“Don’t you want anything?”

“No.”

Tch, I knew he’d say that.

When Carl looked away for a moment, I quickly made an additional purchase of something that had been subtly catching my eye.

“Wrap that one up too.”

“Yes, Miss.”

I secretly slipped the wrapped item among the other gifts and played innocent.

Fortunately, Carl didn’t seem to notice.

“Let’s go back now.”

He loaded the luggage without a word and got into the carriage.

Only after arriving at the duke’s estate did I present Carl with his gift.

“Ta-da! This is a gift for you. Take it. Are you surprised?”

I confidently placed my hands on my hips and waited for Carl’s flustered reaction.

But he responded calmly.

“No, I saw you buy it.”

“……What.”

Ah, d*mn.

I thought he hadn’t seen, but I was mistaken.

I was slightly disappointed by the unexpected turn of events. Carl, who had received the gift, unhesitatingly tore open the packaging.

Soon a smooth scabbard revealed itself.

“I’ve been concerned about your scabbard looking a bit worn for a while. Of course, if you like your own, you don’t have to use it. You could even hang it in your room as decoration—”

“I like it.”

The corners of Carl’s mouth curved into an arc. His usually sharp eyes also softened along with it.

“Especially this that resembles the master’s eyes.”

He tapped the brilliant sapphire embedded in the scabbard.

“Thank you, I’ll use it well.”

“Great!”

Though it wasn’t flashy or loud, it was a greeting that conveyed enough sincerity, so I felt good too.

Well, my bondservant even smiled with his eyes.

‘I hope the others like theirs too.’

I decided to give the ducal family’s gifts at dinner when everyone was gathered.

It was my first time giving gifts to multiple people, especially blood relatives, so I was a little nervous.

So I was picking at my food unlike usual, when Dain sitting next to me asked curiously.

“Shailyn, are you sick somewhere?”

“Huh? Oh, no.”

“But why are you eating so little? Did something happen during the day?”

Hearing Dain’s words, Duke Diart looked at me with concern.

“Is it difficult because of the magic mine work? If you need my help, tell me anytime.”

“No, I’m fine. Of course I do have concerns about business partners. Anyway, it’s not that for me……”

In a situation where even the duke was paying attention to me, I swallowed dry saliva and declared.

“Actually, I have something to give everyone.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“Mandy, could you bring it?”

Mandy, who had been standing by the wall, moved quickly.

Shortly after, she came carrying an armful of well-wrapped gift boxes.

I quickly got up and distributed them while saying.

“With the money from selling magic stones today, I prepared small gifts with a grateful heart.”

“What?”

“Sister bought gifts?”

Everyone looked surprised.

I first gave a gift to Lord Diart, the eldest adult.

“I noticed last time that you have many animal-shaped sculptures in your office. So I picked out something that would go well with them.”

What was in the box was a wooden deer with golden antlers.

Deer sculptures also contained the meaning of wishing for longevity, making them perfect for giving to adults.

“Coincidentally, this is one I don’t have in my room.”

The old duke, who stroked the sculpture with his hand, couldn’t hide his smile.

“I could put it on the nightstand next to my bed instead of on my office desk. Thank you, Shailyn.”

“I’m happier if you like it.”

I smiled brightly and picked up the next gift.

It was Dain’s.

“The shop owner said this was made after the sword of a famous knight who won three consecutive victories in gladiator tournaments. The name was Alex—”

“Sir Alexander Blade?!”

“Oh yeah, that was the name.”

Dain excitedly checked his gift. A decorative miniature sword appeared, tailored to his sword-obsessed tastes.

“Wow…… I’m not lying, I really love it, Shailyn. Thank you, I’ll add it to my collection.”

“You have to put it somewhere visible.”

Dain nodded vigorously.

The next gift’s recipient was Deborah, who had been waiting quietly with sparkling eyes.

“Since you often tie your hair when going to work at the magic tower, I prepared this. I think it would suit you, but I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”

Deborah carefully unwrapped the packaging and checked inside the box.

Her white hands carefully took out a pink ribbon hair tie with an emerald brooch.

It was made of glossy material with black lines as accent points.

“Wow, it’s pretty. I was just wanting to buy a new hair tie. I’ll really use it well, sister.”

Seeing the genuine reaction in her excited voice and slightly flushed cheeks, I proudly curled the corners of my mouth.

Now, finally—

“This is what I prepared for you, Duke. Would you please accept it?”

I handed the gift to the duke.

“……You’re giving one to me too?”

He asked back with a bewildered expression.

Well, would I leave out just one person when everyone else was there?

The duke just stared at the box with a flustered face.

‘Ah, did I give it for no reason……?’

Just when regret was starting to creep in……

“Benjamin, what are you doing? Hurry up and unwrap the gift.”

“Father, I’m dying of curiosity.”

“What did sister give you?”

The other Diarts rushed to the duke and urged him on.

Caught up in it, he opened the box. What I had given him was none other than a fountain pen.

‘The duke’s gift was the hardest to decide on……’

Maybe because he was the person I was least close to.

I had no idea what to give him, so when I asked the shop owner, she said.

‘Usually daughters give fountain pens to their fathers.’

‘Ah…… he’s not my father though.’

‘Still, fountain pens are perfect gifts for adult men.’

Following that advice, I purchased a white fountain pen with a gold band.

But after actually giving it, it looked too shabby and I felt embarrassed.

“This is…… something I never expected.”

“Please understand even if it’s a bit lacking. You probably have many more excellent pens, Duke, but my wit was insufficient and I couldn’t think of anything better.”

When I explained awkwardly, the surroundings made a fuss again.

“That’s not true. It looks like a really good pen to me?”

“It looks that way to me too. Anyone who dislikes receiving something like that is just being ungrateful.”

“Dad, you change pens often anyway. Use them alternately.”

The duke sighed softly and said.

“I never said it was lacking.”

“Ah……”

“Thank you for thinking of me too, Shailyn. I’ll use it well.”

The duke put the pen in his inner pocket.

It was quite a successful gift-giving ceremony.

We dined and conversed longer than usual.

Laughter echoed continuously throughout the dining hall.

***

Magic stones sold like hotcakes.

Much more money piled up in front of me much faster than with stocks.

Wow, achieving the goal of making hundreds of millions like this.

Duke Diart advised me not to sell too many magic stones at once.

‘Magic stones have extremely high scarcity in the market right now. At times like this, you need to release small amounts while solidifying their value even more.’

‘Yes, I understand.’

‘And I’d like to introduce you to a multinational trading company in the western sea region that I’ve dealt with for a long time, would that be alright?’

He didn’t listen carelessly to my struggles in finding business partners and deliberately connected me with his own network.

While I could decide domestic matters myself, he essentially put foreign trade under his safe supervision.

Thanks to this, I became much more relaxed and thought while sipping strawberry juice.

‘Shouldn’t a new mission start soon?’

I wanted to quickly find other male leads besides Linus.

‘Or maybe I should focus on conquering the crown prince’s favorability first and then move on to the next……’

That’s when it happened.

— Beep!

【※Warning】

【※Warning】

【※Warning】

【※Warning】

【※Warning】

Unlike usual, the system window flashed with sharp notification sounds.

What, what is it?

【※Warning

Someone is plotting against you, the female lead.

Before all your reputation is completely destroyed, we recommend creating a regular boutique to collect social gossip.】

I blinked in confusion.

Only after reading the sentence once more could I fully understand the content.

‘Recommend? So it’s not a mission?’

【No, it’s not.

But for smooth progression, it would be better to correct this right now. ^^】

……Saying it like that makes me accept it like a mission anyway.

In any case, if someone was plotting against me behind my back, it was better to respond actively rather than stay still.

‘Create a regular boutique, right?’

Compared to the basic difficulty of missions, it was a very easy task.

Moreover, I have a lot of money now.

‘Hehehe, shall I go buy some clothes?’