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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Excursion
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Monsters with supernatural abilities or large bodies left behind red mana stones when they died, which were far more valuable than the blue ones crafted by mages.
However, only the imperial family and the ducal house could organize large-scale subjugation parties.
There was no profit in killing weak monsters, and the damage from hunting strong ones was too great, so most nobles paid little attention to subjugations.
Discussions continued with reports on increased crop yields, praise for a newly appointed official, and facilities in need of repair.
At first, I listened attentively to the goings-on of the ducal house.
When Yelena’s salary increase was mentioned, I even applauded inwardly, but fatigue soon washed over me.
Ugh, I was sick in bed for over two days. The side effects of the warp must still be lingering.
I propped my chin on a cushion and tried to clear my hazy mind… but it was no use.
I dozed off for a moment, and when I opened my eyes, the first person I saw was Menelik.
I don't know when he arrived, but he was sitting beside me at a slight angle, dressed in outdoor clothes.
“Duke?”
I quickly wiped the corner of my mouth.
I didn't snore incredibly loudly, did I?!
Fortunately, Menelik was as relaxed as ever.
“I tried to be quiet, but I seem to have woken you.”
A long outer coat slipped off my body.
Huh, this is Mother’s.
I pulled Winter’s pleasantly scented coat tightly around myself and asked.
“Where have you been?”
“Out to play.”
“…”
I narrowed my eyes.
Mother has been working this whole time, and you say you were out playing.
Ever since I received that gift box I couldn't even open, my opinion of Menelik had been steadily plummeting.
On the other hand, my affection for Winter was blossoming.
She didn’t kick me out and even covered me with her coat…
Just as I was thinking for the hundredth time that Winter was the best, Menelik chuckled.
“Here, a souvenir.”
With a clumsy touch, he placed something on my head.
Reflected in the glass was a headband with a cute ribbon as big as my face.
“…Did you go to a tourist spot or something?”
I adjusted the headband, even with a sullen expression on my face.
Despite my minor complaints, this handsome, jobless tycoon who treated me so friendly was once the ruler of a dark city.
In the novel, plenty of nobles let their guard down around him only to be completely fleeced.
The emperor didn't grant him favors for nothing.
“Something like that. Aren’t you going to look around the castle? It’s much bigger than the capital’s mansion, with more to see.”
“Am I allowed to wander around by myself?”
I cut him off beforehand, just in case he was about to mention Viscount Rose’s name again.
Menelik thought nothing of it.
“If that’s what you’re comfortable with. Wait a moment.”
Menelik stood up and brought over some paper and a pen.
He uncapped the pen with his lips.
Even with only one arm, Menelik never sought assistance, and the servants, accustomed to this, stepped back and waited.
He started drawing lines across the blank paper, and I wondered what he was doing until I realized he was drawing a map.
He gazed proudly at the finished map and pointed to two spots.
“My recommendations are here and here. They have expensive things.”
Have I been that obvious about how much I like money…?
“Thank you. I’ll go take a look.”
I neatly folded Winter’s coat, picked up the map and a cookie from the table, and stood up.
“Mother, I’m going to go look around the castle!”
Winter glanced at me before lowering her eyes back to her documents.
“Don’t be late for dinner.”
“Yes!”
I stepped out into the hallway and examined the map closely.
He even marked the room where Kivrin has his lessons.
Memorizing the locations of the exhibition hall and the artifact storage room—both said to be full of expensive things—I took a bite of my cookie.
Then, I made my way to where Kivrin was.
Why?
Because in romance fantasy novels, whenever a cursed child appears, there’s a high probability an abusive servant or tutor will show up too.
Although Kivrin wasn’t cursed but had a sealing spell carved into him, there was no harm in checking.
This was another chance to prove the usefulness of the great Cheria.
As if the heavens were on my side, the hallway was empty.
I tiptoed closer and pressed my ear to the door.
I could faintly hear the voice of a man I assumed was the tutor.
“…I truly wanted to meet you and express my gratitude. Nina has regained her health thanks to the medicinal herbs the Young Lord told me about.”
Nina?
I’d never heard that name before.
“But then a friend of mine claimed he would catch an even rarer animal than Nina. As if Nina was something to be caught, when she came to me of her own free will.”
Hmm, so Nina isn’t a person.
Just then, I heard a rustling sound and the light scrape of a chair.
Ah!
I scurried over to the staircase.
Then I counted to five in my head before walking back up the stairs at a very, very slow pace.
The tutor emerged from the room at the perfect moment and bowed to me without a hint of suspicion.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Young Lady. My name is Daniel Dawson, and I am in charge of the Young Lord’s history lessons.”
He already recognizes me.
It seemed Winter had already announced my existence to her vassals.
“I am Cheria Nectarian.”
I gave a small bow in return.
As my eyes lowered, they naturally fell upon Daniel’s shoes, which were so worn out it was astounding.
Huh…?
I snapped my head up to look at Daniel’s face.
Daniel was a man with a harmless-looking face.
And he was polite to me.
The only flaw was his shabby attire, which made him look more like a servant.
Not just his shoes; his coat looked like it had been worn for a good ten years.
There’s no way Winter wouldn’t be paying him, right?
Does he have a family member with an incurable disease who needs expensive medicine every day?
Or maybe gambling? Debt?
I ran through various clichés in my mind.
Daniel’s clothes were just that bad.
Forget him abusing Kivrin; I was starting to suspect the ducal family was abusing *him*.
Daniel misinterpreted the way I tilted my head and said,
“You are just as lovely as the Duchess said. Have you come to see the Young Lord? His lesson just ended.”
“No… Yes… No… Thank you…”
I had no idea what I was saying.
Daniel just kept on smiling his good-natured smile.
After that confusing encounter, I entered the room to find Kivrin greeting me with a look that said he had a lot to tell me.
Gasp. Now that I think about it, Kivrin’s hearing is supposed to be incredible, isn’t it?
Feeling my face grow hot, I began to explain.
“Ahem, well, I wasn’t eavesdropping with any impure intentions…”
“Would you mind moving?”
Eek!
I jumped back at the voice that came from right behind me.
The non-human being known as Viscount Rose had appeared without a sound.
He walked past me and sat on the sofa.
Then he shot me a look that said, *get lost*.
If he thought I’d be intimidated…!
“Cheria, s-sit here!”
Kivrin pulled me over to sit beside him, so I didn’t even have to glare back.
As if my eavesdropping was no big deal, Kivrin excitedly shared the news.
“The b-baron said that Nina is all better. She’s a very big… leopard. She almost died, but I’m glad her w-will to live was so strong.”
“…”
“I wanted to see her all better t-too… It’s a shame.”
Aww…
He went from excited to dejected in an instant, looking just like a puppy, and without thinking, I blurted out,
“Should I go see her for you?”
A smile spread across Kivrin’s face.
“Really?”
Just then, Viscount Rose cut in.
“I will go as well.”
Are you jealous?!
He had a look on his face that said he wouldn’t stand by and watch me win Kivrin’s favor.
Kivrin, oblivious, offered me a chocolate chip cookie.
I nibbled on the cookie, lost in thought.
I-I just blurted it out, but will Winter even give me permission to leave?
I was unconscious for two days because of the warp’s side effects.
It took another half a day just to leave my bedroom.
It’s a little embarrassing for me to say this, but I think Winter has a favorable impression of me.
I want to be the useful Cheria, not someone she has to worry about…
But I couldn’t think for long.
Because Viscount Rose was glaring at me as if he wanted to kill me.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
Are you really going to tell me to get lost right in front of Kivrin?
Viscount Rose bit his lip, then stormed out.
Kivrin paid him no mind and just gave me another cookie.
…Rose, my dear, your feelings seem to be an undeniable one-way street.
I relaxed and leaned comfortably against Kivrin.
“Why was Viscount Rose here?”
“I think he came to s-see if I was okay. Winter comes much f-faster here than in the capital…”
Since coming to the duchy, Kivrin had been dressed in rather thick clothes.
“Do you get cold easily, Young Lord?”
Kivrin gave a slight nod, then, perhaps realizing I couldn’t see it since I was leaning on him, he answered again, “Yes.”
So cute…
