Chapter 13
“You disappointed me.”
“……”
“You became the daughter of House Delphinium and only spent 1,000 gold on shopping? Absolutely disgraceful.”
“……”
I stared silently at the rim of the teacup.
For a moment, I had been surprised, wondering if I really did something wrong—but that feeling fizzled out like flat soda.
“No matter how bad you are at spending money, this is just absurd.”
‘What should I eat tomorrow?’
“Was there really nothing to buy? How could you spend only 1,000 gold on your first shopping trip? That’s an amount I’ve neither heard of nor seen in my entire life.”
‘I’m craving meat… Can I put in a menu request?’
“If someone hears about this, they’ll think the Delphinium household is facing financial difficulties.”
‘And what should I have for dessert?’
Still thinking about dinner, I shifted my gaze from the teacup rim to the bottom of the cup.
“Of course, I’m not scolding you. What I mean is… spending a mere 1,000 gold doesn’t affect the finances of the duchy.”
Now I was analyzing the pattern on the carpet below.
Honestly, I hadn’t been paying attention since the moment I entered the drawing room, so this whole conversation had already evaporated from my head. When I sensed a pause in the conversation, I replied vaguely.
“I’ll try to improve going forward.”
“Good. I hope this doesn’t happen again.”
That seemed to be the end of the duke’s lecture. He simply took another sip of his tea. I glanced at him and followed suit, sipping the still-warm tea in my cup.
The warmth slid down my throat and spread throughout my body. Soon, I felt relaxed and comfortable.
“This tea smells wonderful.”
The duke seemed a bit surprised at my sudden comment—probably because I had never initiated a conversation before.
He set down his cup and replied with a pleased expression.
“It’s my favorite. I had it specially imported from the south. If we start drinking tea together regularly, I can show you some other varieties—”
“I’m fine, Duke.”
At my firm rejection, Duke Delphinium visibly drooped. He cautiously continued, sneaking glances at me.
“Now that your formal adoption has gone through… shouldn’t we settle the matter of how you’ll address me?”
“How I address you?”
“Yes. Try calling me Father.”
“……”
“‘Dad’ works too.”
…But I already have a dad.
I mean, my real father is still alive and well, and you want me to call a man I’ve only known for two days ‘Dad’?
“And to commemorate your formal adoption, I’ve arranged for a building to be transferred to your name—”
“Thank you, Father!”
The word Father came out automatically.
A new dad who gives me real estate! They say life can turn around in an instant, and here it is.
At age 7, I became a landlord, and I walked out of the duke’s office grinning from ear to ear.
“Hey, kid.”
Drunk on capitalism, I didn’t even hear the voice calling out to me and kept walking lightly.
“Are you ignoring me?!”
Turning my head toward the loud voice, I saw Lucian standing in the shadows, arms crossed, glaring at me with a dissatisfied expression.
“Lucian?”
“I heard you only spent 1,000 gold today.”
How is it that the entire mansion already knows about my spending? Apparently, there’s no such thing as privacy here.
I was shocked at how fast gossip traveled and how nothing stayed a secret in this mansion.
At this rate, even my breathing might become gossip.
“Breaking news: Lacetia spotted breathing in her room.”
I could see the headlines now.
“Yeah. I already discussed that with Father.”
“…Father?”
Lucian looked a bit startled at how I addressed the duke.
“You’re already calling him Father…? You’re not normal, are you?”
Lucian seemed confused, but I simply nodded and tried to walk past him toward my room. His voice stopped me again.
“Anyway, I thought your goal was money.”
“Gasp. How did you know?”
I turned around and dramatically covered my mouth in fake shock.
“What?”
“Just kidding.”
I lowered my hand and returned to a serious tone.
Lucian made an exasperated face and continued.
“At first, I thought you were after money. But when I heard you only spent 1,000 gold, I realized that might not be the case.”
“Well, I decided I’ll improve from now on. I still don’t have a good sense of money.”
“Still, I haven’t dropped my suspicions about you. Stay on alert.”
And just like that, Lucian finished what he had to say, turned around, and disappeared again. A real third-rate villain exit.
Is he dumb or what? He says he’s suspicious of me, but he keeps coming over to give me updates.
I stared blankly at where he disappeared, then headed back to my room.
As soon as I got there, I quickly climbed onto the bed. I fluffed the pillow and lay down my weary body.
As I relaxed, my eyes started to close. Since becoming a kid, sleepiness hit me at random times.
I must’ve used up a lot of energy walking around today, because I fell asleep before I could even think of anything else.
* * *
The Delphinium estate was bustling from early morning.
Everyone was busy preparing to receive guests. Naturally, as the daughter of Delphinium, I was also caught up in the frenzy.
This was my first time meeting someone outside the duke’s household in my new identity, so everyone was being extra careful.
Before I could even collect my thoughts, I was dragged out of bed and seated in front of a vanity. The maids gently brushed and styled my hair, even though I was still dozing.
Despite not much care being given until now, my once-dry hair now gleamed. Absentmindedly playing with the strands that reached my collarbone, I stared blankly at the mirror.
Then, I tried on about ten dresses we bought yesterday before finally settling on one. Only then was I ready to greet the guest.
When I went downstairs, the duke and my older brothers were already waiting at the entrance.
“Who’s coming today?”
“Ah, Lacetia. Did you sleep well?”
I rubbed my eyes and replied to the duke’s greeting.
“Yes…”
“Today, Duke Bacaris and his daughter, Lady Bacaris, are visiting the Delphinium estate.”
“Lady Bacaris?”
“A lady of her status wouldn’t be a bad friend for you.”
A duke’s daughter… Just hearing that title sounds like a villainess. But if a villainess meets a reincarnator early, the story can change. I’ll make sure she never turns evil.
‘Time to destroy the original plot.’
Soon, I heard hoofbeats and a luxurious carriage arrived in front of the estate. From it emerged a man who looked like a duke and a young boy.
Didn’t they say Lady Bacaris was coming?
…Could this be a high-ranking noble lady who’s rebelling against corsets and aristocratic expectations?
I’ve read a few girl-crush characters like that in novels. Those types often become allies of the heroine, which would be great.
“Thank you for coming.”
Duke Delphinium shook hands with Duke Bacaris, and my brothers and I followed behind him.
From behind the duke, I peeked out and studied Lady Bacaris.
She was a stunning girl with black hair and bright green eyes. No duke’s household has ugly children, but if she were a boy, she’d easily be the male lead with those looks.
Ah, we made eye contact.
As I stared at her, blinking repeatedly, she suddenly turned away. Huh, is she stuck-up or something?
“Theodore, Lucian, Kaiden, and Lacetia. You all greet them too.”
“So you’re the new child in the household. Nice to meet you.”
Duke Bacaris extended his hand for a handshake.
“I’m Lacetia,” I replied, shaking his hand, then stepped toward Lady Bacaris to greet her.
“Hello, Lady. I heard you’re three years older than me—would it be okay if I speak casually?”
I gave her a friendly smile, but her face turned bright red. She trembled slightly, then shouted roughly at me.
“Hey!”
I was so startled that my eyes went wide.
“Do I look like a lady to you?! Are you blind?!”
I stood frozen, blinking in confusion. That slightly lower-pitched voice…
“A boy…?”
“Yeah. And you’re seven, right? I’m seven too.”
“But they said Lady Bacaris was coming?”
“My sister couldn’t make it today, so I came in her place.”
Handsome face, childhood-friend vibes…
Could he be the male lead?
Every male lead has to have something special. Like a unique power, or the ability to notice the heroine’s secrets that others can’t.
As for me, my only “cheat” as a reincarnator was the memory of my past life. I had no special traits, aside from a weird filter that automatically censored my curses.
So, the only way to test if this boy is really my male lead is—
“♩♩♪♬♪♩♪♪♬♪♩♪♬♪♬.”
—I blurted out a stream of censored swearing to test it.
