Chapter 14
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Dieting Makes Money (1)
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After a long time, it was a sweet, deep sleep.
"Mm..."
When she woke up, it had been ages since she felt refreshed and free of fatigue.
Countess Monica Sinclair unwittingly let out a long, satisfied sigh as she sat up in bed.
"Emily, some water..."
"You're awake, ma'am? Oh my goodness! Ma'am!"
The maid, who had retreated from the bedroom to avoid disturbing her lady's nap, let out a small, surprised squeak before she could stop herself.
"...Emily, the mirror. Bring me the mirror, quick!"
Her fingers clenched the blanket tightly, knuckles whitening.
In other words...
"Congratulations, ma'am! It looks like you're finally back to your old self!"
The swelling was going down.
It had only been a little over three hours since she lay down for her nap. Her puffy body, which had sagged like a waterlogged sponge with no resilience at all when pressed, looked visibly different now.
'Is this even possible? Nothing special happened...'
Staring into the mirror, the countess prodded her face here and there, then felt her arms and legs. A sliver of doubt crept in, but the effect was undeniable. She was thrilled.
At that very moment, as the countess marveled at her changing body, Dominic was lounging in the lavish guest room, enjoying another round of vacation bliss.
'Not under house arrest anymore, so this really is a vacation. Five-star hotel level? Nah, room service is free here—way better. Heh heh.'
Dominic idled away, munching on snacks prepared by the maids.
The simple yet hearty cookies gave off a rich buttery aroma as they crunched endlessly between his teeth.
"Is it really okay to be this relaxed?"
Just then, an unwelcome voice intruded. It was Ian.
"Doesn't the castle have rooms for knights? Why do you always come bother me?"
"I'm just following the lord's orders to protect you."
"What danger could I possibly be in inside the castle..."
"That mouth of yours is the problem."
"Pardon?"
"Are you really so sure the countess will see results this quickly?"
Dominic sensed a hint of worry in Ian's voice.
"If you don't deliver the changes you promised, you might end up in a cell without even a trial. An angry noblewoman is something no one can stop. You could apologize now, admit it was bravado, and maybe get off with just a few lashes."
"Come on, after all this time, you still think I'm a con artist? Isn't it about time you trusted me?"
"But looking at the countess's figure, it's not something that changes so fast..."
"It didn't look easy, right?"
"You knew that and still boasted like that? What are you even thinking?"
Ian couldn't fathom Dominic's intentions.
He was the type to pull off absurd stunts, but this was on another level entirely.
As a knight, Ian knew better than anyone that a person's body couldn't transform dramatically in just a few days. If the countess really did change in mere days?
'That would be real magic.'
He'd heard of spells that temporarily altered appearances.
But he dismissed the idea for Dominic.
'He definitely can't handle mana, and his affinity is a mess. No talent at all. No way he'd plan to use magic.'
When he'd first "escorted" Dominic under the old lord's orders, Ian had scanned him for mana just in case. The thought that he might be a disguised mage was zero percent likely, which made Dominic's overconfidence all the more baffling.
"Just watch. If not today, then tomorrow for sure—the countess will see results."
"What?"
Dominic shoveled another handful of cookies into his mouth, grinning confidently as he continued.
"Knight, no sisters, right?"
"...What does that have to do with anything?"
"Listen up."
Dominic perked up, as if he'd been bored and this was perfect timing.
"Most new mothers swell up after giving birth. It's called postpartum edema."
"...Yeah?"
It was a new term to Ian, who had no close women in his life to visit shortly after childbirth.
"Follow a few basic rules, and it goes away fast. It's temporary. Lasts about a month? Of course, if you don't follow them properly, the swelling doesn't drain right, so you have to be careful."
"So it really is possible?"
"Told you. From what I heard, the countess was doing everything she shouldn't. Eating salty, sweet, greasy stuff. Chugging caffeine-heavy black tea. No movement. Baths over an hour. Barely sleeping... Then her body stays swollen, so she cuts out grains entirely..."
He barely stopped himself from adding that in Korea, all the neighborhood grandmas would have swarmed in with advice.
"I fixed her diet and habits, so results will come quick. It sheds as fast as it came on."
He chuckled like "just you wait," muttering to himself about hoping for a bonus if it wrapped up fast.
Knock knock.
"Village chief, are you in? The countess is asking for you."
The maid delivering the message beamed widely.
And her demeanor toward Dominic was that of serving a VIP guest.
Ian and Dominic's eyes met.
Dominic smugly flashed a thumbs-up, as if to say "told you so."
'Did he really pull it off?'
Ian's mind reeled in confusion.
The temple in the count's direct territory, where Sinclair Castle stood, was bustling in preparation for the ceremony.
"Can't believe it's already been four weeks since the young master was born. Time flies, Bishop."
"How's the preparation?"
"All set, of course! Guests are arriving steadily."
Despite the priest's words, the elderly bishop silently prayed for the day to pass without incident.
'No needless quarrels, please...'
It was a blessing for a new life, but the bishop knew from experience that some guests cared more about the mother's appearance than the baby.
Especially when it was a noblewoman usually beyond reproach—the more attendees, the more gawkers with ill intent eyeing her post-birth changes.
'To be so swayed by mere looks. Ah... This is all because I failed to properly convey the goddess's will. Oh, Goddess! Forgive these fools!'
But unlike the bishop's pious heart, some arriving guests for the birth rite and the count's family party afterward were already gossiping.
The worst offender was Viscountess Noella, ever at odds with Countess Sinclair.
"Growling whenever you meet, and now you've bonded?"
"What are you talking about?"
In the ornate carriage.
The viscount, dragged along despite protesting, suggested maybe they'd reconciled, but the viscountess scoffed.
"Hmph! A mere noble with no lands acting like a countess, strutting without manners—how could I befriend someone so uncouth?"
"Has Countess Sinclair ever even appeared prominently in society? I hadn't heard. Maybe you knew."
"Darling!"
The viscount replied bluntly with a bored face, earning a thigh pinch for his trouble.
"No, seriously— you hate her so much, why go to this party? Baffling."
"To mock her, obviously?"
"Hm?"
"It's only been four weeks since she gave birth! Imagine how she looks now. Obvious, right? Hehe! That body she flaunted so proudly, ruined—how furious she'll be! Ohoho!"
"...Don't laugh like a villain."
The viscount shook his head.
The viscountess was a slightly plump woman who always saw it as a complex.
And that complex had once exploded.
A few years back, at a charity auction where noblewomen donated personal items for proceeds.
She'd offered some silk dresses from her maiden days. Countess Sinclair bought them.
When some mischief-makers asked, "Your figures are so different—why buy those?" the society newbie countess, missing the subtext, smiled brightly and said, "I'm going to have them taken in at the waist."
The crowd burst into laughter at Viscountess Noella.
Innocently, the countess had jabbed, "You're so fat I have to alter clothes to fit."
'Grit! This time, I'll mock you for sure!'
Her carriage entered the temple grounds.
The bells announcing the rite's start tolled: dong, dong.
After twelve chimes, young apprentice priests' choir blended with the pipe organ's majestic tones, creating a solemn atmosphere.
"Under the goddess's light, we announce the birth of a noble life!"
At the bishop's words, two priests carried silver basins of holy water glowing faintly blue.
"That's the holy water?"
"Yes."
"Whoa—so it has divine power and all? How do you make it?"
"The temple's youngest priest prays over water, then the eldest casts the blessing."
The temple teemed with nobles and locals come to glimpse the future lord's baby.
Dominic and Ian leaned against a back wall, watching. Dominic, new to temple events, enjoyed it purely.
"We pray the goddess's blessing reaches this tender life."
As the baptism water prepared, magical lights illuminated the highlight: the baby's reveal.
Under soft, warm glow, the veil lifted from the white-swaddled infant, who cried "Wah!" briefly before calming in its mother's familiar touch.
"Ooh!"
"Blessings to the baby!"
"Blessings to the mother!"
The crowd showered kisses of blessing.
'...Impossible!'
But Viscountess Noella bit her lip, eyes wide.
The countess defied her expectations.
Even in a loose gown, her visible face, neck, arms, and fingers shattered the image of puffiness.
"My, she barely looks different from before the baby."
"Right? I heard she gained a lot in the last month..."
"How did she slim down so fast?"
Noblewomen whispered behind fans, curious about her secret.
Watching them, Dominic flashed a triumphant smile.
'I can hear the money rolling in!'