"... really? Emeraldios Empire? Even though we are neighbors, it will still take over a month to get to Jade Academy by land… a week by sea if we're lucky. Didn't you consider the two of us just running off?"
As they were walking down the hallway, Zane furrowed his brows and tilted his head while following a step behind Melinda.
"I did. Counterpoint. With our current levels, neither of us is making a successful escape from this house. Level 30 guards are keeping watch on the gate and walls around the mansion. Duke Brynhild was listed as level 39 in the official artbook, making him the same level as guard commander Beo, and although Lazurii can be romanced from the start, he joins the actual party halfway through the story as level 55, so it wouldn't be weird if he is around level 35 to 45 now. I believe I should be around level 1 or 2 at the absolute best. Spoiled little lady and all. What level are you?"
The gold-haired girl shrugged her shoulders and smacked the monstrous servant's side with the application form as she pointed out and asked.
"...level 15… but with my ability, I could take one… maybe two… level 30 human guards… by surprise…"
Zane admitted with a grumble, facing away from the girl.
"Your whole thing, even in the game, was that you could level up on your own as long as the game was open and you weren't on the screen… We can't be sure whether the actual story will happen, but getting out of the kingdom without getting pursued gives both of us an opportunity to increase our levels. And that's on top of keeping us away from getting involved with the heroine and the capture targets."
Melinda smiled and reminded him.
"And we can make all of that happen with a blessing from his majesty~:"
She added, waving the papers in her hand enticingly.
"Alright… but! About Lazurii, why were you so cold to him?"
Zane sighed and nodded before perking up and glancing over his shoulder.
"Lazurii is an overprotective older brother. His route starts only because he wants to keep the heroine and the crown prince separate so that his sister won't get her fiance stolen. He actually catches feelings for the heroine later. The thing is, he is so worried about his sister that he keeps her sheltered. He would try to assist with leveling up, making it hard for me to gain any actual proficiency. Not to mention, he would oppose the idea of his younger sister missing on the Brylant Academy experience because that's where he could protect her best. So I made a preemptive strike to assure he wouldn't meddle."
"...huh…"
Melinda explained that part, too, as Zane kept nodding his head with an expression torn between being upset and being impressed.
"I got another question, though. About the engagement."
"Yes?"
The pair stopped in front of the door to Melinda's room, looking at each other curiously.
"The plan you told me about, the one you introduced to the duke."
"What about it?"
Zane gave the girl a side eye and said in a tone of voice suggesting that she should be aware of some problem… which she acted as if she wasn't…
"It's too good. It has a good chance of working. No, not just a chance. I think it will work out exactly like you said it would."
The servant pointed out as his expression grew more stern.
"Wha…? No. Pshh! No, it will not. Ester doesn't love his fiance. He doesn't even remotely like her. It was always a one-sided crush. He will end up falling head over heels for the heroine the moment she shows her pretty white-haired head."
Melinda choked up on thin air before shaking her head and scoffing at the idea.
"What if there is no heroine? She was just the player's self-insert anyway, so why would she exist here now that it all became real?"
The servant looked up at the ceiling before lowering his head and rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"..."
Melinda's eyes widened as she stared into the distance.
"Did you consider an option where the heroine doesn't exist and the crown prince starts to miss you and changes his mind, getting fully on board with the marriage idea? And before I forget - you might not have noticed, but it's not Lazurii's sister or the crown prince's fiancee. It's you. I was going to applaud you for the shockingly fast acceptance of the situation, but you seem to separate Melinda and yourself in your mind instead. That's not good."
"..."
Zane's expression was growing darker and darker even when Melinda looked up at him like a deer in a headlight, completely thrown off her game.
"Or, I don't know, you are doing it on purpose? Distancing yourself from who you become to get the best results. Maybe your plan is so good because you actually want the crown prince to go along with the whole engagement. Becoming a queen is a serious step up from the tiny apartment GrassAngelVIVI burnt down in after a… ah…"
The monstrous servant grumbled, and his upper lip got lifted by the grimace, showing additional triangular teeth poking out of his gums - at least before he suddenly flinched and his distorted eyes widened.
"Oh dear, oh my. Someone suddenly seems so knowledgeable about the circumstances preceding our reincarnation. Oh, and I don't want to sound too cocky, but I'm pretty sure the smoke and general lack of oxygen got me first. Actually, burning down would leave way more impression than some vague smell and heat~"
Melinda stopped in place, smirking coldly while giving the monstrous servant a challenging look.
"...!"
His reaction… it was obvious that he felt that he said too much… which meant that there were even more things he was keeping a secret…
"As for me not immediately settling in within Melinda's body... I suppose you want me to apologize for not literally being the same character? You know, like you are? Between the two of us, you are the one who didn't get their ideal come to life, so you're pissed off."
"I...! I didn't mean it like that!"
The girl breathed out bitterly, glaring to the side, which caused Zane to flinch and begin an attempt to explain.