The 30 Gold Demand
html, body { margin:0; padding:0; } Actor: Derek Walker 11
30 Gold
This was the amount Count Kengor had set as ransom for Agnes Benellia. Even considering Agnes Benellia's status, it was no small sum.
Of course, if the Benellia Marquis family were still intact, they would have handed over 30 gold without batting an eye to rescue their heir. After all, 30 gold wasn't a massive fortune compared to a noble house's wealth.
But Isabel Benellia was a fugitive. There was no way a young girl like her had properly gathered the family's assets before fleeing. Paintings, artwork, land, mansions—these weren't things a runaway could carry around. They had probably been conveniently divided up between the Second and Third Princes' factions.
"I'll wait a week. Bring me 30 gold within that time, and I'll release Agnes."
With those words, Count Kengor rose from his seat. It was a blatant eviction. Isabel watched him leave the drawing room, her hands trembling uncontrollably. The steward, Takan, escorted us out.
Once we were out of Count Kengor's mansion, Isabel spoke in a voice thick with rage and frustration.
"Count Kengor... That man has no intention of returning my brother to me!"
I felt the same way. He must have taken a real liking to Isabel. Kengor had expressed pity for the Benellia family's tragedy, but he had zero interest in actively helping.
The Benellia family was already destroyed. Even if the family head and his wife had fled abroad, the house was in ruins, its honor dragged through the mud.
In a noble society where relationships were built on profit, Count Kengor had no reason to go out of his way for the Benellias.
The fact that he was turning a blind eye to Isabel Benellia could already be considered a huge favor. If he'd wanted, she would have been hauled off to the slave market by now.
Isabel knew this all too well, which was why she couldn't haggle and had left the negotiations powerless. Securing the 30 gold Count Kengor demanded within a week was practically impossible for her.
It might seem trivial compared to a noble family's budget, but 30 gold was far from pocket change falling from the sky.
As a fugitive, earning that much in such a short time was out of the question. Kengor had essentially refused her plea in a roundabout way.
"Miss Isabel. How much money do you have on hand right now?"
"6 gold and 80 silver..."
Isabel muttered in a hollow voice, staring at the ground as she walked. She still needed to scrape together another 23 gold and 20 silver.
"Mr. Walker."
Isabel addressed me in a low, earnest tone. It was blatantly obvious she was angling for sympathy. Inexperienced as she was, she was terrible at hiding her intentions. Which suited me just fine.
"Yes, Miss Isabel."
"The Benellia family never forgets a favor. You're a merchant, aren't you, Mr. Walker? From a foreign land."
"That's right. From the Miles Kingdom."
"In the name of the Benellia family, how much funding could you possibly arrange?"
It was the line I'd expected. I could front Isabel all the money she needed. I'd brought plenty with me.
'Making her owe me here is a smart move. Corrupting a fallen noble house has its own delicious appeal. Worst case, I could help rebuild it myself.'
Though they'd been pushed to near-extinction by the Second and Third Princes' political maneuvers, with my help, they could rise again. It wouldn't be easy, of course.
But in the end, that would give me connections to Dove Kingdom's power players. Networks were always useful, no matter where you were. This would pay off big in the future.
I was about to cheerfully agree to front the cash when a fun idea flashed through my mind. Naturally, it involved bedding Isabel Benellia.
I could threaten her with money or demand her body in exchange, but that might sour our relationship.
Besides, I'd done plenty of forceful conquests like that in other worlds— it was getting stale. I'd come up with a much more entertaining way to take her.
Running the numbers in my head, I slowly opened my mouth.
"If I pool all the Walker Trading Company's available funds, it comes to about 20 gold."
"20 gold... Is there no way to get more?"
Still short by about 5 gold.
"Even that would require liquidating my goods at a loss and putting up my wagons as collateral for a loan."
"I see... Mr. Walker, I hate to impose, but for the sake of the Benellia family, could you possibly stretch just a little further? It's shameless of me to ask... but I swear I'll repay the favor."
Of course she would. Ideally with that body of hers.
"Hmm... This isn't a decision I can make on the spot. Could you give me a little time to think it over?"
I said it gravely. Isabel swallowed hard and nodded.
"Yes. It can't be an easy choice for you either, Mr. Walker. I'll wait. I'll think of ways to gather more money myself."
"I'll have an answer by tomorrow at the latest."
We returned to our inn. I made an excuse about needing a walk to clear my head and didn't go inside. My destination was the VL brothel.
"Back again?"
The tout boy from before greeted me with a smirk.
"Not here to drain my balls. Get the owner."
"Huh? The owner? Oh! Right. You've decided to become an actor?"
The brothel's owner had offered me a job as a porn actor.
"Cut the chatter and fetch the owner."
I flicked him a silver coin. He grinned ear-to-ear and bolted inside. A few minutes later, a middle-aged man in an all-black suit emerged.
"Well, well! Made up your mind?"
"I have a business proposition for you."
Money was short. Isabel Benellia never imagined she'd be fretting over this. The Benellia family had been one of the wealthiest in Dove Kingdom. She'd grown up never knowing poverty, and her house had never struggled financially.
But now, she needed money more than ever. Without it, she couldn't save her siblings.
"Brother Agnes... And it's not just him. Sister Irina and Brown too... Oh god, what do I do?"
"Is something wrong?"
The expressionless maid approached. It was Luna, Mr. Walker's maid. A beauty with flawless skin and brown hair cascading to her waist.
Isabel had never felt inferior about her looks, but in front of this maid Luna, she couldn't help thinking she was a step below.
"It's nothing."
She didn't want to show weakness to a subordinate. Isabel waved her hand dismissively, forcing a composed expression. But Luna drew even closer.
"That's not a good face you're making."
"...... It's about my Benellia family."
"Master ordered me to attend to you with utmost care. Listening to a guest's troubles is a maid's duty. If something's weighing on you, tell me. I keep secrets."
It was emotionless, but reassuring. Isabel felt her mental locks loosening. When you're desperate, just being heard can move you to tears.
Especially for Isabel, whose sheltered life had shattered overnight—Luna's words hit even harder.
"Sigh... I'm short on money. If only 5 gold would drop from the sky."
"That's too much to fall from the heavens."
"You're right."
Isabel gave a wry smile at Luna's reply. This wasn't the kind of worry you dumped on a maid. No way she'd pull 5 gold from her apron and hand it over.
"Tell Master. He'll arrange some funds."
"I already did. Even if Mr. Walker fronts it, we're still short. Ugh, I might cause payroll issues because of me. Sorry in advance, Luna."
"My salary is Master's love."
Isabel was speechless at Luna's perfect maid response. Luna continued.
"Is it money you need urgently?"
"Yes. Somehow, I need 4 gold and 20 silver within a week."
Finding work paying 60 silver a day wasn't easy. For a fugitive like Isabel, job hunting was a nightmare.
"Staying put won't solve it. Shall we go out?"
At Luna's words, Isabel gazed out the window and replied.
"No one to borrow from. Count Kengor was sympathetic to the Benellias, but not everyone will be. If they learn who I am, they'll sell me to a slave trader."
"If borrowing's hard, earn it yourself."
"The problem is, no job pays 4 gold 20 silver a week."
Despair all around, no matter how she thought about it.
"But doing nothing changes nothing."
Isabel fell silent at Luna's words, then slowly nodded.
She was right. To protect her family, she couldn't just sit here. At least Mr. Walker had offered 20 gold?
'No, that's not confirmed yet.'
If she wasted time doing nothing, Walker wouldn't look kindly on it. He might even think she was scamming him for his money.
"You're right. Nothing changes if you do nothing. I need to go out."
She had to figure out how to earn money somehow.
"I'll prepare for your outing."
Isabel awkwardly refused Luna's offer.
"Ah, I can go alone. I can't impose that much."
But Luna rejected the rejection.
"Your identity might be exposed. I'm a combat maid, despite appearances. I can protect someone like you if needed."
At the second invitation, Isabel nodded. Truth be told, she'd feel safer with Luna by her side.
Isabel had never gone out alone before. The Benellias weren't so uncouth or poor as to send their lady out unescorted.
"I'll get ready."
Luna left the room. Then, in a voice too soft for Isabel to hear, she whispered into the air.
"Master. I'll guide the young lady."