Chapter 659: Have You Forgotten? I Am Royalty.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 659: Have You Forgotten? I Am Royalty.
"Is something the matter? Yorang, you look pale."
Neung So-hwa asked, looking at Yorang with a worried expression. She was concerned by Yorang’s uncharacteristic pouting.
"Sun-woo... he scolded me."
Yorang spoke as if her feelings were deeply hurt.
"Why would Sun-woo suddenly scold you?" Neung So-hwa asked, looking puzzled.
"It’s because he hates me!" Yorang raised her voice and shouted.
In reality, that wasn't the case, but in her heightened emotional state, she blurted out exactly how she felt—that Sun-woo had nagged her because he disliked her.
"That cannot be true, Yorang. You are mistaken."
Neung So-hwa began to speak in a soothing, persuasive tone. She had absolute faith that Sun-woo would never do such a thing.
"No! He definitely hates me! He didn't even take my side! He just lost his temper!"
Yorang continued, pointing a finger toward where Sun-woo was. She seemed to be nursing a grudge because he hadn't empathized with her.
"Yorang."
Neung So-hwa called her name in a calm, steady voice.
"The man I love is not a lawless man who would persecute his lover without reason. I do not know exactly what happened, but there must be a misunderstanding."
Neung So-hwa looked at her with eyes full of conviction.
"So, tell me. Why exactly did Sun-woo scold you?" she asked calmly.
"......Actually......"
At Neung So-hwa’s repeated questioning, Yorang slowly began to explain the situation.
She told her everything that had happened before the scolding: how she didn't want to work, how she blew her entire Monthly Salary on foreign snacks every month, how she had asked Sun-woo for advice on achieving Financial Independence, and how Sun-woo had scolded her, calling it an extravagance.
"Hmm."
Neung So-hwa listened to Yorang’s story with an incredibly serious expression. She didn't miss a single word. After some time had passed...
".....And that’s.... how it happened."
Yorang finally finished her explanation. She had laid out the whole story.
Glance.
Yorang tentatively shifted her gaze to look at Neung So-hwa, trying to gauge her reaction.
"In my opinion..." Neung So-hwa began slowly.
Yorang focused intently on her lips.
"I believe you have every right to feel hurt."
"Really?!"
Yorang’s face brightened at Neung So-hwa’s words. She hadn't expected her to take her side.
"To you, who indulges in no other luxuries, aren't those snacks a precious value? If he dismissed that as mere extravagance without understanding your perspective, then I believe Sun-woo was in the wrong."
Neung So-hwa continued in a composed tone.
"Waaaaah...... Sohwa-yaaaaa!"
Hearing this, Yorang burst into tears. She immediately lunged toward Neung So-hwa at incredible speed.
Oof.
Yorang threw herself into Neung So-hwa’s embrace, burying her face against her ample chest.
Pat, pat.
"There, there... You were truly hurt, weren't you, Yorang?"
Neung So-hwa spoke as she stroked Yorang’s soft hair.
Nuzzle, nuzzle.
Feeling the gentle touch, Yorang buried her face even deeper.
"I was.... so.... upset..." Yorang added, looking up at Neung So-hwa.
"I think it’s understandable that you were."
Neung So-hwa nodded in agreement. "However, I also understand Sun-woo’s position."
".....Huh?"
Yorang looked confused. This was entirely unexpected.
"Money is something earned through labor. The very idea of trying to obtain money without any effort or cost is a very dangerous ideology."
Neung So-hwa continued her calm explanation.
"Sohwa, aren't you on my side?" Yorang asked, looking bewildered. She seemed shocked by what felt like a betrayal from someone she thought was an ally.
"Of course I am. I am on your side, Yorang. I understand why you are upset."
"Then why do you say it’s a dangerous ideology? Isn't it good if money comes in without working?" Yorang asked, genuinely confused.
"It would certainly be nice if money came in without labor. You could spend the time you would have spent working on other enjoyable things. However, theoretically, that is nearly impossible."
"Why?"
"Money is a commodity that everyone has agreed upon and recognized. And that commodity can replace many things. It can replace chicken, it can replace fish, it can replace precious metals, jewelry, or clothing—and it can even replace labor."
Neung So-hwa began to explain step-by-step.
Money is a resource that everyone has judged to be valuable. Who would easily give such an important resource to you? Especially when you aren't providing them with fish, meat, precious metals, jewelry, clothing, or even your labor in return.
"If money were handed out freely to those who do not work for no reason, the value of money would plummet, and no one would want to work. Why would anyone work hard if they could get money without doing anything?"
Neung So-hwa’s expression turned firm.
"Is it bad not to work hard?" Yorang asked, tilting her head.
"Of course it is."
"Whyyyy?"
"Think about it, Yorang. What if a carpenter building a house didn't work hard and built it carelessly? If the house collapsed due to poor construction, our very lives would be in danger."
Neung So-hwa’s expression was dead serious.
"What if a chef making a meal did it carelessly—so poorly that it was disgusting to even look at? We would be deprived of the chance to eat delicious food."
"Ugh... I’d hate that..." Yorang shook her head. The mere thought was terrible.
"What if a physician treated patients carelessly? There would be countless victims. In fact, who would even want to be a physician in the first place? Why would anyone choose to be a physician—spending all day draining pus and lancing boils, witnessing death over and over—if they could get money without doing anything?"
"..............."
Hearing this, Yorang finally conceded. She realized she wouldn't want to do such difficult work either if money was just handed to her. It would feel utterly pointless.
"What if the blacksmiths producing weapons made them carelessly? The quality of the weapons would drop significantly, and the nation's defense would weaken. And if the defense is weak, the country will be invaded by foreign powers, causing the people to suffer immensely."
"..............."
"Money is money because it is precious. The very thought of trying to obtain such money without any effort or labor is a dangerous ideology."
Neung So-hwa looked at Yorang with an incredibly serious gaze.
"Money must be earned justly. It must be accompanied by corresponding effort and labor. That is why I say your ideology is dangerous. Those who view money lightly are bound to lose it easily."
Neung So-hwa continued calmly.
"Pursuing Financial Independence is your freedom, and it is an ideal everyone desires, so I will not scold you for it. I also do not mind that you spend most of your salary on imported snacks. That, too, is your freedom. However, I must firmly discourage you from acting like a spoiled child while seeking Financial Independence without making any effort. Without action, you will be nothing more than a dreamer chasing fantasies."
Neung So-hwa stared at Yorang with a resolute gaze.
".....Effort.."
"Yes, effort. If you cut your snack spending in half, you could invest that money in a Merchant Group. Or, you could save consistently to open a small shop one day. If you accumulate that effort over time, you will eventually achieve Financial Independence."
Neung So-hwa’s eyes sparkled like flames.
".............."
Yorang remained silent after Neung So-hwa’s long lecture. Not a single word of it was wrong. She was persuaded, she accepted it, and she understood.
Yorang realized that she had just been whining without making any effort at all.
"Sun-woo likely thinks the same as I do. He may have scolded you in the heat of the moment, but he is a clever man with a proper understanding of economics."
Neung So-hwa looked down at Yorang.
"..........Is that... really true?"
"Of course. Sun-woo is a smart man. There is no way he wouldn't know what I know. He may be blunt, but if you look at the core of his words, he is a man who always speaks the truth. Do not doubt him."
Neung So-hwa’s eyes shone with certainty. Hearing this, Yorang took on a thoughtful expression.
"Wait.... let me go."
She slowly pulled away from Neung So-hwa’s embrace. Then, she turned toward where Sun-woo was standing.
"Sun-woo-ya....... I'm sorry...... I was.... being stubborn."
Yorang apologized immediately. She truly felt she was in the wrong.
"No...... I was.... too harsh with my words, too."
Sun-woo also apologized immediately. He, too, had been reflecting while listening to Neung So-hwa.
Epicureanism was the only thing Yorang found valuable in her human life. It was clearly wrong of him to dismiss something so precious to her as useless. So, he apologized, regretting that his careless words had hurt her.
"Waaaaah... Sun-woo-ya."
Hearing Sun-woo’s apology, Yorang burst into tears again. She ran to him and threw herself into his arms.
"Waaaaah.... Sun-woo-ya.... I'm sorry.... for being.... stubborn...."
Yorang wept and wept, soaking Sun-woo’s chest with her tears. The sorrow that had been building deep inside her was washed away in an instant.
Pat, pat, pat.
Sun-woo began to gently stroke Yorang’s hair. Yorang just cried and cried, feeling his soft touch, until all her pent-up emotions were spent.
Neung So-hwa watched the scene with a warm smile. She felt a sense of pride seeing the man she loved and the friend she liked reconcile. A warm, pleasant atmosphere began to fill the room.
After crying for quite a while, Yorang finally pulled her face away from Sun-woo’s chest. She felt she had cried enough.
"Are you done crying now?"
"......Yes."
Yorang nodded slightly, her face flushed red.
"You don't need to cry anymore?"
"I don't need to."
Yorang shook her head from side to side.
"You can cry more if you want."
"......I won't cry anymore.. I'm... going to work."
Yorang’s eyes sparkled like stars.
"Work?" Sun-woo asked, surprised.
"Just like Sohwa said... I'll work hard and... invest... or open a small shop.... and achieve Financial Independence!"
Yorang declared with a gaze full of determined will.
Grin.
Seeing this, Sun-woo looked at her with pride. She seemed so admirable to him.
‘I should help her out a bit.’
Sun-woo thought to himself. As a reward for her admirable resolve, he decided to help her achieve Financial Independence—discreetly, of course.
"Hmm...... Yorang."
Just then, Neung So-hwa, who was standing behind them, called out.
"Yeah?"
Yorang turned her head slightly to look at her.
"Regarding achieving Financial Independence..... I believe I can help you a little."
"Really?!"
Yorang asked, startled by the offer.
"Indeed. After all, to achieve Financial Independence, one must save money, must they not? And one must grow those savings."
"Right! Exactly!" Yorang nodded vigorously in agreement.
"I believe I can make everything go smoothly using my background."
"Sohwa’s background!?"
"Have you forgotten? I am royalty."
"Royalty!"
Yorang’s eyes began to sparkle, like someone who had just remembered a forgotten fact.
"How are you going to help me!?!?!"
Yorang asked, her gaze filled with intense anticipation.