TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 92
A Sunny Afternoon.
The Young Lady, dressed in thick clothing, and I strolled through the bustling streets of the capital after a long time away from the estate.
“What should we buy as a gift for Ricardo Father?”
“It’s not Father, it’s the Head of the Household.”
“That’s right. Father.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, the Young Lady firmly decided on the title for Darbav.
Nodding as she thought about a gift for Darbav, the Young Lady smiled contentedly.
“Hehe..”
If the Young Lady were to have a child in the future, they’d probably call her ‘Mom.’ I could vividly imagine the Young Lady scolding her child.
-Mom. Feed me.
-Eeeek! It’s not Mom, it’s Mother!
-That’s what I said, Mom.
-Get out!
It might not be so bad…
Thinking about such a future brought a small smile to my face, and I pinched the Young Lady’s cheek.
“Eeeek! Why!”
“Just thinking about the future where you become a Mother, Young Lady.”
Sitting in Fairy Unit 1, the Young Lady looked up at me with a blank expression.
“Wouldn’t it be beautiful?”
“Yes. Since it’ll resemble you, Young Lady, it would be very beautiful. Though, the personality might be a bit of a mess.”
“Eeeek! Don’t insult my daughter!”
The Young Lady, trying to protect the imaginary daughter in her mind, had awakened her Maternal Love. Watching her puff up her cheeks and raise her fist, I thought she would make a good Mother.
Laughing and joking around, we were on our way to the newly opened Friends of Forest Tteokbokki Shop by Malik. At the same time, we had also come out to buy a gift for the Head of the Household’s Birthday.
Originally, we should have met Malik and greeted him earlier, but plans were delayed when we encountered Darbav in the capital.
Although we hadn’t specified when we’d visit, we had sent a letter to Malik saying we would, so he might be waiting for us.
I was a bit nervous about doing business with the Master of Culinary Arts, but since Malik was incredibly skilled in business, I wasn’t worried. Even if I were to worry, it wouldn’t change anything.
All I had done was provide a Recipe for tteokbokki, so I had no right to say much.
The Young Lady and I, planning to get free tteokbokki, moved towards the address written in the letter.
“Ricardo, what are you going to give Father as a gift?”
Sitting in the Wheelchair, the Young Lady wrapped herself against the cold wind and asked.
In the increasingly chilly weather, the Young Lady sniffled and shivered.
I fastened the Button on the Young Lady’s Fur Clothes and replied.
“Hmm… I’m still thinking, but I’m considering Gloves or a Scarf.”
“Gloves? A Scarf?”
“Yes. I thought they would be safe gifts.”
“Hmm…”
In truth, I had already prepared a different gift, but I pretended to be undecided and asked the Young Lady’s Doctor.
“Really…”
The Young Lady trailed off as she looked around the shops lining the Marketplace.
In fact, I had been preparing a Birthday Gift for Darbav for a long time.
I had planned to present it on this birthday, hoping it might ease some of the Hatred built up until now.
I had been preparing a somewhat burdensome gift for quite some time.
A Potion that increases Mana.
I intended to give this to Darbav on his birthday. The Sage’s Potion, a Fortuitous Encounter from the Heretics, would be the Greatest Gift for a Wizard like Darbav.
As an Archmage with immense Mana, Darbav would find this Potion, obtained from the Hamel Dungeon during a previous Fortuitous Encounter, invaluable.
For a Wizard, Mana was as essential as salt, so I believed this gift would mean more to Darbav than millions of gold.
That’s why I told the Young Lady about the simplest gift. If I had been honest, she would definitely have felt discouraged.
I had considered letting the Young Lady present the Potion to Darbav instead of me, but I thought Darbav would look forward to a gift chosen directly by the Young Lady rather than one I picked, so I buried that plan in my heart.
“Hmm…”
The Young Lady furrowed her brow in thought.
Having given various gifts to the Head of the Household in the past, the Young Lady found it difficult to choose the best one now.
During the days when Desmond supported her, she had given jewels, suits, and even a diamond mine as gifts. But now, with limited funds, she knew she couldn’t match the grandeur of her past gifts, and her Worry grew.
“There’s a gift I want to give, but I don’t have the money.”
Hoping to help, I muttered softly.
“Borrow it from me.”
“Will it be interest-free?”
“No. Annual interest of 3%.”
“…You miser.”
“I think it’s a very reasonable offer.”
“Ricardo, you’re bad for thinking about charging interest to a beautiful and lovely Master like me.”
“You’re very self-aware. Fine, let’s make it 1%. I need to make a living too.”
“Deal!”
The Young Lady smiled with a Pleasant Smile and rolled the wheels of Fairy Unit 1.
About ten minutes passed.
The Young Lady, rolling the wheels of Fairy Unit 1, stopped in front of a certain tailor shop.
[Royal Boutique]
A clothing store the Young Lady used to frequent. The cost of a single Dress here could exceed the price of an Estate. The Young Lady stopped and swallowed as she looked at a Necktie Pin displayed beyond the Glass Window.
“That…”
The Young Lady glanced at me and muttered softly.
“That would look good on Father.”
The golden Necktie Pin indeed seemed like it would suit Darbav well, just as the Young Lady said.
With diamonds subtly engraved around its edges, the golden background and transparent diamonds complemented each other beautifully.
Perhaps because she came from a distinguished Noble family, the Young Lady had an excellent eye for such things.
I subtly observed the Young Lady’s expression and shrugged.
“Shall we go with that?”
“It looks expensive.”
“Oh, come on~ How expensive could such a small Necktie Pin be?”
“…Right?”
The Young Lady looked at me with hopeful eyes, and I nodded in response, taking hold of the Wheelchair handles.
“Since it’s cold, let’s buy it quickly and leave.”
2 p.m.
Rather than wandering around in the cold weather, it seemed better for us to pick something quickly.
Breathing out White Breath, I pushed the Wheelchair.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay…!”
The Young Lady smiled shyly with a bright smile.
*
“What?”
Inside the Royal Boutique.
I spoke in a surprised voice to the Clerk. I knew it was inappropriate to make such a scene in a public place, but I hadn’t imagined that a single finger-sized Necktie Pin would cost more than the repair cost of an Estate.
“Haha…”
The Clerk, looking flustered, gave an awkward laugh. Perhaps this happened often, as the Clerk began introducing other products.
“This is a new release, so the price is a bit high. How about this Handkerchief instead? It’s often purchased as a gift. Made from the finest cotton, it feels great and folds beautifully.”
While I appreciated the Clerk’s consideration in suggesting something more affordable, I hesitated when I saw the Young Lady’s dejected expression.
“Ugh… That…”
The Young Lady looked at the Necktie Pin displayed in the Display Case with a bitter smile.
“It seemed like it would suit Father well.”
The Young Lady felt regretful about not being able to buy the gift she had chosen. Watching her, I nervously glanced at the Clerk and spoke in a trembling voice.
“Um… Is there any chance for a discount?”
The Clerk smiled faintly and replied to me.
“This is already the discounted price.”
30 million gold as the discounted price.
It was clear the world was denying us. It seemed determined to test us with money somehow.
Feeling indignant, I sighed, mentally asking the god who must be laughing somewhere about the well-being of their parents.
“Young Lady.”
“Yes…”
“Could you wait here for a moment?”
“Huh?”
With eyes full of determination, I looked out the window. Thinking about how much was left in my bank account and the loan limit I could pull, I spoke with a stern expression, leaving the Young Lady puzzled as she asked me.
“Never mind. Let’s buy something else.”
“No, I must buy this.”
“It’s too expensive…”
“It’s been a while since we’re giving a gift to the Head of the Household. We need to do it properly.”
The Master’s face is also the Butler’s face.
Not wanting to see the Young Lady looking regretful, I clenched my fist and looked toward the bank.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“Ah… No..! Then I’ll go with you…!”
“It’s cold, so please stay here.”
Not wanting the Young Lady to see me taking out a loan, I asked the clerk to ensure no one else buys it and ran outside.
Money.
A technique I had been trying not to use for a while.
Grinding my teeth, I stared at the small, glimmering casino next to the bank.
‘Forgive me, Fathers.’
Bowing my head in apology for the future of the gambling addicts who would end up with empty wallets, I prepared to take advantage of them.
*
The store Ricardo had left.
Left alone, Olivia sat in a corner of the store, sipping hot black tea.
“Ah… Hot.”
Feeling sorrowful about not being able to buy a gift that suited Father, Olivia stared at her reflection in the teacup with a gloomy expression.
“Money…”
Even though she had no money, she wondered why she was indulging in such luxury. While Olivia thought of herself as immature, this time, she had a strong desire to buy Father a decent gift.
Thinking of Father, who still wore the uniform tailored two years ago, Olivia’s face twisted in a pained grimace.
Because of her, the household had faltered.
The guilt of causing the household’s poverty grew heavier with each passing day spent in the estate.
The number of servants that once filled the estate had dwindled, and even Father’s uniforms, which were replaced annually, were no longer new.
With bitterness, Olivia sipped the bitter black tea.
“Ugh… Bitter…”
Outside, the wind blew.
Ricardo did not return.
And when the feeling of loneliness suddenly crept in.
-Ding.
The store’s door opened, and Olivia noticed a new guest entering.
“Kyaah! Did you see the new release? It’s so pretty.”
“Right, right. I got a few things from Olivia back then, but now I can’t get anything for free anymore. Ah, what a shame!”
“What are you saying~ You were popping champagne in joy when Olivia was expelled.”
“That was then, and this is now!”
A group of female students entered the store.
Wearing the Academy uniform, these were the same students who used to flatter Olivia and stick by her side during her Academy days.
Seeing them, Olivia bowed her head.
“Ricardo… When will you come back.”
Hiding her face and shrinking her body to avoid being noticed by them, Olivia thought of Ricardo, who wasn’t coming back, and began to feel small.
About ten minutes passed.
The laughter of the female students, who had been looking around the store, abruptly stopped.
Olivia slowly lifted her head.
“Are they gone…?”
Just as she thought she no longer had to be cautious and raised her head.
“It’s Olivia, isn’t it?”
A plump female student was looking down at Olivia.
“You’re alive and well, huh?”
When she saw the student smirking as if she had found a fun toy, Olivia’s eyes trembled violently.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Malicious words began to target Olivia.
“How have you been? I heard you were dead, but you’re alive and well, huh?”
“No, she’s crippled, isn’t she?”
One of the students muttered as she looked at Olivia’s legs.
Olivia lowered her head.
“Right. Buy us some bags too.”
“Puhaha. What are you saying? Where would she get the money? Didn’t they say her household excommunicated her?”
“…”
“Puhaha, is that true, Olivia?”
The female students, who couldn’t even meet Olivia’s eyes at the Academy, now mocked her, and all Olivia could do was bow her head in silence.
And then.
“Haa…”
She let out a deep sigh.
Olivia slowly lifted her head.
Scanning her surroundings and confirming that no one else was around—neither Ricardo nor the clerk—Olivia muttered softly.
‘Ricardo told me not to get angry….’
As the mocking voices grew louder.
A cold voice flowed from Olivia’s lips. Not her usual dazed voice, but a voice as cold as ice.
“Shut up, you f*cking b*tches.”
Olivia was a villainess.
“Before I kill you.”