Ignoring Bless, who seemed to need a private conversation about their rebellious attitude, I spoke to Duncan.

“I plan to leave the capital soon for complete freedom.”

“That’s unfortunate news.”

“Will you miss me when I’m gone, Duncan?”

“Yes. As I mentioned before, I wanted to work with you for a long time.”

“Well, you won’t find another employee as diligent as me, hehe.”

“Indeed.”

Duncan smiled brightly as if he had no intention of denying it.

If I had said the same thing to the Guildmaster, he would have smiled wickedly and said, ‘I’d like to see the work of such a diligent person. I wonder how much more work I should give you.’

“When are you planning to leave the capital?”

“Hmm.”

The Pteros, who had become the foundation of the transportation business, were quite well-established now.

With the waterway issues that had been giving me headaches about to be resolved, my departure wasn’t far off.

“Will you stay until the Founding Festival?”

“When is that again?”

“In a week.”

“I’ll probably stay in the capital for about a week more. But why do you ask about the Founding Festival?”

“Ah, that day…”

Duncan lowered his gaze as if about to say something rather awkward.

“Is it an important day?”

When I pressed him, he finally continued.

“…It’s my birthday.”

“What?”

“I must be tired and momentarily crazy. Why did I say such a thing… Please forget it.”

Duncan furrowed his brow and looked troubled. He seemed to regret suddenly revealing his birth date.

‘Has he never told anyone his birthday before?’

I looked curiously at Duncan, who couldn’t even meet my eyes. His pale ears had turned bright red.

Since he always acted confident and smart, befitting his position as Center Director, I never thought I’d see him being shy.

Yet here he was, blushing and looking for an escape from something unexpected.

“Cute.”

It was an observation that slipped out without my thinking.

I had spoken quietly, almost to myself, hoping Duncan hadn’t heard, but…

“What? Cu…cute…”

He seemed shocked to be called cute.

“They say it’s trouble when a man appears cute.”

“Why?”

“Never mind. Anyway, now that I’ve heard it’s your birthday, I can’t just forget it.”

The saying about it being trouble when a man appears cute wasn’t meant negatively.

It was more like a fatalistic saying that you’d end up falling in love with that cute man.

There would be no good in falling in love with a man I’d soon part ways with…

Even while thinking this, I couldn’t take my eyes off Duncan’s face with its prominent blushing cheeks.

The flush on the usually reliable man’s face was too lovable.

“I’m not asking you to be with me on my birthday. Please don’t misunderstand.”

“I’m not misunderstanding. Though I would like to.”

“You would like to… Then if I asked you to stay with me, would you?”

It wasn’t a question that needed much consideration.

“Of course! And I won’t just stay with you – I’ll buy you a present too. If there’s anything you want, just tell me! Though since I’m a fugitive, I can’t openly celebrate with you. You understand that, right?”

“I understand. But are you really the same person who couldn’t quit because of debt not too long ago?”

“Ahem. I’m a nouveau riche now.”

Though I beat my chest a couple of times with ridiculous bravado, I wasn’t actually rich yet.

But it was certain that Jinjijo Transportation was doing extremely well.

The day I’d become wealthy wasn’t far off!

I was satisfied with my current life where I could eat what I wanted right away, buy things without worry, and rest when I wanted to.

You could say I was living in the greatest luxury since being transmigrated into Yerena’s body.

The past when I struggled without money felt like a distant memory.

“I thought you were in hiding, but it seems you’re doing interesting things.”

“Yes. I can’t tell you the details, but I’m running a business.”

“That’s wonderful. If you ever need my help, please contact me anytime.”

Duncan’s face had returned to normal as he spoke confidently.

He seemed to have recovered from his earlier shyness after our conversation.

I wondered what face he would make if I said I wanted to see his blushing expression more.

“Alright, I’ll contact you when I need help. So, won’t you tell me what birthday present you’d like?”

“It’s fine. Please don’t worry about my birthday present.”

“….”

“But if you’ll still be with me… would it be alright to meet somewhere outside the capital?”

“Oh my! We’re not even anything to each other, but are you suggesting we travel alone together!”

It was just random talk to make Duncan blush.

It wasn’t completely ineffective, as the tips of his ears turned slightly red.

“If we meet in the capital, others might discover that Yerena is alive. So…”

Regardless of the reason, I was also fully in favor of meeting outside the capital.

Since becoming Yerena, I hadn’t left the capital, so I wanted to go on an outing to another region.

“Sounds good. Hehe.”

“I’ll send the meeting place and time through the Guildmaster.”

“Okay. …By the way, what kind of relationship do you have with Honey?”

“Honey?”

“H-Honey Butter Guild’s Guildmaster! Hahaha. I got to know the Guildmaster by chance, but I was surprised when he immediately called you out.”

“We’re like one mind and body.”

I asked back like a fool.

“What?”

“We’re that close. The Guildmaster’s thoughts are my thoughts, and my thoughts are the Guildmaster’s thoughts.”

It was a very strange thing to say. If someone prone to misunderstandings heard it, they might think the two were in a forbidden relationship.

Of course, that wouldn’t be the case, but still.

“It’s quite late, so let’s end our talk here. Evans will safely escort you back to your lodgings.”

Duncan even mentioned that Evans was waiting at the back of the inn.

“Okay. Then I’ll be waiting for your contact! You must contact me!”

He nodded slowly.

I left the inn and got into the carriage where Evans was waiting.

Duncan wasn’t visible, perhaps having boarded a different carriage.

On the way to my office, I thought about what gift to give Duncan and if there was any way to help him with the harassment from Rosie and Benjamin.

But instead of solutions, I only remembered a fact I had completely forgotten.

The Empire’s Founding Festival.

On that very day, a big event occurs in the original story.

An event involving the female lead and the three ruffians, no less.

***

“Evans. Answer me honestly. Is Minky cute, or am I cute?”

This was what Evans heard as soon as he entered the Guildmaster’s study after returning to the guild from escorting Yerena.

Duncan, who had made this out-of-the-blue remark, was lying on the sofa.

Evans sat on the opposite sofa and replied.

“Did you perhaps drink something at the inn?”

“A glass of water?”

“Was there poison in it? Master…, I seriously think you’ve gone mad.”

“Watch your words. Unless you want to serve a truly mad superior.”

“Yes. Master is perfectly sane.”

Duncan spoke with a face that looked like a screw had come loose.

“Yerena called me cute.”

“……”

“I saw you frowning. Don’t force a smile.”

“Yes. It’s because cuteness suits you so terribly that it’s chilling.”

“……”

“Cuteness suits me well. Everyone, regardless of gender, is desperate to kiss Minky. Just a moment ago……”

Evans was about to say that Yerena had kissed him but quickly shut his mouth.

For some reason, he felt he shouldn’t honestly tell Duncan, who was inexplicably concerned about Yerena.

If he did, Duncan might truly go mad.

“Just a moment ago?”

“……I was saying that a stranger tried to kiss him and it scared him.”

“What a promiscuous puppy. Wagging his tail at strangers.”

“He didn’t wag his tail, you know?”

“I’ll be watching.”

Evans shrugged his shoulders in response.

“Anyway, I guess I’m on the cute side. It’s the first time in my life I’ve heard that, but I quite like it.”

“Yes. But don’t you think there’s a reason why I’ve heard it for the first time in my life?”

Duncan glared at Evans quietly.

“……I suppose there just weren’t many who noticed Master’s charm.”

As if he had heard the answer he wanted, a gentle smile bloomed on Duncan’s face.

“Didn’t Yerena say anything to you? About me being cute.”

“She didn’t.”

“Then I guess it was our little secret that I’m cute.”

‘Has Master really gone mad……’

Evans looked at Duncan with pitying eyes.