TOYLCG 27 🍒

Chapter — 27

Demetra-style clothes seemed a bit dangerous for men.
No—more precisely, they were dangerous in the eyes of women.

Maybe because the weather was warm, the fabric was thin and somewhat revealing. It felt unfamiliar compared to the clearly seasonal style of the ducal territory, and the awkwardness showed.

“Isn’t this outfit a bit too revealing?” Aren asked.

“What’s revealing about it?” Rosebell replied.

“No, it’s just… too—”

Aren couldn’t bring himself to say “too low-cut,” so he awkwardly covered his chest. No matter how much he pulled the strings, they kept loosening again. He seriously wondered what kind of mind had designed clothes like this.

“It suits you well! Look! Daniel is wearing it nicely too!”

Aren’s gaze shifted to Daniel. He also looked uncomfortable, fidgeting with the straps for no reason.

Only Aren knew that all of this was just a build-up to buy Rosebell a comfortable dress.

If it meant escaping a corset, Rosebell looked ready to do anything—and her plan worked.

Maria bought a neat green dress, while Rosebell chose a beige blouse and a light purple skirt set that looked extremely comfortable.

On top of that, she somehow ended up with a straw hat decorated with a pale purple ribbon, making her look like someone out for a casual outing.

“Using other people just for your own convenience…” Aren muttered.

“Do I look like some kind of mastermind villain?” Rosebell asked.

“What does that even mean? You look clever, but not that clever.”

At Aren’s honest words, Rosebell burst out laughing. He wasn’t wrong. What she was using now was just common sense she had gained from working and dealing with people in her past life.

It wasn’t the kind of thinking a clueless sixteen-year-old girl would normally have.

And to be a true mastermind villain, one needed big ambitions and the willingness to risk their entire life. She had neither.

“You’re right. I’m perfectly satisfied right now. So I can’t be a bad person.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t bad. You just have a natural talent for tormenting people.”

Rosebell almost shouted back, but she closed her mouth when she saw Aren adjusting his clothes again.

Because he wasn’t entirely wrong.

Daniel was also wearing uncomfortable clothes, but he said he was grateful.

He said that if it weren’t for her, he would never have worn something like this, and that it was a new experience.

“Daniel, where are we going now?” Rosebell asked.

“You seemed very interested in sowing seeds, so I’m taking you to a seed shop. There are more varieties than you’d expect, so feel free to look around.”

“Oh my! That’s a wonderful idea!”

Rosebell’s mood instantly lifted at the thought that she might find what she wanted.

If possible, she wanted things like sweet potatoes or chili peppers—but even if not, that was fine.

Garlic could be obtained in the ducal territory too. But the planting season had already passed, so it would have to wait until next year.

“Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?” Daniel asked.

“A lot! My kitchen garden is huge!”

She didn’t cook as a hobby, but since she had started farming anyway, she wanted to grow many things and enjoy eating them.

And wasn’t there anything happier than sharing delicious food with the people you loved?

She had never thought like this when she lived in the modern world.

An orphan with no one.

That was what people had called her after both her parents passed away. Everyone pitied her, but those words had never felt comforting.

To her, it sounded like: What can someone without parents possibly do?

Perhaps because Demetra was a territory with vast plains, the seed workshop was enormous. The moment she stepped inside, Rosebell was completely absorbed, her eyes darting around at seeds and crops.

Watching her, Daniel felt a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.

This place was like a treasure vault to him as well. Every year, it was where he felt excitement at planting new crops.

It was also a place where he often wondered whether he would ever meet someone who felt the same way.

“Wow! There are so many interesting things here!”

“Lady Rosebell, please calm down! Aren, what are you doing? Hurry and stop her!”

“You know I can’t handle her on my own,” Aren replied.

An excited Rosebell, Maria desperately trying to stop her, and Aren who had already given up.

It was an amusing combination. Yet the looks the two of them directed at Rosebell were full of affection.

“They even have basil seeds. Let’s buy all kinds of herb seeds too! I’ll cook something really delicious for you!”

“You can get herb seeds in the ducal territory,” Maria said.

“But still! If you visit somewhere and don’t spend money, that’s rude! Don’t you know about souvenirs?”

The two of them were speechless.

The one who had insisted this was an important business visit was Rosebell herself.

Yet now she was passionately picking out seeds. Anyone could see she was preparing for reckless spending. To make things worse, the shop owner was happily recommending one item after another.

They couldn’t really stop her either, since they had the Duke’s permission and this outing was technically his request.

Before they realized it, their schedule in Demetra was coming to a smooth end. Once they returned, Rosebell would throw herself back into work like before.

If anything, she would push herself even harder to make up for the time she had been away. They all knew that.

So they thought of this as her final bit of leisure.

“Do we really not need to stop her?” Daniel asked quietly.

“It’s something the Duke asked for anyway. And as long as it’s not violence, I don’t really see a reason to stop her,” Aren replied.

At the word violence, Daniel flinched slightly. Aren chuckled and continued.

“Our young lady has quite a heavy hand. And she’s not bad at fighting either.”

“That’s impressive…”

“She is the future head of the family, after all.”

“A woman?” Daniel asked.

Aren’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected the word woman.

“She’s the one and only heir of the ducal family. Why wouldn’t it be possible?”

“Then… will she not marry?”

“That’s not my concern,” Aren said flatly.

As the conversation continued, Aren grew more and more irritated. Marriage wasn’t the center of the world.

“Ah… right,” Daniel said, realizing the flow of the conversation had become strange.

If Rosebell became the family head, she would have to take in a husband.

If the man were a noble, very few would willingly become a live-in son-in-law. In that moment, Daniel realized he felt relieved.

He had no intention of confessing his feelings, and he had no intention of becoming a son-in-law either.

If he could stay by her side as a friend for a long time, that would be enough.

But no one knew how long that feeling would last. No parent would wish for their only daughter to live alone forever.

If even a small opening appeared, would it be right to step forward then?

He had chosen to stay by her side because he believed there was no chance—but perhaps that wasn’t the best choice.

The realization that she had become someone special to him, and the thoughts that followed, were stronger now than they had been that morning.

Did feelings grow the closer you became?

Since this was his first time experiencing emotions like this, Daniel simply decided to nurture them carefully and, someday, if he could, convey them to her.

Rosebell was in a good mood, having achieved her goal.

Originally, she had wanted to see a small bread festival held here, but her physical condition was terrible.

She wanted to return to the ducal residence as soon as possible. Aren using polite speech and constantly watching her mood made her uncomfortable.

On top of that, since visiting the plaza, it felt strange how openly Aren was keeping his distance from Daniel.

She thought they had become somewhat close, but maybe that had just been her misunderstanding.

“Rosebell,” Aren said.

“Hm?”

“Are you going to get married?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?” she snapped.

Without realizing it, Rosebell made a face like she had bitten into a bug. She had no idea why he would suddenly bring this up.

Talking about marriage to someone who was working hard to become the family head—it felt like he was seriously mocking her.

“No, I just meant… if you couldn’t become the head, you’d have to find another path, right?”

“I’ve already contracted with a spirit. Do you really think my father would appoint someone else as head? What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”

“I mean… just in case.”

“Don’t worry. If there’s no one to come in as a son-in-law, I can just live alone. If that doesn’t work, do you want to marry me?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?!”

Aren felt as if his heart dropped straight down.

He knew very well that she had said it casually. But if she knew the feelings he held for her right now, she wouldn’t be able to say something like that so easily.

“Why? It’s our family tradition. A Cinderella story.”

“What?”

“There’s something like that. A story where a commoner rises to an incredible status. Satisfied?”

“I feel offended.”

“Anyway, the kind of misfortune you’re worrying about won’t happen, so stop saying nonsense. It makes me uncomfortable too.”

At Rosebell’s firm words, Aren felt relieved.

It was funny to feel reassured by something like this, but the fact that she had no intention of placing anyone by her side made him happy.