CHAPTER 65 Arrest This Human!

Henrietta

If Keith hadn't lost interest because I'd snapped at him or because I'd shown weakness and let my fear get the better of me, or because I'd cut him … then I thought it might be nice to use my points to reflect my new life.

Honestly, the chair cuddles gave me hope.

It would be nice to have perks that were useful while living in the Dark Enchanted Forest. Dexterity and Perception were vital for paperwork and helped significantly with my baking. And if I was going to continue living in the castle, I should also prepare for the job I was aiming for.

[You have leveled up the Skill: Leadership to Level 6.]

[Leadership affects Perception 20 x Charisma 29 targets who are under your command = 580 targets. Those under the influence of Leadership will hear what you say, understand your instructions better, and act upon them naturally. Targets with Leadership or Perception equal to or greater than yours, or targets you choose, will know they are under the effect of the Skill: Leadership.]

Please choose from the following Perks:

Natural Poise: You look like the person in charge. +1 Charisma when active. This effect targets individuals equal to your new Charisma x Leadership = 180. This lasts for a number of minutes equal to your Charisma.

Management: You effortlessly direct others and aid them in completing a task with ease and efficiency. Grant +1 to a chosen Attribute for those following your direction. This lasts for a number of minutes equal to your Charisma.

Battle Call: You lead your troops with vigor. All members of your army can hear your words, no matter where they are on the battlefield. +1 Charisma when active. This effect lasts for a number of seconds equal to your Charisma.

Still no culinary perks. The System had offered me [True Taste] when I'd leveled up [Etiquette], but that had been the only time it'd recognized my passion for baking over my titled jobs.

It seemed that spending a few afternoons in the kitchen was nothing to days and weeks leading knights in drills and conquering dungeons.

I looked at the offered perks and read them through a few times before settling on the one that I thought would help me best moving forward.

[You have chosen the Perk: Management.]

My new character sheet read:

[Mastery] had been an incredible boon, converting my mana pool to Intelligence x Strength instead of the usual Intelligence x Dexterity. Blunt force mana was more my style than attempting to delicately manipulate matter.

All in all, my character sheet reflected me quite well. And maybe when my [Etiquette] skill hit level six, I'd get the chance to pick up more culinary perks.

I could only hope.

"THERE YOU—Oh my gods."

I closed my notifications tab and looked up to see a head poking into the tent. Lady Amy had waited the entire day for us to come out, and now she was blushing and covering her face. It was almost evening, by the looks of the sunset reds against the tent.

Keith was currently holding me on his lap, absently fiddling with my fingers.

"I thought I said we weren't to be disturbed?" Keith grumbled under his breath behind me. I made to jump off his lap, and there was a slight resistance from him, but only slight. Standing let me know that I'd mostly recovered from my weakness and could pretend normalcy again.

I ignored my burning ears at getting caught cuddling the king of the Dark Enchanted Forest in a tent.

"Lady Amy! I'm so sorry we went ahead before you arose." Placations came naturally. "Keith—the Dark Lord and I had planned a private trip and didn't want to wake you."

Just because I'd recovered a bit from my … moment of weakness didn't mean I was suddenly better. It wasn't something I could just get over and be one hundred percent moments later. But, even if I wasn't focusing well and still felt out of sorts, it didn't mean I couldn't stand up and deliver.

I considered activating one of my [Etiquette] perks like [Calming Voice] to help ease the situation, but thought better of it. She was a duke's daughter and potentially had a higher level [Etiquette] than I. As I knew from my own experiences, attributes didn't define a person. I myself had Intelligence seventeen, an incredibly high level for anyone not learning [Magic] … but my patience for memorizing was nonexistent.

What I was trying to say was that Lady Amy could shove her foot in her mouth and come off as an excited puppy, but I had no doubt she would turn around and put on a mask and act properly if required of her. There was no telling how high her skills actually were—and she'd already admitted to soloing a dungeon.

Lady Amy looked hurt by my apology; like she was trying not to pout but failing. She glanced between Keith, her king, and I, her hero, and her shoulders slumped.

"I'm sorry for interrupting." She politely curtsied from the open doorway flap of the tent. "Perhaps I could accompany you in a dungeon delve tomorrow?"

I heard the hidden words of immeasurable disappointment at being left behind that remained unspoken in her address—or maybe that was me feeling a little bit guilty about choosing a date with Keith over my new friend. Still, we hadn't made any plans.

And as of now, my dungeon escapades were probably best left behind us. "I'm sorry—"

"THERE SHE IS!" a new voice called out, and Lady Amy visibly panicked. She jumped nearly a foot in the air, turning around ready to make a break for it. It was too late, however, as the entrance was surrounded by people, their shadows falling against the canopy.

"Saintess Amaryllis, I'm so happy we found you."

Keith mumbled, "About time …" and I turned to him in shock. He grinned, showing all his teeth. "What? I just casually let her father know that we'd met while traveling. Who could have known she was on the run?"

"You did not! When?"

"After you went to bed," Keith replied innocently. "I was sending out routine paperwork, of course."

"Duke Briarthorn is eagerly awaiting your return." The elven paladin whom I'd met on the road the day before stepped into view. "If you'll just come with us, my lady—You!"

He saw me standing in the tent slightly behind Amaryllis and frowned, righteous fury in his tone. "I did not think that you had deliberately misled us, but now I see you were aiding the saintess. By your pathetic appearance, are you one of those foolish Drendil soldiers? You might try to influence our saintess with your corrupt ways, but we will not have it!"

"Wait, no—" Lady Amy tried to explain, but the older elf cut her off.

"Guards, arrest this human!"