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Chapter 8
The comment fairies had a tendency to overinterpret anything in terms of romance.
After all, kids naturally want to spend the whole day with their close friends.
“I wish we could, but we don’t know what will happen. Let’s think about it then!”
“Yeah.”
It was a vague answer, but Leon seemed relieved just the same, and his expression softened.
I hadn’t noticed before because he always sat in dim places with a gloomy look, but he really did resemble Duke Clark.
└ [Looks like your dad’s handsome too, so no wonder Leon’s a looker.]
└ [I was a bit wary of the playboy prince, but Leon seems like a proper male lead, thank goodness.]
└ [Bookmark. Leon is slowly slipping into Rose’s life.]
I still didn’t know who the “male lead” was supposed to be.
But ever since I learned that Leon was the duke’s son, a lot of possibilities opened up for me.
“If I help the duke find his son, maybe he’ll reward me a little too…”
└ [Oh, asking for a guardian, huh?]
I had thought about that too.
Getting involved with the duke might actually be a way to get closer to Count Torto.
“Why do you think I recognized the Clark family crest?”
I had a future connection with Count Torto, exchanging letters and all. That’s why.
So rather than asking for a long-term relationship, it might be better to request a one-time favor.
For example, asking for a temporary place to stay until my hair color changes…
└ [No, no. You need to marry into the duke’s family.]
└ [If it’s the duke, he can stomp over Mister Trot, right?ㅠㅠ]
└ [My dad listens to trot all the time, so if it’s the duke, I can’t help it.]
└ [Please become the duke’s daughter-in-law, cuddle and all.]
The comment fairies were firm, but if I asked for too much, it would only raise suspicion.
While I was calculating everything in my head, Leon led me toward the cafeteria where the kids gathered.
“Can we eat together?”
“Mm. You can sit next to me. You don’t need to ask me that.”
For the first time, a smile flickered across Leon’s normally expressionless face.
└ [Classic female lead buff novel: just a few words, and the male lead warms up. I’m out.]
The fairies said that since I was the protagonist, a few words would open his heart…
“But from Leon’s perspective, I’m the only one he can trust.”
The adults here probably have no idea what Duke Clark even looks like.
It was a bit worrying because the fairies kept bringing up stories of the orphanage “selling out the kids”…
Without a trustworthy adult, the only one who could correctly find the duke and return his son was me.
“The only question is how to contact Duke Clark…”
Lost in thought, I blankly took my tray and tried to sit down.
“Sit here.”
“Huh?”
Leon pushed me to the end of the table and sat next to me.
Looking up, I saw Edin carrying his tray, trying to sit beside me, but because I was at the end, he was left dangling in empty space.
“We could’ve just sat the three of us in a row.”
Someone was already sitting across from us, so Edin ended up sitting next to Leon.
└ [Ah… obsessive male lead.]
└ [Edin ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
└ [It’s Galval’s fault.]
The fairies who liked Edin cried, lamenting that Edin was on the secondary male route.
“It’s good that I’m not Belletta Torto anymore, but without noble status, there are so many difficulties.”
If I tried to find Duke Clark in my current state, I’d be thrown out by the guards before even meeting him, looking like a dirty little beggar.
I’d considered sending a letter, but a letter from a commoner would be filtered out by the butler.
There are people who harmed Leon’s mother. They might try to hurt Leon too.
Without knowing who the enemies are, I’d have to meet the duke personally or deliver my message to someone he trusts.
“I need a chance to meet him!”
I kept thinking about ways to make contact, but nothing good came to mind.
Duke Clark’s territory was in the west, while Zelton, where I was, was in the east. I didn’t even have money for a carriage fare.
“At least for now, I need to make a connection with my current status…”
It wasn’t impossible. I had some interaction with nobles, after all.
The visitors who came to support the orphanage.
I treated them with extra care, hoping to find some point of connection.
“It makes me so happy that so many of you came! Our orphanage feels so bright!”
“Oh hoho, you really speak so well.”
“I’ll even read some of my favorite poems later!”
Today, four noblewomen had come to volunteer at the orphanage.
Even though it was called volunteering, most of the work was done by the maids they brought, and the ladies only planted a few flowers.
It wasn’t that they didn’t work; their task was simply to feel like they were working.
Just showing up was already something to be grateful for.
└ [Class society is harsh.]
Do the countries the fairies knew have no social classes?
From what I heard, their daily lives weren’t much different from a commoner’s.
Anyway, what I wanted from the ladies wasn’t labor.
“I need them to chat and relax so I can get information.”
After planting flowers, the ladies distributed snacks to the children.
The ladies had tea time at a separate table, and I slipped in between them.
“Wow, it smells good.”
“Would you like to try some?”
A new teacup was placed in front of me, but I shook my head.
“No, I tried it before. It was too bitter… Adults are amazing. You can drink bitter tea without a problem.”
The ladies laughed at my childlike comment and lifted their cups.
“That’s right. There’s a taste only adults understand.”
└ [Do you find soju bitter? I think it’s sweet.]
└ [Tea pride lol]
└ [You must show the nobles the taste of DejaX]
└ [It’s my favorite drink, so what?]
The comment fairies were quite knowledgeable about tea too.
“I know my tea too.”
The tea had a bright aroma but a strong bitterness, perfect for pairing with sweet treats—a specialty of the southern region.
I couldn’t show off my knowledge here, so I just giggled along with the ladies.
Seeing I wasn’t leaving, a maid poured milk instead of tea into my cup.
“Here’s a cookie shaped like your name.”
“Wow!”
I nibbled the rose-shaped cookie like a little squirrel.
Eating slowly allowed me to stay longer and gather information.
└ [#scheming heroine]
Why “scheming” for just eating a cookie?
Anyway, the ladies, unaware that the little girl beside them was gathering rumors, chatted comfortably.
“The fashion in the capital shouldn’t be much different from here, right? I’m wondering if I should have the dress made at a capital tailor.”
“But too flashy wouldn’t be good either. After all, there’s the protagonist, isn’t there?”
Protagonist?
I perked up, thinking the fairies might have called me that, but of course, they weren’t talking about me.
“It’s a title-bestowing ceremony, so it’s different from a normal celebration party.”
“But so many nobles will gather, so to stand out a little…”
I timed my interest perfectly and asked a question.
“Celebration party? Who are we celebrating?”
“Recently, the long war ended. So His Majesty the Emperor decided to reward many people’s merits and grant titles.”
Ah, so that’s what this was about!
A long war meant many people had proven themselves in battle.
The emperor distributed lands and titles collectively, which was the ceremony the ladies were talking about.
“Will you ladies all go to the capital?”
“Of course. Especially since a new duke will be inaugurated, most nobles around the capital will gather to celebrate. It’ll be a huge festival.”
This was it!
For a new ducal inauguration, high-ranking nobles from all over would attend.
A duke-level person would have to attend.
“Duke Clark will come to the capital too!”
Even if he couldn’t come personally, someone representing him would.
Going to the capital would be much easier than traveling to the duke’s western territory.
I finally had a lead on how to meet Duke Clark.
└ [I’m more curious about the new duke!]
At this time, the new duke would be… Duke Valent.
He was a former commander of the Imperial Knights and considered the emperor’s right hand.
No one had contributed more in the war, so he deserved the dukedom. He had always stayed by the emperor’s side during campaigns.
Even I, who collected all kinds of rumors, didn’t know much beyond public information.
“He rarely appeared publicly.”
He only stayed briefly by the emperor and left. Outsiders would have thought he was merely a guard, not a duke.
For me, he was almost like a saint in terms of how little I knew about him.
└ [So this life is about getting to know him.]
└ [I have a feeling… the new duke might be my father.]
