This dessert costs as much as a commoner's monthly living expenses.
Even so, the glimpse into the future it granted was woefully short.
'Please, ancestors... Please show me a proper future. If not, I'll be kicked out of the house!'
Praying desperately in my mind, I activated my ability.
My power enveloped Ruena Eliad like moonlight descending upon the earth.
Soon, the familiar world began to dye in unfamiliar hues.
'...I see it, I see... Huh?'
The surroundings were filled with pitch-black fog.
My gut burned with anxiety at the thought of missing an important scene.
'Time's already so short, and now this damn fog!'
Cursing my ancestors inwardly, I strained my eyes and peered into the fog.
Fortunately, the black fog lifted.
Immediately after, an unexpected sight came into view.
A land dyed blood-red.
And at its center, Ruena standing alone.
For a brief moment, a chilling shiver raced up my spine and swept through my body.
"..."
It was a future I had never imagined.
For an instant, I forgot to control my expression.
Fortunately, the current Ruena in my line of sight had her head bowed.
'...What is this?'
It was an ominous scene.
A future unlikely to emerge from an ordinary noble girl.
A presence stirred in the fragment of the future.
Looking there—
A golden-haired woman wielding a pure white sword faced Ruena.
Her body was torn in places, reduced to rags,
Blood flowed from her head, preventing her from fully opening her eyes as she glared at Ruena.
Those eyes held no mercy whatsoever, viewing her as a mortal enemy.
The woman ground her teeth and muttered.
"That woman is the final boss."
At that moment, the ability receded.
The ominous scene vanished in an instant,
And the well-manicured garden and Ruena's current form came into sharp focus.
Too small,
too quiet,
and a girl who revealed no emotions.
'Final boss? What does that mean?'
Over the past two years—
I had glimpsed the futures of countless people from behind my father.
Nobles, merchants, commanders, rebels, even imperial family members.
But this form of future was a first.
The heart of a battlefield, political intrigue.
Or occasionally, someone's downfall or assassination...
This future was on a different trajectory entirely.
It was a scene of despair itself, beyond explanation or interpretation.
I shook my head after mulling it over in my mind.
'This isn't enough...'
The future I saw was an infallible truth,
but I couldn't judge everything based on a mere facet of that truth.
Fragmentary truths were as dangerous as lies.
That was House Noir's iron rule, the proper way to wield this bizarre ability.
'I need more pieces. Only then can I clearly understand what happened.'
Fortunately, right after seeing a future,
I could continue peering into it by following the traces of the ability.
'Isn't there some clever way...'
At that moment, I noticed cream on Ruena's lips.
House Noir's ability
wasn't activated solely by material offerings.
Acts of kindness, goodwill, help—immaterial deeds could serve as payment too.
I hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from my pocket.
Then, smiling brightly, I wiped the corner of Ruena's mouth.
"You have cream on your mouth."
"...Huh?"
This wasn't enough.
I needed to do more for Ruena.
I wiped the cream as slowly as possible while scanning for other ways to help.
'There!'
White powder had dusted onto Ruena's black dress.
It stood out starkly on the luxurious hem, impossible to miss.
I quickly knelt and reached for her dress.
"You have powder on you. Excuse me for a moment."
"Ah...!"
A small, startled voice leaked out.
Fortunately, she didn't push me away.
I carefully moved the handkerchief, brushing it off as thoroughly as possible.
With the resolve to leave not even a speck of dust.
'Good. This counts as quite devoted service.'
I meticulously removed every bit of powder from her dress.
The invisible power of House Noir began to stir ever so faintly.
No matter what emotions Ruena felt, my actions were surely recognized as help.
'Perfect. This should do it!'
I gathered my power once more and gazed into the future.
It wasn't too late yet.
The scene from moments ago vividly continued.
Focusing all my senses on the golden-haired woman opening her mouth.
"Rue—"
The future cut off there.
"...Too short!"
"What?"
Ruena tilted her head with an expressionless face.
This damn mouth of mine.
I blurted out what I should have kept inside.
Cold sweat dripped as I rolled my eyes searching for an excuse.
'Got it!'
Donning my thick skin again, I flashed a bright smile.
"It feels like the time I can spend with you is too short."
"...What?"
"Look, your father is coming."
Thank goodness.
Far off, Grand Duke Eliad was slowly walking this way.
It gave me an opening to escape the situation.
Though it was unexpected for the Grand Duke to appear earlier than anticipated.
'It's a bit regrettable...'
Ruena's future was a type I'd never seen in my life.
It drew me in while creeping me out; I didn't want to face it, yet I wanted to know clearly.
But I had no particular connection to this child.
Grand Duke Eliad visited rarely,
and this was the first time he'd come to our mansion with his daughter.
'Fortunately, the territory is close...'
It was uncertain if I'd run into her like this again.
House Eliad,
possessing both wealth and military might among the powerful houses,
was the most cautious among the seven founding meritorious families.
They formed no relations without gain and couldn't be approached without cause.
'What to do.'
Grand Duke Eliad was drawing nearer.
It felt like fire at my feet.
I needed to stay calm, but my mind was already a tangled mess.
To see Ruena's future, I needed payment; to pay, I needed a connection.
'I have to make some link somehow. Even a trivial promise...'
No matter how I thought, this was the only way.
Adjusting my thick skin once more, I looked at Ruena with shining eyes.
"Hey, you said that dessert was delicious, right?"
"...Yeah?"
Ruena hesitated before slowly nodding.
A cheer nearly burst from my mouth,
but I desperately held it back, maintaining that bright smile.
"If it's okay, could I maybe give you another dessert you'd like next time?"
"What? ...Why?"
"Because I want to get close to you."
This was 100% sincere.
To see more of that future, I had to get close to Ruena Eliad.
Plus, she was the heir to Eliad, the kingdom's foremost powerful house.
'Even if I'm kicked out of House Noir, if I latch on well, I can scrape by.'
Ruena was silent for a moment.
Her expression remained an enigma, but I sensed a tiny ripple within.
Finally, she slowly spoke.
"...You want to get close to me?"
"Yeah. I want to be friends with you. For real."
Glancing at Grand Duke Eliad, now nearby, I continued.
"I don't have many friends my age. Almost no one talks to me."
"..."
"Truth is, from the first time we met, I felt strangely drawn to you. I really want to get close to you."
I had no idea what I was saying.
One thing was certain:
I was so desperate I was even using cheesy lines I'd learned from my little brother.
'...Please, please go for it.'
Inside, I was sweating bullets,
but outwardly, I smiled as kindly as possible while watching Ruena.
Ruena had her head deeply bowed.
The longer it went, the more anxious I grew, glancing sideways at Grand Duke Eliad.
Fortunately, he was talking with our mansion's head butler.
'Good, I've bought some time!'
Ruena remained silent with her head down.
The inscrutable silence stretched on.
No answer,
not even a glance—
Then, very slowly, her lips moved.
"...Okay. Me too."
"Huh?"
"...Me too. I want to get close to you."
Bells rang in my head.
One line turned my world upside down.
Joy washed away the anxiety from moments ago.
I grinned widely and shook hands with Ruena.
"Thanks!"
"...Ah, uh."
"What desserts do you like? Next time, I'll bring one that suits your taste."
Ruena looked down at my hand in surprise.
Her stiffened hand slowly moved, timidly grasping mine.
Then, with her ear tips slightly flushed, Ruena murmured softly.
"...Strawberries."
"Huh?"
"...I don't know about desserts, but I like strawberries."
Her voice was a whisper.
Still hard to read her inner thoughts, but this time, I felt a small spark of anticipation.
'Good, strawberries. Strawberries it is. Absolutely the finest.'
I recalled the desserts I'd given to clients over the past two years.
Combinations with strawberries,
especially those with the best reactions. All of them.
Having roughly sorted them in my mind, I smiled brightly again.
"Yeah. Next time, I'll bring something even tastier than today's."
"...Okay."
As Ruena opened her mouth,
Grand Duke Eliad's voice came from behind her.
"Ruena."
"...Yes, Father."
Now it was truly time to part.
Releasing Ruena's hand, I bowed politely to Grand Duke Eliad.
"It was an honor to have you visit, Your Grace."
"Yes."
With that short reply, the Grand Duke beckoned Ruena.
As she followed behind him, Ruena approached me again and whispered.
"...Thanks."
"...Huh?"
Ruena spoke so softly it was almost inaudible.
"...For wiping my mouth and clothes."
"Ah... "
"And... the dessert too..."
I blinked in surprise.
I hadn't expected such words from her.
Ruena quickly turned and left the garden, but I stood there blankly for a while.