Treated like a scammer.
Why is this happening?
This is a romance fantasy novel, after all.
Shouldn’t they be welcoming the investment as if it were the most natural thing in the world?
‘How could this come at such a perfect time! They should be clinging to me, begging for it!’
Unlike my flustered state, Mei and Bel remained utterly serious.
They looked like they had a ton of things they wanted to say but were holding back because they knew I was a noble.
Instead, their eyes shot daggers—fierce, unrelenting glares.
“I’m serious. You two are going to succeed.”
“We have nothing more to discuss. Please leave.”
“But at least hear me out…”
“Lady Noble. We have no more to say.”
Their cold tone left me no room to persist.
Any further, and their stares suggested they’d call the guards.
And so, my first investment attempt ended in spectacular failure.
“What should we do now, miss?”
“Let’s head to the market first.”
I gave Billy, who was watching me cautiously, our next destination and climbed into the carriage.
Seriously, in other possession stories, the protagonists nail their investments with perfect timing—why am I the odd one out?
‘It’s about time for that protagonist buff to kick in again! They should’ve grabbed my hand without a second thought!’
It was the same with Luciano; things seem to flow smoothly, but then they unexpectedly don’t.
‘Well, if some random kid suddenly showed up offering to invest, I’d be skeptical too.’
I could understand Mei and Bel’s suspicion.
But if that’s the case, what about my investment plans!
It already felt hopeless.
Still, I couldn’t just give up.
I’d managed to persuade Luciano, who was like an impenetrable iron wall—refusing an investment was one thing, but failing to make one? No way.
Even though today was a flop, next time would be different.
With that promise to myself, I retreated for the day.
* * *
We stopped by the market to buy the necessary ingredients and headed straight to the imperial palace.
I was downcast from the disastrous investment failure.
But I’d already promised Luciano I’d come today.
The moment the carriage stopped at the palace, the door flew open with a bang.
What a shock!
“You’re late.”
Luciano, still carrying a hint of boyish youth, greeted me with a sullen face.
When we’d first met, he’d been so gaunt and frail-looking.
But lately, his cheeks had filled out nicely, giving him a healthy glow that made his handsome features shine even brighter.
“Your Highness, what’s gotten into you, coming out to meet me like this?”
As time passed, our relationship had shifted a bit.
The biggest change was that I now spoke informally to Luciano like this.
It started as a slip-up.
But surprisingly, he didn’t correct me, and after gauging his reaction, I naturally dropped the formalities.
That’s how much closer we’d become.
Luciano’s red eyes scanned me with clear dissatisfaction.
“You’re late.”
I heard you the first time—no need to say it twice.
“Here, take this.”
I handed over the basket I’d brought, and Luciano accepted it without hesitation.
“You’re late.”
As soon as I stepped out of the carriage, I heard the same complaint for the third time.
‘This guy must’ve been waiting forever.’
The one who used to tell me not to come had changed so much in just a few years.
It was profoundly moving.
Regardless of my touched feelings, Luciano’s expression soured further.
“Sorry, I had to stop somewhere on the way.”
“Where?”
He was prying relentlessly.
“I went to meet someone.”
“Who?”
“Someone you don’t know.”
“Who is this someone I don’t know?”
If you don’t know them, how am I supposed to explain?
His tone had turned downright interrogative.
Seeing the obsessive glint in his eyes as he stared at me, I could already glimpse the possessive male lead vibes emerging.
Well, possessiveness is basically standard for romance fantasy male leads these days.
But I couldn’t exactly tell him I’d been out trying to invest, so I deftly changed the subject.
“I bought ingredients to make bread for you today.”
Luciano glanced down at the basket he was holding, following my nod.
“Bread?”
His voice lifted slightly.
And the puffed-up cheeks that had been sulking deflated, the corners of his mouth twitching up before settling back down.
“Yeah, I’ll make something delicious.”
“Should we head to the kitchen?”
Luciano’s tone had shifted.
How simple he was.
Seeing his mood lift instantly at the mention of me making something tasty brought a smile to my face.
‘He’s changed a lot too.’
The Luciano who used to get angry at the sight of food was long gone.
“Yeah, let’s go to the kitchen.”
Just as we started to move, the pink bag dangling at my waist caught my eye.
It was my precious Tosuni, stuffed full of very important money, but it would get in the way while baking.
I couldn’t just leave it anywhere, so I’d have to entrust it to someone reliable.
“Your Highness, hold on a second. Billy!”
I stopped and called out for Billy.
He was just about to pull the carriage away and responded immediately.
“Yes, miss.”
“As a sign of how much I trust you, Billy, I’m entrusting you with my Tosuni.”
I spoke in a solemn tone as I removed the bag and held it out toward him.
Billy’s eyes widened slightly before he smiled calmly and accepted it.
“Yes, miss. I’ll keep it safe.”
Hmm, his attitude seemed a tad casual.
“You know, right? I don’t hand this over to just anyone. Absolutely do not lose it.”
I emphasized it again and again.
At that, Billy gave a deep smile.
“Yes, I know. I’ll consider it an honor.”
Seeing him hug Tosuni tightly to his chest finally put me at ease.
“Oh, and don’t run off with it.”
“I have to escort you back to the mansion, miss. Where would I go?”
Billy’s words brought me immense relief.
I turned away, confident.
Luciano had been silently watching my exchange with Billy.
His gaze seemed a bit off somehow.
“Your Highness, let’s go to the kitchen now.”
Luciano followed obediently.
Once we entered the building and were alone, he spoke up.
“Do you trust that guy that much?”
“Huh?”
“You don’t entrust that bag to just anyone. Especially not when it’s full of money.”
He must’ve guessed from the bulging shape that it was packed with cash.
“Yeah. I trust him. That’s why I gave it to him, right?”
Luciano frowned in clear disapproval, pressing his lips into a tight line.
Then he glared at me.
Another grievance had cropped up, no doubt.
Though Luciano had softened a lot, his emotions still swung wildly at times.
“Let’s hurry up and make that bread to eat.”
And as always, I placated him casually.
“Then me.”
“Huh?”
“Could you entrust it to me?”
“My Tosuni?”
“Yeah. Could you?”
What’s with him?
Luciano’s gaze was frighteningly serious.
“Are you perhaps…”
Narrowing my eyes at his intensity, I watched as Luciano flinched, his shoulders jerking up.
That reaction only fueled my suspicion.
“Aiming for my money? Do you need cash?”
“…No, that’s not it.”
The tension drained from Luciano’s face, replaced by a deflated expression as he replied curtly.
“Good, then.”
At my words, Luciano shot me another glare.
‘What? Why?’
I gestured with my eyes for him to speak up if he had something to say, and his cheeks puffed out in a pout.
With a stiff motion, he strode ahead briskly.
The discomfort radiating from his back made me chuckle despite myself.
‘He’s kinda cute.’
So, to the retreating figure, I called out.
“I would entrust it to you.”
Twitch.
The back ahead of me halted.
Luciano whipped around, his expression a mix of doubt and hope.
Wondering if he’d heard right, he looked confused, so I repeated it clearly.
“Of course I’d entrust it to you.”
Luciano bit down hard on his lips to hide the smile trying to break through.
That honest expression showed just how much our relationship had changed.
As he turned away abruptly, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the sight of his back.
* * *
After inviting Luciano to our mansion and treating him to a meal.
More than anything, I made sure to look after his eating.
I couldn’t just stand by and watch a kid his age subsist on raw food alone.
Whenever I had the chance, I’d create opportunities for us to eat together.
At our mansion, or out at restaurants.
But I couldn’t do that every time, so eventually, I started learning to cook myself.
Hoping that if I made it right in front of him, he wouldn’t refuse.
And that plan succeeded.
Luciano ate the food I cooked without hesitation.
The thrill of that moment.
It felt like taming a prickly stray cat with treats.
Filled with pride, I started making things for him more often.
Arriving at the kitchen, I unpacked all the ingredients I’d brought.
“Hurry and wash your hands.”
I said to Luciano as I washed mine.
While he washed up, I put on the apron I’d brought.
Mine was a cute pink one with a bunny face attached.
That was definitely the nanny’s taste—not mine at all.
“Bend your head a little.”
For Luciano, I tied on a neat sky-blue apron made from fabric.
Fabric he’d chosen himself, which the nanny had sewn.
-Your Highness, this is the exact color of my hair. Did you pick it on purpose? Huh? Huh?
I’d teased him playfully, bouncing around.
-Just picked it.
Luciano had replied nonchalantly.
Since the one being teased was unfazed, I ended up feeling like the weird one.
With those storied aprons on like good friends, we dove into full-fledged bread-making.
I measured strong flour, salt, and yeast into a large bowl, added water, and handed it to Luciano.
“Here, mix it quickly.”
He took the bowl naturally and began kneading the dough.
I’d made him do it so often that Luciano had gotten pretty good at it.
At first, he’d just watched while I cooked.
But since we were eating together, it didn’t seem fair for me to do it all alone.
-Stir this for me.
-Cut this up.
-Mix this around.
I’d assigned him various tasks.
Surprisingly, he followed my instructions without complaint.
Once he started working so obediently, I felt a twinge of guilt.
He was a prince, after all— was it okay to make him do menial chores?
-Hey, Your Highness. These days, men need to be good at cooking too. You know that?
-A man who cooks well gets loved by his wife.
So I’d tacked on excuses for why he should cook.
In this class-based society, Luciano would probably never have to cook a day in his life.
But you never know how things might turn out.
Anyway, he seemed intrigued.
-Then do you like guys who are good at cooking, Luci?
From the way he’d conducted that little survey.
-Of course! People who cook well are the best! So cool! The perfect husband material!
I’d nodded vigorously, going on and on about how amazing guys who cook are.
After that, Luciano seemed to listen even better, which left me quite satisfied.
