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Chapter 8
The shop owner’s eyes sparkled as he spoke.
“However, if you’re looking for the specifications you mentioned, I don’t think this model will fully satisfy you. I can confidently recommend this typewriter instead! It’s the one commonly used by the most prestigious noble families. I’ve even heard that the imperial palace uses this very model. In fact, only two units were delivered to the North—and this is one of them.”
The way he went on and on, even dragging the imperial palace into it… yeah, I could tell right away.
That thing’s expensive, isn’t it?
But since I was already flexing with the corporate card, I might as well do it properly. Good equipment brings good efficiency. And I could always repay the cost with my work performance, right?
“There is a bit of a price.”
See? I knew it.
“It’s 100 ekra! But I’ll give you a special discount—90 ekra!”
Nine million won?! Wow, that’s brutal. There’s no way I could ever afford that on my salary.
But with the corporate card? That’s another story.
I confidently took out the pendant.
For a moment, it felt like the emblem of the Grand Duchy of Acrasia was shining brilliantly. I spoke without hesitation.
“I’ll take it. I’m buying it. And consumables are obviously included as service, right? It is 90 ekra.”
“Oh my goodness—so you’re from the Grand Duchy of Acrasia! Of course, of course, we must serve you well. I’ll provide plenty of consumables!”
It was a satisfying shopping trip for both the shop owner and me.
I grinned at Hjutnun, who was staring at me in shock.
This is how you use a corporate card.
* * *
The very next day, coincidentally the end of the month, the statement arrived directly at the Grand Duke’s residence.
Kristen let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the bill Aidan handed him.
“120 ekra… just at the general store?”
She certainly made some bold purchases.
Thinking of Roella, who had gone to bed last night with such a happy expression, only made the chuckle escape more easily. Of course, it wasn’t enough to strain the ducal finances.
Aidan asked in disbelief.
“120 ekra? What on earth did she buy?”
“She purchased a typewriter.”
“Ah… so Lady Roella is skilled enough to use a typewriter? That kind of talent is extremely rare, even in the North.”
Aidan was right.
The mere existence of someone in the North who could use a typewriter was astonishing. That’s how rare the skill was.
It seemed Roella’s abilities were far beyond what they had anticipated. As Kristen continued reviewing the statement, his brows furrowed.
Seeing his expression, Aidan tilted his head.
“Did she spend even more at the dress shop than that? Well, girls that age usually—”
“Ten ekra.”
Kristen muttered.
“…Pardon?”
Kristen ran a hand through his hair. The gap was absurdly large. She had boldly spent 120 ekra at the general store, yet only charged 10 ekra at the dress shop. With that amount, she’d bought five dresses, two pairs of shoes, and even five sets of undergarments.
“She bought all of that for that amount? The statement isn’t wrong, is it?”
She was impossible to understand.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Aidan summoned Hjutnun—the knight assigned to Roella in case she attempted to flee.
“Anything unusual yesterday?”
“No, sir. Everything went smoothly. You said there was no need to report if nothing happened. Is there a problem, Mr. Aidan?”
“It’s just that she spent 120 ekra at the general store.”
“Yes, that’s correct. Haha, Lady Roella was incredibly bold. I was surprised watching her order such expensive items without hesitation. Thanks to her, the shop owner was grinning from ear to ear. Was that an issue?”
“No. Then let me ask one more thing. At the dress shop, she only spent 10 ekra…”
Aidan trailed off. Hjutnun nodded.
“That’s right. She specifically sought out a shop that mainly dealt in cotton fabrics. It seemed like a deliberate choice based on price. And even there, she negotiated fiercely with the shop owner.”
“Negotiated? Over what?”
“She haggled over the price. It was originally 15 ekra, but she didn’t seem satisfied until she’d shaved off 5 ekra. Haha—thanks to that, rumors might spread that the Grand Duchy of Acrasia has become stingy!”
Kristen absentmindedly touched his lips as he listened.
She spared no expense at the general store, yet trembled over 5 ekra at the dress shop?
Why?
No—why go that far?
She was utterly incomprehensible.
Imagining Roella bargaining while holding the ducal seal almost made him laugh.
‘As if spending that little would ever dent the ducal treasury.’
He couldn’t decide whether to praise her frugality or scold her for damaging the Grand Duchy’s dignity.
Kristen rubbed his oddly stiffened face.
* * *
As expected, comfort really is everything.
Once I removed the unnecessary volume from the skirt, I didn’t even need a petticoat anymore. It was cooler, too. I’d chosen shoes with almost no heel and soft soles—ridiculously comfortable.
And I’d saved 5 ekra.
Honestly, I hadn’t minded spending money at the general store. I planned to repay that through my work anyway.
But clothes and shoes?
Those were purely personal items. I could’ve bought them with my own salary. Kristen didn’t seem like the type, but what if he demanded repayment later?
No matter how generously he said he’d cover it, money is money.
So I made sure everything stayed within a range I could afford on my own salary. I fought a perfect defensive battle—and won.
Still, losing a million won hurt, but what could I do?
Besides, a mere subordinate(?) recklessly maxing out the corporate card(?) would never leave a good impression. I refused to do anything that might affect my performance evaluation.
Humming to myself, I briskly tapped away at the typewriter. It took a little time to adjust at first, but for someone who’d worked an office job in front of a computer, this was nothing.
Yeah—this was money well spent!
* * *
Lady Rosette stared blankly at Roella.
The more she learned about her, the more astonishing Roella became. A noble lady who could operate a typewriter was rare enough, but—
‘What is that speed?’
Exaggerating only slightly, her fingers were almost invisible. The pale fingers flying across the keys looked like those of a pianist performing a concerto.
‘She doesn’t seem to have any experience working as a typist…’
Rosette had checked when she heard about the purchase. And yet, Roella now moved like a master who’d handled a typewriter for thirty years.
Tatata—tatata—the sound rang out steadily.
There was no hesitation, no pauses. Her speed was incredible. Roella handled the typewriter with complete proficiency.
At this point, Rosette couldn’t help but feel curious—what exactly was a “compatible one”?
Were all compatible individuals like this?
‘Has there ever been a case where a compatible one possessed additional abilities?’
Perhaps when the Dragon bestowed its blessing, it left something more behind.
And yet her expression remained consistently devoid of enthusiasm. How could she produce such energy with that face?
Rosette gently shook her head and returned to her work.
No matter how she thought about it, Roella was someone far beyond the limits of her common sense.
