🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 20
“What preparations did you make?”
I replied to Herais’s line much more naturally than before.
“You’ll see when we step outside.”
Herais leisurely opened the door for me. After only a few steps, the sound of bells rang out, and before my eyes spread a sight I never could have imagined.
“My lady, you are magnificent! Just imagining this emerald-green dress draped upon you already makes my heart soar with delight! If you tell us your wishes, we’ll make adjustments immediately and deliver it to you.”
“The twilight-purple glow of your hair will blend elegantly with this sapphire! Once again, we offer you our deepest thanks—for allowing our jewelry shop the honor of making you its star!”
Several carriages were parked in front of the department store. Beside them stood the owners of various shops, and stacked high were boxes of dresses, accessories, and jewels.
The crowd gathered, wondering if this was some sort of royal parade. But this spectacle was simply what Herais had staged in such a short time.
“To keep from falling behind my younger brother, I must at least do this much, don’t you think? Won’t you accept this small, humble gift—and grant me the honor of walking with you for a while, Filena?”
How much did all of this cost? There was no way such an amount could possibly fit into the budget I had set.
Could it all be debt?
I pressed my trembling lips together and turned toward Herais. His voice reached me in a tone only I could hear.
“…I said I could understand surprises. But I never said I’d understand breaking the contract terms.”
“Ah, you mean the clause: While the expenses of dating shall be equally divided, given Herais’s higher social standing, he agrees to bear more of the costs. That one.”
“Yes. That’s what I’m asking about. This amount is far beyond what I could ever pay, and—”
Leaning toward me, Herais descended the stairs at my pace. Just before we stepped off the last stair, he whispered:
“It’s fine. This is ‘fun money.’”
As if realizing how it sounded, he quickly added:
“Fun money tied up in contracts only complicates things, so maybe call it ‘enjoyment money’? If you don’t like that either, just think of it as fuck-it money.”
When he stepped back, his hair fluttered lightly in the breeze.
“My little fuck-it money for taking a bit of petty revenge on Wisler.”
Mouthing that explanation, Herais looked up at me from the bottom of the stairs, reassuring me not to worry. With hands folded behind his back, he presented me with a flower he’d received.
“A little extra visual enjoyment.”
Herais and the violet bloom complemented each other perfectly.
“You look really beautiful.”
At least this didn’t seem to be putting him into debt. Choosing to postpone any serious discussion, I decided to simply enjoy this moment.
The next morning, as usual, I picked up the newspaper. A satisfied smile spread across my face.
The front page was covered with us—the grand love triangle. Even the articles that once sought only to disparage us had shifted their tone slightly.
They still insult us, but not as often as before.
Where once there were thirty slights, now there were only twenty. It felt like they’d run out of space because they were too busy reporting the actual events.
“The buzz this time is just as big as before.”
Thanks to Wisler.
“Wisler…”
He wasn’t just good as a target of revenge; he was also perfect as a supporting role. Discarding him later wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
“My lady, look at this!”
Clara burst in with her arms full of newspapers. Apparently, that money-saving book I recommended to her had been of no use at all.
“Clara, I know you adore me, but hoarding newspa—”
Ignoring me, Clara slammed down the stack and exclaimed:
“This is all money!”
“Money?”
“Yes! A three-way confrontation between you and the Gray brothers? These papers will rise in value just by being kept!”
“So you weren’t hoarding them out of affection for me? Genius.”
“Well, I do adore you, but money matters in this world too!”
I wasn’t disappointed. On the contrary, I wanted to applaud Clara’s shrewdness.
Opening a drawer, I reached deep inside and pulled out a pouch. Clink. I handed the heavy pouch to Clara.
“I’ll invest too.”
“….”
“I won’t irresponsibly take your extra labor for free. Take five gold every week as a service fee.”
“Of course, my lady. A plain girl like me will always live cherishing both you and money!”
It was a clear investment. An investment in me, Herais, and Wisler. If my romance with Herais grew more popular, the newspapers featuring us on the front page would soar in value. Whoever sold them fastest would make a fortune.
Even if Herais and I fell apart, Wisler’s antics alone would keep their value steady. It seemed like a sure win.
Better to save money while I can.
Just look at Herais’s spending habits. Reasoning it out, I figured he must have spent a huge sum to smooth over the chaos at the saintess selection ceremony last time.
It was odd—beyond odd—that the former Duke and Duchess Gray supported him without complaint.
Do they care for him that much?
But the context didn’t quite add up. Considering how Wisler had tarnished Herais’s reputation and yet they stayed silent… maybe it meant they didn’t care at all.
Either way, it’s not my concern. What I need to worry about is his poor financial sense.
The mere sliver of a chance that Herais might go bankrupt was a problem. I needed a rational backup plan.
Herais was the perfect partner, and I didn’t want to see him ruined. Saving money became my grand “Plan B.”
Satisfied, I discussed with Clara how many newspapers we should buy. As our plan grew more detailed, the door suddenly burst open and the butler stumbled in, his face flustered.
“M-My lady! Duke Gray has come to visit! Did you… did you perhaps have an appointment with him?”
“I didn’t.”
I frowned and asked:
“Did he claim he had one with me?”
“N-No, he said he didn’t… but he was so confident! And, well, if there wasn’t an appointment, then he wouldn’t have come at all, so… I-I must have made some mistake!”
“Let him in.”
I waved my hand to reassure the panicking butler.
“Don’t worry about appearances. Since I received so many gifts from the duke on our last outing, I can consider today a chance to repay him.”
“…Excuse me?”
The butler looked baffled, but Clara, already familiar with Herais’s ways, nodded. The money pouch had long since been hidden.
When Herais entered the parlor, he cheerfully waved.
After greeting him, I dismissed both the butler and Clara, insisting I wished to speak with him alone.
Once it was just the two of us, I produced the sheet of paper I had hidden in my bodice. Since he had barged in without warning, Herais would have to follow my script today.
I raised the curtain first.
“Duke Gray! I appreciate your visit to the Light household, but please, let this not happen again! I am a count’s daughter—if you continue to come like this, my situation will become most difficult!”
I couldn’t allow rumors that I was cheating—or that I had invited him here.
For the sake of our partnership, surely today he would behave himself.
Herais reached for the paper but then pulled back. To establish authority, I furrowed my brows, doing my best to look intimidating.
“Read it.”
His lips opened and closed before finally giving way to a booming declaration:
“I can’t promise it won’t happen again, but forgive me for troubling you! Ever since the three of us met yesterday with Wisler, I’ve been overwhelmed with the desire to see you again—and so I came, unable to resist!”
