I Reincarnated as the Daughter of a Runaway Sub Heroine - Chapter 69

“Hmm?”

“I told you, right? Since we’re starting this, we need to look like real lovers perfectly. I’m not the kind of person who would let my girlfriend think about another man, especially not in front of me.”

My face turned hot. Right. To look like real lovers, I needed to get used to words like this and touches like that. Only then would people be completely fooled.

As I nodded, he calmly withdrew his hand.

Letting out a small sigh, I asked him something I had been curious about for a while.

“But Persis is your long-time friend. Are you okay with that?”

Usually, close friends would keep a distance from the person their friend likes. Just like in the original story, when my dad deliberately approached the Duchess, the Duke of Acanthus willingly stepped back for his friend.

However, Hyperion showed no hesitation even though he knew Persis was interested in me. So I was a bit curious about what he was thinking.

“It’s fine. He’s already had his chance.”

“Chance? What do you mean by that?”

Instead of answering, Hyperion smiled.

“What are you doing tomorrow morning?”

“Why do you ask?”

“From now on, we need to share our schedules with each other since we’re dating.”

Ah, that’s right. I immediately understood. It’s natural for lovers to know each other’s schedules.

There’s more to keep track of in a relationship than I expected.

“I’m planning to go to the art supply store in the morning. There’s a painter I have my eye on, and if I find a good painting, I plan to buy it. Are you going to work as usual?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s meet after work.”

As I stood up from the chair, I remembered one more thing I was curious about and asked him.

“By the way, I heard the Duke mention something about a magic scroll earlier. What is that?”

“I requested a few magic scrolls to be made.”

“You mean the Duke made them himself?”

“Yeah.”

I was once again reminded that the Duke was an incredible magician.

Custom-making magic scrolls requires not only money but also quite a bit of time. I didn’t know the details, but I had heard that the production process was quite complicated.

Yet, Hyperion lived in an environment where those precious magic scrolls could be produced just by making a request.

“Why do you need magic scrolls?”

What would someone who only commutes to the palace need them for?

At my question, Hyperion turned his gaze elsewhere. Realizing this was a preemptive move to avoid answering, I leaned in and looked up at him.

“What’s up? You’re not going to tell me? I’m your girlfriend, you know?”

Seeing a slightly surprised expression flash across his face made me smirk. How about that? You must be quite flustered since I suddenly acted like this, right?

“This is also practice. You can’t be that flustered in real situations. What will you do if people notice?”

After looking at me for a moment, Hyperion raised one corner of his lips. Then, he offered me one cheek.

“If you kiss my cheek, I’ll tell you. Since you’re my girlfriend, you can do at least that, right?”

“What? What are you saying? Forget it!”

Damn, there’s always someone who’s bolder. I ultimately lost to Hyperion’s audacity.

His laughter echoed behind me as I walked away angrily. That stung my pride even more.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

“Congratulations, Arcadia! I never thought I’d see you in a relationship during my lifetime!”

The next day, Derek exaggeratedly pretended to cry in the carriage. I shot him a sharp glare.

“I thought you would never date and would end up in an arranged marriage for life. But here you are, dating so openly!”

“Shut up! You’re the one who’s still single.”

Derek immediately closed his mouth. Bell also fell silent. The two lifelong singles had nothing to say.

“By the way, are you okay with me dating the young duke?”

I was a bit surprised by Derek’s reaction. I thought he would genuinely be shocked or suspicious if I said I was dating Hyperion.

However, Derek surprisingly accepted our relationship so naturally that he even seemed happy about it.

“Yes, of course, I fully support it.”

“Why? You said last time that Hyperion was scary.”

“Oh, these days, the young duke has been really kind to me. It turns out he’s a good person.”

His attitude had changed almost completely. And just because he’s good to you doesn’t mean he’s automatically good to me. What kind of logic is that?

I let out a hollow laugh at how absurd it was, and Derek said, “And I’ve thought from the beginning that you two are a great match. You both get along so well. I kind of expected this to happen.”

Surprisingly, no one seemed particularly shocked by our announcement of dating. Even the host of today’s party, Lady Montfort, welcomed us, saying she had anticipated it.

Maybe I was the most surprised of all.

Derek looked at me and smiled brightly.

“Besides, the young duke has the best qualities among the men you could choose from. I’m really happy for you two.”

“I know you’re happy because you don’t have to marry me, right?”

Derek burst out laughing.

“I can’t deny that. But my feelings are genuine. Congratulations!”

His unexpected reaction made me feel a bit gloomy. This was a big problem. If they found out later that I had deceived them, the sense of betrayal would be immense.

At that moment, Bell asked a question.

“But what if you and the young duke get married? You both have to inherit titles, right?”

Even knowing this wasn’t a real relationship, I wondered why Bell was asking such questions. Derek answered her.

“It shouldn’t be a problem. You two can manage your territories separately, or you could quickly have an heir and pass one title down early.”

“The ducal and grand ducal families are the most powerful in the kingdom. Wouldn’t this union cause issues?”

“If we had a claim to the throne, it would definitely be a problem.”

Then I responded.

“A branch of the royal family gaining power through marriage? The direct royal family wouldn’t just sit back and watch. Even if I’m okay with it, my father would think differently.”

“Ah…”

“But right now, we don’t have a claim to the throne. No matter how much we combine with the ducal house, it’s practically impossible to take the throne over the first and second in the line of succession. So, while it might be a bit awkward for the royal family, they wouldn’t really have a solid reason to oppose it.”

Bell smiled brightly.

“Oh, that’s a relief. I was worried about that all by myself!”

Bell, this is a fake relationship, so why are you worried about such things?

At that moment, the carriage arrived at its destination. We got out and headed straight to the art studio.

“Didn’t you say you were looking for the painter, Rene Banar?”

The purpose of today’s outing was to visit the painter I had seen in a newspaper article. However, to do that, we first needed to know the location of his house or studio.

But when I said I was going to the art studio, Derek expressed doubt.

“So we’re going to the art studio. If we stop by a few places and ask, someone will know him.”

“It would be simpler to contact the information guild.”

“I need to meet the painter without the information guild knowing.”

I intended to meet the painter to dig into Jakar’s background. So naturally, Jakar must not know about this.

As we entered the first art studio, the owner greeted us.

“Welcome, Miss. What brings you here?”

“I’d like to see some brushes.”

His face lit up as he immediately led us inside.

“It seems you paint yourself. Please come this way. All the brushes we sell are of the highest quality.”

I bought a few brushes and some paints there. While paying, I asked the owner,

“Do you happen to know a painter named Rene Banar?”

The owner looked at me with wide eyes.

“Why are you looking for that eccentric painter?”

“I’d like to see his paintings. Do you know where his studio is?”

“There wouldn’t be any paintings there that you’d want to see. It would be better for you to look at works by other painters.”

“That’s okay; if you know, please tell me.”

The owner pointed down the street with his finger.

“I don’t know where his studio is, but there’s another art studio in the alley ahead. You should ask there. He’s a regular at that shop, so the owner will know.”

I smiled brightly at the owner.

“Thank you.”

I left the art studio and headed to the place the owner mentioned. Just as he said, the owner of that shop knew where Rene Banar’s studio was.

However, he also tried to dissuade me with similar words to the previous shop owner.

“Rene, he only paints gloomy and unpleasant pictures. That’s why he always fails to make it to the salon exhibitions. You’d find the works exhibited at the salon more suitable for a noble lady.”

“I want to see those gloomy and unpleasant paintings, so please just tell me where his studio is.”

The art shop owner handed me a map with a look of utter confusion.