The Marquis' Daughter, a Research Enthusiast, Fails to Notice Her Junior's Devoted Feelings After Her Engagement is Broken. - Chapter 1.20

Emil’s event was supposed to begin in the courtyard, where he would be moved by the heroine’s singing and say, “Let’s perform together at the cultural festival.” From there, we would grow closer while practicing together.

His role as a music teacher was heavily utilized in the character song CDs that were released later. He conveniently became the instructor for the romance targets, teaching them guitar and bass, forming a band for promotional content. Ernest played guitar and handled vocals, William was the rhythm guitarist, Nathaniel played bass, Simon was on drums, and Emil played the keyboard.

After school, I went to the courtyard and started singing to trigger the event. And sure enough, Emil appeared.

But… why was he trying to leave so quickly?

I had no choice but to push the conversation forward.

“W-Wait! What did you think of my singing?”

“Hmm…? I wasn’t really listening. My apologies, but I must be going.”

He avoided making eye contact and clearly wanted to leave.

This wasn’t right.

In the game, he was supposed to be moved by my voice, saying, “That song… was it you who sang it?” and then bring up the cultural festival himself.

Since the event wasn’t progressing as intended, I took matters into my own hands.

“I still haven’t found anyone to accompany me on piano.”

“Why would you ask me?”

“Because you’re a music teacher, of course!”

“What? No, I teach advanced mathematics. You must have me confused with someone else.”

Emil is a math teacher?!

What… is going on?!

Why did his setting change? Without this event, I wouldn’t be able to clear his route!

Panicked, I asked him if he still played the piano.

“Huh? I did as a child, but not anymore. You should ask a proper instructor.”

No… no, no, no! This ruins the cultural festival event! Emil not playing music anymore—how did things go so wrong?! Without this event, I can’t complete the reverse harem route!

But Emil did show up here. That means something triggered the event, right?

As I wrestled with my thoughts, Emil quietly disappeared.

The next event was supposed to take place in the music room. This was where we would practice together, growing closer, culminating in a slightly spicy CG scene.

Sure enough, Emil appeared, confirming that the event was happening.

Excited to raise his affection level, I threw my arms around him. Only to be pushed away.

That wasn’t right.

Emil was supposed to be touchy-feely.

In fact, all romance targets responded well to physical contact. Nathaniel, for instance, could be won over just by repeatedly touching him—fans even nicknamed him Easy Glasses.

Then, Emil suddenly pointed at my hair.

“There’s a bug in your hair.”

My heart leapt.

The event is happening!

I closed my eyes, waiting. In the game, this was the moment where he would brush my hair aside, murmur “Disinfecting,” and kiss the top of my head.

But instead—he plucked my hair out.

Hard.

It hurt.

What kind of event was this?!

Maybe it was glitched because the courtyard event didn’t play out properly?

Regardless, I still needed him to play piano for me.

I tried to hand him the sheet music, but—

“What are you doing here?”

A cold voice interrupted.

I turned to see Ernest.

What?!

This wasn’t supposed to be a jealousy event.

Jealousy events happened in the reverse harem route, but not during Emil’s storyline!

Ernest glared at Emil, his eyes dark with suspicion.

Normally, I love jealousy events… but not right now!

Panicked, I tried to explain.

But Emil suddenly said, “His Highness should be the one to accompany her.”

And Ernest agreed.

No, no, no—this wasn’t happening!

“I can play piano. Would you rather I accompany you?”

Ernest took my hand, gazing at me with those sorrowful eyes.

When someone that handsome looks at you like that, it’s lethal.

For a moment, I almost wavered.

But wait—does Ernest even play piano? In the character song CDs, he was the guitarist.

“Yes,” he answered confidently. “I want to play for you.”

“Ernest…”

His grip tightened around my fingers.

This… this was too much.

I felt like I was going to pass out.

“Well, looks like you two have reached an agreement! I’ll leave it to you, Your Highness.”

And just like that—Emil left.

His event had been completely hijacked by Ernest.

Did this mean the reverse harem route was impossible now?

From that day forward, Ernest and I practiced together every afternoon.

All of Emil’s events—now happening with Ernest instead.

Even the accidental kiss event, where I tripped while reaching for sheet music, happened with Ernest.

And after that kiss, he held me close.

It was electrifying.

But it also meant that Emil’s route was completely erased.

On the day of the cultural festival, Ernest performed with me. We lost the competition.

Afterward, Emil completely disappeared.

So that was it. The reverse harem route was dead.

✶ ✶ ✶

“Ugh… the reverse harem route is ruined… I’m so depressed.”

I sighed, confiding in Josette.

“Why?”

“Emil’s route got swapped for Ernest’s. And I haven’t seen Emil since.”

“Isn’t Prince Ernest good enough?”

Josette wasn’t a reincarnator, yet she always followed my conversations without issue. Maybe because she was my support character.

“I wanted the reverse harem.”

“But wouldn’t Ernest be fine?”

She kept insisting. Maybe because his affection level was maxed out. Maybe the reverse harem really was impossible now.

“…Well, either way, I’d still marry Ernest and become queen.”

“Queen?”

“Obviously.”

I forgot—Josette wasn’t a player. She didn’t know the game’s outcome.

“What happens to Frederica?”

“In Ernest’s route? She gets condemned at the Summer Ball.”

“Condemned?!”

“She tries to push me down the stairs. Ernest exposes her in front of everyone and breaks off the engagement.”

“What happens after that?”

“She and her father are exposed for corruption. House Lorenz is destroyed.”

“The marquis too?!”

“Yeah, it’s only mentioned briefly before the ending, so I don’t remember the details.”

“You forgot?!”

Josette pouted, disappointed.

“Sorry, it wasn’t that important.”

“But… will Ernest make you his queen?”

Huh?

I had never asked.

I just assumed I would be queen.

“Wait… you mean I might not?”

“You’re only a baron’s daughter. He might take you as a concubine instead.”

“A concubine?! Even with Frederica gone?!”

“That’s why you need to ask him! If he truly loves you, he’ll promise to make you queen!”

That was true.

Josette knew Ernest’s affection level was maxed. And if Emil’s event changed… Ernest’s might too.

I needed to confirm it.

“You’re right. I’ll ask him.”

“Good! Now, let’s get some parfaits!”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

Surrounded by friends and handsome men, I really was living the dream.