I Put all my Stats into Charm
Clarissa
매력에 스텟을 몰빵해 버렸다 Jul 01, 2026 21 views
Chapter 7
“I’ve Dumped All My Stats into Charm”
I couldn’t understand at all what point Jerome’s affection had increased.
Still, it was better than it not increasing at all, so it was good news.
Even so, I couldn’t help thinking that +1 was a bit too stingy when the carriage finally arrived at its destination.
Escorted by Jerome, I stepped down from the carriage and saw a refined old mansion building.
It was the largest and most stylish restaurant in the city.
As we passed through the entrance, a woman’s voice came from behind us.
“Duke Jerome Winston?”
We turned around, and I saw a young lady in a sophisticated dress.
The lady, with long black hair flowing gracefully, blinked her large eyes as she looked at Jerome.
“May I ask what brings you to the capital, Your Grace…?”
Her gaze shifted to me. The angelic sparkle in her eyes turned briefly cold.
But soon she returned to her sweet expression and smiled gently.
“And who might this lady be?”
Right. She was about the point where she should appear.
I slowly looked at her face, one I hadn’t seen in a while.
Vivian Angus.
The villain who poisoned me, and the target I had to eliminate in this playthrough.
Vivian tilted her head at me.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before…”
Jerome spoke.
“This is Lady Aisha, disciple of Lord Lowell Chifrian. And this is Lady Vivian of House Angus.”
At the introduction, Vivian’s eyes widened.
“Lowell Chifrian? The imperial court’s chief mage?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“No wonder… Lady Aisha has a different aura from ordinary noble ladies.”
Vivian smiled sweetly as she continued.
“Noble ladies usually wear extravagant dresses, don’t they? But Lady Aisha… how should I put it… you seem very scholarly. As expected of the disciple of the Great Mage.”
So basically I look like someone who studies too much in a bad way?
This woman was already attacking me in her own subtle way.
I smiled as politely as I could and replied.
“Thank you. These days, many people only decorate their appearance and neglect their inner self. In that sense, I think you’re someone I could learn a lot from.”
Vivian’s smiling lips twitched.
My words “someone I could learn from” could be interpreted in two ways.
One: she is so beautiful inside and out that I can learn from her.
Two: she’s two-faced, so she’s a good example of what not to be.
Depending on interpretation, it could be praise or insult.
Of course, I meant it as an insult.
After a brief silence, Vivian smiled again.
“Thank you for the compliment. Now that I think about it, I haven’t heard your surname. What is it, Lady Aisha?”
The protagonist didn’t have a surname. That was normal for an orphan, but in noble society, it was practically proof of low birth.
Not wanting to give her ammunition, I hesitated.
‘I’ll just have to make one up.’
Then a name came to mind.
The surname I had once been granted by Crown Prince Caliton during a previous route.
“Amybier. Aisha Amybier.”
Vivian tilted her head.
“Amybier… I’ve never heard that surname. Where are you from?”
“From far away. You probably wouldn’t know it even if I explained.”
“Oh my… so you’re from the countryside.”
She looked at me with pity.
“Then life in the capital must feel strange and exciting. I’d be happy to show you around sometime.”
“That’s kind of you, but I’ll pass. I can’t trouble you with something like that.”
Right. She was calling me a country bumpkin.
It didn’t take a genius to see the mockery behind her kindness.
But even country bumpkins can strike back.
“And don’t worry about me. I think I’ll be guided around the capital by the Duke.”
I looked at Jerome.
“Right, Your Grace?”
Jerome raised one eyebrow slightly, as if surprised.
Say yes. Hurry up.
I had basically thrown that line out of pride, not because I had actually arranged anything with him.
‘Please don’t refuse.’
That would be so embarrassing.
After a tense moment, Jerome inclined his upper body slightly and replied calmly.
“If that is what Lady Aisha desires.”
Relief washed over me.
My desperate will must have reached the system.
I, Aisha, now had Jerome—affection level 32—who would show me around the capital. You didn’t.
I smiled in victory at Vivian.
She looked back at us calmly.
“…Well, I suppose that’s fine.”
But I quickly noticed she was only pretending to be fine.
Her lips were trembling slightly.
Serves you right.
While I was thinking that, Vivian turned to Jerome.
“Oh, it seems like the incense is running low. When should I visit the ducal estate?”
Now that I thought about it, I remembered that when Jerome suffered from headaches, Vivian used to bring purification incense used in temples.
“If it’s not the incense I gave you, you can’t even sleep properly, can you?”
Since she couldn’t win with words against me, she was trying to emphasize her connection with Jerome.
“That is no longer necessary.”
Jerome’s answer was firm.
But Vivian did not back down.
“I’m not someone who finds such small inconveniences troublesome. I would do anything to help relieve Your Grace’s headaches.”
“What I mean is that the problem has already been resolved, so there is no need for you to come anymore.”
“…Pardon?”
Confused, Vivian blinked.
Jerome continued.
“Lady Aisha identified the cause of the headaches. Since the problem is solved, the incense is no longer needed.”
“…!”
Vivian’s lips parted in shock.
This time, she truly looked surprised.
Soon, moisture gathered at the corners of her eyes.
Seeing a beautiful woman look sad made my heart soften for a moment.
She must have been trying to cling to Jerome, only to have even that taken away by me.
Just as I started to feel sorry for her, I mentally slapped myself.
Snap out of it. She’s a murderer.
She poisoned you out of jealousy. A psychopath.
I hardened my resolve. No matter how pitiful she looked, I didn’t need sympathy for a killer.
Then Vivian raised her head again. Her face had already been composed.
“As fate would have it, since we’ve met like this, would you like to attend a tea party this week? I’d love to invite you, Lady Aisha.”
Here it comes.
On the surface, it looked like a friendly invitation.
But it wasn’t.
This was basically an assassination attempt disguised as hospitality.
“I’d be delighted if you could join and brighten the gathering.”
Vivian smiled warmly and brushed a strand of hair from my clothes.
“I’ll send the invitation to the Tower of the Moon. I can expect a positive answer, can’t I?”
I replied reluctantly.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Then, please enjoy your meal.”
She lifted her skirt slightly and gave an elegant bow.
After she left, it was just Jerome and me again.
“You are not obligated to accept Lady Vivian’s invitation.”
“Huh?”
I turned to him.
His face looked as expressionless as usual, but there was something serious in his eyes.
He’s more considerate than I thought.
“It’s fine. I was curious about how noble ladies in the capital host tea parties.”
If I refused, I couldn’t predict what Vivian would do next.
Unknown situations were harder to deal with than ones I had already experienced. As long as I avoided drinking anything, I could probably survive.
Of course, I needed to settle things properly this time.
People who killed others just because they disliked them needed to be dealt with firmly.
As I thought about how to handle her, Jerome spoke.
“I overstepped my bounds.”
“No, I appreciate your concern.”
“….”
Jerome cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Shall we go inside?”
“Yes.”
I entered the restaurant with Jerome.
After leaving the restaurant, Vivian boarded the carriage waiting outside.
As soon as the door closed, her expression turned cold.
It was hard to believe she had been smiling moments ago.
“This can’t continue… this cannot continue…”
Vivian clenched the strand of Aisha’s hair in her hand.
Then she muttered in a low voice.
“I need something stronger… but how? What should I do…?”
