My Dream is to Get My Own House - Chapter 98

Episode 98

* * *

Several tens of minutes later.

The Saboia family and Dylan were still causing a commotion over the ‘marriage pledge.’

Claude was spouting nonsense about reaching the ultimate magic and becoming a god to declare the marriage pledge void.

For now, I decided to calm them down and deal with the most certain matter first. I needed to obtain hints about <Red Castle> that was targeting me.

I headed to the torture room in the prison where the Lorelei family was supposed to be, of course, along with the three men and the divine beast.

Even in early autumn, the prison was as cold as winter.

“Aaah!”

“Sto-stop, ple-please…”

It was a considerable uproar to say the least of the Million Theater terror.

They were writhing in pain like those facing execution.

I approached them and tilted my head slightly, “Hello.”

The once haughty Elon Lorelei was now squirming like a squid.

He looked pathetic.

“You have a connection with <Red Castle>.”

It seemed the excruciating pain made him talk.

Elon, who had been holding his chin up until he was imprisoned, now knelt before me, begging with clasped hands.

“P-please, please! Spare me.”

Elon wasn’t the only one.

Soldika and Lady Masha were also crawling on the ground.

Their former appearance, where they urged me to borrow money from loan sharks to buy dresses, was now gone.

Soldika was wearing tattered, threadbare clothes covered in dust.

She looked at me with eyes clouded by suffering.

“S-spare me…”

As I looked at the pitiful, crushed Lorelei family, they used to be my trauma.

But now…

“I really don’t know anything.”

Seeing their miserable state, I didn’t even want to seek revenge anymore.

I was already completely free from them.

Claude whispered softly, “Then, should I kill them now? I wanted you to do it in the end.”

“Do as you wish, Claude.”

He chuckled with a lunatic expression.

“Thank you, my master.”

His expression meant that he would put them to death and hang them on the city walls.

* * *

The Lorelei family didn’t know anything.

They couldn’t find anything useful from Elon either.

In that case, there was only one thing that could provide a hint about <Red Castle>.

As I escaped from the prison, I said, “I found a ledger related to <Red Castle> in the Odette territory.”

It was the ledger I obtained when dealing with the swindlers at the Majung Mining Site, Ann and Hans, from <Red Castle>.

“The ledger is written with a complicated magic script. It may take some time to decipher.”

But if I could decode the ledger, there was a high chance of finding hints about <Red Castle>.

At that moment, Duke Saboia opened his eyes wide.

“Ah? Darling, I think I’ve seen the form of that ledger before… I think I can decipher it.”

“…Really?”

“It’s exactly the same as the one used in the orphanage register, darling.”

“Let’s do it together!”

Duke Saboia eagerly nodded.

“You’ve recently regained your memories. The ledger might be under a strange magic, so this time, leave it to your father and brother.”

“We are quite capable, keep that in mind.”

Perhaps because of Diana’s memories, Duke Saboia didn’t know, but for some reason, Claude couldn’t help but scoff. 

He raised his chin and spoke loudly, “It won’t take a few hours. If I can’t solve it, I’ll ask for your help. For now, take a break.”

Dylan immediately escorted me and said, “Let’s go. Take a light stroll to whet your appetite, and then I’ll cook you a delicious meal.”

Wait a moment. 

Dylan, an illegal resident, said it so naturally that even Duke Saboia and Claude were about to nod their heads before they quickly snapped back to reality.

“Then, I’ll think of something else.”

“Huh? Is there something else to think about?”

“Yes.”

“Even though you’re told to rest…”

As a former member of the nation, it felt awkward to rest, so I shook my head and said, “Now, I should try to find the boy who was with me on the day of the terrorist attack.”

“Really? Who’s that boy? A close friend, I assume!”

“The boy I mentioned before, the one who shared the <marriage pledge> with me.”

At that moment, the surrounding air dropped by at least 5 degrees.

Claude sharpened his gaze severely, and Dylan abruptly crushed the sword he was holding in his hand.

“So ruthless…” 

I tried to focus on the empty space, not looking at them, and continued speaking, “I don’t remember his face clearly, but he had black hair. He was in a ruined house on the outskirts of the capital. I’m sure… I met him quite frequently.”

“Come to think of it, I remember now. You, y-you actually…” 

Claude muttered hesitantly, sounding like he didn’t want to say it.

“When you were little, you said you wanted to get married.”

“Really…?”

“It was terrible. You were only five years old, and you said that if you memorized the Empire’s law, you could get engaged and marry as soon as you became an adult. You called me a foolish idiot.”

I started to feel embarrassed.

‘What was I doing as a little kid?’

I gave up on thinking further.

“…S-so, anyway, among the boys I was close to back then, was there anyone with black hair?”

“There were a few candidates. The people who visited the mansion back then, Viscount Meli’s youngest son Terius, who has now become a knight. The second son of Baron Vaon, Shuri, and the youngest son of Duke Delica, Mayon. It narrows down to about three people.”

Dylan whispered in a low voice, “Terius, Shuri, Mayon…”

His expression seemed like he was passing a death sentence.

Duke Saboia also murmured with a grave tone, “All of them are on the guest list for the ‘Diana’s Return Festival’ in three days. Should we handle them all…?”

No, why is everyone so serious about the five-year-old’s marriage pledge?

The man must have been a cool older brother in the eyes of a five-year-old kid.

I couldn’t remember his face exactly…

“Well then, let’s invite all of them.”

Maybe I’ll remember when I see their faces.

Claude grumbled with a dark tone and nodded, “Yeah, it might be best to sweep them all at once.”

…No, what on earth do you mean by ‘sweep them all’!?

* * *

While Duke Savoia and Claude were decrypting the records of the “Red Castle,” I set out for the promised walk with Dylan. 

Along the way, I felt a sense of duty to soothe Dylan’s discomfort. 

After all, legally, I am Dylan’s wife. 

However, it was a bit uncomfortable to declare that I would meet the boy with whom I shared the <marriage pledge>, even though it happened when we were five years old.

He was scribbling something in silence and then handed me a crumpled piece of paper.

“Here, the marriage pledge.”

I was taken aback. I thought he was annoyed by my continuous scribbling…

“Now we have a marriage pledge between us.”

He had written a marriage pledge…

‘He’s so adorable, it’s unfair!’

My heart felt soft and mushy. I rolled my eyes playfully, blushing, and accepted the <marriage pledge> from him. He smiled proudly.

Looking down at the <marriage pledge>, I stopped in my tracks.

[Diana Saboia, Countess of Saboia, and Dylan Castilla, Grand Duke, pledge to marry.]

It was a very simple and short sentence. But the moment I saw the <marriage pledge> he handed me…

‘We’ll meet again soon.’

Suddenly, as if a paper in my head was vibrating, I heard the voice of the boy from back then. The moment I heard that voice, I felt like I had been struck by lightning.

“I think my memories will come back soon.”

It would be within three days, by the time of the “Diana’s Return Festival.” What kind of predestined fate was I?

Was it because I was a contracted servant of a divine being? It felt like a tiny bit of ability had been transferred to me. I felt strangely confident.

“So it means his memory is returning. Understood.”

He nodded as if convinced. I looked up at Dylan and said confidently, “Yes! There will be a return festival in three days. On that day, would you like to set a bait with me?”

To find out the identity of the <Red Castle> that was targeting me. I intended to meet the most likely men who received marriage pledges from me and regain my memories.

And all of this would undoubtedly be revealed on the day of the “Diana’s Return Festival.”

 Dylan stared at me and smiled gently, saying, “A bait, you say. Okay, I agree.”

In addition to his obedient affirmation, he added, “It’s good since I had something to do that day.”

“Uh…?” 

“In order to be by Lady Ishael’s, no, Lady Diana’s side, my position should be somewhat acceptable.”

Did Dylan also notice that people were gossiping about how Lady Diana’s husband was a commoner? 

It seemed like he was bothered by it. 

Dylan gently held my hand and whispered, “No one can threaten you.”

He briefly kissed the back of my hand.

“On that day, I will also reveal my identity. Are you okay with that?”

It meant that he would attend as the Grand Duke Castilla, not Dylan. 

I looked at him intently and nodded.

“Looking forward to the festival, right?”

“Yes, I am looking forward to it.”

Three days later, the “Diana’s Return Festival.”

On that day, our hidden identities would be exposed to the world.

As I was pondering grandly, Dylan whispered in a low voice, “Terius, Shuri, Mayon…”

…Although I couldn’t exactly hear what he was saying, his voice sounded quite grim.