Chapter 7
“A reply gift, huh. That works out well.”
“…Excuse me?”
What works out?
As I pulled my hand back with a confused expression, he gestured for me to follow him.
“I was just about to send something to the young lady of the Vicious family anyway. I can send it along with you. Sebastian, take her to the reception room. I’ll be there shortly.”
For a moment, my instincts flared up at his rude tone.
But I was nothing more than a nameless maid.
If I acted out of line, my head might literally roll.
“Please follow me.”
Sebastian called me, carrying the basket I had brought.
“Ah, yes.”
The noble reception room he led me to was far larger and more magnificent than the previous one.
The space was wide, and everything was made of luxurious wood.
It was impressive just to look at.
By now, my thoughts were completely occupied by the male lead.
Since I got this chance, I needed to gain something from it.
While waiting, I stood by the sunlit window and practiced greetings that might leave a good impression.
Let’s see…
Nobles in Demortva liked having fancy titles attached to their names, right?
And the Pendler Duke’s family was at the very top of the noble class.
So they must be especially weak to flattery.
Good thing I read the original story.
I need to earn some points like this to raise affinity more easily.
“Esteemed Duke of Pendler…?”
Too cliché.
“Brave and great Duke of Pendler…?”
Hmm.
The family crest carved at the entrance was a roaring lion with a spear behind it.
Maybe referencing that would be more effective?
“Something… more unique…”
I kept practicing, remembering how I used to flatter my boss.
“Or maybe… handsome Duke? No, that’s too obvious…”
“I like that one the most.”
“Eek!”
Startled by the voice behind me, I jumped.
There was no presence at all!
Clutching my racing heart, I turned to look at him.
He was smirking, clearly amused.
Seeing him clearly in the light—
I became certain.
He looked even better in real life than in the illustration.
Seriously… he’s ridiculously handsome.
Even if this isn’t exactly “real life,” the man standing in front of me looked far better than the one in the quest illustration.
Though… I didn’t like how close that scene had been.
No, no—that’s not the point right now.
I snapped back to my senses and quickly spoke.
“G-good afternoon… D-Duke?”
“What happened to what you were practicing earlier?”
His teasing tone made my heart sink.
…I’m doomed. There goes my plan.
“I was just nervous about meeting someone of your status, so I was talking to myself for a moment. I apologize. I am a maid serving Lady Bianca. Please forgive my earlier lack of greeting as well.”
I gave up and bowed properly.
The amusement in his eyes faded slightly.
Leonian crossed his long legs and pointed at the sofa across from him.
“Sit.”
I hurriedly sat down.
Then I pushed the basket slightly toward him.
“This is a reply and gift from Lady Bianca.”
He glanced at the basket and asked,
“Your name?”
“…Pardon?”
“Your name.”
Me?
“Oh… I’m Evelyn. Evelyn Pierce.”
“I see.”
Murmuring, Leonian looked suspiciously at the basket.
Then he opened the letter without hesitation.
I watched him closely—
Well, actually, I was thinking about how to complete both the main quest and the hidden quest.
“….”
His eyebrow twitched upward.
“She says she can’t attend the banquet as my partner because she has a boil on her backside.”
“Ah—yes! Lady Bianca said she was preparing the gift so carefully that she got a boi—…wait, what?”
A boil where?!
I stared at him in shock.
Did Bianca really write something that vulgar in a letter to the male lead?
That couldn’t be right.
“Of course.”
He sighed and then looked into the basket.
After lifting the cloth covering the contents, he let out a hollow laugh.
“She certainly understands my tastes well.”
“…Excuse me?”
His voice sounded strangely cold despite his smile.
I felt my own voice tremble.
Wasn’t that supposed to be a compliment?
He tossed the letter casually onto his lap.
“Do you like tea parties?”
“…I’ve never attended one.”
“Do you like sweets?”
“Huh? Ah… yes, I do.”
Why is he asking?
“Good. It seems your master enjoyed preparing this very much.”
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
“I… wouldn’t know…”
Something felt off.
Even though I didn’t fully understand his personality as an NPC yet, I did know his preferences from the original story.
And—
This didn’t feel right.
“Would you like to open it yourself?”
“…Me?”
He gestured toward the basket.
Carefully, I lifted the cloth.
Inside were items that felt… very suspicious for a gift to a duke.
Sugar-coated jelly.
Colorful fruit candies made by melting large amounts of sugar.
Cookies packed with so much chocolate that I couldn’t tell if they were cookies with chocolate chips or chocolate with cookie bits.
The basket was filled with sweets—like something you’d bring to a tea party.
And then—
His earlier question echoed in my head.
Do you like sweets?
My face turned pale.
I remembered.
He hates sweets.
Not just dislikes—
He practically despises them.
A chill ran down my spine.
So… I just brought this to him?
Am I trying to poison the male lead?!
Bianca was supposed to be like an angel.
That’s what the original story said.
But I’ve never heard of an angel messing with someone like this.
She didn’t say anything to me either.
I had no idea there was something like this hidden inside.
“You didn’t know, did you?”
Leonian asked, watching my stunned expression.
I was about to nod—
But stopped.
If I admit it, that means I’m blaming my master.
No.
I can’t do that.
Not if I want to achieve my goal.
I shut my eyes for a moment, then bowed.
“N-no! Lady Bianca prepared everything properly. There must have been a mistake… I think I made an error. I’m very sorry! I’ll confirm everything again and bring the correct gift—”
“So you’re saying it’s your fault?”
I nodded quickly.
He wouldn’t cut my head off… right?
“Yes! It must be my mistake. I must have brought the wrong basket—”
“There’s no way this was a mistake. At least she didn’t send poison. I was going to accept the Marquis’s request for once.”
He cut me off, his voice half mocking, half sarcastic.
Something felt very wrong.
These two—
Weren’t they supposed to like each other from the beginning?
And gradually fall deeper in love?
That’s how the story is supposed to go.
So why does it feel like they’re already… off?
How far has their relationship progressed?
I started as Evelyn Pierce.
So I assumed everything began from her first scenario.
But it seemed like the main characters had already progressed further.
What is going on?
Then what about my affinity?
My quests?
My ending?
My exit button?
If their relationship is already bad—
How am I supposed to build affinity with him?
Do I have to fix their relationship myself?
Then how am I supposed to do the kiss?!
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
Startled by Leonian’s voice, I opened my mouth—
“So… how do I kiss the Duke—”
“…!”
And then—
I instantly covered my mouth with both hands.
