Chapter 11
The duke’s face, now bright red, was quickly hidden behind his hand as he scrambled for a napkin. I handed him my napkin as he fumbled across the table.
He wiped the corners of his mouth dampened with tea, then slowly lifted his now pale, flustered face.
“…Sorry for showing such an unsightly side of myself.”
“It’s okay. Are you alright?”
“Uh… ah… um…”
He didn’t seem alright at all, and his words came out in a muddled jumble. Seeing him look like his sugar levels had dropped, I offered him a square chocolate cookie.
Mechanically chewing and swallowing the cookie, the duke finally steadied himself enough to speak.
“The elder Miss Riles… said she doesn’t like me?”
“No, she didn’t say she doesn’t like you.”
She had only said she wouldn’t marry him.
But perhaps equating the two, the duke’s expression darkened—like looking up at the gray sky during the summer rainy season.
He splashed water on his face and stared at me with the weight of a significant emotional blow. If this is how he looks now, he might even cry if my sister directly rejected him face-to-face.
“But don’t worry, Duke. That’s why I’m here now!”
I puffed up my little chest and straightened my shoulders. The duke looked at me with his dry, unexpressive face.
“You came to help me…?”
“Yes! Think of me as your love fairy!”
The love fairy who would bring your love and my sister’s together—here I am.
The duke’s trembling eyes stared at me. Quietly, with a hesitant expression, he spoke.
“How are you going to help?”
“Well… it’s the ‘Heartbeat Romance Novel Operation’!”
I smiled confidently. The duke blinked, clearly bewildered.
“Heartbeat… what?”
“It’s the Heartbeat Romance Novel Operation. I recently read a storybook where a fairy helped a prince and princess fall in love. So, I decided I’d be that fairy!”
I added, awkwardly winking, that it would be for my sister and him, which only seemed to confuse him further.
A six-year-old showing up to “help” would naturally be met with skepticism and disbelief. I understood that, so I straightened my face, clenched both fists, and placed them on my hips.
“Duke! You love my sister, right?”
I asked boldly. Reflexively, he nodded.
“Of course. Naturally. That’s why I proposed.”
“Exactly! That’s it!”
I clapped my hands.
“If my sister comes to love you too, won’t she want to marry you?”
Just like him, who proposed solely because he loved her, not for any advantage, my sister might want to marry him despite any negatives that might come with it if her heart followed her feelings.
“I secretly heard from Claire that my sister likes you a little too!”
“…Really?”
“Of course! I don’t lie about my sister. So please, help the duke, okay?”
I slammed one hand on the table and clenched the other. The duke nodded as if he were mesmerized by a traveling medicine salesman.
Satisfied, I realized this would likely get me a second “ally.” If the three of us worked together efficiently, perhaps my sister’s heart could be swayed in the remaining time.
While sipping my milk with a pleased expression, the duke quietly asked,
“But why a romance novel operation?”
“Hmm, because it seems like you’re not good at romance. So we’ll mimic a love story that your sister likes.”
“What? Not good at… romance?”
He reacted, clearly struck at the truth.
It’s okay. Not being good at romance isn’t shameful—I’ve never had a proper romance myself. Perhaps I’m not the best fairy for this operation, but the four of us—my sister, myself, the duke, and Claire—have all never experienced love, so we have no choice but to tackle this together.
“I have one more question.”
“What is it?”
“Why are you helping me so much?”
The duke tilted his perfectly proportioned eyes down at me, like a sculptor’s masterpiece.
“Because, compared to your elder sister, you seem like you absolutely must help me.”
My hand trembled slightly as I set down my milk. Indeed, given how boldly I acted, it would be hard for him not to notice.
I decided to answer truthfully.
“Yes, Duke. I need you more than my sister does.”
“I want my sister to be extremely happy.”
Though I couldn’t tell him everything about myself, I chose to share my sincere thoughts.
“I thought you genuinely love my sister, and that you could protect her. So, I figured you could become her one and only prince.”
The duke listened carefully, his expression puzzled, before asking,
“Is that all?”
“Oh, I’ll add that you’re handsome, too.”
Though flattery, it was partially true, and the duke’s lips curved in a faint, playful smile.
“I should thank my father for passing on this face.”
I silently echoed the gratitude for his generationally enviable looks, and suddenly remembered something I needed to ask.
“Oh, do you have pen and paper?”
“I do.”
The duke fished a leather notebook and fountain pen from his jacket pocket.
“Write carefully. Now.”
“…?”
“My sister likes Earl Grey tea, sour-tasting oranges, blue and white colors. Also—”
He listed her preferences, finger by finger. This was top-notch intelligence, spoon-fed. Knowing what the person you want to win likes helps avoid mistakes.
“She likes white flowers—lilies, white roses, magnolias. As for jewelry, she prefers pieces matching her eye color rather than flashy ones. And—”
I watched him diligently write. Feeling my gaze, he furrowed his brows but looked up at me.
“The most important thing.”
“What is it?”
“Claire told me: she likes bangs down.”
I covered his exposed forehead with my short hand.
“Your forehead is nice, but…”
“…Cover it.”
His lips twitched. He paused in thought, then nodded.
“Alright. I’ll keep it covered from tomorrow.”
After adjusting his style, I also shared my sister’s schedule from Claire. There was no time to relax—we had to begin the operation immediately.
“Tomorrow, pretend to run into my sister while her bangs are down. Ask her out, alright?”
“Understood.”
I chose a lakeside restaurant favored by noble couples for their dates and ended the briefing. After finishing the remaining desserts, we left the shop. The owner bowed respectfully until the very end.
On the way back to the Riles residence, Thomas approached the duke and whispered something.
“Ah, understood, little Miss Riles.”
“Yes?”
“I need to discuss something briefly. Wait in the carriage.”
The duke lifted me into the carriage, shut the door, and went off with Thomas. Leaning back in the plush seat, I fidgeted with my feet, eager for my plan to bring my sister and the duke closer.
Then, suddenly, a knocking came at a window.
Knock. Knock knock.
“…?”
Curious, I crawled over and drew back the deep purple curtain. A figure in a black robe appeared, long platinum-blonde hair spilling from beneath their hood.
‘Who is this?’
Suspicious, I narrowed my eyes. The figure lifted the robe slightly and smiled at me. With amethyst eyes identical to mine, the person’s beauty made it hard to determine their gender.
“Could you open the window for me?”
I hesitated. The carriage window was small—opening it wouldn’t allow them to come inside. But I wanted to know their purpose, so I leaned toward yes.
Creak.
“Oh! Thank you, little miss.”
Despite the delicate appearance, a deep voice emerged—it was a man.
“…What do you want with me?”
He smiled warmly.
“Don’t worry. I’m not a strange man. I was wondering if you could buy a rose from me.”
“A rose?”
“Yes. I need to sell all of them today, and no one has bought any. I thought someone in a fine carriage like this might help.”
He offered a single rose.
I relaxed a little; street vendors are common, and the carriage suggested wealth, so he probably expected a premium. But what could I do?
“Sorry, I have no money.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
I hadn’t brought money, sneaking out to meet the duke.
“Hmm… how about a trade?”
“A trade…?”
“Yes, swap something you have for my rose.”
“…I don’t have anything valuable.”
The vendor extended a finger reassuringly.
“That hair tie.”
“…This?”
“Yes, swap it for the rose.”
I absentmindedly touched the yellow ribbon in my hair.
I handed it over, and he smiled warmly, offering me the rose.
“Thank you, kind little miss. I will repay your favor someday.”
“No, it’s nothing.”
I waved my hand, amused.
Then, closer to the window, he looked at me with violet eyes and a small voice.
“Soon, someone important to you will be hurt.”
“…What?”
I stared at him, bewildered, but he smiled brightly, like a flower.
“When that time comes, you’ll need my help. Come find me in the streets, just like today.”
“…What are you saying?”
“My name is Sataran, little miss.”
He introduced himself and, without waiting for my reply, retreated swiftly.
After his sudden departure, I hung at the window, craning my neck for a glimpse. No trace remained. Sighing, I turned as the duke opened the carriage door and came back in.
“Little Miss Riles? What are you doing?”
“…Nothing.”
I slid down from the window and sat quietly, deciding not to tell him about the strange man.
Even on the way home, an uneasy feeling lingered.
