Chapter 5 - The Baby Runs to the Duke with Cash - Episode 5 (5/353)

☆ Chapter 5 ☆

Have I done something so shocking that I'm seeing things?

I rubbed my eyes, but the words remained unchanged.

As the shock wore off, I couldn't help but realize this wasn't an illusion.

Aftanes.

How could I forget that name?

It was the name of the demon who reincarnated me.

His annoying voice was still vivid even after all these years.

'When he said he'd give me powers, did he mean Rush and Cash?'

It was a name that suggested I'd end up bankrupt and ruined.

I had called him a fraud for not giving me any powers, but if this was the power, I'd rather not have it.

The words continued to appear.

But I couldn't read them anymore.

"Soft... like a baby's?"

The Duke of Paeraton murmured in a very low voice.

Did I say that out loud?

I couldn't bring myself to ask and shivered.

Maybe I should just bite my tongue and die here.

The Duke's red eyes glared at me as if he were about to eat me alive. Oh.

"Hmm..."

The Duke let out a strange sound and placed me on his knee.

"..."

I thought he was going to throw me away and end my life.

But it was a relief... I clutched my heart, which was pounding with anxiety, and cautiously observed him.

Squish.

The Duke poked my cheek.

'What is this?'

Squish squish.

He kept poking it.

I was thin, but as a baby, I still had some baby fat on my cheeks.

I watched the Duke, who was touching my cheek with a blank expression, and gulped.

'Is this the start of a tyrant turning into a doting father?'

My long experience as a reader of romance novels told me.

Every time he pinched my baby fat, his affection would increase.

He must think I'm a little cute...

"You look like an angry pufferfish."

...No way.

Damn, I had false hopes.

As a reader, I shouted, 'This is a sign of a positive development in the relationship!'

But my instincts, facing the Duke's face, screamed.

Look at those terrifying eyes. No way. I might die if I'm not careful. Hold on to your life.

Pufferfish have poison, but I had to endure the Duke's touch with a blank expression.

I thought he would kick me out, but surprisingly, the Duke kept me on his knee.

After a tense dinner with the Duke staring at me, I finally had some alone time.

"Go take a bath."

The Duke left me in my room and said that.

'But I'm already clean!'

I lifted my arm and sniffed, but only a pleasant fruity scent lingered.

'But why did he keep me with him?'

"Maybe I'm still getting used to it. I haven't seen Dad for a while."

"So, let's be together from now on. To avoid feeling strange, we need to stick together closely!"

Was it because of what I said?

'No way.'

Don't get your hopes up.

I laughed and followed the maids to the bathroom.

I had more important things to do than worry about the Duke's intentions.

Chapter 2. Romance Novel Readers Aim for Fast Pacing

After a thorough bath and drying my hair, I climbed into bed.

'Good.'

Finally alone.

'But why did the maids act so strangely?'

Their behavior when I said goodbye to them was bothering me.

Usually, they would ask what was wrong or wait for me to speak—.

'But there are more important things right now!'

The words that had appeared in front of me like a hologram.

'Ugh, I didn't get to read them all.'

As soon as I started paying attention to the Duke, the notification window disappeared.

'Should I have read it all then? Can I not bring it back?'

Just as I thought that, the notification window reappeared.

Eh, can I just answer it?

"Yes."

A window appeared.

Reader! Here's the power I promised!

I didn't expect it to take so long to meet the conditions. It was a simple condition, after all.

I hope you didn't insult the noble 〈Aftanes〉, calling the contract a fraud all this time?

It was a stinging message, considering I had been calling the demon a fraud every day.

'No, it wasn't a simple condition, I think.'

And I still don't know exactly what the condition was.

It can't be something like making a pretty gesture on the Duke's cheek, right?

I hope this power suits you well!

- Trait Level: F

- Trait Effect: Use Cash to summon a romance fantasy novel you've read. You can extract and use the abilities of the female protagonist from the summoned novel.

* Extraction is random.

! Caution: Currently, you cannot use this ability because you lack a 〈Summoning Medium〉.

"What is this...?"

So, I can summon a novel I've read and use the female protagonist's abilities?

"Amazing!"

The abilities of countless heroines from the novels I've read flashed through my mind.

If I could use all these abilities, survival wouldn't be a problem. I could even conquer the world!

"Wow!"

Goodbye, days of misery!

I raised my hands and jumped on the bed.

'But what are Cash and the Summoning Medium?'

I suddenly felt uneasy.

The name of this power is 'Rush and Cash.'

Honestly, it doesn't sound like a name that promises a happy and beautiful future.

Then, a new window appeared with a notification.

〈Proof of Value〉

Reader, are you toasting to your new power?

How naive and innocent!

This world, the world of romance novels, is not so easy!

This is common knowledge for romance novel readers. Haven't you been disappointed and discouraged many times?

Always be on guard!

Remember, your power is not complete.

A true romance novel reader should suspect that anything given by others might be poisoned.

Complete your power and prove its value on your own.

- Condition: Obtain a 〈Summoning Medium〉

- Reward: 500 Cash

"Wait, why is the wording like this?"

Is this targeting me?

I was frustrated.

Especially after I had been poked on the cheek and thought the tyrant was turning into a doting father, drinking the kimchi broth.

Tch.

"Even if I can't eat it, I should still say it's good!"

"Okay, but where can I get a Summoning Medium?"

An object that can serve as a medium for summoning.

'In romance novels, such items are usually extremely rare.'

The national treasure of an empire.

A holy relic of a temple.

A treasure of a magic tower.

Or, a family heirloom passed down through generations of a noble family.

'Hmm, maybe I should start with the heirloom of the Paeraton family.'

It would be hard for me, a child, to find it elsewhere.

'...But even if it exists, it's a problem.'

Could I really ask the Duke of Paeraton for the family heirloom?

I shivered, remembering the Duke's cold and expressionless face glaring at me.

'Well, the heirloom might or might not be a Summoning Medium.'

I tried to reassure myself. I'm not scared.

First, I'll check the heirloom of the Paeraton family.

In the morning...

Yawn.

A huge yawn stretched my mouth.

'Hmm, I need to make a plan...'

I rubbed my eyes, but my vision was blurry.

I had barely slept at the Tarenka Viscount's residence.

Now, my body was warm from the bath, the bed was cozy, my stomach was full, and I couldn't resist the urge to sleep.

I don't know when I fell asleep, but I was sound asleep in the middle of the large bed.

* * *

Chirp chirp.

Birds are chirping.

'Is it morning?'

The ceiling greeted me with its usual, stunning beauty.

While yawning and stretching, the door opened, and the maids came in.

"Did you cough, Miss?"

"Yes."

As I sat up, the blanket slipped off.

'Huh?'

I remember falling asleep in the middle of the bed without covering myself.

Now, I was at the head of the bed, with a pillow under my head and the blanket neatly tucked around me.

"Did Anna cover me with the blanket?"

In response to my question, Anna looked puzzled but answered honestly.

"No. We don't enter the room while you're sleeping, Miss. The same goes for His Excellency and the other young masters."

Hmm, I must have crawled over in my sleep.

I was embarrassed because I thought the maids had covered me.

I jumped out of bed and headed for the dressing room, but paused.

"Ah, good morning, sisters!"

The maids' faces softened when I greeted them.

"Good morning, Miss."

"Hehe, I'll brush your hair."

Good, good.

The atmosphere was definitely much friendlier than before.

I put on the clothes Nancy chose and let Anna brush my hair, pretending to be impressed.

"Wow, this is so pretty! It sparkles!"

I pointed to the brooch on the dress, and the maids smiled warmly.

"It's beautiful. It matches your eye color perfectly."

"Would you like a similar hairpin? You'd look adorable."

"Um... but it looks expensive."

I made a sad face and fidgeted with my hands.

"Oh my..."

Anna covered her mouth, looking awkward. Nancy clenched her fist and exclaimed indignantly.

"What are you saying? Miss is the only daughter of the Paeraton family! You can do whatever you want with such things."

"You can even use more valuable items. But they might be too heavy..."

I glanced at the maids, who were comforting me, and asked subtly.

"Hey, does the Duke's residence have a room where they keep all the sparkly things?"

Trying to look innocent, like a thief eyeing the heirloom.

"Of course. There are many such rooms. There are even more in the Duke's castle."

Wow, there are so many.

Come to think of it, the Duke is rich.

I wanted to ask to see it, but I needed to go to the room with the heirloom, not other luxuries...

"Can I see it?"

"Um, when I was with Auntie Tia, I got beaten just for going near it... Can I really see such pretty things?"

I mumbled and glanced at the sisters.

If I appeal like this, they might show me the best room.

Well, it's not a lie.

"You dirty thief...! What are you lurking around here for? Trying to steal something again? A girl with bad habits like you needs a beating to come to her senses!"

I was once beaten by the Viscount with a cane while cleaning a corridor near the treasure room.

The Viscount himself had ordered me to clean that corridor, and I didn't even know the treasure room was there.

'No, no, don't think about sad things. I'm out of the Viscount's residence, and no one here hits me!'

I lifted my head, and the sisters looked at me with half-teary, half-angry faces.

Why do they look like that?

"Don't make that face."

No, what was my face like? Their faces are more strange...

Anna reached out to me but stopped and pulled back.

What is it? Nancy suddenly hugged me.

"Nancy, what rudeness—"

"Our little Miss, so small and young... Still a baby..."

Anna's exclamation was cut off by Nancy's sniffles.

I patted Nancy.

"I'm fine! I have sisters who care about me!"

I smiled, and the other maids also hugged me, saying, "Miss!"

This is the first time in my life... Well, it's not a bad feeling.

Hehe.

Anna paused, looking at me surrounded by the sisters.

Then, she reached out to me, as if making a decision.

Her warm palm gently stroked my hair.

Hmm, it feels good.

A faint smile spread across Anna's face.

* * *

"Miss, the first thing you should see is the best in the Duke's residence! Let's go to the Holy War room."

The other sisters nodded vigorously at Nancy's suggestion.

"There are much more valuable things than in the Tarenka Viscount's treasure room! The Duke's residence is far superior."

"Can I just go?"

"Yes, as a direct descendant of the Paeraton family, you have the right to enter the room where the heirlooms are kept."

"But you need His Excellency's permission to take anything out."

Ugh. That's true. I can't just take things.

'But that's okay.'

I can at least check if there's a Summoning Medium among the heirlooms in the Paeraton residence.

'So, I should eat breakfast quickly and go there right away.'

Just then,

Knock knock. The butler entered.

The butler only came to my room on the first day I arrived, so I was a bit surprised.

What's going on?

"Miss, His Excellency has invited you to have breakfast together."

Have breakfast together?

All of a sudden?