Chapter 2: Adonis Liberica Duke(2)

In my previous life, I lived a passive existence.

Without doing anything myself, I simply wanted to live by doing what those around me told me to.

Without knowing that a life like a puppet in a puppet show would ultimately lead to a miserable and lonely end.

It wasn’t the hard bed that always hurt my back.

It was a fluffy bed, so soft I felt like I was floating above the clouds.

It wasn’t a torn, threadbare blanket.

It was the softest, most comfortable blanket in the world.

And I never thought I would use a pillow from my past life again.

As I tried to savor this happiness just a little longer, as I was afraid of it being taken away, someone spoke to me.

“You’re awake.”

“…Huh?”

I turned my head and there, sitting in a chair, was the Duke, quietly watching me.

“D, Duke!?”

“……”

He looked like he was displeased about something, but I couldn’t tell what.

More than that, I wish he would explain what’s going on first.

I was clearly suffering in my room from a high fever, but when I woke up, I was lying in a room I’d never seen before.

And why is the Duke here? Shouldn’t he be in his office at this hour?

I glanced at the Duke, who was staring at me intently, and a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

‘Isn’t this an opportunity to gain favor?’

I’m at least cute on the outside, so this is my chance.

I looked at the Duke with the cutest expression I could muster, and he flinched!

“Duke. Thank you for being here with me. I’m so happy.”

“…Enough.”

With those words, the Duke vanished like the wind.

…What? A failure? He just flew away.

I couldn’t even check the heart above his head because he left so quickly.

I fell back onto the bed in disappointment, but heaven wasn’t far away.

…Whatever. This is heaven! Ugh, I want to be here when I wake up again.

I went back to dreamland to enjoy this happiness as much as possible, as I didn’t know when I’d be kicked back to my room.

‘Why is my heart doing this? Is it an illness?’

Whenever I see my youngest daughter, my chest aches, so it was definitely a disease.

I should get a thorough examination. But first, there’s something I need to take care of.

“What happened to those rats?”

With those words, numerous people appeared out of thin air.

The Black Knight Order, in charge of the behind-the-scenes work for the Liberica Duke Family.

“We have obtained confessions from the dungeon.”

I read the report that the captain of the Knights presented, and I could only laugh wryly.

“They ate to their heart’s content. If that’s what they wanted, I’ll give it to them.”

The report detailed all the funds that should have gone to my youngest daughter.

And it was for a full five years.

“…Since they embezzled for five years, I’ll make them pay for five years.”

“Then, we’ll set the term to five years and start today.”

“Alright.”

I left the Black Knights, who disappeared as soon as the words were spoken, and headed to the office.

I also needed to hire new employees to fill the void left by those rats…

I stopped my steps toward the office due to various thoughts and started walking in another direction.

…If my wife was awake, this wouldn’t have happened.

It was strange.

Even after more than a week, the room hadn’t changed.

And the employees I’d never seen before were taking care of me.

“We will help you get ready, Miss.”

“…Okay.”

They were washing me, changing my clothes, and styling my hair, and the gentle touch was something I’d never experienced before.

I looked in the mirror after I was ready. I was in a messy state just a week ago, but now, I wasn’t.

I had the elegance of a young lady of the Duke’s family, didn’t I?

‘…I don’t know what’s going on, but I have to take advantage of everything I can.’

I told the maid, “Thank you,” and she politely bowed her head, saying she was just doing her job.

“That’s not true! It was the gentlest touch I’ve ever received in my life!”

I realized something was off after I spoke, but the maid’s eyes became red…

And why are the hearts shining even brighter!?

I don’t know, I don’t understand.

Then I must start my day today.

I dashed to the Duke’s office.

I knocked politely, and a voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

I opened the door slightly and peeked inside the office, and the Duke, who was sitting in the chair, gestured to me.

‘…It’s probably not a gesture to come here, so is he telling me to leave?’

I’d already made my presence known, so I closed the door to return to heaven.

And I turned back and walked down the hallway, and the employees I’d never seen before greeted me as soon as they saw me.

Above all, the hearts floating above their heads were slightly red. Was this some kind of likeability gauge…?

The employees who disliked me all had white hearts, and the employees who were taking care of me all had red hearts.

…A reasonable inference. Ugh, using my brain makes me hungry.

This body of mine has poor fuel efficiency.

If I use my brain a little, my stomach will start complaining right away. That’s the problem.

I returned to my room, and Anna, the maid who had been taking care of me with a gentle touch, was waiting.

And on the table, there were various dishes steaming!

How long has it been since I’ve seen a meal like this?

In the meantime, I’ve only eaten porridge because the doctor said that patients needed to eat soft foods, but I can finally eat meat!

I quickly sat down and ate the meat that Anna was cutting for me. It melted in my mouth!

“W-what is this…? W-was meat this tender?”

Anna wiped her eyes with her sleeve again!

She has short blue hair and a seemingly cold impression, but unlike her appearance, she’s very sensitive.

Above all, her touch is gentle, and the heart floating above her head was almost completely full.

‘…No matter how I think about it, it seems like it’s a likeability gauge, right? Should I try it?’

“I love Anna! I love you!”

“A, Miss. Me too.”

With those words, the heart filled up even more and shone brightly!

Then, what would happen if I said the opposite…?

“That’s a lie! I hate Anna!”

“…Miss.”

With those words, the heart that had just filled up slightly decreased and its light faded.

I was convinced. It was showing likeability.

I hugged Anna, and Anna, who was momentarily embarrassed, hugged me back.

“Hehehe, the lie is actually a lie. I love you, Anna!”

“Miss…”

With an expression of emotion, she looked at me and the heart filled up even more and became red.

I lay in bed after the meal and thought about the future.

First, I’ll properly seduce the Duke and make him my ally, and then I’ll save the Duchess and make her my ally.

And then I’ll conquer my three older sisters one by one and make them all my allies and seduce the young masters and young ladies of the other two Duke families…

‘What is this? Am I playing a dating sim…?’

Why am I seducing everyone? This isn’t it!?

More than that, when did I start planning and moving? I’m just doing what comes naturally!

Since it came out, let’s go see the Duke’s face again!

…I’ve already seen him today, so wouldn’t it be okay to go tomorrow? It’s not my fault. It’s the bed’s fault. Who threatened me with a knife and told me to make it so soft!?

I have done nothing wrong. It’s all the soft bed’s fault…

“She’s sleeping.”

I came to my youngest daughter’s room after finishing my work, and she was sleeping comfortably in bed.

When I visited in the morning, I gestured for her to come in, but she closed the door again and turned back, so I don’t know how surprised I was.

…Was she angry? She could think so, as I’d abandoned her.

I stroked my sleeping youngest daughter’s head, and it was more soft than I could have imagined.

And it was addictive, so I felt like I could spend the whole day stroking it and be happy.

“Ugh, what, what.”

With those words, my youngest daughter woke up and looked at me intently, and her eyes widened.

“D, Duke!?”

“Did I wake you up? I’m sorry.”

“A, no, it’s okay.”

I looked at my youngest daughter, who was flustered, and fell into thought.

It was the first time. I never thought I would have a child who needed a parent’s touch.

…All the children of our Liberica Duke Family didn’t need a parent’s touch.

The fourth child was supposed to live like the others.

I didn’t realize that thought was wrong until I considered it.

I have work in the Duke’s family, but above all, I only thought of my wife, who couldn’t get out of bed because of her illness.

…The more I think about it, the more I’m thinking about excuses.

“Is there anything you want?”

My youngest daughter was momentarily flustered and looked at me.

“If there is something you want, tell me.”

My youngest daughter seemed to think carefully and suddenly reached out her hands.

“What does that mean?”

“Give me some allowance.”