{Chapter 28} Louise’s intentions, Anna knew them all too well
For the next two or three days, things were exactly as the simulator predicted, so calm that it felt almost unbelievable.
Louise greeted Anna as usual, though she was still wearing the surcoat Anna had given her.
Philsey remained as detestable as ever, and the stench clinging to him refused to fade.
The other members of the knight order were the same as always, some lazing around, others out hunting magical beasts. Aside from the absence of one or two people, nothing seemed particularly different.
As for Anna, she had switched to the new horse Louise had gifted her. Her old horse had been sold off for a single gold coin.
Her living quarters remained just as shabby, if it weren’t for the fact that similarly priced houses didn’t come with a courtyard and a stable, she would have moved long ago.
…Meanwhile, over the past few days, Anna had been running more simulations.
Yet, as if missing some crucial trigger, every run of the simulator either led to the same repeated scenario of marrying Louise or ended in her dying during a ferocious magical beast incident after Helga's arrival.
As for investigating the elven archer who could always land a perfect explosive arrow shot on her, resulting in her experiencing "one hundred ways to be dismembered by explosive arrows" there was simply no opportunity.
She could try discussing it with Louise, but so far, that elven archer had never appeared outside of the simulator.
Their concealment skills were leagues ahead of that treacherous housekeeper. Though Louise would likely believe Anna's words, she might not be able to find any useful information.
This was the disadvantage of being in the open while the enemy lurked in the shadows.
Anna still couldn't understand why the other party wanted her dead. She had never knowingly offended anyone, had she?
As someone who had always aspired to be a knight, Anna had grown up adhering to strict self-discipline, never provoking others lightly, and strictly following the knightly code.
The only exceptions were being influenced by her roommate to read some rather questionable nighttime literature during her academy days and, after six months of work, being so relentlessly exploited by her wretched superior Philsey that, without the simulator, she might have resigned herself to coasting until retirement.
Otherwise, she was every bit the model knight.
That was precisely why Louise had respected her so much at first, so much so that admiration eventually turned into something else.
Could it be because of the ten gold coins she owed her old roommate from the academy?
No, that didn’t make sense. That roommate came from a high-ranking noble family and had always maintained a good relationship with her.
She had even said at graduation that she didn't need to pay it back. And even though she had said that, Anna still sent silver coins every month, repaying the debt in installments. No matter how she looked at it, no one would go so far as to kill her over ten gold coins.
Then who else could it be?
Surely not an old enemy of the Garland family? Would a declining noble house really have an enemy powerful enough to deploy an elven archer who specialized in explosive arrows?
If her parents weren’t already long gone, she might have considered asking them for answers.
“Ugh... I just can’t figure it out.”
Thinking about such troubling things first thing in the morning really wasn’t great.
Ever since acquiring the simulator, she felt like her problems had multiplied. Could it be that this simulator itself was to blame?
Lying idly in bed, she pulled up the simulator interface and browsed through the achievement page and the achievement shop—things she had already examined multiple times. She let out a sigh.
"I really don’t want to go to work..."
Yes, the real reason she was still lying in bed and overthinking things this morning was simply because she didn’t want to go to work.
Perhaps it was because she had experienced the joy of taking a break.
After Louise had indulged her with shopping sprees and leisure time under the excuse of "a day off," Anna no longer had the same ingrained habit of reporting to the knight order's garrison and going through the monotonous daily routine of patrolling while being pestered by brothel workers asking if she wanted to "switch careers."
Just as she continued her internal struggle with her bedsheets, a knock suddenly came at the door.
There was no choice, she had to get up now.
Dragging herself out of bed, still dressed in simple linen sleepwear, Anna yawned.
She didn't even bother brushing her hair before going to open the door.
"…Lou? Good morning."
"I told you, Senpai, stop calling me that embarrassing nickname!" Louise's face flushed red, and she pouted in protest.
Ever since that day, Anna had taken to calling her "Lou" every day. Louise should have been used to it by now, but that nickname, so intimate and affectionate, always left her feeling flustered.
Because of it, she had even stopped teasing Anna as much over the past few days. As a result, things seemed to have returned to the usual routine, where their interactions were limited to brief greetings.
"Sorry, sorry," Anna apologized insincerely. "You came looking for me—did your butler confess anything?"
"Yes."
Unlike in the simulation, this time Louise had come alone, without any grand entourage.
"…So that's the situation." After explaining everything, which closely mirrored what had happened in the simulator, Louise gave a small bow. "For failing to conduct a thorough background check on my housekeepers and causing Senpai such trouble, even endangering your life, I sincerely apologize."
"No need to apologize like that, as long as the matter is settled." Anna sighed. "But… Pureblood faction, huh? I never expected to be targeted by those lunatics."
"Exactly! No matter what they think, my relationship with Senpai is none of their business!" Louise declared, her expression shifting into a mischievous grin.
"Senpai, as a reward for resolving this matter—"
"Oh? What kind of reward does Lou want?"
"Ugh…"
Anna deliberately used "Lou" again. Just as Louise had been about to slip into her usual playful demeanor, the affectionate nickname instantly made her flustered again.
"Senpai! You’re definitely doing this on purpose!" Seeing Anna’s unabashed smirk, Louise huffed and playfully bumped her forehead against Anna’s stomach.
"Hey, hey, don’t bump me, that hurts!"
After some lighthearted scuffling, they finally settled down. Without thinking, Anna wrapped her arms around Louise.
"That… mysterious person with elven features—I'll have to trouble you to investigate them, Louise."
"Well, Senpai, since I’m the only one you can truly rely on, I guess I have no choice!" Louise boasted proudly. "I will definitely find out what's going on for you!"
"But!" Louise suddenly leaned in, her sharp gaze locking onto Anna's.
"If I do manage to uncover the truth and solve this problem for Senpai, then Senpai must promise to give me a reward!"
"A reward…? What kind of reward?"
"That’s a secret."
Seeing the deep, meaningful smile on Louise’s face, Anna swallowed nervously.
Louise’s intentions, Anna knew them all too well!