After I, a Penniless Noble, Entered a Fake Engagement with the Most Elegant Duke’s Daughter at the Academy, For Some Reason She Started Showering Me with Love - V2 Chapter 05

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Chapter 05.1: The Duke’s Daughter’s “First” Homemade Meal

 

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So this was it. My execution day.

I felt like a prisoner waiting for his sentence to be carried out.

I had already reached a strange state of acceptance.

Once again, I stepped into Yuri’s room.

Last time, just being inside the girls’ dorm had made me restless in a very normal, teenage-boy way.

But this time?

A completely different kind of pounding.

My heart actually hurt.

Maybe I really was sick.

“…Wait. If I say I’m sick, maybe I can go home?”

“—That would be terrible. You need proper nutrition.”

Her merciless response made the back of my eyes sting.

Yuri, who had left earlier to cook, returned while pushing a cart herself.

On the wooden table sat meat sandwiches she must have prepared, neatly arranged beside the familiar teapot and cups.

“We don’t have much time during lunch break, so I kept it simple. Just sandwiches.”

“I see… That’s… a good choice.”

“You’re completely pale.”

“It’s cold here.”

“Oh? Then we should make it warmer.”

She casually added more logs to the fireplace.

You know exactly why I’m pale. Don’t pretend you don’t.

Also—why does this room even have a fireplace? We’re in the same dorm building. Is it because this is the girls’ side? Or because it’s Yuri? There’s no way every room has one. I’ll just assume this is special treatment for the ducal house.

While my attention drifted toward the fire, Yuri finished arranging the dishes on the table.

Then she sat down across from me.

“Go on. Eat.”

She smiled sweetly.

Bright. Pure. Completely harmless.

Which somehow made it even more terrifying.

The sandwich looked… normal.

Actually, better than normal. It looked good.

Thick slices of meat—though I had no idea what kind—were tucked between soft bread, along with fresh leafy vegetables that were hard to come by around here. It looked fancier than anything sold at street stalls.

It even smelled good.

…But the moment I remembered that a noble lady had made it, my hands turned heavy as stone.

Yuri acted as though this were perfectly ordinary.

But normally, noble daughters don’t cook.

There are exceptions, of course. But usually cooking is the chef’s responsibility. Most noble girls don’t even hold a knife.

And Yuri wasn’t just any noble girl.

She was the noble girl.

A duke’s daughter.

Even if she personally wanted to cook, her family would probably never allow it.

And now I was supposed to eat food made by that Yuri?

My stomach twisted nervously.

It reminded me of a certain incident from the past.

Once, another noble girl had handed me cookies she made herself and said, “Please eat this.”

They were practically raw.

Apparently she had mixed in all sorts of things because “more flavors means more delicious.”

I spent the next few days bedridden with a completely destroyed stomach.

I still have no idea what was inside those cookies.

I don’t even remember the taste.

Just the burning.

Like my tongue had melted.

As that buried trauma slowly crawled back to the surface—

Yuri gently pushed the plate closer to me.

“Eat.”

“Y-Yes, ma’am.”

The moment I stepped into the girls’ dorm, I had already lost all escape routes.

And with Yuri smiling so happily despite my very obvious hesitation, there was no way I could say, “I don’t want to.”

More than that—she made it herself. I couldn’t just disrespect that.

…Fine.

I braced myself and picked up the meat sandwich.

The scent of grilled meat rose warmly. Soft white bread. Fresh vegetables.

Everything looked delicious.

And yet my body still tried to resist it.

Still, I forced it to my mouth—

And took a bite.

…

Oh.

“It’s good.”

“Of course it is.”

Yuri puffed out her chest proudly.

And honestly? She had every right to.

The spices were present, but not overwhelming. The flavor was refined—more elegant than it looked. It wasn’t the bold, heavy taste of commoner food. It was delicate. Balanced.

Careful.

“Boys like you all assume food made by noble ladies tastes terrible, don’t you?”

“T-That’s not—”

I wanted to deny it outright.

But lying now would only make things worse.

“…Well. Sorry.”

“It’s fine. There was once a noble girl who accidentally killed her fiancé with her cooking. Fufufu.”

“That’s not funny.”

Not funny at all.

At first, it had been treated as a simple murder case. Poisoning, they said.

But after investigation, it turned out there was no intent to kill. She had simply served him food.

The ingredient in question?

Mushrooms.

The kind that… well.

No need to elaborate.

Noble gossip isn’t always reliable.

But it’s also not something you can completely dismiss.

Even outside of party chatter, I’m sure plenty of young noble men secretly think, “That could be me someday.”

I never imagined I’d be part of that category myself.

Thankfully, in my case, it turned out to be unnecessary worry.

I took another bite of the sandwich.

Delicious.

Very delicious.

“So when you eat it like that, it makes cooking worth it.”

“It’s good.”

“As expected of me.”

She said it with absolute confidence.

Well, considering how good it truly was, she had every right to be proud.

“Who would have thought my first time cooking would be enough to capture my husband’s stomach?”

“Yeah, yeah. For a first time, this is more than— ………Wait. What did you just say?”

Maybe I misheard.

I was fairly certain she just said “first time.”

Slowly, I placed the half-eaten sandwich back on the plate.

I had been looking down while eating. When I lifted my head, she was still smiling the same way as always.

And yet.

For some reason, her eyes seemed darker.

“I said it was my first time cooking.”

“You’ve… never cooked before?”

“I’ve watched it being done.”

“…Did someone help you today?”

“No. As you can see, I made everything myself.”

Homemade, huh.

I could feel my appetite drying up in real time.

I rubbed my stomach.

Okay. No pain.

I touched my throat next.

Still fine. No burning. No choking.

I should be safe… probably.

But there was still one thing bothering me.

The meat.

“By the way… what kind of meat is this?”

“Eh? I don’t know.”

“…You don’t know?”

“It’s tasty, isn’t it?”

My eyes slowly dropped to the plate.

I picked up the sandwich again and took another bite.

…Yeah.

Still delicious.

But from now on, I decided I should be more careful.

It’s entirely possible to be killed by accident.

Later, I asked Yuri’s maid.

It was lamb.

Thank goodness it wasn’t something suspicious.

Really. Thank goodness.

◆◆◆

Even with lingering anxiety settling in my stomach, I finished everything.

The tea after the meal felt refreshing. It replaced all the sweat I had lost from pure stress.

“You don’t need to worry so much. It was good, wasn’t it?”

“Please don’t add new reasons to panic after I’ve already eaten. It was good. Thank you.”

I didn’t want to complain about food someone had made for me.

But when you casually mention a noble girl killing her fiancé with cooking, then casually reveal it was your first time cooking…

Of course I’m going to worry.

“I’ll make it again, so look forward to it.”

“Next time, I’ll cook.”

“Hahaha.”

“Why are you laughing?”

I wasn’t joking.

“You don’t have to act tough just because I can cook, you know?”

“I can cook.”

“You mean grilling meat counts as cooking?”

“Grilling meat is harder than it sounds, you know?”

You have to cook it through properly. Not burn the outside. It takes attention.

“We don’t have servants at home. So I don’t just ‘know how’ to cook—I have to.”

“I assumed you left that to your younger sister.”

“If I left everything to her, what kind of older brother would I be?”

Well… technically, she handles most of the housework.

So whether I have any dignity left as an older brother is debatable.

I do what I can, but most of my effort goes into rebuilding our house.

That’s part of why I’m attending this academy in the first place.

“Hm. I see.”

Whether she believed me or not, I couldn’t tell.

But that tone slightly annoyed me.

What’s that supposed to mean? I shot her a look.

She only smiled softly.

“In that case, I’ll have you cook for me someday, dear husband.”

“I’m saying this now, but I can’t guarantee it’ll suit your taste.”

I can cook, sure.

But it’s commoner-style food.

Nothing fancy. Nothing refined.

I seriously doubt I could satisfy the delicate palate of a duke’s daughter.

“It’ll suit me. If it’s yours, it will.”

“Is that so.”

And yet… I felt a little happy hearing that.

I’m still simple like that.

So what should I make?

As I mentally lined up possible dishes, Yuri suddenly said, “Oh, that reminds me,” and changed the subject.

“So, dear husband, what are you planning to do for the Exhibition?”

“Exhi… what?”

Exhibition…?

What exhibition?

I stared up at the ceiling.

Of course, the answer wasn’t written there.

I slowly looked back at her.

“What’s that?”

“You are, technically, a student at this academy, correct?”

Yuri’s disappointed stare pierced me like needles.

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Chapter 05.2: I Don’t Want to Participate in the Academy Mineral Exhibition (Wishful Thinking)

 

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Just because she looked at me like I lacked common sense didn’t mean I could suddenly remember something I didn’t know.

I even tried pretending to think.

“Ahhh…”

Nothing.

My mind was completely blank.

Yuri sighed.

That hurt more than the stare.

“The Academy Mineral Exhibition is the academy festival.”

“No, I figured that much.”

It has “festival” in the name, after all.

“Oh?” Yuri slightly lifted her eyelids.

“I assumed you knew nothing at all, but it seems you at least understand basic vocabulary. Do you require an explanation of what a festival is?”

“I’m sorry for being so ignorant.”

The moment I give her an opening, this happens.

She immediately takes a jab at me.

She let out a soft, amused laugh and narrowed her eyes like a cat.

At least she doesn’t truly mean to insult me. That’s still better than those fake noble greetings.

Still, I’m not the type who enjoys being teased.

I told myself I’d be more careful next time.

…Though realistically, I already know that’s impossible.

I can’t even picture a future where I win against Yuri.

“During winter, the mines in every territory close because of the snow. So during that period, the academy hosts an event where students display minerals mined from their lands. In simple terms… it’s an exhibition.”

“They do something like that?”

I was genuinely impressed.

“So this isn’t just a matchmaking academy?”

“The minerals your territory produces directly reflect its wealth.”

“…I take that back.”

So it just increases marriage proposals based on financial value.

This really is a matchmaking arena after all.

“The Exhibition is something students participate in… so, dear husband, are you going to join?”

“You just made it sound awful, and now you’re asking me that?”

“That was that. This is this, isn’t it?”

“You’re far too good with words.”

“I am a noble young lady, after all.”

And there she goes—ending with a fact I can’t refute.

She doesn’t actually prove her earlier point, but she times it so well that I lose the chance to argue.

At this rate, she could probably sell me a random pebble at an outrageous price and I’d thank her for it.

Can anyone ever get used to this kind of smooth persuasion?

“I’m not joining. It gets up my nose.”

“It doesn’t smell, though.”

“Don’t twist my words.”

That’s not what I meant.

She leaned closer, reaching out slightly.

I immediately lowered my head and leaned back to keep my distance.

I already know she smells good—like flowers.

And if I say that, she’ll definitely go, “Oh? So you’ve noticed?” with that smug smile.

So I bit my lip and chose silence.

Silence is the best defense.

“I see. So you’re used to my scent. That explains it.”

“Are you invincible or something?”

Even when I stay quiet, she just reaches her own conclusion and nods confidently.

So much for my “best defense.”

I waved my hand dismissively.

“I meant the Exhibition is annoying. In the end, it’s just another engagement-and-marriage showcase, right? I don’t see the point in participating. …It sounds like a hassle.”

“Wasn’t that last part your real reason?”

It was.

But I’m still technically a noble.

I have appearances to maintain.

At least let me disguise the biggest reason behind something that sounds respectable.

“They do sell minerals during the event. I’ve heard stories of students closing major deals there that later brought profit to their territories.”

“So which is it? Do you want me to participate or not?”

“I simply want to see your troubled expression with that crease between your brows.”

She cupped her cheek dreamily.

“It’s truly my favorite.”

That sticky gaze alone is enough to drain my energy.

“Don’t think being honest earns you a free pass.”

At least consider what it’s like for me, being dragged into your very specific preferences.

“I am interested in selling minerals… but I’m still not joining. It’s mostly jewelry, right?”

“Yes. Last year there were many necklaces and rings.”

“What we mine is gold.”

Well… it had dried up.

Or so we believed.

Turns out there’s still some left, and we’ve resumed digging—but compared to its peak, the amount is insignificant.

“Gold craftsmanship could still work.”

“If we even have craftsmen left.”

The Ryule Viscount house’s gold mine once declined.

And when that happened, the skilled gold artisans disappeared as well.

No one inherited their techniques.

The craft gradually faded away.

So whether our territory still has artisans capable of producing noble-level jewelry… that’s doubtful.

I raised both hands and waved them lightly.

Not happening.

“Either way, it’s too soon. My family is focusing on investigation this year. Even if there’s a gold vein, if we can’t extract it, it’s just buried treasure we can’t touch. Literally.”

“So both gold and glory are buried beneath the snow. We simply wait for spring, is that it?”

She pouted slightly.

What exactly is she dissatisfied about?

“If not me, what about you? Aren’t you setting up a booth?”

“—No.”

Clear.

Sharp.

There was something firm—almost rejecting—in that single word.

I couldn’t respond immediately.

“Ah… I see,” I muttered, covering my mouth to hide my surprise.

Come to think of it, we’ve barely spoken about her family.

It never felt like she was deliberately avoiding the topic.

But perhaps she was, without me noticing.

She openly acknowledges being a duke’s daughter.

But beyond that, she rarely speaks about home.

Between her childhood and the Arrose ducal house…

Maybe that territory is dangerous ground.

Whether it’s wise or not, I’ve fallen for someone like that.

What exactly am I supposed to do?

Most people would say, “Give up.”

…But—

Suddenly, my cheek was squished.

“Your face is stiff.”

“Wha’ are you doin’?”

Yuri’s eyes narrowed playfully.

Apparently, she had walked over while I was lost in thought.

That’s fine—but don’t treat my face like a toy.

I grabbed her fingers and peeled them off my cheek.

“So, what were you thinking about?”

“You had the face of someone worrying over something trivial, so I relaxed you. You’re welcome.”

I wanted to say, And whose fault is that?

But I held it in.

“…Thank you.”

“I shall praise you for that.”

I meant it sarcastically.

She nodded grandly, as though awarding me a medal.

Wait. Why am I being praised for saying thank you? Isn’t that backward?

I almost pointed it out.

But when she smiled at me so openly, I suddenly lost the will to argue.

It’s a meaningless exchange anyway.

And the more seriously I respond, the deeper I sink into her swamp.

I know that.

And yet I keep stepping into it on my own.

Which probably means I enjoy these pointless conversations too.

It’s far better than nobles probing each other’s hidden intentions.

Having “substance” in a conversation isn’t always better.

◆◆◆

“Crule, I would like you to participate in the Academy Mineral Exhibition.”

After school, in the dining hall, Prince Lionel called me over and said that.

It wasn’t as crowded as lunchtime, but gentle waves of chatter still filled the room.

Amid the soft noise, it felt as though everyone else had fallen silent.

Yuri nodded thoughtfully, as if she understood something I didn’t.

“I see… but I refuse!”

…

Honestly, this is exactly why empty conversations are better.

Also—why is Yuri answering for me?

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Chapter 05.3: His Highness Requests My Participation in the Festival

 

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How does someone develop nerves this thick?

Like an ancient tree that’s stood for thousands of years—

No, that’s too grand. Too majestic.

Still, I can’t think of a better comparison.

Sometimes I just end up realizing how hard it is to describe Yuri.

“Why is Lady Yuliana the one refusing?”

Even Prince Lionel sounded exasperated.

His expression remained dignified as always, but I caught the faint twitch at the corner of his eye.

More importantly—why is she even here?

That question was clearly hidden in his golden gaze.

As for me?

All I could think was, Good question.

I didn’t say it out loud, of course.

From me.

To the prince.

To everyone watching.

Yuri stood there, drawing every bit of attention to her slender frame.

Then she puffed out her chest proudly—well, as much as her modest size allowed—and lifted her chin.

“Isn’t it obvious? I am my dear husband’s fiancée!”

That bold declaration made Prince Lionel’s eyes slowly shift toward me.

The look clearly said, Care to explain?

I quietly turned my face away.

Don’t bring her chaos to me.

I’m not her guardian.

Handle that side yourself.

Perhaps realizing nothing would change by staring at me, Prince Lionel released a shallow sigh.

“…Very well. Let us proceed under that assumption.”

He knows.

Prince Lionel absolutely knows this engagement is fake.

And yet, even while treating it as a farce, he plays along.

I honestly respect that.

Though… part of me wonders if he’s thinking that by not exposing it, he gains leverage later.

Still, it feels almost too generous.

If this were some short-tempered noble, my head might already be rolling.

I unconsciously rubbed my neck at the thought.

“Whether I refuse or not—”

“My dear husband already said he won’t participate.”

“—Whether I refuse or not,” I repeated, “…I fail to see the point in exhibiting anything. May I ask your reason?”

Honestly, I wanted to refuse immediately.

First of all, I haven’t even inherited my title yet. I truly don’t want to accept a direct request from royalty.

Especially not with this many ears around us.

I’m sure he knows that.

He created this situation on purpose.

If he didn’t want to be refused, this is exactly how he’d do it.

If it were meant to be private, he could’ve done what he did before with Yuri’s engagement—speak in a closed room.

Instead, he chose the academy dining hall.

In front of students.

No escape route.

Though maybe the real issue is that even considering refusing a royal request is strange.

Maybe I’m getting too used to it because I already refused him once.

And Lionel isn’t the only royal in the kingdom.

A fallen viscount like me shouldn’t even have the chance to meet them.

And yet, in such a short time, I’ve crossed paths with a duke’s daughter and the kingdom’s second prince.

At this rate, I probably shouldn’t assume anything is impossible.

Ahh… my stomach hurts.

Under the table, I quietly pressed a hand against my abdomen.

“Of course. I will explain.”

Prince Lionel responded to my question without hesitation.

He really is generous.

That helps.

“The Academy Mineral Exhibition is one of the academy’s largest events. Unlike ordinary social gatherings, it connects directly to the nation’s industry. As you know, not only students attend, but also guests from within the kingdom and from abroad. In practice, it becomes a diplomatic venue.”

“I see…”

Cold sweat slid down my neck.

He was speaking as if I obviously understood all of this.

I did not.

This was my first time hearing about it.

The scale was far larger than I imagined. My voice nearly wavered.

I had pictured something like a weekend marketplace.

Not… diplomacy.

But I couldn’t exactly say, “I had no idea.”

So I just nodded vaguely.

Suddenly—

A poke to my side.

I jumped.

Yuri was grinning wickedly, her eyes clearly saying, You didn’t know any of that, did you?

Don’t you dare say it.

I tapped her knee under the table in warning.

She immediately grabbed my finger.

Hey—

I tried to pull it back.

It didn’t budge.

“Is something unclear?” Prince Lionel asked.

“N-No? Everything is clear. Perfectly clear.”

Since His Highness was watching, I gave up on rescuing my captured finger.

Let her win this one.

“The mineral exhibition serves as a product introduction to both domestic and foreign parties. I would like Crule—more precisely, the Ryule Viscount house—to participate.”

“I don’t see the necessity.”

While casually squeezing my trapped finger beneath the table, Yuri spoke in an extremely serious tone.

“The Exhibition is indeed an important national event. It is significant enough to warrant Your Highness’s presence. However, it should not require you to personally recruit participants. That would ordinarily be handled by your subordinates. Should you not instead focus on receiving the distinguished guests?”

“…Hmph.”

Prince Lionel exhaled slowly and shifted his gaze toward Yuri.

“I thought you were merely jesting, yet you grasp the critical points. Troublesome… though perhaps it is rude to call a lady that?”

“It is the highest praise, Your Highness.”

Still seated, Yuri offered a graceful bow.

Even knowing it was partly for show, the movement was beautiful.

I understand why Prince Lionel would call her troublesome.

From my perspective, that word is still too mild.

“As Lady Yuliana pointed out, it is not customary for me to personally invite participants. However, Crule… or rather, the Ryule Viscount house is an exception. You must be invited.”

Must?

The Ryule house?

Why?

My head filled with questions.

Until recently, our family stood on the brink of collapse.

We aren’t saved yet. We’ve only just begun to recover.

We are still financially strained.

So why would the second prince personally insist on our participation?

Before I could untangle the confusion, Yuri answered for me.

“You intend to publicize the discovery of the new gold vein, do you not?”

“Correct.”

They understood each other instantly.

And I was left behind.

Publicize the discovery?

Why?

There are other gold mines in the kingdom.

Other gemstone mines as well.

We don’t even know how much gold is truly there yet.

Why announce it now?

As I sat there like a decorative statue, utterly confused, the conversation continued without me—rolling forward like a stone tumbling downhill.

“In recent years, our nation’s mineral output has steadily declined. There has been too much discouraging news. The discovery of a new vein—something we have not seen in years—is significant. And it is gold. It carries strong trust and value as a trade commodity. It will demonstrate, both domestically and abroad, that we remain strong.”

“I see…”

Well.

I sort of saw.

To me, it felt more like, Oh, is that so?

I am meant to inherit my territory one day, yet my sense for politics and economics remains immature.

I understand the words.

I simply haven’t fully grasped their weight.

I’ve been too busy trying to keep our own land afloat to look at the broader picture of the kingdom.

Still, Prince Lionel wouldn’t lie about something like this in a dining hall full of students.

Perhaps that was part of the reason he chose this place.

Public credibility.

Negotiation. Politics.

I still have far too much to learn.

Who knows when I’ll truly be ready to inherit my title.

“In short, you wish to spread good news and restore some vitality to the kingdom. Is that correct?”

Yuri summarized neatly.

Very neatly.

She skipped quite a bit, I’m sure—but for me, that simple explanation was a relief.

I nodded toward her in gratitude.

She responded with a small, amused smile.

By the way… how long do you intend to keep holding my finger?

“Lady Yuliana’s summary is somewhat simplified… but yes. So—will you accept?”

◆◆◆

“So, you’re accepting?”

Yuri looked at me coolly.

I returned a look that said, What choice do I have?

“You think I can simply refuse a royal request?”

“So you weren’t tempted by some hidden reward?”

“Fish really is delicious, huh?”

I focused intensely on my herb-grilled river fish, pretending my full mouth was the reason I couldn’t respond properly.

After I agreed to participate in the Academy Mineral Exhibition, Prince Lionel stood and said, “You two should enjoy the rest of your time together,” before leaving swiftly.

Perhaps he was being considerate.

Or perhaps he was simply busy.

Before departing, he told us to order whatever we liked.

Being treated by royalty is terrifying, but by the time I considered declining, he was already gone.

“It would be rude to refuse kindness.”

“Is it good?”

“I like fish.”

Since we live in the mountains, fish isn’t easy to obtain.

It’s not impossible.

Just expensive.

So unless it’s an occasion like this, I rarely get to eat it.

The same dish sat in front of Yuri.

But instead of eating, she simply kept watching me.

Maybe she was still upset.

“…If you keep staring at me like that, it’s hard to eat.”

“You refused when I suggested it.”

Ah.

So that’s what this is about.

I did say I wouldn’t participate.

But she hadn’t exactly pressed the matter strongly either.

Does she really need to be this upset?

Wait.

Is this because she suggested it and I refused—but when the prince asked, I agreed?

I can understand why that would irritate her.

But come on.

It’s royalty.

You can’t just say no.

“You refused before.”

For a moment, I had no idea what she meant.

Then it clicked.

Ah. That.

The marriage proposal involving her.

You really can’t compare that to this.

“Of course I refused—even if it was His Highness. It concerned you.”

I’ve said this before, but does she think I’m heartless?

I wanted to stop my little sister’s marriage.

That doesn’t mean I would offer Yuri in her place.

Even if the prince requested it, the weight of that situation was entirely different.

Still… perhaps I was partly at fault as well.

While I was considering taking her into town for sweets to improve her mood—

A fork suddenly appeared in front of me.

There was a piece of fish on it.

Right in front of my mouth.

“What’s this?”

“You like fish, don’t you? Say ah.”

Wait.

That’s abrupt.

She had been sulking just moments ago, and now she was smiling brightly while offering me food.

How does her mood shift so quickly?

Did I say something?

I replayed the last few minutes in my head.

No.

Just defending myself.

“Dear husband?”

“…Aah.”

If I refuse now and she becomes upset again, that will be exhausting.

It’s slightly embarrassing.

But it’s not the first time.

So I opened my mouth and ate it.

Maybe it was a different bite.

Maybe just my nerves.

But even though it was the same dish, I barely tasted it.

I covered my mouth while chewing.

Yuri watched me with a gentle smile and casually said—

“I’ll help as well. With the Exhibition.”

My mouth was full.

Before I could respond, it was already settled.

And like a leaf drifting down a river, I let myself be carried along.

◆ End of Chapter 5 ◆
To be continued.