Episode 6
It was surprising that the Duke, who had never once come looking for me before, invited me to have breakfast with him.
‘Hmm… this is kind of uncomfortable. What if I get indigestion again?’
I remembered the way he’d stared holes through me the last time we ate together.
‘No! This is my chance!’
The more we see each other, the more attached he’ll become.
‘I need to get used to the Duke too!’
“Good morning, Daddy!”
I greeted him cheerfully as I walked into the dining room.
The Duke didn’t answer.
I didn’t let it bother me and confidently walked to my seat.
“Wow, everything looks so delicious!”
I’d said it just to break the awkward silence without even looking properly.
But when I looked…
The table really was filled with delicious-looking food.
“Thank you for the meal, Daddy. I hope you enjoy yours too!”
Sniff…
Even though I got absolutely no reply, I stubbornly kept trying.
This level of being ignored doesn’t bother me one bit!
Hmph.
I picked up my fork and happily ate the crispy sausages, scrambled eggs, fresh seasonal fruit, and salad.
Everything was seriously delicious.
It was just a simple breakfast, but the presentation and taste were on a completely different level.
It almost felt like I was finally being rewarded for all the years I went hungry at Marquis Tarenca’s estate.
But the best thing of all…
Was the custard pudding served for dessert?
I finished it in no time and sadly licked my dessert spoon.
Just then, something was placed in front of me.
“Eat.”
It was another custard pudding.
The very pudding I’d been wishing I had more of.
I looked up at the Duke.
Um… does this mean… he gave it to me because he noticed I liked it?
As if he’d never handed over his pudding at all, he calmly sipped his strong tea while reading the newspaper.
His face was as cold and sharp as ever.
He kept staring at me before…
So why is he reading the newspaper now?
‘I thought he was just ignoring me.’
“Hehe.”
I scooped right into the middle of the pudding.
Watching the soft pudding jiggle made something inside my heart seem to wobble too.
I secretly glanced at the Duke.
Would it be weird if I offered him a bite…?
I don’t even know if I’m really his daughter.
‘What are you hesitating for? Whether it works or not, you should at least try! Aren’t you trying to build affection?’
A voice inside me shouted.
But my hand didn’t move at all.
Only my fingers kept fidgeting.
In the end…
Instead of offering it to the Duke…
I put the spoon into my own mouth.
‘…It’s not like I’ve ever had a dad before.’
“…Thank you for the food.”
Instead of sharing the pudding, that quiet little sentence was all I managed to say.
Quite a while had passed since I’d finished even the pudding the Duke gave me.
Yet…
I still couldn’t leave the dining room.
Because the Duke hadn’t gotten up.
He was just staring straight at me.
It felt awkward to leave by myself, so I could only sit there quietly.
Then…
The Duke’s elegant lips slowly opened.
“…Why isn’t it working?”
“Huh?”
Working? What’s supposed to be working…?
It sounded like he was talking to himself.
So why was he looking at me?
I tilted my head in confusion.
The Duke frowned.
Then he stood up.
He strode over to me…
And effortlessly picked me up.
W-What?
Just like that, he carried me toward his office.
‘Does he have something to tell me?’
Is that why he wanted breakfast together?
Come to think of it…
Normally, by the time I woke up, the Duke had already left the mansion.
Did he stay behind today on purpose…
Just wait for me?
‘What does he want to talk about?’
I swallowed nervously.
As expected…
When we reached his office…
He sat me down on his lap…
And…
Started reading documents.
Yes.
Documents.
‘No, this isn’t what I expected!’
Inside my head, I flailed all my arms and legs.
Whether I was mentally throwing a tantrum or not…
The Duke simply kept signing papers in elegant handwriting.
‘Hmm…’
I’m not that oblivious.
He’d paid absolutely no attention to me before.
But ever since yesterday, he’d been taking me everywhere like I was glued to him.
How could I not notice?
I’d suspected it…
But…
‘Is he really doing this because I said I didn’t want us to feel awkward anymore… and that we should stay together?’
I mean…
I’ve been betrayed plenty of times before.
But…
What other reason could there be?
He’s not hurting me while taking me around.
(His face is cold, but still.)
He even gave me his pudding.
(His face is still cold, though.)
For some reason…
My heart felt soft and squishy, like pudding covered in caramel syrup.
I could feel my cheeks getting warm.
Ah…
This was kind of…
Embarrassing.
Feeling awkward for no reason, I played with my fingertips.
Then curled and stretched my toes.
Um… well…
My plan is working.
The whole point was to spend lots of time together until he grew attached to me.
So this was a good thing.
I should keep it going.
But…
Ah…
Why am I so embarrassed?
‘No, no! I have lots of things to do today!’
I still had to find the summoning catalyst!
Just thinking about what I had to do somehow made it feel like I was trying to run away.
‘No! I’m not running away! I really do need to find it!’
Just then…
A cool voice fell from above my head.
“What is it?”
I looked up.
The Duke was looking down at me.
I must have been squirming around so much while lost in thought that he’d noticed.
Hmm… what should I say…?
“I want to go look at something pretty.”
No! At least think before answering!
My mouth answered before my brain did!
One of the Duke’s eyebrows rose.
His gaze shifted toward Anna.
Anna, who had been standing quietly in the corner of the office like a statue, stepped forward and answered respectfully.
“Young Miss was planning to visit the Chamber of the Holy War today.”
Ahhh! Anna! Why would you answer like that?!
What if he asks why someone who’s only been here for such a short time wants to see the room where the family treasures are kept?!
“You filthy little thief!”
The Marquis of Tarenca’s voice thundered through my mind.
He won’t hit me like the Marquis did… right?
Even though I told myself he wouldn’t…
My whole body instinctively tensed.
Without reacting at all…
The Duke simply lifted me into his arms again.
Then he started walking.
‘Huh…’
After swaying in his arms for a while…
I finally realized where we were going.
The Duke was taking me to the Chamber of the Holy War.
Huh?
Is he really taking me?
Just like that?
I’ve only been here a few days, and he’s already showing me the family treasures?
Even though he has that mountain of paperwork waiting for him?
I looked over his shoulder.
The documents on his desk were piled as high as a mountain.
‘…Maybe he’s more of a pushover… no, no… maybe he’s actually just a good person.’
He looked so cold on the outside…
But inside…
He was surprisingly soft.
‘Is this what people mean by crispy on the outside and soft on the inside?’
No.
What am I even thinking?
I leaned lightly against his shoulder and secretly looked up at his face.
His expression was still stiff and cold.
Still…
Maybe he wasn’t Villain Type #1 like Marquis Tarenca.
Maybe he was Villain Type #2…
“The villain who’s a good person.”
You’re way too naive!
This world—this romantic fantasy world—isn’t that kind!
Haven’t you already been disappointed over and over?
Always watch your back!
Don’t forget that!
The words from the quest window flashed through my mind.
But…
I finally relaxed my tense shoulders…
And quietly rested against his strong arms.
“Woooow…”
The words escaped my mouth before I could stop them.
The room was dark.
Light poured down from above.
The light reflected through crystals, scattering soft, beautiful patterns across the floor.
Dark-colored curtains embroidered with gold and silver thread displayed the Duke family’s crest magnificently.
The entire room was filled with the solemn, majestic atmosphere that only centuries of history could create.
Even breathing felt like something I should do quietly.
It was as if time itself had stopped here.
‘So this is the Chamber of the Holy War…’
Just like its name suggests…
Even though it was dark…
It felt noble.
Sacred.
This wasn’t simply a room filled with expensive treasures.
It felt like a place where myths, legends, and history had been preserved.
Maybe these weren’t just treasures.
Maybe they were war trophies.
Instead of paintings and sculptures…
The room was filled with swords, shields, armor, holy grails, rosaries, and other mysterious relics that looked like they each carried legendary stories.
Completely overwhelmed, I wandered along the circular wall, staring blankly at all the treasures.
Then my eyes stopped on one spot.
In the center of the room stood a magnificent ivory-and-gold display table.
On top of it sat a round glass case.
Just by looking at how it was displayed…
It was obvious the item inside was the most valuable thing in the room.
‘What’s inside?’
Curious, I stretched my neck forward.
The Duke calmly walked straight toward it.
Ooooh…!
The closer we got…
The more excited I became.
A dragon’s Mana Heart?
A mermaid’s tear from the Seven Seas?
A sacred fruit filled with divine power?
Or maybe the divine crystal that once rested inside the Hero’s sword?
Every kind of fantasy treasure imaginable filled my thoughts.
Whatever it was…
It had to be breathtakingly beautiful.
Even the table displaying it looked incredibly luxurious.
Then…
When I finally stood in front of it…
“…Huh?”
A disappointed sound escaped me.
Inside the glass case…
Was nothing more than an old book that looked ready to crumble into dust if anyone touched it.
It was so worn out I couldn’t even guess what color it had originally been.
Well…
Of course, an ancient book could be valuable.
It might even be historically important.
But compared to all the other legendary treasures in the room…
It felt kind of underwhelming.
‘Well, sightseeing’s over. Now I should see if the summoning catalyst is somewhere among these—’
Then suddenly…
A thought flashed through my mind.
Wait!
What had the system window called me?
Reader.
And what had it said when explaining Rush & Cash?
“An ability perfectly suited for a Reader.”
Then…
‘It’s that.’
For some reason…
I became certain.
There was no proof.
It was only a possibility.
But somehow…
I knew.
‘But how am I supposed to get it?’
It’s inside a glass case.
I can’t even touch it…
“Hmm…”
“Daddy, what’s this book?”
“It’s a Sealed Book.”
A sealed book?
Don’t tell me there’s a demon sealed inside it.
I couldn’t trust that demon one bit.
Just then…
The Duke suddenly tightened the arm holding me.
Naturally…
I ended up completely wrapped against his broad chest.
I looked up at him in confusion.
The aide standing behind us smiled kindly and explained,
“It’s alright, Young Miss. Although it’s called a Sealed Book, there’s nothing sealed inside it anymore. So you don’t have to be afraid.”
Hmm.
I think he misunderstood my horrified expression.
‘…Wait. Did the Duke misunderstand too?’
Is that why he held me tighter?
‘Well… at least there’s no demon inside.’
“What if there’s nothing inside? Why do you still keep it here?”
“Because it is the First Duke’s treasured relic.”
The Duke’s answer made my eyes grow wide.
“Wow… it’s really, really old.”
“That’s amazing.”
I secretly buried my greedy thoughts and pressed both hands against my cheeks, pretending to be an innocent little child.
“Can I touch it just once?”
“That…”
For once…
The Duke hesitated.
“I can’t?”
I looked up at him with sparkling puppy eyes.
But his cold expression didn’t change at all.
Tch.
I knew that wouldn’t work anyway.
I just thought I’d give it a try.
“Haha, Young Miss. It’s simply because it’s in such poor condition.”
The aide kindly tried to comfort me.
Thank you…
But that really wasn’t necessary.
Now what?
He clearly isn’t going to hand it over that easily.
I guess I’ll have to retreat for now and come up with another plan—
Just as I thought that—
[A Surprise Quest has appeared!]
A notification popped up.
Then the quest window appeared.
<The Best Filial Piety (1)>
Readers, you have surprisingly good instincts!
Or perhaps it’s because you’re the contractor of the great?
Congratulations on discovering the!
However…
A tremendous obstacle stands between you and truly obtaining it.
But mountains exist to be climbed!
Seas exist to be crossed!
Surely you aren’t thinking something weak like…
“I’ll retreat for now.”
Or…
“I’ll think about it and try later.”
Fast progression!
A true romance fantasy reader always loves fast-paced developments!
If there’s something you want.
Use any means necessary!
Conquer it!
Claim it!
Romance fantasy readers never back down in moments like this!
Show us what you’re capable of!
Conditions:
Persuade the Duke of Faeraton and obtain the.
Reward:
5,000 Cash Gacha Ticket
Penalty for refusing the Quest:
Game Over
Penalty for failing the quest:
Game Over
‘You crazy bastard!’
Fast progression of my foot!
My life is way more important!
People are supposed to be careful!
‘Besides… I don’t even know how to convince him!’
I was just about to refuse…
When my eyes landed on one line.
Penalty for refusing: Game Over.
‘Game Over?’
I’d dropped plenty of novels before…
But dropping life?
‘…It can’t actually mean dying, right?’
…Right?
I wanted to deny it.
But…
That really seemed to be exactly what it meant.
If I refused…
I died.
If I failed…
I died.
‘That damn demon!’
I knew I should never have trusted him.
Crying rivers inside my heart…
I read the final line.
Quest Acceptance Bonus: Hints will be activated.
So you poison me first and then hand me the antidote?!
I wanted to yell at him.
But honestly…
I was grateful.
Right now, I had absolutely no idea how I was supposed to persuade that cold Duke.
Even the smallest clue would help.
‘Hints…?
Does that mean it’ll show choices?
Or maybe affection levels?’
Either way…
That was a relief.
‘If I get hints… then I should definitely get the book now!’
[Quest Accepted.]
[Hints will remain active while the quest is in progress.]
‘Alright! Give me the hints! Preferably dialogue choices!’
My heart pounded with excitement as I looked toward the Duke—
“…?!”
My mouth fell open.
Wait…
Your Grace…
Your Grace…
There’s something strange about your face.
More specifically…
Something strange had appeared on it.
‘W-Why…
…is there a heart floating on the Duke’s cheek?!’
