~Chapter 9~
I reached out as if in a trance, but Himong grabbed his two front paws together and lifted his head.
Then, dodging my hand that was reaching for the back of his head, he jumped off the sofa.
“Now’s not the time to be messing around, nya! I’ll go check if a gate appears, nya! You hang in there too, Airevet, nya!”
After saying that, Himong didn’t even look back and ran toward the window.
I was amazed, thinking maybe he usually walks on two legs.
Before I could think more, Himong opened the window with his front paws and disappeared into the darkness.
A night breeze carrying the scent of flowers blew in, and I flopped back onto the sofa, feeling drained.
I had to get rid of the dungeon, protect the original story, and suddenly I had way too much to do.
I had promised myself that this life would be my laziest ever, but now it looked like it was going to be even busier than my last life.
“Sigh… my honey…”
It felt like the honey jar was slipping further away.
I flailed my arms like someone sleepwalking and sniffled, forcing myself up.
I can’t live this second life all grumpy and lazy.
Quickly, I ran through the events of Secret Meetings in the Butterfly Garden in my head.
I didn’t remember the early parts clearly, but it was mostly about the two main characters fighting and gradually growing closer.
They’d always be annoyed at each other when together but get all worked up and bothered when apart—super cute.
The story started in spring and ended in winter.
That meant the world would stabilize in less than a year.
I didn’t know what kind of dungeon would appear, but I’d survived eight years as a dungeon slave, so one year wasn’t a big deal.
For the next two months or so, peace would barely hold, so I’d let the main characters handle the story while I blocked the dungeons.
Whatever happens, I’d stop them.
I raised my fist toward the high moon outside the window and made a brave vow.
“B-rank dungeon, A-rank dungeon—bring it on! Show them the determination of a K-nation soul who’s possessed someone!”
Then I remembered I’d already cleared two S-rank dungeons.
I unclenched my fists, put my hands together, and prayed politely.
“But please don’t let any S-rank ones appear, moon, stars, gods of this world.”
S-rank isn’t something sheer determination can handle.
***
The next morning, after breakfast, Ruby brought me news with a completely different expression than yesterday.
“Duke Pictian has sent a letter.”
“Oh, right.”
It said he would visit at the same time as yesterday.
I had completely forgotten my appointment with Linus because I’d been focused on the dungeon.
I was supposed to take a walk in the garden of the Titanoa Duke’s mansion with him today.
Meeting a handsome guy sounded fun, but I was worried about what my father had said yesterday.
He told me not to get attached to Linus since I couldn’t make him my future husband.
It seemed like there were other reasons he didn’t like Linus too.
If I had always had good relations with the Pictian Duke’s family, it would make sense to keep them.
Since Linus didn’t appear in the original story, I didn’t know his background, so I had to figure that out.
I asked Ruby, who had been worried,
“Do you want me not to meet Duke Pictian?”
“Well… he seems to have some doubts, so I looked into it a bit…”
“Looked into it?”
“It seems he isn’t really a descendant of the previous Duke. Nobody in the Pictian household knows him.”
“So how did he become a duke?”
“He suddenly appeared with the late Duke’s will. It was an authentic will, with his signature and seal. Since there was no heir, the family had no choice but to accept him.”
“So that’s fine, right? There was a will. What’s the problem?”
“They don’t know what he did before or where he came from. Even within the Pictian household, there’s talk.”
Hearing Ruby’s words, I finally understood the servants’ behavior yesterday and my father’s dislike of Linus.
In a world without rigid social classes, I thought, “So what? Who cares where he came from? He’s a duke now. As long as he lives well, it’s legit.”
Besides, he had agreed to ignore my secret.
No matter what happens between us, I can’t break the promise I made first.
A few hours later, I ignored Ruby’s worries and warmly welcomed Linus.
“Welcome, Linus.”
I smiled, but for some reason, Linus didn’t respond.
I’d only seen him smiling ever since we met in the butterfly garden, so him not smiling felt a little strange.
He stared at me silently, and I tilted my head. Then he broke into a wide smile, his eyes crinkling.
“Airebet, you look beautiful today.”
I nearly melted.
Dad, this is impossible.
This guy is too sweet.
I almost blurted out, “You’re prettier,” but managed to hold back.
“The weather’s great too, Linus. I’ll show you our garden.”
I stepped outside, and he followed me excitedly, like a happy puppy.
Unlike the grand garden at Duke Pictian’s mansion, ours was small, cozy, and cute.
We wandered among blooming spring flowers and sat on a bench by a small fountain.
Linus’s red eyes sparkled like candy as he looked around, but then he fell silent.
His wide smile had vanished, replaced by a lonely expression.
“What’s wrong, Linus?”
“You probably haven’t heard the rumors about me.”
“The rumors about Linus?”
I asked lightly, pretending it didn’t matter.
He looked surprised.
“I thought if you heard them, you’d refuse to meet me.”
“Why? It wouldn’t change anything.”
“I somehow became a duke, but I don’t even know proper etiquette…”
“Well, I don’t know it either, Linus. I was asleep for ten years.”
“You’re different from me. I…”
He bit his lower lip and trailed off.
He’s tall, handsome, kind, and a duke, yet he’s so nervous? How badly was he gaslit?
“What does the past matter? Don’t pay attention to what people say about you.”
“I want to, but the person who knows the least about me… is me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t remember anything before becoming Duke Pictian.”
“Huh?”
I asked, surprised. Then he explained.
“One day I woke up, and it was the Pictian Duchy. All I had was the late Duke’s will.”
He didn’t know where he’d been, how old he was, or even that his name was Linus until he read the will.
Since the late Duke had no heirs, he’d accidentally become the duke.
He lowered his head, saying it was natural people would find it strange—so tragic and handsome.
A handsome duke with a mysterious past?
This is exactly my type of male lead.
I absolutely love characters with mysterious pasts.
