TVLM 03

Chapter 3 …

“Rika?”

“Y-Yes?!”

Angelica, who had been lost in thought about what happened a few days ago, flinched at the gentle voice calling her name.

Right. I’m in the Lespell family’s drawing room.

As soon as she remembered where she was, she could feel the prickling weight of sharp gazes on her.

She rolled only her eyes to glance around—and saw two pairs of eyes staring right at her.

One of them, just like the first time they met, was glaring as if ready to devour her whole.

Startled, Angelica quickly averted her gaze.

The child looked only a couple of years older than her, but as expected of someone from a ducal family, the look in her eyes was fierce and intimidating.

What did I even do wrong for her to glare at me like that…?

Angelica’s shoulders drooped. If she added up her age from her previous life and this one, she’d lived several times longer than that kid.

But every time she regressed back to the starting point, both her body and mind reverted to that of a child.

For instance, when she felt fear, sadness, or anger, her reactions came out just like a real child’s—completely involuntary.

And not just that. Whenever she saw delicious food or a fun-looking toy, her body reacted like any normal child’s would.

It’s probably part of the game’s basic setup.

Angelica hated this young body of hers.

Even now, her eyes brimmed with tears all on their own.

“Rika, are you alright?”

If not for the gentle voice beside her, a tear might have fallen right then.

Angelica hastily rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand before the tears could spill, answering in a small, timid voice.

“Yes, I’m okay.”

“Good. Then go ahead and eat.”

With a kind voice, a plate piled high with meat appeared before her.

“Wow…”

A small gasp escaped Angelica’s lips. The meat before her was cooked to perfection, glistening and mouthwatering.

And it had even been cut into bite-sized pieces, easy for a child like her to eat.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the food, and she swallowed hard as the savory aroma filled her nose.

Olivier, watching her granddaughter-to-be’s reaction, couldn’t help but smile.

The old lady gently patted Angelica’s back.

“Eat slowly, Rika.”

“Yes.”

Angelica’s reply was soft but clear. The warmth from the hand on her back seemed to give her courage.

Even though she could still feel that sharp gaze on her, she bravely picked up her fork.

And just as she poked the tender chicken with it—

“Woof!!”

A bark suddenly rang out from the corner of the room.

“Oh my!”

“A dog?!”

The servants waiting nearby cried out in surprise.

Then came the sound of quick little footsteps scampering toward them.

Clang!

Startled, Angelica dropped her fork when she saw the white, fluffy puppy running toward her.

Panting, the small creature trotted right up to her feet.

It wasn’t just any dog—it was the Earth Spirit.

*

[You have obtained the Beginner Farmer Set.]
[Congratulations! You have acquired the ‘Earth Spirit’—a rare summon!]

The moment she opened the box, a message window popped up, making Angelica’s eyes go wide.

She knew that the Beginner Farmer’s Box contained basic farming items.

But an Earth Spirit?
And rare?

Angelica blinked rapidly, trying to recall what she remembered from the game.

Come to think of it, didn’t this game have a gacha system? Don’t tell me it’s only showing up now!

Gacha systems didn’t really fit with simulation-type games, but Please Take Care of the Princess! had all sorts of them.

The most common ones were for drawing costumes and food that increased stats.

There were also summons for pets and helpers—various side features.

But in her past two lifetimes, she’d never seen the gacha system once.

I’ve never even seen a message window before, so of course I wouldn’t have seen this either.

Besides, she hadn’t even meant to roll for anything this time.

She’d just opened the box, and something extra popped out on its own.

Still, a rare spirit! That’s pretty great! I knew it—this farming route really is the path to the true ending!

Grinning from ear to ear, Angelica set the box lid down on the floor.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a little puff of white fur.

Her gaze immediately followed it.

Standing there was a tiny puppy, maybe two months old at most.

“Oh my goodness!!”

Angelica squealed like an overexcited dolphin.

The little creature in front of her was small and precious, covered in fluffy white fur!

Its round eyes and nose looked like three little buttons sewn onto a soft toy.

It was too cute.

“No way! The Earth Spirit is a puppy?!”

Angelica reached out toward the adorable creature, her hand trembling with excitement.

But just before her fingers touched that soft fluff—

“Woof!”

The puppy barked sharply.

Is it scared of me?

Thinking she’d startled it by reaching too quickly, Angelica curled her hand into a fist and held it out for the puppy to sniff.

But the white fluffball barked again, even louder this time.

“Woof!”

What’s wrong with it?
Angelica tilted her head, feeling a bit deflated.

Then suddenly—

[Are you my master?]

The voice didn’t come from her ears—it echoed directly in her mind, deep and resonant like a young man’s.

“Who’s there?!”

Startled, Angelica looked around the attic, but it was just her and the puppy.

No way…

It can’t be, right? I must’ve imagined it…

“Woof!”

The puppy barked again, and once more, a voice rang clearly inside her head.

[Where are you looking?!]

“Wait… are you seriously the one talking? The… puppy?”

Though the puppy was tiny, the voice in her head definitely belonged to a young man.

Angelica hesitated—should she speak informally or politely? In the end, she chose a tone somewhere in between.

The puppy plopped down onto the floor with a sigh.

[Yes. I’m the one speaking.]

This time, it didn’t bark—the voice flowed directly into her mind again.

So it really is the puppy talking?

Angelica blinked and tilted her head.

At first, she’d been startled by the telepathic voice.

But after living inside a game world, seeing magic, different races, and even experiencing regression, she had grown used to the extraordinary.

Now she was more curious than afraid.

[Indeed, I only speak directly when I need your attention.]

The voice came again as she stared blankly at the puppy.

“I see,” she murmured, nodding slowly.

It made sense—it was a rare Earth Spirit, after all.

Still, I can’t believe I actually summoned such a rare and adorable spirit.

She knew spirits existed in this world, though she’d never seen one before.

Only Spirit Masters could see them.

And Spirit Masters were treated as highly as court magicians.

Does this mean I’m a Spirit Master now? So I’m a farmer and a Spirit Master? No wonder people said the farming route was powerful!

Overjoyed, Angelica grinned widely at the puppy.

The puppy, who had been scratching its ear with a short hind leg, froze mid-motion.

Then it walked over to her with small, deliberate steps.

[Hmph. So this little one is my master?]

It looked her up and down, then sighed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

Angelica puffed up in indignation at being judged by a puppy—a cute one at that.

But her anger melted the instant she looked at its fluffy, adorable face again.

[My master is young and weak… and so very small.]

The tone wasn’t condescending but concerned.

Feeling warmth spread in her chest, Angelica smiled again.

Meanwhile, the puppy turned around and trotted over to the open Beginner Farmer’s Box.

After peering inside, it looked up at her with surprising gravity.

But even that serious look was impossibly cute.

[Little master, what is your name?]

Angelica, barely holding back laughter, answered as if she weren’t amused at all.

“My name’s Angelica. What about you, puppy?”

“Woof!”

[Puppy?! I am a noble Earth Spirit, born to guide you! You will address me as Master from now on!]

The puppy barked again—stern, yet ridiculously adorable.

Angelica’s face lit up as she nodded.

“Alright, Master!”

[You really are just a child…]

The puppy let out a long, weary sigh.

[I have much to teach you, it seems.]