Episode 37
“Be quiet.”
“Have you made plans for the date yet?”
“Dustin.”
Kainis’s voice dropped to a warning tone, and the maids, pretending not to listen, were sneakily eavesdropping on their conversation.
“I mean, it’s obvious, right? You asked Billy, the secretary, didn’t you? Billy probably said things like go on a picnic or go to a nice restaurant. Typical, boring stuff.”
“…”
‘Wait, seriously?’
Kainis, struck right on the mark, pressed his lips together without saying a word.
“See? I knew it. You seriously know nothing about women.”
Dustin leaned back in his chair with a smug expression, the corner of his mouth curling up.
“It’s none of your business.”
“Come on, bro. The date plan is important, but the most important thing is who you go on the date with.”
“What are you talking about, Dustin?”
“Do you really think a date with a boring, cold guy like you would leave any good memories?”
“…”
“Well, not that someone who’s never even been on a date would understand.”
Dustin tilted his head playfully toward Kainis, grinning like a child teasing someone.
“…”
“Right, Felice? Wouldn’t you have more fun on a date with me than with someone this dull?”
Dustin raised one eyebrow at me, pressuring me for a response, but I turned my head away, ignoring his gaze.
“Dustin, that’s enough. This is between me and Lady Luce.”
“Why? I’m a candidate for marriage too. If you’re going on a date with Felice, I should too.”
“You must have a lot of free time these days.”
Dustin’s smiling face stiffened slightly at Kainis’s remark.
“What are you talking about? I’m super busy.”
“Considering how many women you’ve been seeing, it seems like you’ve got plenty of time.”
“I’m not seeing any other women lately.”
“Really? Then you must have even more free time.”
“I said I don’t!”
The smile on Dustin’s face had long since vanished.
“With that mercenary group entering the capital, I assume you’ve finished investigating them?”
“I’m busy because of that.”
‘Wait, mercenary group?’
My ears perked up as I absentmindedly listened to their conversation.
I sat up straight from the chair I had been leaning back on, focusing more intently.
“How long has it been since the investigation started? You’re telling me it’s still not finished?”
Kainis shook his head disapprovingly.
“I’ve done most of it. They don’t seem to have any hidden agenda—they just came here to take a break.”
‘Then Dustin knows where the mercenary group is?’
My eyes lit up as I snapped to attention.
He might know the location of the new male lead I’ve been looking for.
‘Finally, my male lead! The one who’ll get me out of this hellish game!’
I racked my brain trying to figure out how I could get Dustin to spill the location of the mercenary group. I scooted slightly forward, focusing on their conversation.
“If you’re done with that, I’ve got a new task for you. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be in charge of training the new recruits in the Capital Guard.”
The Capital Guard, to which Dustin belonged, operated under the Noble Council, and Kainis was the one overseeing it.
“What?! Come on, bro…”
Kainis ignored Dustin’s grumbling and turned away with a blank expression.
“You’re talking about the famous mercenary group from the continent, right?” I asked casually.
Kainis nodded.
“Yes. They’re brutal and ruthless. They’ll do anything for money.”
“Really? Sounds like dangerous people.”
Dustin also nodded and added, “Exactly. They’re terrifying. Have you ever seen a mercenary group before?”
“No, never.”
“They look really scary. Especially this group—they’re all fierce-looking. You’d probably run away the moment you saw them.”
Dustin said it like he was trying to scare a child.
‘What’s he saying? About my male lead?’
There’s no way my male lead looks like that.
I shot a brief glare at Dustin for talking nonsense and pressed on with another question.
“They’re in the capital? Where exactly?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Ah, well… I’m scared. I want to avoid them. Where are they staying?”
“Curious?”
“Yes.”
“Want me to tell you?”
“Yes.”
A sly smile crept up on Dustin’s face, and I looked at him expectantly.
“Nope.”
He said those two syllables clearly and obnoxiously.
‘Ugh. If only I weren’t trying to keep up appearances, I’d smack him.’
I clenched my trembling fists under the table and forced a smile.
“Ha ha, you’re so playful, Young Master. I only asked because I don’t want to go near dangerous people…”
“Is that so? Then come closer.”
At Dustin’s beckoning, I leaned in across the table. Dustin leaned in as well and whispered:
“I’ll take you there myself. Just the two of us.”
His teasing tone made my blood boil again.
‘Seriously… should I just hit him?’
Maybe I could pretend to be swatting a bug and give him a flick?
Biting my lip, I held back my anger once more.
Seeing us leaning in close, Kainis finally spoke up.
“It’s not a place nobles usually visit, but there’s a shabby inn next to an empty lot near Pheringa. The mercenary group is staying there.”
‘What? Pheringa?’
I repeated Kainis’s words over and over in my mind so I wouldn’t forget.
A shabby inn next to an empty lot near Pheringa.
If I go there, I can meet the new male lead—the commander of the mercenary group.
“Aww, I wanted to tease her a bit more.”
“It’s dangerous, so you’d best stay away. If you absolutely have to go, please let me know. I’ll prepare a squad to accompany you.”
Neither Dustin’s disappointed mumbling nor Kainis’s concerned warning registered in my ears anymore.
‘I got it. I finally know the location.’
Now all I have to do is go there and raise the new male lead’s affection level.
Then I can go back to the world I came from.
I hadn’t felt this hopeful since entering this world.
My eyes sparkled with renewed excitement.
“The tea is ready.”
Just then, the maids poured the perfectly brewed tea into our cups. As I lifted mine, I could feel the other noble ladies’ eyes on me.
‘First, let’s take care of the new male lead. Everything else can follow.’
Everything felt full of promise.
I brought the teacup to my lips and took a big gulp.
“Oh no, my lady! It’s hot!”
“Gah! Ack…”
In my haste, I had gulped the hot tea in one go.
It was so hot it felt like it was burning through my mouth and throat.
‘Ugh… I should’ve let it cool down.’
In my rush to meet the new male lead, I drank the tea without thinking and was now paying the price.
A maid offered me a glass of cold water, and I gulped it down in one go.
“Pfft!”
“Pffhaha…”
Dustin burst into laughter, pounding on the table. Even Kainis, who rarely showed emotion, allowed a faint smile to tug at the corner of his lips.
Ding!
System Message:
Dustin Spencer’s Affection +5
Total Affection with Dustin Spencer: 20
Dustin thinks spending time with you is fun. Try spending more fun moments with him!
‘What the heck? Is he a pervert?’
Raising affection points over this?
What kind of ridiculous settings does this premium membership even have?
I didn’t understand it, but I was just relieved that Kainis’s affection didn’t go up.
‘Did Karen see me drink the tea?’
I turned my head and, of course, Lady Karen and the other ladies were watching me.
With evil smiles on their faces, they exchanged glances as if celebrating their success.
‘Fools…’
I mean, laughter is laughter, I guess