TBULF 6

chapter 6

“I am your contracted divine beast! The more you are acknowledged in the North, the stronger I become. But right now, you are…”

…The squirrel trailed off, but I already knew.

Objectively speaking, my position was awful.

Because I wasn’t recognized, the squirrel right now was basically just a “cute telepathic grandpa.”

Then the squirrel spoke again.

“Still… there is something I can help you with. Giving you courage! The most important thing for you right now is courage.”

It sounded like nonsense—but it wasn’t wrong.

‘I was honestly a bit nervous, but hearing that actually makes me feel completely fine!’

As each of the squirrel’s words sank into my ears, it felt like the powerless version of me from the past was slowly fading away.

‘Right, let’s do this! Raphael is right in front of me, after all!’

Compared to yesterday, when I couldn’t even meet him, this was huge progress!

And just by gaining that courage—

Something strange suddenly caught my eye.

The worn tapestry draped over the cold stone walls. The small candlestick. The faint beam of light coming through the window…

After a few seconds, I lifted my chin confidently.

“As you said, I’d like to draw a small sketch within ten minutes. …The subject will be this room.”

“If you exceed the time, I won’t accept it. About two minutes and thirty seconds have already passed since I turned the hourglass.”

Oh no…!

But even so, it was fine.

I recalled the time before my regression, when I inspected the safety of the castle with Raphael.

“You stayed up all night again? Everyone says that. They wonder why you’re such a perfectionist…”

“If a building is wrong, people die. And not just one—many.”

“Ah… that’s…”

“And besides, things should be clean. It keeps the mind from getting cluttered. It feels better too. That’s all. Anything else?”

Raphael was someone with his own philosophy and aesthetic.

That’s why I liked him.

Even though, before my regression, a disaster no one could have predicted had caused a collapse…

‘I know why you work this hard. That’s why I want to help you.’

My pen moved quickly, scratching across the paper.

Serentia’s smile had no effect whatsoever on Raphael.

His power was still perfectly under control.

Recalling those two perfect premises, Raphael accepted the sketch with a stiff expression.

And what he saw was—

“You’re not very good at drawing.”

His lips twisted slightly at the crude sketch.

But as he finished speaking, his eyes caught the tiny writing beneath it.

[Suggested Improvements]

The crude arches, even cruder furniture, and worn tapestry do not match the identity of this space.

[Rearrangement Strategy]

Create a vertical axis with a partition wall to form a “space within a space.”

The material for the partition should be…

[Concept Conclusion]

Rather than conventional interior design, this is a reconstruction through organization.

For more details…

After reading this far—

Raphael recalled Serentia’s words from earlier.

“I’m actually a genius architect. I can read a client’s mind.”

Beep, beep, beeeep.

With an annoying sound, the sand in the hourglass ran out completely.

And at that exact moment, Raphael’s lips twisted ever so slightly.

But—

“You didn’t read my mind.”

First attempt: failure.

Just as Serentia’s eyes widened—

His lips curved again, just slightly.

“Come into the conference room. Let’s run another test.”

…So it wasn’t a failure. It meant pending.

The moment I stepped into the conference room inside Raphael’s office—

“By the way, dear—”

“No ‘dear.’”

What?!

This was only our third meeting.

And already, Raphael had figured out my pattern.

“Ah, yes. Then, hon—”

“No ‘hon,’ either.”

For a moment, his cold words almost made me deflate—

“Endure it! Flirt! Stick close to him! Think of your sweet newlywed life!”

Sweet newlywed life…!

Fueled by the squirrel’s advice, I clenched my fists and spoke sincerely.

“Yes, you’re a bit picky—but kind of cute.”

Raphael muttered blankly,

“Cute… what? I must have misheard.”

Only then did I realize what I had just said…

But I was slowly learning how to shamelessly push through.

After rolling my eyes, I spoke again.

“…Well, that’s not important. Anyway—dear, I mean, Your Grace.”

“You already called me ‘dear.’”

“That was a mistake. Husband—no, Your Highness. Anyway, what kind of test will you be giving me?”

“Design a small building.”

“Oh, a commission—”

“Absolutely not.”

Wow, he’s prickly.

But inwardly, I was smiling.

‘Hehe. Successfully slipped in the word “husband.”’

Nodding, I continued,

“Then what kind of site and purpose will this building have?”

Instead of answering, Raphael handed me a document.

And the moment I saw the title, my eyes widened.

The squirrel whispered darkly in my ear.

“Disaster… starting off with a project tied to this level of importance…!”

Was I shocked like the squirrel?

No.

I was thrilled.

[Lady Isidel’s <Epinetia Salon>]

“Isidel Kairosen. A salon to be used by my aunt, who oversees both high society and the family’s internal affairs.”

In terms of scale, it was a small project.

But the “salon project” was the key to starting the Northern reconstruction—

‘This is the perfect beginning!’

With a pounding heart, I nodded.

“The design fee is 10% of total construction cost. Double the usual 5%.”

“And if my design is selected, I’ll receive the title of Kairosen Castle Cooperative Architect, correct?”

Raphael’s eyebrow lifted.

“…You know your stuff.”

Each noble house had a system of “cooperative architects.”

Those who fully designed key buildings were officially recognized and treated like retainers of the family.

Currently, there were only ten such architects in Kairosen Castle—

and they were all appointed by the previous Grand Duke, practically on their last legs.

Meaning—

I’d be the only active one.

“I’m really looking forward to this!”

This was my first step toward being recognized at Kairosen Castle.

If I gained recognition, the squirrel would grow stronger and help me more—and I could stay close to Raphael under the pretense of being a “capable architect”!

‘Everything works in my favor!’

As I smiled in satisfaction, Raphael showed me a simple contract and said indifferently,

“I didn’t expect you to have ambition in design.”

“No, I have ulterior motives.”

“…Not ambition, but ulterior motives?”

As his eyes narrowed slightly, and even the squirrel’s voice quieted in suspicion—

I spoke honestly.

“Yes. I plan to properly design this salon, become best friends with Lady Isidel Kairosen, and then—”

“…Then?”

“Strategically approach my husband. I just came up with the plan. What do you think?”

…I stuttered a bit at the end, but still, I declared my grand ambition.

Raphael rested his chin on his hand and said quietly,

“That’s the worst plan I’ve ever heard.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best!”

Honestly, I was too busy planning how to approach Raphael to fully process what he said.

I looked at him with sparkling eyes.

He seemed oddly drained—

“Ah! Then shall we have dinner together right away?”

“It’s early morning. I’m not hungry.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then you may leave.”

But despite his cold words, my eyes still sparkled for one simple reason—

I had met Raphael today.

On my cheerful way back to the guest room—

The squirrel handed me an acorn, looking oddly worried.

[Serentia’s Sweet & Lovely Survival Mission ♥ No.1!]

Build the <Epinetia Salon>
in the outer castle’s “social district” of <Kairosen Castle>!

※ Includes a special hidden reward from the squirrel!

Then it declared solemnly,

“The outer castle of Kairosen has five districts. The ruined lands of the territory are also divided into five areas. When all of them are fully restored… what was abandoned and forgotten will return.”

“Abandoned… and forgotten?”

If that’s the case—

Could Raphael’s forgotten memories… return too?