I could have done.

There wasn't any good news I could give her, and I don't think it would do her any good to say that even if I could have prevented this, this was for the best.

Yes... This was a fated event.

One the girls had faced many times before.

One I knew was to come, and one I had prepared myself the best I could for.

Yet... There wasn't any variation of it that wouldn't hurt Isabella.

At least this... was simply impossible for me to prevent.

I did what I could though... And in that moment, knowing how messy her mind and heart were, all I could hope for was to hold her hand and calm her down as we made our way back to the mansion together.

That moment was the reason why I couldn't promise Isabella I would never lie to her or that I would protect her from everything.

After all... When I told her everything was going to be alright... I had to steel myself, as I knew that things were about to get much, much worse.

Isabella and her family... With Duke Albris' death, it was now the time for the truth about them to be revealed, and for her world to shake.

This tragic heroine I took under my protection...

I wouldn't be surprised if someone lesser broke down after it, but...

I believed that she would come out stronger from it.