"Then, what do you suggest, messenger?"

Minsoo hesitated for a moment at the duke’s question. The situation wasn’t easy; Lady Loder would come to the duke’s palace, asking for a fair confrontation, but the duke would imprison and torture her.

If Minsoo wanted to survive until the end of the story, he had to make sure that Lady Loder and Duke Corvaliso fell deeply in love with each other. And letting them meet each other was the first step.

"I think it’s better to meet her. Grant her permission to come here and talk; I’m sure you’ll find a way to resolve your 'divergence of opinions'."

Duke Corvaliso gave him a cruel smile. "Do you really think she wants to talk with me?"

"Why not? She seems a lovaly young lady."

"Because I burned down her parents’ mansion and killed them."

Minsoo swallowed hard. He’s so crazy that he’s willing to admit it out loud.

"Well, I’m sure that talking to her is still a good idea."

"Fine. I’ll meet her in two weeks, and you’ll be present at our meeting."

"Me? Why?"

"Because you’re my aide, messenger." Duke Corvaliso glanced at him, his eyes cold as ice. "I hope it’s not a problem."

"It isn’t, Your Grace."

"Good. Now you can leave."

Minsoo hesitated. "...Fine."

He bowed and left the room. He didn’t want to be present at the meeting, but maybe that was better for his plan.

Two weeks, huh? I need to prepare myself if I want to act as a cupid for Lady Loder and the duke.

First of all, he needed better clothes. Then, he had to convince the System to let him change the course of the story. And finally, he needed info about Lady Loder and Duke Corvaliso’s past.

"System? Are you here?"

The tiny dragon appeared at his side, fluttering with its little wing and munching on something. "What do you want?"

"We have an agreement, remember?"

The System tilted its head, then a light flashed in its golden eyes. "Do you have the pastry?"

"Not now, but I’m planning to buy it for you. Except that I don’t have money."

"Are you asking for a loan?"

"Not exactly. I just want to know how I can buy things."

"Doesn’t the duke pay you?"

Minsoo blinked. "Pay? Am I not his servant?"

"You’re his aide, so of course he pays you."

It isn’t so obvious, you dummy dragon. I never paid anyone, and I didn’t even work. I just… wasted my time.

Back in his world, he never cared about money. If he wanted something, all he had to do was call his mother’s personal assistant and whined about it, then a couple of bags would appear outside his apartment. Clothes? A new visual novel? He just had to ask for them. He didn’t even know how much things cost.

Minsoo sighed. "I don’t want to ask him. He’s frightening."

The System rubbed its belly. "Fine, I’ll check it for you."

It licked its paw, then a translucent screen popped up before them. The dragon scrolled down for a few seconds, then stopped.

"You have roughly 15,000 rie, which is… not so much. Uhm, it seems that the original Archivald Glennhort liked to spend a lot of money at brothels."

Minsoo furrowed his brow. "What can I buy with this much money?"

The System gave him a deadpan glare. "You never buy anything, do you?"

"All I had to do was call my mother."

"What a spoiled child."

"Hey!"

"Well, I don’t know either."

"But you’re the System!"

"I never really cared about this world." It waved its paw. "However, you should have the money somewhere in your room. I advise you to find it and buy me a strawberry tart, if you don’t want to die."

Minsoo glared at it. "Are you threatening me?"

"I’m just saying that I won’t let you change this story if you don’t give me a tart." The System flashed a mischievous smile. "So hurry up."

"Fine, fine," Minsoo grunted. "I’ll retrieve my money and buy you your tart. At least, can I go to the town?"

The tiny dragon blinked a few times. "Ah, yeah, you can’t."

"And how do you think I could buy you the damned tart?!"

"Send someone. You’re the duke’s right hand. Call me when you have it."

The System waved its paw and disappeared. Minsoo sighed and dropped onto the floor. He wished for a second chance, but right now all he wanted was to die again.

Now it isn’t the time to get depressed. I need to change the duke’s fate; in that way I could change my fate as well.

"Sir Glennhort!"

Minsoo raised his head: a young man, the same knight who had accompanied him to the duke’s study earlier, was waving his arms with a cheerful smile on his lips. He was rather cute, with short, white hair and blue eyes. Definitely Minsoo’s type of man.

"What are you doing here?"

Minsoo smiled. "I was thinking."

"Oh!"

"Could you do me a favor?"

"Of course!" The young man bowed. "I’m at your service, sir."

"Good! I’d like a strawberry tart. No, a handful of strawberry tarts. Could you buy them for me in the town?"

The knight tilted his head in puzzlement. "Of course, sir."

"Thank you…"

"Cara Dervin!" He chuckled. "You really hit your head hard if you don’t remember my name, since you shout it every day."

Minsoo raised an eyebrow. "Why should I shout your name?"

"Because I’m clumsy."

The young knight laughed, but Minsoo didn’t laugh with him. At least that man knew how to handle a sword; Minsoo couldn’t say the same thing about himself.

Not that I want to know how to handle a sword. I’m not a killer.

Minsoo stood up and patted Cara on the shoulder. "Once you have the tarts, bring them to me. I’ll wait in my room."

He left the young knight to his commission and returned to his chambers. He spent the rest of the day waiting for Cara to return, talking with the servants and the maids. He needed information about the duke and the current situation in the North. He didn’t have much time before Lady Loder’s meeting.

Cara returned at sunset, with a bag full of strawberry tarts. Minsoo thanked him, took the bag and shut the door in his face. Then, he chose one of the tarts, hid the rest and called for the System.

The tiny dragon appeared shortly after, eyed the tart and swallowed it whole the moment Minsoo handed it over.

"Waaaa! It’s really good!"

Minsoo gave a sly smile. "I’m happy to hear it. So, will you allow me to change this story?"

"I will, but you can change it only one time during the next scenario. If you want to influence the story more, you have to give me more tarts."

"Deal!"

In this way, I really can change my fate!