My Dream is to Get My Own House - Chapter 79

Episode 79

 

The millennium snow symbolized the curse that still surrounded Dylan. 

 

He regained his composure, which was about to melt under the warm sunlight and lush greenery, and headed to a nearby hunting ground. 

 

The previous Grand Duke Castillas had engaged in all sorts of misdeeds to alleviate the aggression caused by the curse, and one of them was hunting animals and humans that were brought in. 

 

With the death of the previous Grand Duke and Dylan’s ascension to the position of Grand Duke Castilla, the hunting grounds had become desolate. 

 

However, the hunting groundskeeper was still present.

 

 

 

Dylan approached the vicinity of the hunting ground’s cabin. 

 

From afar, a rugged man with red facial hair appeared. 

 

He was the one who had managed to survive the eternal winter that no one else could endure. 

 

It was Jun, the hunting groundskeeper. 

 

Except for a few priests who protected Grand Duke Castilla and the winter castle, Jun was the only one who lived in the Grand Duke’s residence.

 

 

 

“Jun.”

 

 

 

“Oh, Your Excellency, the Grand Duke!”

 

 

 

“I wonder if you’ve been well.”

 

 

 

“Well, I’m always the same! Haha! It’s been years since you left, and you’re finally showing up now!”

 

 

 

Dylan cut to the chase and said, “Spring has arrived in Grand Duke Castilla’s residence.”

 

 

 

“What? Really? Oh, I didn’t know because I’m in hibernation.”

 

 

 

Jun spread his shoulders like a giant. 

 

The streaked scars on his haggard body caught Dylan’s eye. 

 

The hunting groundskeeper of the winter castle was also affected by the curse.

 

 

 

“…I guess you don’t pay much attention to your surroundings, Jun.”

 

 

 

Only then did Jun look around. 

 

He saw new shoots growing on the land that was as hard as an ice pick to walk on.

 

 

 

“Oh…I see it now!”

 

 

 

“Didn’t you know that there are people impersonating me?”

 

 

 

With a sharp gaze, Jun, with a muscular physique that emphasized his single eye, flinched.

 

 

 

“…S-such big guys exist?”

 

 

 

That’s right. 

 

Because of them, Ishael had a negative opinion about herself. 

 

Dylan clenched his jaw until it hurt.

 

 

 

“Yes. From now on, you have a task.”

 

 

 

Castilla Grand Duke turned his cold gaze away and whispered, “Eliminate the trash lurking in the territory.”

 

 

 

“Oh, that’s my specialty! Wasn’t I also trash at one point?”

 

 

 

That’s right. 

 

Jun used to be trash. 

 

He lived as a gangster, persecuting people stronger than himself, and eventually ended up flowing into the Grand Duke’s residence, testing his courage. 

 

He picked a fight with the young Grand Duke Castilla and got beaten up, but he swore allegiance and lived as the hunting groundskeeper.

 

 

 

Jun laughed heartily and scratched the back of his head.

 

 

 

“Are there more?”

 

 

 

Dylan chuckled gently.

 

 

 

“Let’s do some charity work.”

 

 

 

The landscape of the territory became very beautiful. 

 

The interior would become beautiful too. 

 

Without Ishael’s knowledge, Dylan secretly started a reformation of his infamous reputation.

 

 

 

“You need to produce results within a day.”

 

 

 

Jun scratched the back of his head and nodded.

 

 

 

“We have some money in the territory, so I’ll use that to handle it for now.”

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

I opened my eyes with a blink.

 

I looked at the empty bed with my still sleepy eyes. 

 

“Did he go out at night?” 

 

This place is supposed to be his hometown, so is he going out to meet a friend secretly? 

 

Should I ask or not? 

 

Is it okay to ask something like this between us? 

 

I felt awkward and flustered just thinking about it. 

 

I pretended to be fast asleep, trying to hide my curiosity, and Dylan gently brushed my hair.

 

 

 

“I’m glad you’re sleeping well.”

 

 

 

I became more and more curious about the secret he was hiding. 

 

Well, he probably doesn’t have a monster’s face or anything like that, right?

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

The next morning arrived. I spoke to Dylan in front of him.

 

 

 

“Tomorrow is the last day of our journey. Tomorrow…I want to meet Grand Duke Castilla.”

 

 

 

Dylan nodded as if it was natural.

 

“Yes, I understand.”

 

 

 

I looked at the travel itinerary that Dylan quickly revised and wrote down. 

 

Today, we planned to have a meal in the bustling area of the territory. 

 

After that, we would take a quick tour, including the Mine. Tomorrow afternoon, we were going to visit the Grand Duke Castilla!

 

 

 

But suddenly, I hit a realistic barrier. 

 

“Hmm, will Grand Duke Castilla meet with us?” 

 

I wondered how I should send the formal request letter in advance. 

 

Dylan replied with a strange confidence, “Yes, we will definitely be able to meet him.”

 

 

 

I awkwardly smiled and nodded, “You’re so confident! But we should still send the formal request letter.”

 

 

 

“I will do it.”

 

 

 

“…Ah, really?”

 

 

 

“I will make sure that the Grand Duke and Ishael can meet in person.”

 

 

 

He had a strange, confident expression. 

 

So, I couldn’t oppose him. 

 

“Alright! If he doesn’t meet with us, we’ll just wander around the Grand Duke’s residence.”

 

 

 

After making the plan, we arrived at the bustling area of the territory. 

 

There, I witnessed a bizarre scene. 

 

The praises for Grand Duke Castilla filled the streets.

 

 

 

“Grand Duke Castilla would never engage in human hunting!”

 

 

 

A man was walking, moving his left arm and left leg at the same time.

 

 

 

“That’s right! He is such a good person!”

 

 

 

Another man was speaking in an awkward, formal tone.

 

 

 

What’s going on? 

 

Why are they only saying good things about Grand Duke Castilla and not me? 

 

I looked around, and the people I made eye contact with were acting as if they were performing in a play, praising Grand Duke Castilla.

 

 

 

“Hahaha! I really want to visit Castilla territory!”

 

 

 

“Grand Duke Castilla even made donations to our street?”

 

 

 

What’s with the way they talk?

 

 

 

“It feels bad.”

 

 

 

Dylan quickly walked away. 

 

“Huh?”

 

 

 

“Dylan.”

 

 

 

I lowered my voice and muttered, “There’s something suspicious.”

 

 

 

“Suspicious, you say. I mean…”

 

 

 

“Do they behave like they want us to hear them speaking highly of Grand Duke Castilla?”

 

 

 

Dylan seemed to stumble over his words.

 

 

 

“Hmm…”

 

 

 

Anyway, Dylan also has an oddly innocent side.

 

 

 

“Let’s observe for a bit.”

 

 

 

I started walking again, thinking. 

 

I had been planning to meet Grand Duke Castilla anyway, and now I had a good excuse. 

 

I would talk about Ann and Hans, who dared to impersonate the Grand Duke. 

 

Also, I should start talking with the lord. 

 

“I should tell them I can lift the curse!”

 

 

 

I recalled the itinerary that Dylan had worked so hard on and narrowed my eyes.

 

 

 

“Hey, Dylan.”

 

 

 

“Yes.”

 

 

 

“Our trip, it says tomorrow is the last day!”

 

 

 

“Oh, yes.”

 

 

 

“Shall we go for a walk to Grand Duke Castilla’s residence tomorrow?”

 

 

 

Dylan closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to hold back his emotions, then opened them again and mumbled, “Yes.”

 

 

 

I tilted my head at his expression, a mix of liking and disliking the idea of going to Grand Duke Castilla’s residence.

 

 

 

“If you don’t want to go, Dylan, you don’t have to.”

 

 

 

Dylan chuckled softly, taking my hand.

 

 

 

“No, I have to go.”

 

 

 

He said firmly, giving strength to his words.

 

 

 

“Then I’ll consider that we’re going together to Grand Duke Castilla’s residence tomorrow.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

After having a simple lunch in the bustling area, I held Dylan’s hand. 

 

The journey with Dylan was truly enjoyable. 

 

All I had to do was follow the plan he had set up without any objections.

 

 

 

“Now, it’s time for a stroll according to the itinerary.”

 

 

 

“Ah! Yes!”

 

 

 

“It will be about thirty minutes of walking in the sunshine.”

 

“Great! The weather is warm, so let’s take a walk.”

 

“Maybe we should explore the Mine that Ishael mentioned.”

 

The residents of the territory waved their hands freely as they passed by us.

 

Dylan and I held hands and walked side by side.

 

That’s when we arrived in front of the orphanage, the only one in the territory.

 

 

 

“Wow!”

 

“Isn’t that the lord?”

 

“Yeah, it is!”

 

“She punished the scammers!”

 

“I heard she’s a magician!”

 

“It’s so fascinating!”

 

 

 

The innocent-looking children looked at me and Dylan with admiring expressions.

 

I waved at the children and spoke to them. 

 

But then, at that moment, a boy standing alone against the wall spoke up.

 

 

 

“I have a question.”

 

 

 

He looked like a genius with glasses. I nervously rolled my eyes and nodded.

 

 

 

“Uh? What is it?”

 

 

 

“I heard that the territory is going to develop the mines. If that happens, our small territory will flourish, won’t it?”

 

 

 

It seemed to be a discussion about the future of the small territory. 

 

He must be a smart kid to ask about the mines.

 

 

 

“Uh, yes, I think so.”

 

 

 

“I also hope that our small territory will prosper through the mines and that there will be no more scammed residents. If the mine developed by Lord Jajak is not an impure mine but a pure mine, it would be even better. In that sense…”

 

 

 

The boy with glasses looked around hesitantly. 

 

Is he also a reincarnated individual?

 

 

 

I swallowed nervously as I tensed up.

 

 

 

The boy smiled brightly beyond his glasses and shouted, “Please tell us about your first love!”

 

 

 

Wait, what? Why suddenly?

 

 

 

My face turned red in an instant.

 

 

 

I looked towards Dylan. 

 

He seemed to have turned into a half-red radish.

 

 

 

But…

 

 

 

“First love, huh.”

 

 

 

Dylan was always honest, but now he seemed a bit confused.

 

 

 

“Is first love different from love in general?”

 

 

 

“Yes!”

 

 

 

“Then, what do you think love is?”

 

 

 

The children chuckled and said, “Love makes your heart flutter and race!”

 

 

 

“You feel full even if you haven’t eaten anything!”

 

 

 

“Our headmaster said that first love is a very pure love!”

 

 

 

My first love was certainly that unlucky Pedro. 

 

But strangely, at this moment, his face didn’t even cross my mind.

 

 

 

Instead, what came to mind with the words “first love” was…

 

 

 

I closed my eyes tightly and then gently spoke to the children.

 

 

 

“Alright! Don’t look for a first love, but focus on your studies, little ones.”

 

 

 

I held Dylan’s hand and headed towards the Mine. 

 

Behind us, the children chattered cheerfully.

 

 

 

“It’s alright if he doesn’t tell us.”

 

 

 

“We probably already know!”

 

 

 

Then, Dylan, who seemed to be lost in thought, stopped in his tracks and turned around.

 

 

 

“My first love is…”

 

 

 

“…?”

 

 

 

Everyone’s sparkling eyes were fixed on Dylan.

 

 

 

He whispered with an ambiguous expression.

 

 

 

“The person I will marry is you.”

 

 

 

…With his low murmur, both the children and I were taken aback.

 

 

 

What did he mean by the person he would marry? 

 

I was already married.

 

 

 

The person he would marry?

 

 

 

Suddenly, my mind went blank.

 

 

 

However, Dylan firmly held my hand, as if stating the obvious.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

After the stroll, peaceful everyday life resumed. 

 

As planned in the morning, we entered the Mine to predict its profitability.

 

 

 

First, we mined a few pieces and checked if they were pure.

 

 

 

Impure stones would become spotted when touched by the power of purification.

 

 

 

However, there was no change in the stones here.

 

 

 

I returned to the villa with a sense of relief.

 

 

 

Time had flown, and it was already night.

 

 

 

I heard Dylan murmuring something outside the garden.