My Dream is to Get My Own House - Chapter 55

Episode 55

* * *

Mealtime at the Saboia Tower.

The Duke Saboia, Secretary Helic, Claude, and Diana were gathered, totaling four people.

Diana intended to speak up and show off the etiquette she had learned.

However, Claude spoke first.

“[Today, Ishael prepared an explosive magical feast. It was almost a catastrophe. Isn’t she amazing?]”

“Hahaha! Ishael said that?”

“Isn’t that funny…?”

Helic replied with a smirk.

“Oh, really? It’s fine even if it explodes like a volcano… Ishael is truly remarkable.”

“That’s right. Since she’s so smart, I should ask her to be my patron.”

“No, Your Grace. Haven’t you mentioned it yet?”

“I missed the timing and now it’s awkward…”

Diana couldn’t possibly interject in their conversation.

At that moment, Claude spoke to her, who had been ignored.

[“By the way, Diana, have you heard about the Hunt Festival?”]

“Huh? Yes! I just need to watch over it at the townhouse, right?”

The sequence of the Hunt Festival that Diana had heard was as follows:

The Hunt Festival played a role as a small festival that fostered camaraderie among nobles.

Accordingly, the nobles participating in the festival would select one of their bravest knights or magicians to represent themselves.

The knights would hunt animals in the designated hunting grounds, display their skills, and offer the animals they hunted as a tribute to the noble who invited them.

[“However, since this will be your first official event, I hope your skills can be verified.”]

“Huh? My skills, Diana’s?”

[“Yes. You still haven’t awakened, right?”]

“No.”

“But do you have any skills? Like magic?”

Helic chimed in and asked.

“Like what Ishael does, right?”

“…Ah, right. Well, you can’t do magic, can you? You only thought of Ishael.”

It was another comparison with Ishael.

“I can do it too!”

Helic looked at Diana affectionately and gently spoke.

“How about using the Hunt Festival day to verify Lady’s skills?”

“…Sure! Something like a magical feast should be easy. I can do well. After all, I am from the Saboia family.”

“While it’s a magical feast, it would be nice if you could summon something like a familiar.”

“A familiar?”

A familiar was a trace of a deity that occasionally appeared in the fallen empire where divine power had vanished.

Although it didn’t have great abilities, it was said to bring good luck to the viewer.

Those who met or captured a familiar were rumored to be overflowing with luck, purity, and sincerity.

“Yeah. Then wouldn’t everyone acknowledge you?”

If her ‘power’ worked properly, verifying her abilities would be easy.

Diana raised the corners of her mouth and took a sip of wine.

“I’ll do my best.”

For now, since Ishael had taken her place, she had no choice but to stay low-key with her family.

But in the near future, everyone’s love would be poured onto her.

[“Yeah. Oh, Diana.”]

“Yes? Brother?”

Claude smiled and extended something.

[“Take this.”]

It was a hair corsage made of pearls.

“Wow, it’s the first time I’ve seen Claude smile like that while giving me something!”

Claude smiled kindly.

“Because it’s for Diana.”

Her heart felt like it was about to burst.

Was Claude, who used to be aloof, trying to accept her as family?

Was she finally being recognized as the true granddaughter of Duke Saboia?

Right at that moment, Claude stared at Diana intently and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Make sure to meet Ishael too.”

“Oh, where is that child?”

[Melong Market on Melomang Street.]

…What?

You’re saying a noble is on the market floor?

How ridiculous.

[“Go and meet her. It’ll be interesting.”]

“Yes, then I’ll go!”

Go and laugh at her heartily.

I’ll make sure to show her the class difference that exists between us.

* * *

Melomang Street, where the All-Things Market was held, was bustling with people.

I sat down on a shabby mat at the outermost part of the market, covering more than half of my face.

In front of me was a humble mat stand, the only one.

Of course, I had to pay money to use this stand.

I stuffed the peddler’s permit into my pocket while looking down at the stand.

Then, the lady at the adjacent stand tapped me lightly and asked.

“Miss, what are you selling?”

“Stones.”

Today, as a ‘stone seller,’ I began my new life.

“Oh my, there are so many glamorous items in this market. Will these stones really sell? It looks too shabby.”

“Well, I am a bit short on stones.”

There were stones rolling around on the mat.

White stones, red stones, purple stones, black stones…

It was a collection of stones that looked like they were picked up from anywhere.

The lady clicked her tongue and handed me a cup of water, jokingly.

“Be strong, life is inherently bitter.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I sat on the chilly mat, organizing the stones and looking around.

Then, Dylan appeared.

The outskirts of the All-Things Market, where everything could be bought and sold.

There were countless people around.

But a man who was at least a head taller than others always stood out.

Moreover, his outfit today was quite striking.

He was wearing a shirt.

But the center of the shirt…

“It’s r-r-r… ripped.”

At that moment, a sentence echoed in my head.

‘It means one of them is having unimaginably dark, obscene, and lustful thoughts every night!’

That scoundrel was referring to me.

I was a pervert.

He truly was an astrologer who only made accurate prophecies.

Now, I decided to admit my own perversion.

“D-Dylan, sir.”

He whispered shyly.

“Ah… for today’s task, I was told to dress nicely…”

Yes, that was true, but…

“You’re really… dressed so nicely.”

He blushed happily upon receiving compliments.

“My colleagues in the Knights’ Order advised me that men speak with their chests.”

Wow, then you must be the loudest person in the world.

I swallowed my saliva and averted my gaze.

“I’m not going to fall for the pretty boy trap now!”

I came here with a purpose.

I smiled, showing the humble stone on the humble mat.

“Here, I’m selling stones! Let’s sell together!”

“These are the precious stones collected by Ishael, aren’t they?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I just picked them up by the riverside.

In pretty shapes, too.

He sat down next to the mat, wearing a nostalgic expression.

“It’s really… too precious to sell…”

He lightly brushed away the stones.

I glanced around.

The market floor was filled with countless people.

But even in such a crowd, the sight of a handsome man caressing stones created a whirlwind of popularity.

Those people have been pretending not to, but they kept sneaking glances at Dylan.

“It’s such a pity that these stones aren’t selling, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is…”

As he let out a trembling sigh, people started gathering and murmuring.

“What on earth is this?”

“Stones.”

“But they look like precious gems that person is caressing.”

No, they’re stones.

Black stones, to be exact.

“Yes, they must be gemstones!”

“They’re stones.”

“What? Seriously? Selling stones? Buying stones with money?”

“Yes, that’s right. These stones are special.”

“Yeah, right. Handsome men buy touched stones with money. They don’t pick them up from the ground.”

As people started gathering in front of each mat one by one, Dylan looked at me intently and whispered, somewhat concerned.

“Did you manage to attract handsome men?”

Why does he seem unsure about his own perfect appearance?

It was a truly incomprehensible attitude.

Look at the crowd rushing towards us, Dylan.

I nodded vigorously in response.

“Yes, I attracted them completely.”

* * *

Mary, the daughter of a market merchant, entered the All-Things Market without any particular thoughts.

She was very tired and sleepy.

As she was about to enter the market, she noticed a dog sticking around near the mat stands.

“…Huh? A doggy!”

It had a square-cut appearance but lacked luster in its fur, making it look shaggy.

“Is it a stray dog?”

The dog wagged its square-shaped tail and looked around the market.

“Why? Do you want to go inside? Is your owner in there?”

Mary held the dog tightly and entered the market.

“Wow…”

Then, Mary saw what the dog had been staring at the whole time.

Even though his face was almost completely hidden, the silhouette alone indicated that a handsome man was standing in front of a mat, selling something black.

“What is that?”

Perhaps because a cloud-like crowd was surging, she couldn’t figure out exactly what it was.

At that moment, the woman opened her mouth at the perfect timing.

“Everyone, have you ever heard of the Lucky Stone?”

“Aren’t all stones the same? Where’s the lucky stone?”

“Right here!”

The woman half-covered her face and clenched her fist, pointing to the side.

Next to her stood a man of exquisite appearance, holding a sword.

“Now, look at this!”

The man next to Ishael swung the sword a few times.

It seemed like a casual swing, but the form was no joke.

“Thanks to this Lucky Stone, this man has acquired perfect sword skills!”

The man smiled and tightly held the Lucky Stone.

“Everything is thanks to this Lucky Stone.”

“Wow, that’s amazing!”

“I want to buy one.”

“I feel like I’m being fooled, but my wallet keeps opening.”

“The price is really cheap. It’s less than 1 gold!”

“It would be nice to decorate the house with a stone!”

“Yes, yes. Luck will come to you tonight.”

“Give me one here!”

“Me too!”

The woman enthusiastically started selling the stones and collecting money.

“Stop…”

The dog’s black eyes twinkled.

“Why are you coming closer too?”

The dog blinked its shiny black eyes.

And then, out of nowhere, it started drooling!