Is it because I did something so shocking that I’m seeing things?

I blinked rapidly, but the words were still there.

As the shock wore off, I couldn’t help but realize that this was no illusion.

Aphthanes.

How could I forget that name?

It was the name of the devil who had swindled me into being reborn.

[Don’t worry. Since I’m especially granting you rebirth, I’ll also give you abilities.]

That annoying voice was still vivid in my mind, even after all these years.

‘They promised abilities, but all they gave was a Rush and Cash¹often used to describe a fast-paced and highly competitive environment, especially in the context of the business world. The phrase implies the need to act quickly and make decisions rapidly in order to succeed!’

It was an ability with a name that sounded like it would lead to financial ruin.

I cursed the con artist for not giving me any abilities, but now I wished he hadn’t given me this one.

The words continued to appear, but I could no longer read them.

“Like a baby… soft and fluffy?”

It was because of the low voice of Duke of Phaeraton.

Did I say that out loud?

I trembled without daring to ask.

Maybe I should just bite my tongue and die here.

The Duke’s red eyes glared at me as if he were going to devour me. Hik.

“Hmm…”

The Duke let out a strange grunt and placed me on his lap.

…?

I thought he was going to throw me away into the underworld.

Thankfully, he didn’t…but my heart was pounding anxiously as he held it in his hand and bounced it up and down.

Thump thump.

The Duke pinched my cheek.

What was that?

He kept poking it.

I winced in pain, but since I was still a baby, there were traces of baby fat left on my cheeks.

I looked at the Duke’s expressionless face and gasped.

‘Is he trying to become a doting tyrant?!’

My long experience in romance novels told me so.

They say they feel more affectionate toward babies with chubby cheeks.

I’m sure they at least think I’m a little cute.

“Looks like an angry pufferfish.”

— No chance.

Damn it, I had false hopes.

As a reader, I shouted, ‘This is the beginning of my fangirl phase!’ but my instincts, with the Duke’s face in front of me, shouted,

Look at those fierce eyes. There’s no way. Hold on tight to your life because you could die at any moment.

Pufferfish may have poison, but I had no choice but to obediently receive the Duke’s touch with a plump expression.

I thought I was going to be thrown away soon, but surprisingly, the Duke continued to hold me on his lap.

After a dinner where I felt like I was going to choke to death while looking at the Duke’s piercing gaze, I was finally alone.

“Wash up.”

The Duke, who had put me in my room, left those words and went out.

‘No, I’m clean now?!’

I raised my arm and sniffed, but only a pleasant fruit scent filled my nose.

‘But why did he bring me along until now?’

“It’s just because it’s unfamiliar. Because I haven’t seen Daddy for a while.”

“They said you have to stick closely together not to feel unfamiliar!”

Maybe it was because of what I said.

“No way.”

I had false hopes again.

I followed the pick-wearing maids to the bathroom.

Right now, there was something more important to me than the Duke’s intentions.

CHAPTER TWO. Romance novel readers prefer fast-paced developments

After taking a clean bath and drying my hair to make it fluffy, I climbed onto the bed with a grunt.

‘Okay.’

I’m finally alone.

‘But why were the maids acting strange?’

Their behavior when saying goodbye to me bothered me.

Normally, I would have asked what was wrong or waited for them to speak, but—

‘Something else is more important right now!’

The words that came to mind like a hologram.

‘Ughh, I didn’t finish reading it all.’

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

‘No matter what the duke says, should I have read it all then? Can’t I bring it back?’

As I was thinking that, the notification window appeared again.

[There is an unchecked notification. Would you like to check it?]

Oh, can I just answer this?

“Yes.”

Then a window appeared.

[Attribute ?Rush and Cash?*Disabled*]

Reader! This is the ability I promised you!

It took me longer than I expected to fulfill the conditions. It was an easy condition.

Surely you didn’t curse the righteous ?Aphthanes? by being a pretending scammer all this time, did you?

As someone who cursed the devil every day, it was a really embarrassing message.

‘No, it wasn’t an easy condition to begin with.’

And I still don’t know exactly what the condition is.

I don’t think anyone would dare to do something inappropriate on the Duke’s beautiful cheeks.

It’s a perfect ability for you, reader! Please use it well!

— Ability grade: F

— Ability effect: You can summon the romance fantasy novel you read using cash.

You can extract and use the abilities of the female protagonist in the summoned novel.

?? Extraction is done randomly.

! Caution: Currently, there is no ?Summoning Medium?, so it cannot be used.

“What is this…?”

So, I can summon the novel I read and use the abilities of the female protagonist?

“How cool is that?”

Countless abilities of female protagonists in romance novels passed through my mind.

If I could use all those abilities, survival wouldn’t be a problem anymore. I could even conquer the world!

“Whoaa!”

Goodbye to the days of being in a rat race!

I raised both hands and jumped up and down on the bed.

‘But what about the cash and summoning medium?’

Suddenly, I became anxious.

The name of this ability is ‘Rush and Cash.’

Honestly, it wasn’t a naming that reminded me of a happy and beautiful future.

[A new quest has arrived.]

At that moment, a new window popped up with the notification.

?Proof of Value?

Reader, are you raising your glass because you think you’ve gained an ability?

You’re too naive and immature!

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

It’s common sense that romance novel readers should know. Have you not been disappointed and discouraged a lot so far?

Watch your back at all times!

Don’t forget!

Your ability is not complete.

A true romance novel reader doubts whether the gift from others is poisoned.

Complete your ability with your own strength and prove its value.

— Condition: Acquire ?Summoning Medium?

— Reward: 500 cash

“What the hell is this wording?”

Is it targeting me right now?

I was speechless.

Especially since I was worried that the tyrant would become a daughter idiot just because he was poked on the cheek today.

“Anyway, I have to work hard on this, even if I can’t eat it!”

[You have accepted the quest.]

“Okay. But where can I get the summoning medium?”

An object that can summon something, a connecting point.

“Usually, in romance novels, this kind of thing is extremely valuable.”

The Empire’s national treasure.

The holy relic of the temple.

The treasure of the mausoleum.

Or a family heirloom passed down through generations of aristocrats.

“Hmm, for now, the only thing I can find right away is the Duke of Phaeraton’s family heirloom.”

Other places are still difficult for me as a young child to search, so it would be nice to have it here.

‘…But even if it’s true, it’s still a problem.’

Can I ask Duke Phaeraton for the treasure of this household?

I trembled as I recalled the duke’s cold and insensitive face staring at me.

‘Hmmm, It can’t be for sure that it’s the summoning medium for the summons.’

I tried to console myself. I’m not a coward.

Let’s first examine the duke’s heirloom.

When I wake up in the morning…

Hwaaaaaaa.

A big yawn escaped my mouth as if it would tear it apart.

‘Hmm, I need to make a plan…’

I rubbed my eyes, but my vision was blurry.

At Marquis Tarenka’s estate, I could barely sleep and worked.

Now, my body was warm from bathing, the bed was cozy, my stomach was full, and I couldn’t possibly get up to face the morning.

I fell out of the narrow bed without realizing when I had fallen asleep.

* * *

Chirp chirp.

A bird chirps.

‘Is it morning.’

Today, the splendid ceiling greeted me once again, surprising me.

I yawned and stretched out while lying down when the door opened and the maids entered.

“Have you woken up, Youngest Miss?”

“Yes.”

As I sat up, the blanket fell off.

“Hmm?”

Yesterday, I don’t remember covering myself with a blanket and falling asleep there in the middle of the bed.

Now, it was at the head of the bed. It seems I slept soundly, hugging the pillow tightly and covered with the blanket.

“Did Anna cover the blanket?”

As I asked, Anna gave me a puzzled look but answered obediently.

“No. We don’t come in when you’re asleep, Youngest Miss. It’s the same when His Excellency or other lords sleep.”

Hmm, I must have crawled in on my own in my sleep.

It’s embarrassing, but I naturally thought that the maids had covered me.

I jumped out of bed and headed straight to the dressing room.

“Oops. Good morning, sisters!”

As I shouted to the maids, their faces softened.

“Good morning, Youngest Miss.”

“Hehe, let me comb your hair.”

Alright, alright.

The atmosphere had definitely become much gentler than before.

Wearing the clothes Nancy had picked out for me, I pretended to be amazed as I entrusted my hair to Anna, knowing nothing.

“Wow, this hanging thing here is so pretty! It sparkles!”

Pointing at the brooch on the chest of the dress, the maid sisters giggled.

“It’s beautiful. It goes really well with the Youngest Miss’s eye color.”

“Would you like a similar pin for your hair? It would definitely look cute on you.”

“Well… but it looks too expensive.”

I pouted with a gloomy face.

“Oh my…”

Anna covered her mouth with an embarrassed expression. Then Nancy clenched her fist and shouted angrily.

“What are you talking about? Youngest Miss, you’re the only distinguished lady of the Duke of Phaeraton’s family! You can do anything like that!”

“You can do even more precious things. But they can be heavy…”

Glancing at the maids who were comforting me, I asked discreetly.

“By the way, does the Duke of Phaeraton have a room where they keep such sparkling things?”

Trying to act as innocent as possible, like a thief aiming for a treasure but not making it obvious.

“Of course. There are many rooms like that. The duke’s mansion has even more.”

Oh, I see. The duke is rich, after all.

I wanted to see it once, but how should I put it? Instead of luxurious items, I have to go to a room with something other than that….

“Would you like to take a look?”

“Well, when I was at sister Tie’s, I get scolded just going near that area… Can I even see pretty things like that?”

I mumbled while rubbing my hands together.

If I appeal like this, they’ll probably show me the best room.

Well, it wasn’t a lie.

“Dirty thief! Why are you loitering here? What are you planning to steal this time? A disrespectful girl like you needs to come to her senses through punishment!”

While cleaning the corridor, I once approached the Marquis’s treasure room.

At that moment, the Marquis harshly whipped my back.

It was the Marquis himself who ordered me to clean the corridor, and I didn’t even know there was a treasure room there.

‘Oh no, don’t have gloomy thoughts. I escaped from the Marquis’s clutches, and there’s no one here to harm me!’

As I raised my head, the sisters looked at me with faces that seemed like they were about to cry or explode.

Why are they making those expressions?

“Don’t make such a face.”

No, what was my expression like? My sisters’ expressions are even stranger…

Anna reached out her hand towards me but hesitated and pulled it back.

What’s going on? Nancy suddenly hugged me tightly.

“Nancy, what’s the matter?”

“Our youngest lady, you’re so small and young… You’re still a child…”

Anna’s startled cry was interrupted by Nancy’s sobbing.

I tried to comfort Nancy by patting her gently.

“I’m fine! I have sisters who worry about me like this!”

As I smiled widely and spoke, the other maidservant sisters also embraced me, calling me the youngest lady.

This is the first time something like this has happened in my entire life… Well, it doesn’t feel bad.

Hehe.

Anna, who saw me laughing while surrounded by my sisters, paused for a moment.

Then, as if determined, she reached out her hand towards me.

Her warm palm gently stroked my hair.

Hmm, it feels good.

A faint smile spread across Anna’s face as well.

* * *

“For the young lady, the first thing she should see in the Duke’s residence should be the best place! If she’s going to look around, she should go to the Battle of Saints’ chamber.”

Upon Nancy’s declaration, the other sisters nodded vigorously.

“There are much more valuable things than Marquis Tarenka’s place! Compared to the Duke’s residence, the Marquis’s treasure room is nothing.”

“Can we just go?”

“Yes, it’s a room where the Duke’s family heirlooms are kept, and as the Duke’s direct descendant, our youngest lady naturally has access.”

“Taking the heirlooms out would require permission from the Duke, though.”

Ugh. Well, I guess that’s true. I can’t just take them as I please.

‘Well, that’s fine.’

In the treasure room at the Duke of Phaeraton’s residence, there seems to be a summoning medium. I might be able to check it out.

“Well, then let’s not delay, have a quick breakfast, and go right away.”

Just then, with a knock-knock on the door, the butler entered.

I was a little surprised, as this was the only time the butler came to my room since my first day in the house.

I wonder what’s going on?

“Young miss, His Grace the Duke has requested your presence for breakfast.”

He wants to have breakfast together?

All of a sudden?

• 1
  often used to describe a fast-paced and highly competitive environment, especially in the context of the business world. The phrase implies the need to act quickly and make decisions rapidly in order to succeed