Chapter 5
When I opened my eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.
I jumped up, surprised—but my side felt warm.
Oh, right. Last night, I patted Rus to sleep and ended up falling asleep too, after playing all day with him.
“Rus, why did you sleep like that? Without a pillow?”
“Mmm… I just fell asleep like that.”
“Goodness.”
I pinched Rus’s cheek, where the blanket had left marks. So warm and soft. Rus didn’t resist my touch.
“By the way, what about Bella? She must have come to wake us. Gosh, how late did we sleep?”
“She came, but I sent her away. I told her you went to bed late, so you should sleep more.”
I stretched, my body sore. It had been a while since I moved so much, so all my muscles were aching.
When I got out of bed, Rus followed. We found Bella cleaning my room. We ate the breakfast she had prepared, and then I sat at the dressing table.
Today, I’ll deal with Prugg once and for all.
Since I had Rus’s permission, I had nothing to hesitate about anymore.
As Bella brushed my hair, she looked in the mirror and said fiercely,
“Madam, how can your hair be this soft? Do you know? Everyone wants to serve you. When you walk around holding the Duke’s hand, people secretly cry because you’re so adorable. I’m proud that I’m the only one this close to you!”
“Really?”
“Yes! So please don’t change to another maid.”
“If you make me look pretty today, maybe I’ll keep you.”
“Our Madam is always beautiful no matter what… oh dear.”
She pretended to worry seriously. And while I was lost in thought about Frugg, she tied my hair into two pigtails.
I hadn’t worn my hair like that in decades, if I counted my past life, so it felt strange.
“Doesn’t it look weird?”
I touched the ends, but Bella shook her head firmly.
“Not at all! You look so lovely! If you go out like this, people might faint from your cuteness!”
“Really? …Rus, what do you think?”
Rus, waiting beside me, cupped his cheeks and said,
“You’re so pretty.”
This little one already knew how to make people happy. Hearing both of them, I started to think it wasn’t bad.
Right. I’m still young, and this body is pretty. If not now, when would I wear this hairstyle?
I smiled, satisfied, and went with Rus to the office.
Prugg was already sitting there, looking at us arrogantly.
“What brings you here, Madam?”
“I’ve decided to take care of the household from now on.”
And make you return the money you stole.
Thinking it was childish talk, Frugg laughed.
“Running the household is complicated. A child like Madam can’t handle it.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“But you’ve only just married in. You also need the Duke’s permission.”
“Rus, can I manage the household?” I asked, holding his hand.
“Yes! If you want to, then do it!”
“You heard him. The Duke says I can, if I want.”
“But Madam is an outsider—”
Rus cut him off.
“Prugg. She’s not an outsider. Are you disobeying your Duke?”
His sharp tone showed just how smart he was. As expected of my boy.
“Duke, I’m only worried for the family. The household is difficult. Things barely run now because of me. Of course I could hand it over, but if it all collapses afterward, what then?”
He acted like a loyal servant.
“So you mean I’m not capable?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Then all I have to do is prove I am capable, right? How should I prove it… ah, how about this?”
I pretended to think, then said: “I’ll earn one million marks within a week.”
One million marks was what a commoner would earn after working nonstop for a whole year.
“One million…?”
Frugg smirked, sure I was bluffing.
“Fine. Let’s do that.”
He agreed easily.
Go ahead and laugh now. A week from now, you won’t even be able to beg for mercy. How dare you steal my boy’s money?
***
“Madam! Tomorrow is the last day of the week you promised!”
I stopped reading to Rus and looked at Bella. Rus, sitting right next to me, also looked at her.
“Yes, I know.”
In truth, I hadn’t done anything all week. Just the usual—reading to Rus, learning the castle layout, greeting the servants.
Bella, panicked at my calmness, tried to urge me on.
“Madam! You only have 50,000 marks left from selling the jewel! If this goes on, you’ll lose!”
She almost cried.
“Then Frugg will scold you so much! Should I at least go out and earn something? Even if one million is impossible, we can’t show up with nothing!”
“Thank you, Bella. But it’s fine.”
“But Madam!”
“Oh, look at the time! Rus, it’s time for a walk!”
Before I spilled my plan, I quickly dragged Rus out.
“Bella sure worries a lot, right?”
“Yeah.”
I met Rus’s eyes and grinned mischievously. He already knew my plan.
Suddenly, he took my hand.
“Rus? What is it?”
“Even if something goes wrong, don’t worry too much. I’ll kick him out myself.”
I laughed and tapped his nose.
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
“But still…”
His genuine support warmed my heart.
“Let’s just enjoy our walk. Where should we go today? We went east last time, so let’s try the west.”
We strolled through the castle together.
Eventually, we reached a wide hall. Once filled with luxury, it now looked empty and barren.
“Madam! Young Duke!”
A maid cleaning the hall greeted us brightly.
“Hello.”
“I heard you made a bet with Mr. Prugg!” she asked excitedly.
“Where did you hear that?”
“From Mr. Prugg himself!”
Of course, he must have spread it to humiliate me. But for me, it could work to my advantage.
“I’ll always support you, Madam! Good luck!”
“Thank you.”
I looked up at the huge crest hanging in the center of the hall.
It was so big I had to tilt my head back completely. The sword across the center looked both noble and delicate.
“It means the founder of our family became a duke after helping the first emperor defeat the Demon King,” Rus explained.
“The Demon King?”
“Yes. A thousand years ago. He was so strong and evil that the world almost collapsed. The emperor and the first Duke Valfruga defeated him.”
“I see…”
I nodded, almost entranced, and touched the crest.
“Ouch!”
“Ah! Madam! You’re bleeding!”
The rough surface scratched me.
“I’m fine. But what if I stained the crest?”
Found it.
“Now isn’t the time to worry about that—!”
Rus grabbed my hand, shouting.
But… why did his voice sound so far away?
My vision blurred.
Come here.
Someone was calling me.
Come here, quickly.
Rus’s voice faded, but the strange voice grew clearer. It was low, heavy, powerful.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I heard a heartbeat.
I’ve been waiting.
And then I lost consciousness.
***
When I opened my eyes again, I was in a dark cave.
“Where… is this?”
The cave was tall enough to hold a mountain, but the entrance was blocked by a giant wall of ice.
I tried to touch it, but even before my hand got close, the freezing cold made me pull back. Touching it would surely give me frostbite.
What is this place? Was this prepared for the male lead? Should I bring Rus here? How? I don’t remember anything like this in the original story.
“How do I get out of here?”
Then I noticed—
This isn’t stone.
Looking carefully, I saw faint reptilian scales.
It was a dragon, curled up.
I walked closer. As expected, what I thought was a wall was the dragon’s body.
Its massive head rested with eyes closed.
Its body was ice-like white and transparent, yet shadows swirled deep within like the bottom of the ocean.
What’s going on? To get out, do I have to pass this thing? But if I wake it up, I’ll be eaten for sure.
Then the voice spoke again:
“Don’t touch it. It’s dangerous.”
