DTRAF 14

Chapter 14

We Don’t Accept the Male Lead’s Dating Advice!

* * *

Ding!

System

Hidden Achievement Unlocked!

You have obtained the reward: “I Can See Your Affection Level.”

“Mmm… The tea tastes especially good today.”

Looking at the notification window floating before me, I slowly savored another sip.

The very first reward I’d earned after successfully bringing Sir Harbor and Sir Claire together two days ago!

No matter how many times I looked at it, it made me feel proud, so I kept opening the notification whenever I had the chance.

“The master just imported these tea leaves through one of our eastern trade caravans. How did you know?”

“Really?”

I’d only made a casual comment because I was in a good mood, but I’d accidentally guessed that the tea leaves had changed.

Back when I worked at the café, I had been extremely picky about coffee and flavored syrups, choosing or making everything myself.

But I know absolutely nothing about tea leaves.

Tea was the one thing I couldn’t distinguish very well, so I’d always bought whatever was available.

That’s why, in this world where everyone took tea so seriously, I’d simply accepted whatever was served and assumed it was high quality.

“By the way… Father and Mother still didn’t come home yesterday?”

Since the topic had come up, I asked about Baron Garnet and his wife.

New tea leaves and unfamiliar goods arrived almost every day…

Yet the owners of the mansion themselves were nowhere to be seen.

“No. The head butler said neither of them will be home this week either.”

“They won’t be back this week…?”

Either they never came home at all…

Or they left before dawn and only returned at dawn the following day.

Did they have some kind of curse that made it dangerous to meet me?

I knew they managed an enormous merchant company and were busy…

But being impossible to meet to this extent felt strange.

“But! They said they’ll definitely return next week!”

Noticing my serious expression, Sophia hurriedly reassured me.

Apparently I’d looked more troubled than I realized.

“Yeah… I guess I’ll see them next week.”

I deliberately smiled and answered lightly.

If they were simply busy, then fine.

But if Baron and Baroness Garnet turned out to be villains…

Honestly, I’d rather they stayed offstage.

They aren’t secretly the final mastermind… are they?

The horrifying thought sent chills down my spine.

No.

This wouldn’t do.

I’d have to search the entire mansion and uncover something.

“Since they’re away, I think I’ll help organize the mansion.”

“What are you saying? That’s our job! You don’t need to worry about it, Miss!”

“No, it’s fine. I still have some time before I head to the Imperial Palace to meet Lysa, so I’d like to help.”

“You really don’t have to… Oh! Miss! Instead of that… could you give me some advice again?”

“Advice?”

Advice?

That sounded suspiciously like an excuse to stop me from snooping around.

Still…

I was curious.

“You recommended clothes and accessories that suited me last time. I don’t think I’ve ever received so many compliments in my life…”

“Ohhh.”

I’d completely forgotten that Sophia had been my first personal color consultation client in this world.

No wonder she’s been following me around like my shadow lately.

I’d been so focused on the Knight Order that I hadn’t even noticed Sophia’s loyalty toward me steadily increasing.

“If it’s not too much trouble… I’d really appreciate your help again.”

At first I’d assumed she was asking on impulse.

But Sophia’s face gradually turned bright red.

“You’re going on another date with that childhood friend you mentioned before?”

“…Y-Yes.”

I’d only been teasing her.

Instead, Sophia lowered her head shyly and stretched out her answer.

When I activated the emoji ability, the heart above her head wasn’t just bigger anymore—

It was actually throbbing.

This doesn’t look like an ordinary date.

“If Sophia’s asking, of course I’ll help.”

Helping other people’s love lives was the best.

Ever since successfully pairing Sir Harbor and Sir Claire yesterday, I’d become completely hooked.

Besides…

The more couples I matched together…

The more bonus abilities I’d unlock.

Two birds with one stone.

“Really? Thank you so much, Miss!”

Sophia thanked me sincerely, completely unaware of my ulterior motives.

Feeling a little guilty, the only thing I could offer in return was the most thoughtful advice possible.

“So, how much effort are we putting in this time?”

“As much as possible.”

“Wait… Is this… a proposal?”

Sophia nodded firmly.

If a proposal was coming…

There was one very important step before helping her.

“Then I should first find out whether this man is actually trustworthy.”

This is exactly what my new ability is for!

Just thinking about using it made me excited.

Then—

“…Huh?”

I suddenly realized something.

That stupid transmigration service had never actually explained how to use any of the bonus abilities.

* * *

Peep. Peep-peep.

In the quiet carriage, adorable little chirping sounds echoed around us.

I silently stared at Omoki, who was busily poking away at his apple-shaped tablet.

“All done, peep! Now the notification should also explain how to use your bonus ability, peep!”

Avoiding my eyes on purpose, Omoki cautiously waddled toward me.

Since I’d spent the morning making him work nonstop, his fluffy white feathers had become adorably messy.

I almost laughed.

But mistakes deserved consequences.

So I desperately maintained a straight face.

“W-Would you like to try it now, peep?”

Watching my expression nervously, Omoki politely gestured with both wings.

Without saying anything, I tapped the back of my opposite hand twice with my index finger.

System

Hidden Achievement Unlocked!

You have obtained the reward: “I Can See Your Affection Level.”

How to Use: To check affection levels and rankings, activate the Thinking Emoji and wink at your desired target. (0ω<)☆

…More

The familiar notification appeared.

I’d seen the reward message countless times already.

But after reading the usage instructions…

I was speechless.

“A wink? Seriously? Who designed this thing?”

Not being able to use it this morning had already annoyed me enough.

And now I learned the method was this embarrassingly childish?

To check someone’s affection level…

I had to wink at them?

Just imagining it made me cringe.

And that lazy little emoji is the most infuriating part.

The instructions…

The emoji…

Everything about it.

I genuinely wanted to find whoever had designed this system.

“The simpler the controls, the better, peep. Besides, since I forgot to include the instructions before, I added an extra option as an apology, peep.”

“Extra option? Where?”

“Riiight there. Press More, peep.”

Omoki pecked repeatedly at the tiny corner of the notification.

Only then did I notice the faintly written More button.

I pressed it.

System

Bonus Option

Selecting a person from the target’s Affection List allows you to view their information.

Current Information Level: 1

Until Next Level… (1/3)

Bright red text appeared beneath it.

Since there were additional stages…

It looked like more personal information would become available after meeting certain conditions.

For something Omoki had added himself…

It wasn’t bad.

“See those numbers in parentheses, peep? The first number is how many couples you’ve successfully matched. The second is how many you need to unlock the next stage, peep.”

“So I need to make two more couples.”

“Exactly, peep! By the time you reach Stage Three, you’ll even get access to pretty private information!”

“Private information? Now you’ve got my attention.”

“Told you! I’m capable of doing at least this much, peep!”

Omoki proudly puffed out his nonexistent chest and pretended to slick back hair he didn’t even have.

“Alright, alright. I’ll admit it’s useful. But how do I choose a person? Do I just tap the status window?”

“Oh! You simply wink as many times as their number, peep.”

“I have to wink according to their number? You little—!”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Just as I was about to lecture that wink-obsessed bird…

Someone knocked on the carriage window.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

It was Eric, who had accompanied me again today.

We had reached the Imperial Palace.

I let go of my plan to grab Omoki and instead reached for the carriage door.

“Go try it out, peep!”

The moment I stepped down…

Omoki quickly disappeared.

Next time I see him, I’ll work him so hard those white feathers turn black.

Making that silent vow, I headed toward the Knight Order’s training grounds.

“Whoa.”

When I arrived…

Two enormous banners I had never seen before stood proudly on either side of the entrance.

On the left fluttered the banner of the Second Knight Order.

On the right flew a banner embroidered with Lysa’s full name alongside the Medinel family’s crest.

Although the Night of Sparring was supposedly only a small internal event…

It was obvious the winner was treated with enormous respect.

This is why people become fans.

The strongest knight in the entire order…

…was my favorite character.

Unable to hide how amazing Lysa was, I found myself admiring her all over again.

“What a pathetic thing to do over something so insignificant.”

Just as I stood there smiling to myself…

A familiar, irritatingly sarcastic voice sounded from behind me.