"O-oh, really? Y-you actually like my cookies?" Rafaela asked, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks.
"Absolutely! I'll buy these cookies every day. No, scratch that—I must have them every single day!" Benedict declared with such enthusiasm that Rafaela couldn't help but giggle.
He wasn't exaggerating for the sake of some quest or to get closer to her.
He genuinely liked them. The flavor matched his taste perfectly, just sweet enough, and made with care.
Rafaela let out a light laugh, watching the way this nobleman acted like an excited child. He was… interesting, to say the least.
"It's rare to meet a noble like you," she said, resting her chin in her palm.
"Oh? And what kind of noble am I, exactly?" Benedict asked, popping another cookie into his mouth.
"Well… the last one who came here spit out my cookies like they were poison," she said, lips twitching into a smirk.
"Then let's just call that noble a fool. Clearly someone with zero taste."
"Pffft! Are you seriously mocking someone of your own rank?"
Benedict chuckled inwardly.
Same rank? Please. Back at the Veritas mansion, I wasn't even treated like a proper noble. I might as well have been a stray dog scratching at the gates.
"My rank, huh?" he said thoughtfully, brushing crumbs from his fingers. "Honestly, I despise it. Too many nobles are arrogant pricks… some would even murder their own family just for power."
Rafaela's eyes widened a little at that.
"Arrogant… yeah. That's exactly what they are…" Her gaze flicked toward her mother, who simply waved from afar, a warm smile on her lips as she watched her daughter enjoy herself.
Rafaela turned her attention back to Benedict. "So? Are you one of those arrogant ones?"
Benedict raised a brow. He wasn't sure. In his past life, sure, he'd had his pride. But this Benedict—this version of him, wasn't like that… well, not before he got the hypnosis ability.
"Arrogant, huh?"
He leaned forward slightly, giving her a sly smile as he shut his eyes for a beat.
"Why don't you tell me, do I seem arrogant to you?"
"To be honest?" Rafaela grinned. "With that smug smile of yours just now? You totally looked like an evil noble."
"What?!"
"Kidding!" she laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. Her laugh was soft and surprisingly cute.
Benedict exhaled in relief. For a second, he thought he'd messed up his first impression.
He reached into the basket again and grabbed another cookie, taking a bite just as she added,
"But seriously, you really looked kind of scary just now."
Benedict choked.
He coughed and glared at her, crumbs flying.
"Enough with the jokes already!"
Rafaela giggled again. "Okay, okay." She took a breath.
"If I'm being real, you seem... normal. Like a regular person. Just like us."
A regular person, huh? Back in my original world, I was just an average guy. Just my luck to be thrown into the body of a villain...
"No offense," Rafaela added quickly, noticing his thoughtful silence.
"None taken." Benedict leaned back with a soft smile.
"Honestly, it's kind of refreshing. I've had enough of this noble crap."
Had enough, isn't even the right word. I'm sick of it. Ignored, dismissed, treated like a stain in the Veritas household...
Just then, Rafaela's mother appeared, holding two glasses of juice.
Benedict blinked. He didn't remember ordering anything to drink.
She approached their table and gently placed the glasses down.
Benedict glanced up at her. Now that he looked more closely, he noticed how much Rafaela resembled her—same striking blue hair, same soft features. But her eyes looked tired, and her voice earlier had sounded a little hoarse.
And that made him uneasy.
In the original story… Rafaela's mother dies from a mysterious illness. It happens just a month before the main plot begins...
[Master, are you curious about what illness will eventually befall her?]
Yeah. Do you know what it is, System?
[Of course. I know everything. But it's not time for you to learn that yet.]
"Tch…" Benedict clicked his tongue quietly, annoyed by the System's vague response.
What kind of half-baked system is this?
"Fufu, enjoying yourself that much, huh, Rafaela?" her mother teased, eyes twinkling.
Rafaela's face instantly turned red.
Benedict raised a hand politely. "Excuse me… but I don't recall ordering a drink," he said, brows slightly furrowed.
"Oh, don't worry, sweetie. It's on the house," her mother said with a wink.
"Consider it a thank-you gift. You've really lifted my daughter's mood."
She gave Rafaela a knowing glance, covering her mouth with her fingers as she giggled.
"Fufu."
"Mom!" Rafaela yelped.
"Yes, yes. I'll leave you two alone now. Enjoy yourselves." She walked off, shooting one last glance over her shoulder.
Rafaela sighed, rubbing her temple before glancing back at Benedict.
Without a word, he took a sip of the juice.
Seeing that made Rafaela relax a bit. At least he didn't seem offended.
Benedict savored the drink.
Delicious! But more importantly…
It's FREE!
Nothing beats free stuff.
Nothing!