TVSP 16🍂

Chapter 16

‘I was annoyed when the duke interfered, but in the end, it worked out.’

Of course, no matter how wealthy I was, I didn’t have nearly enough to buy up all the land in the slums, rebuild, and establish both a medical foundation and a scholarship foundation.

That was why I needed the duke’s help.

‘The look on his face when I asked him to give me the dowry money in advance was priceless.’

The way he immediately persuaded the Council of Elders once I became a saintess candidate showed me that he would be very useful in the future. So I persuaded him again this time, saying it was part of my plan to take control of the temple.

When he refused to hand over dowry money, I pressed him for inheritance funds instead. He clutched his temples as if I were giving him a migraine.

“If I’m going to seize the temple and defeat the saintess candidate, Mila Nephr, this is a necessary step. If you won’t give me inheritance, then at least lend me money.”

When he demanded collateral, I drew up a promissory note with a condition to repay within one year.

“If you’re still worried, then persuade the Imperial Family on my behalf. A few schools or hospitals opening in the slums won’t change their world overnight. If you tell them it’s all for appearances’ sake—a display of noblesse oblige—and that the credit will go to the Imperial Family, they’ll reluctantly agree.”

If that failed, I was prepared to strike a direct bargain with the Emperor himself. The duke finally said he would help, if only to ensure he got his money back.

But unlike him, I felt no concern about repayment.

‘I’ve lived through how many regressions already? There’s no way I won’t find something profitable.’

The only reason I borrowed money at all was because it was inconvenient to mobilize my own assets right now. I had already made investments using future knowledge—like undiscovered diamond and mana-stone mines.

Leaving behind the bustling people, I returned to my tent.

Now, the very same people who had kept their distance were coming to me eagerly, each one wanting the relief supplies I distributed.

“Thank you, truly, thank you.”
“May the blessings of God be with you.”

Some even wept, their gratitude raw and genuine.

On the first day of the third week, for the very first time, the supplies in my tent ran dry.

“Lady Grace, you really swept through everything in one go,” Wendy remarked, finally able to speak after the nonstop stream of people.

I gave her a weary smile.

“Like you said, I just couldn’t leave things as they were. This was the first place my influence would touch—how could I allow it to remain in ruins?”

Wendy didn’t answer. She didn’t even make her usual ‘I knew it’ face. Her expression was different, thoughtful. But I didn’t bother prying.

Instead, a different voice cut in.

“Are you really planning to use people here with such impure intentions?”

I tilted my head.

“And why would that be a problem?”

“You’re using money to manipulate people!”

The flustered voice was full of resentment. Mila stood there, trembling with suppressed frustration.

“How could you call this charity!”

“This is my way of giving charity. Would it do for my charity to look the same as yours?”

No matter what one was born with, charity was ultimately about the will of the giver.

“Just as you’ve done your best, Lady Mila, so too have I.”

Rumors spread fast in the slums. To outshine Mila, I needed to go beyond the role of a mere nuisance. So I spent what I had. That was all. Yet Mila seemed so aggrieved that she stood there, breathing harshly, as if struggling to calm herself.

“Haa… calm down, calm down…”

She muttered to herself. I smiled gently and offered advice.

“Lady Mila, perhaps here it doesn’t matter, but in other places, you mustn’t speak to yourself like that. Learn to swallow your emotions and control them.”

“Ugh!”

It was sound advice, meant to prepare her for noble society. Yet it only seemed to sting her pride more. Her face flushed bright red, and she stormed off.

“Milady…” one of the temple workers ventured hesitantly after Mila left.

The rest of them—those assigned to me—stepped forward, faces now alight with pride instead of guilt.

“From now on, what shall we do, my lady?”
“We’ll believe and follow whatever you say!”

“Just as you’ve been doing,” I told them. “The rebuilding of the slums will be handled by others. All we must do is continue our service, here and every day to come. Don’t worry—I’ll keep coming.”

I had said it to calm any fears that I might disappear after spending my fortune, but they shook their heads vigorously.

“Of course not! No one would use such a vast fortune unless their desire to save the poor was genuine. We believe in your heart, Lady Grace.”

What on earth are they believing in?

I suppressed a laugh and offered a graceful bow before withdrawing. Surrounded by bows and farewells, I climbed into my carriage. Wendy followed close behind, shutting the door.

“Are we going home now?” she asked.

The sun was already setting, so she assumed the day’s work was done.

I shook my head.

“Hardly.”

“Huh?”

“The truth is, I came to the slums for another reason. Now it’s time to carry out the real plan.”

“What? There’s another plan? Can’t you please tell me beforehand?”

As she fussed, I casually tied up my long hair. The exposed line of my neck made her shriek.

“A-ah! My lady! You’re not even married yet, how can you show your neck like that?!”

“Why, are you going to scold me for being unladylike? You sound more like my mother than a maid. Even my mother doesn’t nag this much.”

I chuckled and began taking off my dress. Wendy clutched my shoulders in horror.

“Even if you have clothes underneath, this is—!”

“Don’t lie. You know I can’t dress myself properly without help.”

“What am I supposed to think of you, my lady?”

After a few rounds of banter, she finally let go. Beneath the dress was a neat but dark-toned outfit of fine fabric—not fitting for the slums, but once night fell, no one would notice.

“Where are you sneaking off to now?!”

“Sneaking? You’re coming too.”

“At least tell me where!”

“A competent maid should be able to read her mistress’s mind.”

My jab made her pout. She quickly hid it, but I noticed.

The carriage circled once and dropped us off at the prearranged location, then drove away.

“W-wait, where are we going?”

“I told them to come back in an hour. We’d draw too much attention otherwise.”

With all the notice I had drawn earlier today, this flimsy disguise would only work once.

Wendy hurried to my side, sticking close.

“My lady, with all this, the slums really will become a better place, don’t you think?”

“Of course! With education, medical aid, housing, food support—all of it, how could life not improve? You’ve poured in time and money beyond imagining. It would be absurd if nothing changed!”

I almost pitied her naivety.

“Really? My thoughts differ. My plan alone won’t change the slums.”

“Why not? Is it a lack of money? Or the will of the people?”

“Neither.”

I stopped. So did she. My gaze fixed on a decrepit building, worse than the others, barely standing.

She followed my line of sight, her voice uncertain.

“Why are we here? It looks abandoned—”

Suddenly, a man’s furious bellow rang out.

“I gave you until today, more than enough time!”

A crash. Threats. Curses. Then the door burst open, and someone was thrown to the ground.

A gaunt man scrambled to his knees, but two burly enforcers seized him by the collar.

“If you can’t repay your debt, your son will repay it instead—didn’t I tell you that?”

Wendy’s fists clenched at her sides. She was holding herself back, trembling with restraint.

I pretended to watch the scene unfold—but in truth, I was watching her.