BOPE 8

~Chapter 8~

Donghee felt unfair—after all, she’d only looked around out of curiosity—but there was nothing she could do about it.

“Alright.”

When she arrived on the first floor, several servants were already standing in polite posture, waiting for her.

Feeling self-conscious, Donghee worried they might notice something strange about her, so she held her head high and quickly passed by them.

Delma’s face finally relaxed into a pleased smile when she saw Chloe walking faster.

Just as Donghee was about to step outside—

“My Lord!”

A middle-aged man came dashing down the stairs, calling out desperately to Chloe. Whatever was so urgent, he was leaping down two or three steps at a time.

Watching the skinny man hop down with his spindly legs made Donghee nervous for no reason. Only after he landed safely did she feel relieved.

She didn’t even know who he was, but the discomfort she felt at seeing him made it clear that he wasn’t someone Chloe had originally liked.

“Phew… I’m dying here.”

Out of breath, he bent his back at a full ninety degrees and panted heavily.

“Are… you okay?”

Donghee wasn’t sure whether it was okay to speak informally to someone who looked so much older, but since he’d called her “My Lord,” she figured it was fine.

At her question, the man raised his flushed face and blinked his large eyes. His irises were the color of aged pumpkin.

It wasn’t such a big deal to ask if he was okay, but the man stared at her as if she’d just said something earth-shattering.

Donghee patiently waited for him to catch his breath.

“I heard you’re going on a tour of the estate, huff, huff…”

“Yeah. Delma said I really have to go today.”

When Chloe mentioned her name, Delma’s round chin tilted a little higher than before. Her expression held the pride and smugness of someone who had finally achieved what no one else could.

“Then why are you leaving me behind?”

The man asked with a hurt expression. Though she hadn’t done anything wrong, Donghee felt even worse—as if she were being scolded.

“Should I be taking you with me?”

“How could you say such a thing…”

Donghee had only asked out of genuine curiosity, but the man looked as though he’d been deeply wounded.

Not sure what to do, Donghee glanced at Delma, silently pleading for help.

Delma let out a deep sigh, then looked at the man, who seemed on the verge of tears, and spoke in a gentle tone.

“Butler, the Lord only said that because she was concerned you hadn’t fully recovered from your recent cold. Isn’t that right, my Lord?”

Delma smiled sweetly as she asked.

“Of course! Naturally! A butler is far too important to be sick, right? Hahaha!”

Donghee only now learned the man was a butler, but she quickly laughed and went along with it.

Her terrible acting gave her goosebumps.

Feeling the corners of her mouth stiffen unnaturally, Donghee forced a smile. She doubted anyone would be fooled by such awkward acting.

Just then—

Ding!

A tiny heart popped up above the old butler’s graying head—boink!—and then quickly vanished.

– Current Favorability of Territory Residents: -189,370

Just one half-heartedly concerned question had raised her favorability by 10 points.

Delighted, Donghee put on an even more worried face and asked the butler again.

“Are you feeling better now? You still don’t look well—shouldn’t you rest a bit longer?”

Please go up, go up…

Donghee kept glancing at the butler’s head, hoping to see another heart.

“I’ve had enough rest. I’ll accompany you today.”

Ding!

– Current Favorability of Territory Residents: -189,390

What?!

Her favorability had suddenly dropped by 20 points.

Now that she looked closer, the butler’s eyes were filled with suspicion. It seemed her insincere words had backfired.

Donghee felt sick at losing 20 precious points just like that.

Having expected something grand for a lord’s carriage, Donghee was speechless at the sight of the old, worn-out coach. She just stood there with her mouth hanging open.

She hadn’t expected a fancy pumpkin carriage like Cinderella’s, but still, as a noble’s transport, she thought it would be a bit more impressive. She didn’t think it would be this shabby.

Fortunately, it looked old but not broken.

As she approached the carriage, a nearby knight quickly stepped forward, opened the door, and offered his hand.

It felt a little awkward being escorted for the first time, but Donghee took his hand naturally and climbed up the steps.

Inside, the carriage was surprisingly spacious and cozy compared to its outside.

The cushions on the seats were thick enough that her butt probably wouldn’t get sore during the ride.

After Donghee got in, the butler followed and sat across from her. As soon as he settled, he pulled out a stack of documents from the worn leather bag under his arm and began explaining.

“Today, we’re headed to Morta Village.”

“Morta?”

“I know you dislike that place, but Morta is also part of your territory. The residents there deserve care as well.”

The butler spoke pleadingly.

“Okay, I understand.”

“…Pardon?”

When Chloe agreed without complaint, the butler looked genuinely shocked—as if he’d heard something unbelievable.

It suddenly made Donghee wonder just what kind of lord Chloe Grace had been before. It seemed there would be a lot of work to do.

No matter where she went, Donghee’s fate seemed to involve hard work.

A squad of ten knights on horseback flanked the carriage, guarding it front and back.

Donghee felt strangely important, like someone of great status.

Through the carriage window, she got her first good look at the mansion—it was much larger than she had imagined, more like a castle.

Built from solid stone, it looked at least five stories tall.

Covered in moss and dry vines, the stone walls gave the building an eerie, gloomy feel, like something out of an old Dracula film.

The carriage exited the castle and rattled along the road toward a high outer wall.

Donghee, glued to the window, looked around nonstop like a tourist visiting a famous castle.

But her excited expression gradually darkened as she took in the surrounding landscape.

“Are you feeling unwell, my Lord?”

“Why are all the houses so run-down?”

The houses within the outer walls were nearly all damaged. Though people were clearly still living and working there, many homes had doors missing or roofs falling apart. Dust clouds kicked up with every turn of the carriage wheels on the bare earth.

As the lord’s carriage passed, the workers bowed, but none looked genuinely pleased to see them. Their gazes were sharp, almost hostile.

– Current Favorability of Territory Residents: -189,400
– Current Favorability of Territory Residents: -189,450
– Current Favorability of Territory Residents: -189,470
…
…
– Current Favorability of Territory Residents: -189,850

Insane!

Just seeing the lord’s carriage had caused the favorability to drop by 460.

Donghee squeezed her eyes shut and leaned back against the seat.

Even with her eyes closed, she could still hear the endless dinging of favorability points dropping.

At this rate, staying inside the house might’ve been better.

The noise finally stopped as they crossed a drawbridge—likely because no one was around to see the carriage anymore.

With the sound gone, Donghee clutched her fraying nerves and summoned the status window.

She needed to see how far the favorability had fallen.

– Current Favorability of Territory Residents: -191,150

It was almost a relief they hadn’t dropped below -200,000. The rate of decline was terrifying.

What kind of life did you live, Chloe Grace?

Donghee called out the original owner of her body in a daze.

Slumped in the shaking carriage, having lost all motivation, a blue status window floated up in front of her.

– User’s Remaining Points: 60
Would you like to check what items are available for purchase at the Hidden Shop using your remaining points?

She’d thought the favorability crash might have erased her hidden points too, but apparently not.

Donghee nodded slightly, figuring it would be a good way to lift her spirits.

Looking across from her, she saw the butler had fallen asleep with his head tilted back, mouth slightly open, while still holding his documents.

Shhhh—

A long chart unfolded, so tall she had to crane her neck to see the top.

The items at the very top were too far to read.

Donghee instinctively dragged her finger down the screen, and the chart moved smoothly with her touch.

“It’s a touchscreen.”

It felt strange that something intangible could respond like that. It reminded her of playing with a brand-new phone.

– Remaining Points: 60

“Is there even anything I can buy with this?”

As she scrolled up and down the list, Donghee realized she could only read a small portion.

Anything priced over 61 points was blurred out and unreadable—only the point cost was visible.