Orlando explained with a slightly stiff face, as if making an excuse, “She seemed to have something she wanted to ask you. I’ve also heard some things about the Pereira family’s recent situation…”

McClain narrowed his eyes.

“What have you heard?”

“Well… it seems they’re having some difficulties repaying overdue debts. And with the imperial banquet coming up in a few days…”

McClain’s face crumpled upon hearing this. He hadn’t considered such circumstances.

“So there are still debts remaining. But what does that have to do with the imperial banquet?”

“Oh my, Commander, you lack sensitivity. Even though Miss Pereira is a mage, she can’t attend the banquet in a robe. She needs at least one dress, and women’s dresses aren’t exactly cheap. It seems she was trying to rent one.”

Orlando gestured toward the shop Natalie had just left. McClain finally looked over and noticed the sign below the shop name.

As he stared at the sign with disapproving eyes, Orlando continued, 

“It seems she failed to find a dress. Looking at her going into that place over there…”

Following Orlando’s gesture, McClain saw Natalie’s back as she entered an even shabbier-looking dress rental shop.

“Is her situation… that bad?”

“It appears so. I heard she needs to repay two thousand gold by next week and is fretting about it. They’ve sold everything of value—dresses, jewels, anything that could fetch a price—and kept only two servants who’ve worked for them for years, but they can’t even pay their wages. How burdensome must an imperial banquet invitation be in such circumstances? From dresses to accessories and shoes, there are so many things to prepare. And just renting them costs an enormous amount…”

“I see. Two thousand gold.”

“It’s truly unfortunate. If I had more money, I would help somehow, but the savings of a mere wage earner like myself aren’t much…”

Orlando stared intently at McClain as he spoke.

His eyes seemed to ask: you have plenty of money, so why not help her?

McClain slightly narrowed his eyes and asked Orlando, “Do you have my checkbook?”

“Yes, since you entrusted all money matters to me.”

“Do you know of any place around here that sells banquet dresses or accessories?”

“This area is full of rental shops, but just a block further there’s a street lined with high-end boutiques. Of course, you can buy everything there—accessories, gloves, bags, and shoes.”

“Good. Then I’ll meet with Marquis Jervan and Margrave Facade alone today. You have some other business to take care of, it seems.”

Orlando nodded at his words, as if he had been waiting for this.

“I believe I can handle that task quite well.”

That evening, two carriages loaded with all manner of packages stopped in front of the Pereira residence, accompanied by Orlando holding an envelope containing a paper with extraordinary contents.

“Why did you come all the way here, Lieutenant…”

Natalie, who had rushed outside at Maria’s urgent call about strange carriages arriving, couldn’t hide her surprised face.

She tried to offer a greeting, but her gaze was fixed not on Orlando but on the luxurious boxes being unloaded from the carriages.

Before Natalie could gather her wits, Orlando approached her with a bright smile.

“The Commander had something he wanted delivered to you, Miss Pereira.”

Only then did Natalie barely manage to turn her head toward Orlando. She was shocked to learn that McClain was the source of the endless items being unloaded from the carriages.

“Sir Lindhart sent these to me? But when I saw him at the shopping district, he didn’t say anything…”

“He said he only remembered after you left. First, please tell me where we should move all these things.”

He gestured toward the items that workmen were unloading from the carriages.

“What exactly are all these?”

The boxes varied in size from large enough to fit a small child to as small as a palm.

“These are items necessary for attending the banquet.”

“Items necessary for the banquet? Surely not…”

Not dresses and accessories. It can’t be.

There’s no reason for him to send me such things. He’s not that attentive.

He was a man who had transmigrated into the game. She had heard he might have been involved in game development in real life.

Such a man wouldn’t know what a woman needs to attend a banquet. If it had been Orlando standing before her, perhaps, but not McClain.

“I believe they are exactly what you’re thinking. Dresses, various accessories, and things like shoes and bags.”

“Sir Lindhart sent those? I might believe it from you, Lieutenant, but that he would be so thoughtful…”

Natalie muttered in disbelief. Orlando nodded brightly in response.

“That’s right. I did give him a little hint, but since everything was purchased with the Commander’s money, it’s correct to say they’re from him. In any case, I’m honored you recognized my attentiveness.”

Orlando’s face reddened with embarrassment, seemingly pleased by her assessment of him.

Above his head, a message flashed indicating an affection update.

Orlando Blythe’s affection has increased by 2%.

Orlando’s affection: 60% ▶ 62%

“Ah–!”

Natalie couldn’t help letting out a small exclamation. She hadn’t been checking, but Orlando’s affection level had risen quite a bit.

Perhaps because she had always been close to McClain, she rarely had one-on-one conversations with the other expedition members. Today, thanks to Orlando coming in McClain’s place, she was able to gauge his affection level.

Even without any memorable interactions, his affection had been steadily accumulating. It was truly remarkable.

That was the meaning behind her exclamation, but Orlando suddenly blushed and waved his hands dismissively.

“I-I absolutely have no ulterior motives. I’m actually rooting for the love between you two!”

“What? What do you mean? Surely you’re not referring to Sir Lindhart and me?”

“You don’t need to hide it from me. It’s obvious to anyone. That’s why everyone has been subtly trying to create time for just the two of you. Well, except for those oblivious guys Munash and Muki.”

“No, Sir Lindhart and I really aren’t like that.”

“You know what they say—there are three things in this world that cannot be hidden.”

The thought naturally flowed toward the answer as Orlando smiled mischievously. She had heard this saying before.

Coughing and love, and what was the third one?

“Coughing, poverty, and love.”

Ah, it was poverty.

Natalie unconsciously nodded slightly, and Orlando, misinterpreting her gesture as agreement, continued:

“So it all shows, that’s what I’m saying. I’ll support you with all my might, so please make some progress. Our Commander pretends to be practical and quick to calculate, but he’s actually incredibly dense. Never having been in love and only working like crazy, he’s so blocked up. I think if he experienced love, he might soften up a bit.”

“But really—”

“I’ve seen with my own eyes how he becomes a completely different, softer person when he’s with you, Miss Pereira. So please stop denying it, and I look forward to your relationship.”

Orlando gave an exaggerated bow like an actor on stage.

Natalie sighed softly as she watched the gift packages steadily making their way into the mansion.

During her brief conversation with Orlando, Maria had somehow taken charge, directing where each item should be placed.

Should I really accept all this?

She had visited every dress rental shop in the shopping district but found it difficult to secure a dress that both fit her budget and was appropriate for an imperial banquet. She had indeed been considerably worried after returning empty-handed.

However, Natalie felt more burden than joy from these perfectly timed gifts.

How ironic that she had brazenly thought about borrowing money from him, yet now felt this way about receiving actual goods.

It made her laugh at herself.

The female leads in romance fantasy novels seemed to accept gifts that could buy entire dress shops without batting an eye.

Perhaps her soul still hadn’t escaped the reality where there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

While Natalie was lost in these thoughts, she sensed someone approaching from behind. Someone from the mansion had come out to assess the situation.

Orlando’s playful expression suddenly turned serious, and he bowed politely.

“Greetings, Count Pereira. I am Orlando Blythe, Lieutenant of the expedition team. I have come here under the direction of Duke McClain Lindhart to deliver something to both you and Miss Pereira.”

Her father had apparently come out himself, surprised by the endless gift boxes entering the house.

But what did he mean by something for both her father and herself?

Is there something more besides these gift boxes?

Before Natalie could say anything, Orlando reached into his pocket, pulled out a small envelope, and continued:

“This is what the Duke instructed me to deliver to you, Count. Please take a look.”

“The Duke sent this to me?”

Count Pereira received the envelope from Orlando with a bewildered face. The quick-witted Maria somehow produced a paper knife. The Count opened the envelope with trembling hands.

The contents were clearly not an ordinary letter.

It was horizontally rather than vertically oriented, and there seemed to be only a few words written on it.

The Count’s muttered words, spoken with wide, surprised eyes, revealed what it was.

“T-two thousand gold! Why would the Duke give me such a large sum…”