-- Rosetta, I am disappointed in you.

"Darling, do you think this dress suits me?"

"--Ah."

"That's good. Amagi chose it for me."

"--Is that so?"

Rosetta didn't have any clothes or accessories befitting her status, so I had Thomas bring various items.

I told her to pick whatever she liked from them -- and she was overjoyed.

And now, she's showing me the dress.

I thought she had a spirit of steel, but to fall so easily -- is this what my junior in my past life called "two-panel gag that falls immediately"?

But -- this is unacceptable!

Rosetta, wearing the dress, spins around in place.

Her hair, styled in a vertical roll, floats up and then slowly returns to its place -- she's beautiful to look at.

Her personality? -- I've heard she's modest, having lived a life of poverty.

I don't know the details, though.

Because I'm not interested.

I've allocated a budget for Rosetta, but as long as it doesn't go over, I don't think there's any problem.

The engagement ceremony was also rushed and hurried, and we soon returned to the academy.

Thomas had also prepared the necessary items for Rosetta at the academy.

Rosetta, who was reporting various things to me,

"Darling, ah, about tomorrow --"

"It's a grave visit, right? I'll be there too."

Rosetta's grandmother, who saw her granddaughter's proud moment and then passed away peacefully -- that kind of thing.

Rosetta was crying a lot.

She seems to have recovered now, but visiting the grave makes one feel down.

--It makes her difficult to handle.

Rosetta's mother thanked me and cried, and Rosetta treats me as "Darling."

I never expected to be thanked this much.

How did it come to this? As I was thinking about it, the giant monitor in the room started broadcasting a drama.

Rosetta turned and blushed.

"Ah, it's already this time."

A drama starring Rosetta as the main heroine was being broadcast.

I thought she would look resentful if I showed it to her, but instead -- she was incredibly embarrassed.

Is that okay with you?

Resist more! Say something like, "This isn't me!"

"It's like being treated like a princess. It doesn't feel like me."

The actress playing Rosetta in the monitor was very beautiful.

She herself is overjoyed. --No, that's not it!

Rosetta sits down on the sofa next to me, blushing.

There's a slight distance between us, but she shyly closes it.

--Where did the woman called "Steel Woman" from the academy go?

Well, I was the one who called her that, but now she's a maiden in love, isn't she?

As we watch the drama, Rosetta's face turns red.

"My family's home isn't this big of a mansion."

She mutters about her poor family episodes, which makes me uncomfortable.

Towards the end of the drama, a handsome actor was playing my role.

It seems to be before heading to the academy, at his family's mansion.

It's unnecessarily cool.

The dialogue also portrays me as a kind lord who cares for his people, which clearly shows how little they understand my true nature.

It's probably the wish of the people, how they want me to be.

But it's meaningless. I am not a kind lord to my people.

Still, I'm curious about the filming location.

"Huh? It looks a lot like my mansion."

I thought the mansion's reproduction rate was high, when Brian arrived with a service cart.

He looks happy today too.

"Excuse me. I have prepared some drinks for you."

I point to the monitor.

"Look, Brian. It looks just like our mansion."

As I laugh, Brian replies while preparing tea.

"Of course. We temporarily lent out a part of our mansion as a filming location. Well, Brian here once aspired to be an actor, so I got excited despite my age. Brian is also making a small appearance."

You were involved too, Brian.

And, clarify whether you aspired to be an adventurer or an actor!

He happily reports, "I got an autograph from an actress I've admired since I was little," while blushing.

--Good for you.

As we watch the drama, the broadcast ends with a strong-willed young lady, Rosetta, meeting me, who has a noble and princely aura.

There were many things to comment on.

Rosetta's face is bright red, whether from happiness or embarrassment.

When the drama ends, Rosetta looks at me.

--She seems to be expecting something, but she won't know if she doesn't say it.

As I thought this, Wallace bursts into the room.

"Liam, let's go back to the academy!"

"We depart in three days."

When I answered immediately, Wallace looked despairing.

Rosetta gave Wallace a slightly displeased look.

"Is there a reason?"

When I asked Wallace, the answer was pathetic.

"It's Selena! That demon old woman is strict about my manners. I don't want to live the same way as when I left the harem!"

It seems he wants to return to the academy to escape Selena.

This guy is an idiot.

If he just pays attention to his manners, Selena won't complain.

Even I get reprimanded for my foul mouth, but that's it.

"This is a good opportunity. For the remaining three days, have her train you even more strictly."

"You betrayed me, Liam!"

"I'm saying this for your own good, Wallace."

Then, the maids came, bowed to me, and took Wallace away.

"Nooooo!"

I drink tea while listening to Wallace's screams.

I decided to take care of him as a subordinate, but Wallace doesn't seem like a prince.

Everything in the world is a miscalculation.

Then, Brian brings an interesting report.

"By the way, Liam-sama. We received a report from a pioneering planet that something interesting was discovered."

"Something interesting?"

"Yes. It's probably a fake, but it's a lucky charm. Do you know about the planet development device?"

Planet development device.

It's a device to make a pioneering planet habitable.

"I've heard there are various kinds. What about that device?"

"The devices from ancient civilizations were said to be superior to the current ones. We received a report that a similar tool was discovered. I heard that Liam-sama likes such tools, so we've had it brought to the mansion."

--I put my hand to my mouth and think.

Something like this happened before.

The guide was mostly involved, and I was able to obtain immense wealth.

"I'll check it right away."

As I stood up, Rosetta looked like she wanted to follow, so -- I told her to rest.

What was brought to the mansion was a blue sphere.

It was about the size of a soccer ball, and the intricate lines on it glowed beautifully.

Brian was next to me and explained it to me.

"This single device, when placed near a planet, is used to make it habitable. Imitations are still made as amulets for pioneering groups."

"Amazing."

"However, while it enriches the planet, if used incorrectly, it can also turn the planet into a dead star. Because it converts absorbed energy into elixir, ancient civilizations created many dead planets with this fearsome device."

It seems it can enrich a desolate planet, but also the reverse.

As I touched it, the sphere turned red.

"Oh, it's rare for it to glow red. Normally, they are made to glow only blue."

"--Is that so?"

This might be a big hit.

It's highly likely to be the real thing.

"Brian, teach me how to use that device in detail."

"Liam-sama also seems interested in adventure stories, and Brian is happy about that. Well, according to old literature --"

After getting the usage instructions from Brian -- I immediately headed into space.

Around the time Liam went into space.

Rosetta was talking with Amagi.

Amagi had a blank expression.

"Rosetta-sama, is something the matter?"

"I heard about Darling from Brian and Selena. Your parents neglected you, and Amagi acted as a mother figure, right?"

Amagi nods.

"Lord Liam's parents and grandparents are on the capital planet. They didn't raise him, so I was prepared instead."

And Amagi says.

"I know my existence might be inconvenient for you, but I cannot go against Lord Liam's decisions. I will avoid meeting him as much as possible."

Keeping a doll by his side is considered Liam's only flaw.

However, Rosetta --.

"Wait! Do you think I would complain about something like that!"

"Rosetta-sama?"

Rosetta presents Amagi with a string she made.

"--I made this as a pastime. It's all I can give you."

It wasn't bought in the Banfield family's territory, nor was it procured from Thomas.

This is all she could prepare for herself.

"May I have it?"

"Of course! Ah, aren't you -- Darling's important person?"

Amagi smiles, but -- she looks a little sad.

"Yes, I suppose so."

Amagi accepts the string Rosetta knitted and thanks her.

"--Madam, thank you."

Being called "Madam," Rosetta blushes.

In the space filled with debris.

I came to such a place with Avido -- and used the device I brought.

"Now, let's see what happens."

The planet development device turns red and begins to absorb -- what could be called life force.

Floating around are the pirates who attacked the pioneering planet in my territory.

It's not exactly life force, but according to Brian, it absorbs souls to create elixir.

I hesitate to use it in my own territory, but against pirates, it's no problem.

The sphere turns red, and perhaps having absorbed everything, the light calms down.

I put the sphere in the cockpit and examine it.

"Now, let's do this --."

As I fiddle with it, liquid spills from the sphere.

The liquid that fell on my lap solidified into stone and crumbled.

"Oops, I spilled it."

I gather them up, but some are nowhere to be found.

But that's not a problem.

I take out a bottle and pour in the elixir.

"--It's a lot."

I pick up the bottle filled with elixir and shake it.

"So, this was the real thing too. I have to thank the guide."

Treasures keep coming into my hands.

It seems it was fine not to team up with Derrick after all.

However, the guide hasn't shown up recently. --Is he doing well?

No, there's no point in me worrying.

Given how he handles things for me and provides after-sales service.

He must be doing well.

"He was embarrassed last time, maybe he finds it hard to show his face? He's surprisingly cute, you know."

But the feeling of gratitude is important.

To ensure this feeling reaches the guide, I express my utmost gratitude.

"Guide, thank you -- with this, I have gained strength again."

However.

Elixir is welcome, but I buy it regularly.

Since the funds for that are also made with the alchemy box, I'm honestly not in need.

"--I'll load this onto a fortress-class ship and use it for the development of pioneering planets."

Although it's a fortress-class ship purchased from Nias, it's sufficient as a temporary defense base.

I'll deploy it to the pioneering planet and use this to enrich it.

The planet development device itself, when used normally, only cultivates life force.

Brian said it's harmless.

"I need to prepare a new pioneering planet and also Wallace's territory -- so I'll send this as a lucky charm to the fortress-class ship."

If I embed it in a stone statue and hide it, no one will know.

Using it normally has greater benefits for me.

"To send such convenient tools one after another -- the guide is so diligent."

At that time -- the guide was spreading his arms in the capital planet.

"Fwahaha! The negative emotions accumulated over thousands of years are giving me power!"

Even though the absorption efficiency of negative emotions is low, in a place like the capital planet, there's no shortage of negative emotions.

I was regaining my strength.

However, I am still far from my former power.

This is because Liam's gratitude is stealing my power.

"With this, I can send that detestable Liam to hell. Wait for me -- Liam!"

Now, as the guide pondered what to do next --.

Behind the guide, a hidden light -- a light in the shape of a dog -- looked up at the sky.

The sky of the capital planet is protected by metal.

Through the gaps in that metal, a golden spear, formed from Liam's gratitude, flew towards the guide.

The golden shining spear pierced the back of the guide, who was laughing heartily.

"Hauwa!"

With a sudden impact, the guide cried out.

The spear pins the guide to the ground.

"Wh-wh-wh-what happened!?"

The guide was also confused, and when he grabbed the golden spear with his hand to pull it out -- his skin burned.

Smoke is rising.

"Igyaaaaa! Th-this is Liam's gratitude!? Wh-why! I haven't done anything yet!"

The immense gratitude took form and pierced him, and the guide writhed in pain.

"It's being taken away. The power I worked so hard to obtain -- is being taken away -- is this allowed? Damn you -- damn you! Liiiiiaaaam!"

Even though he hadn't done anything this time, the guide was ultimately burned by Liam's gratitude.

Brian: "I received an autograph from a great actress saying, 'To Brian-san!' I am so happy!"

Brian: "Also, serves the guide right."