Chapter 14- Golden Days

The sun bathed the Duke's villa in golden light, casting long, soft shadows across the courtyard. The time Seraphina had spent in Lucien Duskbane's estate had been surprisingly pleasant. Unlike the cold, rigid atmosphere of the palace or the wary gazes of the nobility, Lucien's home was warm and inviting. The people here adored their Duke, and Lucien himself was… different from what she had expected.

Seraphina had assumed he would be distant, overly cautious, or perhaps even difficult to approach. After all, the Duke was a man known for his sharp wit, his lack of tolerance for courtly nonsense, and his ability to carve his own path through society with neither arrogance nor submission. Yet, with her, he had been nothing but steady, pleasant, and—dare she admit it—charming.

His estate was nothing like the grand, ostentatious palaces of other nobles. It was a sunlit villa with gardens that seemed to stretch endlessly, their vibrant colors painting a scene of serenity. The walls, covered in climbing vines, seemed to blend with the surrounding nature, making it feel less like a noble's domain and more like a peaceful retreat from the chaos of the world.

Seraphina found herself walking through those gardens now, her hand trailing along the delicate petals of roses and lilacs, their scent lingering in the air. The breeze was soft against her skin, and for a moment, she could pretend she was just another noblewoman out for a stroll, without the weight of an entire kingdom pressing down on her.

Lucien walked beside her, his hands tucked into his coat pockets, his expression as unreadable as ever. He had always been a man of few words, but in their time together, she had come to understand that he spoke when it truly mattered.

"You enjoy the gardens," Lucien remarked, his tone light.

Seraphina turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Is that surprising?"

Lucien tilted his head slightly. "Not surprising. Just… nice to see."

Seraphina hummed, looking back at the rows of flowers. "It's peaceful here. Sometimes I feel like the weight of everything disappears."

Lucien was silent for a moment before reaching forward and plucking a cluster of soft pink flowers from a nearby bush. He turned to her, his blue eyes glinting in the sunlight as he carefully placed the bundle in her hands.

"You are the most beautiful lady I have ever seen," he murmured, the words slipping past his lips as if they had been waiting to be said.

Seraphina's breath caught. Compliments were nothing new to her. Ever since she had entered high society, she had been called a flower, a jewel, a beauty that no man could claim. Yet, when Lucien said it, it wasn't flattery. It wasn't admiration from a distance. It was something quiet, something certain, as though he was simply stating a fact.

"Are you always this charming, Duke Duskbane?" she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice, though she could feel the warmth creeping up her neck.

Lucien gave a small smirk. "Only when it's deserved."

Seraphina rolled her eyes but found herself smiling nonetheless. It was dangerous, how at ease he made her feel.

Before she could respond, something shimmered in the sunlight near her fingertips. A faint, golden glow emanated from between the petals of the flowers Lucien had just given her.

A system notification flickered in the corner of her vision.

[Unknown Item Acquired]

Seraphina's fingers tightened around the flowers. Her mind raced.

An unknown item? That wasn't supposed to happen.

The system categorized everything within the game's world. Weapons, artifacts, spellbooks—each had a name, a purpose, and a classification. But this…

The fact that it was unknown meant one of two things.

Either it had been added to the game after her reincarnation, or—worse—it had never existed in the original world at all.

She swallowed hard, her heartbeat quickening.

Lucien must have noticed her change in expression because he stepped closer, his gaze flickering between her and the flowers.

"Something wrong?"

Seraphina forced a smile. "No… just thinking."

Lucien didn't look convinced, but he didn't press the issue.

She tucked the flowers close, her mind still reeling. This wasn't just a minor anomaly. This was a direct deviation from what she knew. If the system itself didn't recognize this object, then what did that mean for the future of this world?

She had already learned that the system's ultimate goal was to complete all routes and stabilize the kingdom. That meant raising the favorability of the male leads, providing them with crucial knowledge, and ensuring their sanity remained intact.

Lucien was no exception. He played a vital role in the political balance of the kingdom. His unwavering loyalty to justice and his ability to maneuver through noble politics made him an invaluable ally.

She needed him.

And yet, as she looked up at him, she saw something in his expression that made her pause.

There was something apologetic in his gaze.

Why?

"You will protect me, won't you?"Lucien asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seraphina stilled.

Seraphina's fingers brushed over the mysterious item hidden in the flowers.

Did Lucien know something?

The thought made her chest tighten.

"That's a heavy expectation to place on someone," she said finally, forcing her voice to remain steady.

Lucien exhaled, looking away for a moment. "Perhaps."

A small smile touched his lips, though there was something melancholic in it. "But if there's anyone who can do it, it's you."

Seraphina's throat felt tight.

She had come here to raise his rating, to ensure he remained an asset to the kingdom. But in this moment, she couldn't think about the game, the system, or the paths she was meant to follow.

All she could think about was the man standing before her—the man who spoke as though he already knew what she would do, as though he had already come to terms with something she hadn't even discovered yet.

The Duke, always composed, always in control, looked at her with an emotion she couldn't quite place.

And for the first time since her reincarnation, Seraphina felt truly unsettled.

---

Seraphina sat in her chambers, the unknown item placed carefully on the table before her.

It still pulsed faintly with golden light, as if it were waiting for something.

She had tried using the system to identify it again, but the result was the same.

[Unknown Item]

Description: ???

Her fingers hovered over it.

Lucien had given it to her so casually. Had he known what it was? Had he known she would receive a system notification for it?

She sighed, rubbing her temples.

She had spent her time in Lucien's estate too comfortably. It had been easy, almost too easy, to enjoy his company. The quiet dinners, the walks through the gardens, the playful exchanges that slowly grew into something deeper…

But now, she was reminded of her real purpose.

Lucien's words from earlier echoed in her mind.

"You'll always protect me, won't you?"

She had no choice.

Tomorrow, she would leave the Duke's estate.

Tomorrow, she would continue on to the next route.

But tonight…

She traced her fingers along the petals of the flowers he had given her, a strange weight settling in her chest.

Something about this wasn't right.

Lucien Duskbane…

He knew something.

And for the first time, Seraphina was afraid she wouldn't like the answer.