Chapter 103.

“That. Everyone knows this, so watch yourself. Don’t act rashly so that you don’t get hurt.”

After the Duke finished speaking, they all fell silent.

… A month before the coming-of-age ceremony?

It suddenly stopped. It seems to have been attacked out of the blue.

Since the highlights about the hunting competition are in progress, I thought that the deadline for the difficult mode hadn’t ended yet. At least, there was time for emotional exchanges. It’s only now that I’ve managed to grasp Ikris’ thoughts and turn them into good feelings …… just for a month!

Panting. If you don’t shoot for 100% with good feelings in a month, you don’t get a love confession, and you may never escape.

Escape for sure, but the bigger problem is that once the ‘real male female’ comes back, I’ll become the evil female and die. Because that’s how the story of this damn game goes.

Lowering her hand, she grabbed the hem of her dress all at once. I don’t want to die. With a certain mood, I walked out of the house and

“…” To go back again, in this damn place, I was lost with a certain mood. How should I die, how should I die .

“…Lope. Penelope, she.” I instantly came to my senses when I heard someone calling me.

“…?”

I raised my head and looked forward. Without realizing it, all the people at the table were looking at me. The Duke seemed surprised.

“Is there anything you don’t like?

“Huh? No, not really.”

I answered him with a relaxed expression. I was afraid of the word “birthday” and instantly fell into a deep thought. I woke up later and started to argue a bit too much. Think about it for a moment.

“Yeah. Aren’t you a little weird today?”

Leonard snapped, mocking.

“Why have you been staring so menacingly at one spot since a while ago? Been quiet for a while and you’re itching again?”

“Leonard Eckhardt.”

The guy’s right and wrong were negligible, but somehow the Duke gave his attention in a serious voice

“Don’t be ignorant of who you are.”

“I don’t treat her like a sister.”

“Leonard.”

Very good at talking back, the Duke’s eyes widened and he had to keep his mouth shut. The light pink color on the bumpy expression quirk was very mismatched.

I was feeling a little embarrassed by the cold atmosphere just starting. I tried to smile as I looked at the Duke.

“Sorry. I was distracted for a moment and didn’t hear dad. Please say that again.”

“Oh, yes.” The Duke eased his stiff expression and said

“Anything you want for your birthday.”

“Wants?”

“Yes, tell me.”

Immediately a search was made, demanding to find out how I could get back. I saw the 3 pairs of blue eyes sticking out at me and strained to speak.

“Of course not.” Said it in a careless tone.

“What…?”

But for some reason the Duke’s eyes widened like someone struck by a blow.

“Yes, you ……”

“Hey, are you uncomfortable somewhere?

The Duke who couldn’t even speak, Leonard slapped the table and shouted. Even Derrick, who had been eating in silence, looked at me strangely.

“You, surely, are last …… year.”

He was trying to say something words, eerily tensed and closed his mouth again.

“Huh?”

I was confused by the unexpected reactions. The Duke who looked at me after some time stated the reason.

“Until last year, weren’t there a lot of requests for things?”

“Ah!”

I mused briefly. This would be justifiable if it were a true Penelope who had once been extravagant.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really need anything. Besides, was it possible to ask for a present on my birthday when it might as well have been my own?

He looked at the lowly Duke as if he were looking in the eye, and once again offered me a proposal.

He said:-“I never thought of wearing a bar mitzvah, like an old Queen’s tailor.”

“A bar mitzvah?”

“Well. His Majesty will be consulted.”

The Duke puffed out his chest divinely and said with dignity. It seemed like a while ago when he had just handed over the stone bow.

Gowns were less necessary than gems. But how stubborn Penelope was last year, I was not willing to accept his attitude lightly.

“So how about repurchasing the jewelry and shoes that go with it? Call the jeweler.”

“Hmm. ……”

I thought for a moment, glancing at the person sitting across from me.

Orange and pink. It used to be differentiated by the goodness index, but now you can tell them apart at a glance from a distance with color. Even with the game currency, I couldn’t afford to spend my money to confirm their favorability. I decided not to reject the Duke’s kindness.

Since you gave me a birthday present, don’t bother with the gems and just give me the money.”

“… What? Money?” The Duke opened his mouth.

“On second thought, I don’t have a bit of personal property. Dad, that ……”

The Duke was so blindsided by my words that he could say no more. Leonard looked at it for him.

“What personal budget do you need?”

“That ……”

“Call a designer if you want a gown, a jeweler if it’s a gem. Doesn’t the butler do it all? By the way, Dad! I heard you gave her a blank check last time?”

The fellow who had dismissed me to my face suddenly turned his arrow on the Duke.

“Why give it only to her? When I asked for it, didn’t you say the finances were in trouble?”

“Heh, heh! That guy…”

I don’t know how the news that was secretly conveyed through the deacon spread, that guy played a trick on me.

Oops, what a schoolboy.

The Duke gave a dry cough, panicked and ignored him, and changed the topic.

“But all of a sudden, why do you want private property?”

‘Never said anything like that? Except for trinkets, cash.’

“What about the bonus?”

“That one won’t be used. That’s the first money I’ve ever earned. I’ll keep it safe.”

“Hey, that’s nice.”

The Duke nodded. The first money that the impudent duchess has ever earned in one piece, and it’s also the prize money for the winner of a hunting contest!

I capitalized on the situation and said, “Just in case, could you give me the funds that can be accommodated as a birthday gift?”

“Is that what’s going on? The only Eckhardt’s male daughter will be prepared without even realizing it.”

“What, can you prepare money for marriage in the future when you leave the house ……”

“No.”

At that moment 3 men shouted at the same time. My eyes widened as I looked around at them. The duke shouted in a voice that wasn’t hoarse.

“Is it that sentence again?” What’s a noble lady who hasn’t had her coming-of-age ceremony out of the house yet?”

“No, Eckhardt.”

Seeing the Duke smack his lips, I finally shut up.

“Personal property is a no-no.”

At that moment, the closed-mouthed Derek cut off the last hope with an icy voice.

“I don’t trust your overhead. And what money is needed when each purchase exceeds the allotted budget?

“….”

“Tell me a reason, it’s not like you’re in business to raise money.”

True to his name, Derrick was also deeply involved in the finances of the residence as the “Little Duke”.

In fact, there was nothing to be said if he was asked to explain his reasoning in this manner. It was just to keep as much cash as possible just in case. Because you can’t exchange gems for money every time you confirm your goodwill.

I heard that the Duke came down hard to help you and you tried it.

“Yes, no hoarding”.

“Yes, no!”

But the men of this family agreed in turn with Derek’s damned words.

If that’s the case, don’t ask. I bristled. Frankly, I wasn’t the only one upset about the lack of a budget. It hadn’t been made clear by now who looked like they wouldn’t be kicked out if they didn’t come back as a real male daughter?

“You can change it, can’t you?”

The Duke gulped and said nothing, like a small child who had been convinced.

“I hear the finest diamonds are being produced in the mines in the south this time. I will have it worked.”

“That will do.” I interrupted a passage of the Duke’s words

“I am old enough,” then. Derek pulled his chair and rose from his seat.

“Penelope,” the Duke’s voice was muffled for a moment.

I know this family has taken care of my debauchery lately. It was my trial at the hunting convention. But now that I had raised my favor to a certain angle, I didn’t want to grovel to please myself.

“Eat up. I’ll leave first.”

“Penelope.”

I didn’t care when I heard the Duke’s angry voice calling me.

* * *

When I returned to my room, Emily, who had just done her bedding organization, stared wide-eyed.

“Miss, you’re here already?”

“Emily, go call a butler. Immediately!”

I shimmered hurriedly, not a hair’s breadth of pause on the table.

“Huh? Yes.”

Emily, who showed a surprised expression at my sudden order, immediately folded and walked out of the room.

Tower, tower, tower. I looked at the sky and tapped the table with my fingers in spirit. The reason why I called the deacon was to ask how the recent request for clothes made from the skins of the hunted animals was progressing.

“… Should send out the rest of the gifts first.”

The only way to do that was to raise Ikris’ favorability immediately.

As a result, due to the favorability system, he was so busy that he even forgot to remove the turf for the other party and returned with only the necklace.

Ta-da, how long has passed by anxiously tapping the case. A long time had passed, but there was not the slightest sign of the deacon.

“Why don’t you come?”

That was the time to frown and mutter nervously

Knock – the knock on the door finally sounded. Becoming sensitive, I painfully confirmed who the visitor was!