"Sung Yujin Prucus, is it true you attempted to sleep with your personal maid?"
The woman with auburn hair sat behind the desk in the study, her gaze fixed steadily on me as I stood motionless before her.
Elaine Casirout.
She was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her lustrous auburn hair was styled in an elegant updo, revealing the graceful curve of her neck.
The blue dress she wore complemented her perfectly, and her D-cup breasts were undeniably impressive. Above all, her flawless, translucent skin was captivating.
Indeed. This is a fantasy novel. A beauty like her is practically unheard of in reality.
With Count Prucus absent, she was the woman with the highest authority in the mansion.
She is the mother of the protagonist, Kyle Pruker, and my stepmother.
"Speak up instead of keeping silent," she commanded.
Her cold, reddish-brown eyes and voice snapped me out of my daze. I had been mesmerized by her beauty.
"...It's true," I admitted readily.
There was no point in denying it; Lexi had screamed and fled through the mansion, and many servants had witnessed the scene. Any investigation would quickly reveal the truth.
This isn't as big a deal as I thought.
Of course, it was wrong. My reputation would inevitably suffer.
But I was young, and the incident had been cut short. It wasn't a major crisis yet.
I knew Elaine's true nature. Beneath her cold exterior lay a rational and warm-hearted woman. Kyle, the original protagonist, deeply admired his mother for these qualities.
"Even if that personal maid is Lord Embis's only daughter, she's still just a maid."
"Yes, I'm aware."
"...Why did you commit such an act?"
Because I was horny as fuck, I wanted to say. But I couldn't.
"I wanted to experience sex. The books described it as an incredibly pleasurable act.
I was curious, and I don't think her status matter. She's fellow human like us."
"..."
Elaine fell silent, her gaze fixed on me. Her perfect poker face revealed nothing of her thoughts.
She must be in her mid-thirties, right? Maybe it's because she's an Intermediate Mage. She looks like she's in her late twenties.
As I was lost in pointless thoughts, Elaine spoke up.
"...Yes, you've reached that age too. Having undergone your Coming-of-Age Ceremony last year and been recognized as a man, it's natural for you to develop an interest in sex. But the book you read is wrong."
"Huh?"
"It's true that sexual release brings pleasure. However, the overwhelming ecstasy described in the book doesn't exist. Don't blindly trust everything you read."
"...Yes."
Even as I replied, I couldn't help but wonder what she meant.
A woman who had experienced proper sex would never say such a thing. At least, the women I'd been with had been so overwhelmed with pleasure during our encounters that they nearly fainted.
...Ah, right. Elaine's marriage to Count Prucus was a political arrangement.
The original story depicted Count Prucus as not deeply in love with Elaine.
So you lack sexual experience, huh? Heh heh heh.
How could I bed Elaine?
Trying to flirt with her was out of the question. Elaine was an Intermediate Mage. At my current level, she could beat me in an instant.
"I really disappointed in you."
"...I showed a disgraceful side of myself. I'm sorry. This won't happen again."
"Good. You are a direct descendant of House Prucus. Before acting, always consider your position and be mindful of your surroundings. Your disgrace becomes the disgrace of House Prucus."
"I'll keep that in mind."
How could I bed Elaine? She was rational and logical. Relying on emotions to develop a sexual relationship would be impossible.
Using aphrodisiacs at the right moment was one option.
Aphrodisiacs are too precious to waste. And it's no fun, getting her like that.
I trusted my own abilities. Even if it took time, I would conquer Elaine with my own strength, without relying on aphrodisiacs.
I would definitely conquer her.
"Lord Embis's daughter has been granted a period of rest. She will also be relieved of her position as your personal maid. For the time being, a new butler will attend to you."
"...A new butler?"
My face twisted in displeasure.
My character, Sung Yujin Prucus, was designed with a congenital heart condition. As a result, I received various accommodations within the mansion.
One such accommodation was having a personal servant live in the adjacent room, ready to assist in case of emergencies. A door in the corner of my room connected directly to the servant's quarters.
This door remains unlocked. In case of an emergency, such as me collapsing due to illness, someone can open it and enter my room.
A man is moving into the room next to mine? Are you out of your mind?!
I had no desire whatsoever to be attended to by a man. Even if he couldn't lay a finger on me, I'd much rather be served by a beautiful woman. That was my firm preference.
"I'm fine. I'd prefer to be alone for a while."
I'd rather live alone than be attended to by a man. A man coming near me to adjust my clothes?
Ugh, disgusting. The mere thought of it made me want to vomit.
"I can't allow that. Considering your health, having a servant attend to you isn't a choice, it's a necessity."
"Mother, I'm truly fine. Look at my complexion hasn't it improved lately?"
I emphasized my improved health.
I didn't claim my heart disease was cured. There was no need to discard such a convenient excuse just yet.
"...Indeed. I haven't received any reports of seizures in the past month. Come here and extend your hand."
I approached Elaine and offered my hand. The moment her delicate fingers grasped mine, a small, blue magic circle materialized beneath my palm, and a cool breeze swept through my body.
Magic. What kind of magic is this?
I didn't sense any immediate danger.
"...Your body has grown healthier. However, heart disease can relapse at any time."
She must have examined my body using magic. Judging by her uncertainty about whether my heart disease was cured, it thankfully wasn't a precise diagnostic spell.
"Mother, I'm really fine."
"It might just be a temporary improvement in your health."
Elaine showed no signs of backing down. After hesitating, I decided to deceive her.
"Mother, actually... I discovered an Ancient Artifact in the study."
"An Ancient Artifact?" Elaine asked, visibly surprised.
In this world, Ancient Artifacts referred to objects containing the power and knowledge of Ancient Civilizations. Mere old objects weren't recognized as Ancient Artifacts; they were simply relics.
"Yes. I found an ancient tome tucked away in a corner of the study.
When I opened it to read, a sudden burst of light erupted from a certain page... and the book vanished, replaced by the Ancient Artifact."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Ancient Artifacts often possess extraordinary powers beyond mere magic. In this world, they are considered priceless treasures.
"I wanted to investigate the Ancient Artifact personally. If I had told you I possessed one, you would have taken it from me."
"..."
Elaine remained silent. Her silence was as good as an affirmation.
"Some Ancient Artifacts contain dangerous powers. You must have heard the story of Viscount Peril."
Viscount Peril.
I knew of him too, as he was mentioned in the original story.
Viscount Peril, who had obtained an Ancient Artifact from a labyrinth, carelessly handled it and was cursed with a rotting affliction. The curse slowly corroded his body over seven days.
Despite employing every method magic, potions, blessings the curse remained unbroken. Viscount Peril suffered for a week before succumbing to the curse and dying.
This is a cautionary tale about the dangers of handling Ancient Artifacts, treasures beyond our control.
"This isn't as dangerous as Viscount Peril's Ancient Artifact. It's been a month, and as you can see, I've only grown healthier."
"I've heard you've been creating strange and wondrous devices lately. Is that also the power of the Ancient Artifact?"
"Yes, that's correct."
He seemed to believe me.
Count Prucus's household is an ancient noble family that has existed since the founding of the kingdom. Their study is practically a library, filled with numerous ancient texts.
This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment lie. I had carefully planned it, considering the future and ensuring its plausibility.
"May I see the Ancient Artifact?"
"Of course. Ah, but this can only be used by me. I tried letting other servants touch it, but it didn't react at all."
"You subjected your servants to such a dangerous experiment?"
"...I'm sorry. There were no problems. Really."
I took my smartphone out of my pocket and handed it to Elaine. She accepted it and began examining it from all angles, even using magic to inspect it.
It didn't matter if she accidentally pressed the power button.
[You can hack Sung Yujin's smartphone for 28 minutes.]
Thanks to my hacking skill, I had complete control over the smartphone's functions.
"It's quite peculiar. It doesn't react to mana or magic... Is this truly an Ancient Artifact?"
"Yes."
"How do you use it?"
"Give it here. As I mentioned earlier, it only responds to my touch."
I took the smartphone and rubbed my finger across its surface. The screen lit up, glowing brightly.
"This is the Ancient Artifact, the smartphone, in its activated state."
"Smartphone?"
"See? It says 'smartphone' right here."
I hacked the device to display text on the screen:
Elaine, you beauty. I want to sleep with you so bad!
Well, something along those lines.
"The name of this Ancient Artifact is 'smartphone,' as you can see."
"...These characters are unlike anything I've ever seen. They're completely different from any ancient script discovered so far."
I brazenly lied. Speaking with confidence always lends credibility.
"To think we could learn about the knowledge of the Ancient Civilization through this artifact... If that's true, this is an incredible discovery."
"Ah, it's just limited knowledge. I know nothing about the magic that existed in Ancient Civilizations."
"Is that the smartphone's ability?"
"It can store items and generate Ancient Artifacts at regular intervals."
"...What?"
"By 'Ancient Artifacts,' I don't mean items with immense power. What it creates is just junk. Junk. Let me show you."
I opened the Pleasure World App and retrieved an item from my inventory. Oh, by the way, the Pleasure World App is invisible to others.
Once, Oh Junhyeok caught me using it in real life, and he just dismissed me as a drunk, asking why I was moving my fingers without even turning on my phone.
Thump.
The air conditioner remote fell from my inventory.
"...What is this?"
"I'm not sure either. We'll have to investigate to find out."
Elaine fiddled with the remote, examining it closely before handing it back to me.
"It's best to keep that Ancient Artifact a secret. I'll forget what I saw today as well. You must be careful too," Elaine said.
Though not related by blood, Elaine was someone I could trust. She wasn't the kind of stepmother who favored her own children over others.
Even in the original story, when the eldest and second sons fought over the succession, she didn't side with Kyle but observed them with impartial eyes. It's no wonder the protagonist revered her.
"Yes. Oh, Mother! I have a gift for you."
"A gift?"
"Yes."
It's happening sooner than originally planned, but I don't think it will be a problem. In fact, I believe now is the perfect time.
I first returned to reality, stored the prepared items in my inventory, and then took one out to place on her desk.
Elaine immediately recognized it.
"A wristwatch?"
It was an antique-style wristwatch for women, a cheap one I'd picked up at the market. No brand name or anything.
But it looked decent enough.
"Yes, but it's not a magical clock."
"The Ancient Civilization wasn't just advanced in magic; they also had a flourishing era of engineering, which has since declined.
This must be a clock made with engineering. It's a precious gift. Thank you."
She didn't seem particularly thrilled.
It would be stranger if someone like Elaine were overly excited about a pretty wristwatch.
I retrieved another item from my inventory.
"...A beautiful glass ornament. What's the liquid inside?"
"This isn't an ornament, it's perfume."
It was a round, sky-blue glass bottle.
In this world, glass itself was easy to obtain, but handcrafted glass items like this were quite expensive.
"This is perfume from the Ancient Civilization era. I want to give it to my mother as a gift."
"Thank you. How do you use it?"
This time, she showed genuine interest. Like me, she had been born into nobility, so she couldn't possibly be indifferent to personal grooming.
"Ah."
She inhaled the scent of the Jasmine Perfume and let out a soft gasp. This modern perfume, crafted with the perfect blend of ingredients, was irresistible.
"I'll sell these amazing modern items to raise money. That's my brilliant plan!"
With the money she raised, she would buy every last Mana Awakening Potion.
It was truly a plan worthy of 120 points out of 100.