HCDK 34

HCDK

Chapter : 34

Is This What You Call Reverse Tribute?

While I was staring at the cake, completely immersed in emotion, Sirinu spoke to me.

“You’re going alone? Did you forget we said we’d go together?”

His slightly sulky expression and tone were so cute that my heart started pounding.

“I didn’t know you were that busy, Your Grace. If we get the chance later, let’s at least go on a picnic somewhere nearby.”

The hill behind the estate where we first met would be perfect. When I glanced sideways at Sirinu, he had already set down his teacup and was staring straight at me.

How could a black uniform suit someone so perfectly? Unlike his usual relaxed expression, there was something about his face now—almost as if he were urging me on—that kept poking at some sensitive corner of my heart.

“No. Lately, monsters have been appearing closer and closer to the capital.”

Does fangirling turn people into perverts? Hearing Sirinu say “No” sounded absurdly sweet.

“Then how about the garden behind my house? On laundry days, there’s a spot where we spread out blankets and lie down.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Sirinu looked flustered. Resisting the urge to tear apart the cushion on the sofa, I opened my mouth again.

“Then we can just hang out in the drawing room. It won’t feel like a picnic, but honestly, I prefer that.”

I watched with fluttering excitement as Sirinu’s face creased into a frown.

Ah… even when crumpled, a handsome man is still handsome.

I popped a strawberry slice from the top of the cake into my mouth.

On the fourth day, Noel came to visit.

“This isn’t easy.”

Noel gracefully lifted his teacup and inhaled its aroma. His usual smiling face and impeccable posture were unchanged, but somehow, I could tell things weren’t going his way.

“I’ve learned where the information about the Prophet Family is, secured the funds, and even figured out how to deal with the monsters along the route.”

“Then isn’t everything settled?”

“That’s the problem—it isn’t easy.”

What could possibly be difficult for someone like Noel, who seemed to have only ever faced easy problems since birth? I blinked as I looked at him.

“We need the cooperation of certain individuals to resolve the issue. I was wondering… might Miss Selene know the answer?”

I recalled the faces that had disrupted my cozy alone time with my bed over the past four days. My brows knitted together on their own.

Don’t tell me…

Could it be that all four of them planned to keep showing up at my house with desserts until I agreed to go with them? Forcing a wide smile, I asked Noel,

“So you’re going to keep coming to hear my opinion until the problem is solved?”

Noel simply smiled brightly at me.

On the fifth day, I invited all four of them to the mansion for the first time.

I woke up so early that the maids’ eyes went wide, finished preparing, and headed to the drawing room. Sitting on the sofa, I looked at the four people staring up at me and said,

“Let’s go. All of us together.”

The thought of having guests every single day until I said that made my head ache just thinking about it.

Better to get it over with quickly.

The location, the money, and even the people to defeat the monsters were all prepared, so it seemed best to leave as soon as possible.

Before any of them could say a word, I spoke firmly.

“If all of you aren’t going, then even if the Demon King shows up tomorrow, I’m not going.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Noel clapped twice and said cheerfully,

“Then that settles it. Shall we begin preparations immediately?”

I had an uneasy feeling, like I’d walked straight into a trap, but first things first—we had to pack.

* * *

The residence of the Prophet Family that Eloy had discovered lay along a route where monsters frequently appeared. Dealing with that fell to Sirinu.

Viviana prepared all travel expenses, as well as the payment for the Prophet Family.

A top-grade carriage was provided, complete with cushions and blankets so we could lie down comfortably, along with snacks for the journey.

Any territories we passed through granted us safe passage under the authority of the Crown Prince.

And that’s how we ended up here…

Didn’t they say it was just a short walk?

Gasping for breath that had risen all the way to my chin, I trembled with rage at my own carelessness.

The one phrase you should never trust is “We’re almost there.”

Being dragged along by Eloy and Viviana, I felt tears welling up.

What made it worse was that I had clearly seen a large mansion from the base of the mountain.

It had looked so close—like we’d reach it after just a short walk—so I’d steeled myself and climbed.

But even after climbing for ages, the mansion appeared to be at the same distance as before.

It was enough to drive anyone insane.

The person who told us about this place had said there would be a marker on the mountain, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find anything like that.

My legs trembled violently. Shaking off the hands holding me, I spoke in a dying voice.

“J-just a moment. I really need to sit down for just a second.”

Staggering over to a large rock in front of me, I collapsed beside it and stared blankly at the nearby tree.

Through my blurred vision, I saw familiar letters. Blinking hard and looking again, I realized something was carved into the tree—in Hangul.

“Huh…?”

The touch of one who is qualified.

I reached out and gently rubbed the letters with my hand. The carving rippled as if by magic.

“Touch…?”

When I covered the words with my palm, the dense trees peeled away like a mirage, and the mansion I’d seen earlier appeared right before us.

“Huh? What’s that?”

Everyone murmured in shock at the sudden change.

“Was it concealed with magic?”

“Miss Selene! Did you do this?”

All four of them stared at me with wide eyes, but I didn’t even have the strength to speak and only nodded vaguely.

Grinding my teeth internally, I forced my trembling legs to move again, vowing never to forgive them unless their prophecy accuracy extended to knowing how many persimmons had once hung in my childhood backyard.

As we drew closer to the mansion, countless thoughts flooded my mind.

When I first heard the word prophet, I’d imagined an old man with a white beard wearing robes.

But after seeing books supposedly written by the Prophet Family filled with Korean superstitions, my expectations had shifted.

Maybe a sharp-looking woman? Surely not someone wearing a hanbok? Or a man with heavy eye makeup shouting, “Disaster is upon you!”

They’re not going to perform a ritual dance on a blade, are they?

Just as my imagination ran wild, the mansion doors opened.

After crossing the garden and reaching the entrance, a maid appeared and bowed.

“I will escort the qualified individual to see the head of the household. The others, please wait in the drawing room.”

At her words, everyone turned to look at me. Feeling awkward, I followed the maid.

At the end of a clean, minimally decorated corridor stood a door.

When it opened, there was another door inside—this one draped with strands of shimmering beads.

The maid gestured for me to enter. Carefully parting the beads with my hands, I stepped inside.

The room was nothing like I’d expected.

It looked like a doll’s room—entirely pink, with a small tea table and sofa arranged neatly.

“Oh my…”

On the sofa, surrounded by cushions and stuffed dolls, sat a small child who looked no older than ten.

With curly platinum-blond hair, the child looked like a girl at first glance, but the outfit—a wide sailor collar, knee-length shorts, and long socks pulled up just below the knees—made it hard to tell.

Either way, it was nothing like what I’d imagined.

As I stood there in shock, the child lifted their gaze from the table and looked at me. Their eyes shone silver—almost white at a glance—mysterious and captivating.

“Hel… lo?”

When I greeted them, their gaze bent slightly, unfocused.

Can they not see well?

As I watched, their plump, lovely lips parted and a cute voice emerged.

“You’ve come from very far away. What a wonderful place.”

Smiling gently, the child pointed to the sofa across from them.

“You’ve been having a hard time because of something you didn’t want, haven’t you?”

“Huh?”

“In the place you originally lived, it seems you lived a fairly ordinary life.”

They knew I wasn’t from this world.

I was too shocked to even close my mouth.

They’re the real deal.