Chapter 28

In fact, Auto de Scuderi was a character who was officially described as handsome in the setting. If he were to be taken care of, he would undoubtedly be among the top five most handsome men in the entire continent. However, when Auto, who was cursed as a "wretchedly ugly person," lost a lot of weight, his handsomeness became even more pronounced. His facial features became more defined, and his skin, pale due to his deteriorating health, resembled porcelain, exuding the charm of a "delicate young boy" as Auto himself put it.

With the addition of Olive's makeup?

"Wow."

Auto marveled at his reflection in the mirror.

"How does it look? Do you like it?"

Olive asked with a proud voice.

"Y-Yeah...?"

Olive's makeup skills were incredible. It wasn't as if she had plastered on layers of makeup. With just a few touches, she accentuated Auto's facial features and jawline, making them even more distinct and natural. She had also perfectly matched his skin tone and lip color, further enhancing his charm.

Indeed, someone who had been a tutor in the Arad Empire was different in every way.

Despite her appearance as a barbarian tribe warrior, Olive's makeup skills were almost at the level of art.

'Is this what they call vibe from experience?'

Auto was certain that Olive could become famous even if she worked as a makeup artist.

"You have incredible skills. I'm truly impressed."

"This is just a piece of cake."

Olive chuckled.

"Of course, it's not my taste."

"Huh...?"

"No manliness! Manliness!"

"..."

"Such a delicate and weak appearance, how can he be a strong male? A man without a beard and chest hair? This is a desecration of masculinity! Desecration! How can such a weak and frail appearance be considered a man?"

True to her roots as a member of a barbarian tribe, Olive's preferences were very clear.

"Try to bulk up when your body condition improves. Got it?"

"Yes..."

Auto, intimidated by Tutor Olive's scolding, obediently replied.

If he had argued...

'My spine might fold in half...'

Auto didn't want to die.

* * *

Auto's handsomeness quickly spread throughout the royal palace.

"Did you see? I'm just getting excited..."

"How can he be so handsome? I just want to hug him."

"Who would have thought His Majesty would be such a handsome man?"

"I want to hold him and stroke him."

Although it depended on personal taste, Auto, who had transformed into a delicate young boy, received a lot of attention from the maids. His chiseled face and blonde hair, combined with his delicate charm, stimulated the maternal and protective instincts of the women.

"Where are you going?"

"Hunting."

In response to Camille's question, Auto replied.

"Going hunting...? But you're not dressed for hunting..."

"Ugh."

Auto frowned, looking frustrated.

"How can you live with such a narrow-minded attitude?"

"..."

"Who said hunting? I said going out to hunt! Hunting!"

"Surely... you mean the act of approaching and seeking meetings with random women on the street?"

"Is that how you put it? Hunting?"

"After staying away from women for a while... are you feeling nostalgic now that it's time to go?"

"I'm ready to go, but I'm not ready to die. Ugh! Let's stop talking! Stop talking!"

Grumbling, Auto, dressed in his finest, left the palace—though it was far from being called a palace—and began to wander through the most bustling streets of the kingdom.

"Long live His Majesty the King."

"Long live His Majesty the King."

The citizens recognized Auto and bowed.

"Just tell the citizens to continue their daily activities without worrying about me. I'm just here to observe the people's lives."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Auto ordered the knights accompanying him and began to pretend to observe the people's lives.

'What is he thinking...? Why would someone who is three days away from death care about the people's lives?'

Camille was puzzled as she watched Auto.

Then, suddenly.

"Would you like to buy some flowers? Flowers. I have beautiful roses."

A beautiful flower seller wearing a dark red cloak approached Auto.

Although her face was hidden by a hooded cloak, her silhouette alone was enough to suggest that she was a stunning beauty.

'Flowers... wrong place.'

In the poor kingdom of Iota, there were very few people who could afford such luxuries as flowers. Moreover, it was winter, and the price of roses would be extremely high due to the season. Roses bloom in late spring and wither in mid-summer, making them hard to come by in the cold season.

And Camille's keen insight did not miss this.

'Wait, roses? In winter? In a rural area like this?'

It was certainly strange.

In powerful nations, greenhouses using magic could grow crops in small quantities, regardless of the season—though large-scale cultivation was impossible. However, in a rural backwater like the Kingdom of Iota, it was impossible to see crops that were out of season, especially considering the difficulty of storage.

'Something is off.'

Camille kept a close eye on the woman selling roses.

Meanwhile,

"Oh! Snow!"

"Wow! It's so beautiful!"

As a heavy snowfall began,

"Oh? Roses! Roses!"

Auto noticed the woman selling roses and moved towards her.

"Your Majesty."

Camille blocked Auto's path.

"The woman selling roses is suspicious. It's best not to get too close..."

"My type?"

"Excuse me?"

"I've met my ideal type here."

"What do you mean...?"

"Angéles."

"!"

"That woman is the witch, so just watch and play along."

Auto whispered these words into Camille's ear and then confidently approached the woman selling roses.

* * *

The evil witch Angéles was a villain who would naturally appear in the game without the need to seek her out. Angéles appeared three days before Auto de Scuderi, who was cursed as a "wretchedly ugly person," was to die, and she lingered nearby because she wanted to witness the death of the child she had cursed.

Of course, this was under the assumption that he would survive until three days before the start of the next year, January 1st.

'Now it's easy.'

Auto smiled to himself as he approached Angéles.

"Can I buy a rose?"

"O-Of course."

Angéles, who seemed unaware of Auto's approach, appeared flustered.

"You must be suffering in this cold winter, Lady."

"Oh, no..."

"Here, take this."

Auto took off his glove and handed it to Angéles.

"Why are you giving me your glove?"

"This hand."

Auto subtly took Angéles' hand in his.

"It's cold. Without gloves, you might get frostbite in this cold weather."

"Y-Yes."

"It's a gift from me. Please accept it."

"Oh..."

Angéles seemed slightly moved by Auto's sweetness.

'Ugh. Disgusting.'

Auto felt like he was going to vomit from the lines he was feeding her, but he gritted his teeth and continued his act.

The lines were a bit cheesy and cringeworthy, but it didn't matter.

'Just seduce her, and it's a win. Hehe.'

Auto knew Angéles' preferences and behavior patterns very well.

'She's a serious face-obsessed and love-at-first-sight type. She falls in love in less than a second.'

Because he knew this so well, Auto could throw cheesy lines without hesitation.

"Can I give you something in return?"

"You don't need to give me anything. The glove is just a gesture of goodwill..."

At that moment,

"Cough! Cough cough!"

Auto pretended to cough up blood and looked distressed.

"His Majesty the King!"

Angéles supported Auto.

"Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine. Cough