TELRO 03

“Money Envelope, I’ll Try Receiving It Once” Chapter : 03

“About what you just said, so….”

For anyone living in Pennington, the tragedy of the Rudian Ducal House was a well-known story.

After the duke’s death, the first son who inherited the title died of illness. The second daughter had been weak since childhood and never left the house. The third son had gone missing.

There were even rumors that the ducal house was cursed, especially since the divine beast that had been killed decades ago had never been reincarnated.

“That’s why I, who was living well in the capital, got dragged all the way here to play the role of a duke.”

The Duke sighed deeply, crossing his arms as if truly exasperated.

“The second, third… not even the eldest or second, but the fourth child inherits the title. Does that even make sense?”

At his words—spoken like he was completely fed up—I carefully observed him and asked,

“Have you still not found your younger brother?”

“No. My mother is searching with her eyes wide open, but we still haven’t found him. He must have hidden himself deliberately.”

The muttering voice sounded neither worried nor hateful—just indifferent.

“Isn’t it amazing? Honestly, I thought he would give up and come back long ago.”

What was I supposed to say to that? I swallowed dryly and carefully spoke.

“Maybe your younger brother loves his lover that much?”

“Love….”

The Duke rolled the word around his tongue like candy and then asked me,

“Miss Citizen, what do you think? Do you think you could abandon everything and go into hiding for love?”

“Me? Hmm….”

The answer already came to me, but I still pretended to think about it. However, nothing changed, so I glanced at the Duke’s reaction.

“Honestly?”

“What kind of answer were you about to give that you had to ask if you should be honest?”

Well…

“I think I would’ve run away the moment I received a money envelope.”

The Duke’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Alone?”

“Yes, alone.”

After nodding, I suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

‘Was I too honest?’

I scratched my cheek awkwardly, then confessed something I hadn’t even been asked.

“Actually… I really need money right now.”

“Hmm…. I see. Then should I really make sure you receive a money envelope?”

“Pardon?”

My eyes widened this time.

Seeing my reaction, the Duke laughed.

“I told you earlier. My younger brother’s lover received a money envelope. If I brought my ‘lover’ and entered together, my mother might give you one too. What do you think?”

“Uh….”

I blinked, unsure how to respond.

It sounded too malicious to be a joke, yet too absurd to be serious.

“Lord El! Where are you! Lord El!”

At that moment, a frantic voice came from behind me.

I reflexively turned around and saw a man scanning the now-empty seats.

‘Huh? Isn’t that the Duke’s aide?’

As if confirming my thought, the Duke clicked his tongue briefly.

“I can’t stay here any longer or I’ll get caught.”

He stood up and looked at me with that familiar smiling gaze he had been showing the entire time.

“Forget what I said earlier. It was a joke.”

Before I could even respond, he took my hand resting on my lap and gracefully bent down, pressing his lips against the back of my hand.

“I enjoyed today. I hope this memory becomes a pleasant one for you as well, Lady.”

The warmth left on my hand felt incredibly real. I stared at my burning hand, as if I had been scorched, and only then spoke.

“Oh, I… it was an honor to meet you.”

At my reply, the Duke smiled faintly, pulled his hood over his face, and turned away.

In the direction he walked, his aide was desperately searching for him. I found the scene somewhat strange.

‘Weren’t you just saying you needed to escape before being found?’

Then I witnessed something unbelievable.

“Lord El! The paperwork is backed up like crazy! At this rate, you’ll have to sleep in the office tonight!”

To my eyes, it looked like the aide’s searching gaze was landing directly on the Duke’s face.

But the aide continued looking around as if seeing nothing at all. The Duke, almost teasing him, brushed past the aide’s shoulder and walked away leisurely.

‘What…?’

At that moment, I recalled the brief conversation I had with the Duke before the play began.

‘Can you see me?’

……That—wasn’t a joke?

“I’m sure he’s around here…. I know you’re watching me! Come out already, Lord El!”

Watching the aide desperately searching for the Duke, I rubbed the back of my hand with my thumb.

At least the warmth of his lips remained. I was glad.

Otherwise, I might have spent the night wondering if I had truly seen a ghost.

“Grandma, I’m home! Daisy! Your sister is here!”

At my loud announcement of returning home, Daisy peeked her head out from the kitchen doorway.

“You’re back, sister? How was the play?”

“It was so fun! It would’ve been great if you had come too.”

Unfortunately, Daisy hated crowded places.

‘So I brought her a gift.’

“Ta-da! Cheese muffins! They’re fresh out of the oven, still warm.”

“Wow! Thank you, sister.”

Just as I was about to tell her to try one, a kettle began whistling loudly inside the kitchen.

Daisy shrugged as if she had forgotten.

“Then I’ll finish making dinner. Please go upstairs.”

Daisy returned to the kitchen, and I washed off the dust from my body before heading upstairs.

Knock knock.

“Grandma, I’m home.”

I counted five seconds in my head and then opened the door.

Grandma was struggling to sit up in bed. I quickly went over and supported her.

“You should just stay lying down. Why get up?”

“My back hurts from lying down too long.”

As if even that short sentence was exhausting, Grandma coughed and searched for her veil.

Since I no longer had the strength to argue about it, I helped place the veil over her face. The burn scars covering her face were hidden once again.

“So, did you enjoy the play?”

“Yes! It was amazing! The direction was so extravagant, and the costumes were so beautiful. Nobles must wear clothes like that every day, right?”

At that, Grandma’s entire atmosphere stiffened sharply, even through the veil.

“Airi, I’ve told you many times….”

“You mean I’m not supposed to even look in the direction of nobles? I know, so stop nagging.”

It’s not like I planned to do anything to nobles, yet Grandma always reacted strongly whenever the word “nobles” came up.

‘What exactly happened between them in the past?’

I had never heard the full story, only guessing that the burn scars covering Grandma’s face might be the reason.

“Oh right, the apple juice man gave me some apples for you. I’ll go make juice right away—Grandma?”

At that moment, Grandma, who already looked weak, suddenly trembled as if she might collapse at any second.

“Gra… Grand—”

“Cough!”

The semi-transparent white veil that had covered Grandma’s burns quickly turned dark red.

I barely managed to catch her collapsing body, and a scream escaped my lips before I could stop it. Her body was freezing cold.

The doctor Daisy had urgently called, Dr. O’Neill, immediately examined Grandma.

The first thing he let out was a long sigh. My heart dropped.

“It seems there is nothing I can do. Her body has already reached its limit.”

Dr. O’Neill shook his head and looked at Grandma with sorrowful eyes.

“It’s already a miracle she survived this long with medication. Berga must go to the capital immediately and receive magical treatment.”

This wasn’t the first time I heard about magical treatment from Dr. O’Neill.

No, I had already been told clearly four years ago when Grandma collapsed for the first time—that her illness could only be cured through magical treatment.

However.

“How much money have you saved?”

“…Two million Luk.”

A sigh escaped Dr. O’Neill.

Two million Luk. It was everything I had saved over years of hard work, yet it wasn’t even close to enough to afford magical treatment.

That was why I needed money.