My Dream is to Get My Own House - Chapter 71

Episode 71

Everyone looked at the spot Mung Mungi pointed to. A small glass tube was floating in the air, and inside it was a bright red rose.

“What, what’s that? There’s such a flower?” Duke Saboia questioned with a puzzled look.

“That’s the list!” 

Claude and Duke Saboia looked at Mung Mungi with confused expressions.

Duke Saboia took the lead and asked, “I don’t understand. What do you mean, Divine Being?”

“There should be writing on the stem of that flower!” 

The pink eyes were filled with great curiosity. 

He was certain he saw the list buried in the ground. But why was it shining from the flower stalk? 

That was a mystery.

However, Mung Mungi’s inspirations were always correct. 

“I can’t explain it, but I’m sure that flower is the list!”

The opponent was an adult, and a grandfather at that. 

Mung Mungi quickly adjusted their attitude. 

“No, yes! I’m sure the list is hidden there!”

Claude, who was about to start digging, opened his eyes wide. 

“Then I’ll dismantle the glass tube immediately.” 

His eyes were filled with an intense determination, as if he was ready to destroy everything.

Claude held the glass tube with the flower and chanted an attack spell. 

The glass tube made a creaking sound, but it didn’t break. 

“It’s under dark magic.”

“We can figure it out if we take it to the wizard tower.” 

Mung Mungi rolled his eyes and stood up. 

“Really? Okay then! I’m going on a journey with Ishael!” 

Claude smiled gently and hugged Mumumi.

“What are you saying? Come on, let’s go together.” 

To work together, that is.

* * *

Before departing for Odette Fief in the carriage, I placed my simple luggage in the carriage and put the video orb that Duke Saboia prepared for me inside my pocket. 

“It’s an orb developed by Claude himself. It would be nice to talk about the journey and communicate from time to time.”

“Oh, yes! If you gather any new information about Lady Diana, please share it with me.”

“Sure, I will.” 

The journey would last about a week, maybe a bit longer. 

During that time, I probably wouldn’t have much use for the video orb…

“But it might come in handy during emergencies.”

I checked my luggage one last time and boarded the carriage. 

The coachman whipped the horse’s flank sharply, and the carriage started to move.

Finally, the project to combine the 3rd-week honeymoon program, a preview of the Odette Fief, and a meeting with Grand Duke Castilla had begun. 

I looked at Dylan with a curious gaze. 

He was attentively observing the scenery passing by the window with a natural smile on his face, unlike before.

“Dylan, you seem to be smiling more.”

“I guess I’ve improved a lot compared to the past. I practiced, you see.”

Practiced, huh? 

I gathered all my social skills and smiled warmly. 

“You look really handsome!”

“Thank you. Finally, the result of my efforts…” 

His ears turned slightly red.

Looking at him, I couldn’t help but genuinely chuckle. He really looked incredibly attractive. 

Dylan seems to be progressing more and more.

At that moment, the horse neighed and kicked the ground as if refuting something. 

The carriage continued its journey, and we were getting closer to the villa in Odette where I would live.

“I wonder what the villa looks like?”

“I’m curious too.”

“His Majesty drew a map for us, but…”

I pulled out the map the emperor gave us and showed it to Dylan. 

The map had a rather rough drawing.

“I can’t quite make it out.”

It seemed like artistic talent wasn’t among the emperor’s strong suits, but insulting the imperial family was a serious crime. 

I kept my thoughts to myself and changed the subject.

Then, Dylan spoke, “I’ve been thinking about what to do during our free time at the villa.”

I recalled the travel itinerary that Dylan had shown me. 

Indeed, there was a section labeled “Free Time at the Villa.”

“What can we do then?”

“It’s a kind of honeymoon; I expect every minute will be precious.”

Oh? Is that so? His serious expression and tone were convincing. 

Feeling that I was a bit naive, I tilted my head.

“Then what should we do?”

“The knights gave me tips on sending a sweet and romantic honeymoon message.”

The words “sweet and romantic” seemed quite out of place coming from Dylan’s cold face. 

However, his expression was serious.

“Newlyweds should gaze into each other’s eyes every day.”

His reddened cheeks were looking at me. 

I met his trembling gaze.

“They said to hold hands.”

He slowly took my hand in his.

“And whisper affectionate words.”

Wow, really? I don’t know who they are, but they seem to be a genius in romance.

“And… what’s next?”

Dylan opened his trembling lips and whispered, “A public confession.”

…Wait, what?!

But even such a minor mistake seemed to suit Dylan, and I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughing? Is a public confession not good?”

He looked slightly flustered as he gazed at me.

I looked down at our interlocked hands, then playfully tapped his hand with my thumb.

“Yes, it’s really not necessary.”

Holding hands felt natural, and even lightly scolding him by tapping his shoulder was effortless.

Only then did I suddenly realize that the walls of my heart, which had been sharp thorns, had crumbled long ago.

Though vague, I wondered what had flowed in through those walls.

With a bright smile, I held his hand and shook it.

“Please skip the public confession.”

“Understood.”

He nodded his head like a well-programmed machine.

“Then, how about something like this instead?”

His cheek turned slightly red.

“If I become the knight who protects you… You would like that, right?”

I chuckled and nodded.

“Not bad. As long as it’s not a situation like riding in this carriage right now.”

He earnestly nodded his head.

“Well, it’s just a joke, right?”

After all, a lady can only choose one knight in her lifetime.

I shifted my gaze away from him and began writing the <Travel Journal>, part of the 3rd-week program.

[First day of the trip

A carriage ride through a sunny street.

Dylan’s cheeks shone brilliantly in the sun.

And…….]

Dylan was very curious about what I was writing in the travel journal. However, I guarded the <Travel Journal> completely and didn’t show him any of its contents.

“I’ll show you everything once the trip is over!”

“I’m really curious.”

But I shook my head. There were embarrassing sentences written in it that I couldn’t show him right now.

Finally, when the carriage reached Odette Station, in the Odette Duchy, near Ast Peninsula Bay Station, a chilling atmosphere hung in the air. 

Surprisingly, it felt more than just a feeling.

I stiffened as I saw the announcement notice through the carriage window.

[? Station Closure Notice]

Starting from 9/30, Ast Peninsula Bay Station (Odette Station) will no longer accept carriage passengers.

-Carriage Keeper-

September 30th was tomorrow. A man with flushed cheeks and a beard looked back.

“Ah, yes. You’re the last passenger.”

“What do you mean by ‘station closure’? What happened?”

In response to my straightforward question, the station master wiped his dry hands. 

He put down the whiskey bottle he was holding and mumbled.

“Let me tell you briefly. This duchy is ruined!”

Huh? I just arrived at my duchy. The duchy has already been ruined.