Lord Diart asked with a surprised face. Before he could misunderstand, I quickly raised both hands to explain.

“I’m not daring to say I want to become a member of the duke’s family. I just mean I want to borrow an empty room because I have nowhere to stay.”

At this, the Duke’s expression changed strangely, as if he found something disagreeable.

…Should I have been more humble?

As a K-office worker, I was skilled at pleasing my superiors, but it was my first time trying to please a noble, so it was difficult.

Holding my breath and watching for his reaction, the Duke cleared his throat and asked a question.

“Why do you want to stay in the capital?”

I promptly gave the answer I had prepared.

“I’m looking for a husband.”

After all, the Duke of Diart wouldn’t care about how we lived our lives.

“I’m nineteen this year. It’s customary in noble society to start looking for a marriage partner around this age and marry in the early twenties.”

So rather than burdening him with stories about my stepmother and the abuse, approaching it this way would be much better received.

“I want to choose my husband myself in the capital.”

I finished speaking with determination and observed the Duke.

He was lost in deep thought and said nothing.

Growing anxious, I clasped my hands together and pleaded earnestly.

“If you let me stay here, I’ll live very quietly. I won’t bother others, waste food, or demand treatment beyond my means.”

“…….”

“Please, Grandfather. I have no other family…….”

I truly believed I could live quietly without desiring anything.

That was my specialty, after all.

But the Duke’s face twisted openly, showing he did not trust me.

Sensing failure, I lowered my head.

‘What should I do? If I can’t find a place to stay today, I’ll fail the mission. Should I go to an inn?’

If I book a room for a long stay, I might consider it as a residence.

But with the money I had, I could only afford a cheap inn, not a secure, upscale one.

Money was always the problem.

Should I use Carl to beg as a handsome beggar?

‘My looks aren’t bad either, so if we toured the streets as a handsome beggar duo, we might earn well…….’

Ding ding!

At that moment, the Duke suddenly reached out and rang a bell. Soon, Paul entered the reception room.

“You called for me.”

“Paul, give Shailyn the room at the end of the third floor on the south side.”

“……Pardon?”

Paul looked at the Duke in surprise. I also widened my eyes and looked at him.

I thought he was going to kick me out?

With everyone’s eyes on him, the Duke spoke calmly.

“Shailyn will stay at the ducal residence from today. If the room is not ready, guide her to a guest room first, then give her the room on the third floor.”

“Do you really mean that room……?”

When Paul asked again in disbelief, the Duke nodded with authority.

Then he told me,

“Stay here as long as you want. I’ll inform the Duke.”

“Thank you, Lord Diart. I will never forget this kindness.”

Barely revived, I bowed deeply in gratitude.

As I happily prepared to leave with Paul, Lord Diart suddenly asked.

“By the way, who is that person?”

He gestured with his chin toward Carl.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t introduced him. It must have seemed strange for him to sit beside me without introduction.

Realizing my mistake late, I briefly introduced him.

“His name is Carl, and he’s my bondservant.”

“Bondservant……?”

Carl explained directly to the puzzled Duke.

“Like a servant or slave, so you don’t need to worry.”

“……Is that so?”

The Lord looked Carl up and down with a displeased face. Despite the sharp gaze, Carl stood confidently.

“……Go and rest.”

In the end, the Duke said nothing more and let us go.

Finding a new home made my steps feel incredibly light.

* * *

Late afternoon.

Benjamin, the current head of the Duke of Diart, headed to his office after finishing a family meeting.

As he opened the door as usual, he paused upon seeing his father standing by the window with hands clasped behind his back.

“Father, what are you doing here?”

“I have something to tell you.”

“Please, go ahead.”

Benjamin closed the door and smiled gently. Bartholomew turned to his son and spoke quietly.

“Today, Diane’s daughter came to see me.”

Benjamin was startled by the unexpected news.

He asked in a voice filled with caution.

“……Is that true? Why?”

“She said she wants to stay in the capital but has nowhere to stay.”

“So what did you do?”

“I let her stay here for a while and gave her Diane’s room. Her eyes reminded me of her father and it troubled me, but the rest of her resembled Diane, so I couldn’t turn her away.”

Bartholomew sighed, showing his complex feelings.

“Even her desire to choose her own husband is just like Diane…….”

Even though he had never interacted with his granddaughter before, he couldn’t just stand by, thinking of his daughter.

If her child met someone as handsome but worthless as himself, how heartbroken would Diane be?

Moreover, the bondservant she already had following her was suspiciously handsome.

On the other hand, Shailyn’s overly humble demeanor before him bothered him.

She said she wouldn’t waste food or indulge in luxuries beyond her means…….

‘Tsk, what kind of upbringing did that scoundrel give her!’

Though he didn’t show it outwardly, he was actually shocked by Shailyn’s appearance.

Her worn robe and tattered dress were something not even the maids of the Duke’s residence would wear.

It was hard to believe she was the eldest daughter of a noble family, given her shabby appearance.

“I took her in because I couldn’t ignore several things. Is that alright?”

“……If that’s your wish, Father, I must accept it.”

Benjamin replied with a subtle expression.

“I’ll tell the children.”

He had two children around Shailyn’s age.

Bartholomew, thinking of his grandchildren, nodded worriedly.

Would they be able to live together with Shailyn in the future?

No one knew.

* * *

The room at the end of the third floor on the south side was better than imagined.

The interior, toned in white and pink, was charming yet luxurious. Decorations using gold and jewels were placed throughout the room.

A tulip-shaped double chandelier, a bed with layered canopies, a soft yet luxurious patterned wool carpet, and a rose mural that seemed to bring the garden’s scenery inside.

As I absentmindedly looked around the room, Paul approached and explained.

“This was the room used by Miss Diane, your mother, when she was unmarried. Please feel comfortable staying here.”

“Oh…?”

Knowing it was my mother’s room made me feel much more at ease.

“Then, I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, please ring the bell.”

Paul bowed his head and gestured to Carl, who was leaning against the door.

“Follow me. I’ll give you a room in the servant’s quarters.”

“Understood.”

Carl obediently followed Paul out.

Beyond the slowly closing door, I could hear Paul scolding him.

“Where did you learn to speak so informally?”

“Well, probably at home. Does that mean I was poorly educated?”

“……Ahem!”

Their voices quickly faded. Chuckling softly, I plopped down on the bed with its white sheets.

Wow, this is crazy. It’s so soft!

As I ran my hand over the smooth sheets, a familiar notification sound rang out.

— Ding!

【Congratulations ♥Mission Success♥

You have left the Sharofe’s residence and made a new nest at the Duke of Diart’s residence?

Congratulations, you have succeeded in the first mission.

As a reward for the mission success, I’ll give you a hint about the male lead.】

A hint about the male lead!

My eyes lit up.

“Give it to me now.”

As I urged the system window, loading appeared, and the text changed.

【Hint: Some of the male leads are acquainted with Dain Diart.】

Oh, I see. But…

“……Who is Dain Diart?”

The only Diart I knew was the Duke I met earlier.

“Even if it’s about the male lead, you should at least tell me who the person mentioned in the hint is.”

In response to my dissatisfied mumbling, the system window reacted.

【As the female lead, you can access limited personal information about the characters.

Would you like to check the information on ‘Dain Diart’?】

You’re finally doing your job.

I was about to happily agree when…