Chapter 211
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 211
‘One hundred billion gold is… just a small amount?’
There wasn't even a hint of bravado in Benjamin’s voice.
He was being completely sincere.
He was probably the only person in the world who could say something like that.
‘Or does he really think I’m worth more than that massive pile of gold?’
If so, that was…
Quite bizarre.
“Lady Tulia. Would you mind showing me more of the garden?”
Benjamin gestured slightly to the right with his elegant chin.
“I saw a pond over there earlier; it looked quite lovely.”
‘Hah. Here it comes.’
The part where the unavoidable curse of the Guide descends…!
“Then… shall we go together?”
“I would be delighted.”
The sound of chirping insects rang out clearly. A breeze blew past, carrying the slightly chilly scent of the air.
Unlike the tranquil scenery, the landscape of my mind as I walked was nothing short of a depiction of hell…
‘As expected, none of these male leads are ordinary.’
The man who offered me one hundred billion gold.
The beautiful blonde Crown Prince who proposed not with mere money, but according to the traditions of his motherland.
‘Is the emotion Benjamin feels for me sincere, or is it a variation of his lust for power?’
In truth, I was highly suspicious of Benjamin.
This was because, even in the game, he boasted the most subtle "hidden mastermind" vibe.
Power over love.
Money over love.
Revenge over love.
He was the type who had stopped believing in love or people because his childhood wounds were too deep.
One could say his difficulty level as a target was quite "hard"…
I walked slowly, waiting for that filthy Guide to pop up in the quest window.
“My Lady.”
Benjamin spoke in his characteristic low voice.
“Was my proposal gift insufficient?”
In an instant, my feet stopped of their own accord.
As the owner of the salon, I had been walking half a step ahead of him. I turned around, unsure of what expression to wear.
“Lady Tulia.”
In the beautifully landscaped garden, Benjamin wore his usual gentle smile.
“Did His Grace the Grand Duke not criticize my method of courtship as pathetic and boorish?”
“…Grandfather didn’t say anything like that.”
Benjamin was smiling, but he didn't look like he believed me.
“Really.”
“I see.”
‘It’s true, though.’
“Tulia! Throw that one hundred billion gold into the trash can at that Crown Prince’s mansion!”
“In the trash can?”
“Yes! Cut off all contact with a fellow like that!”
“But Grandfather. Sorsen Kingdom is a massive client that could increase my salon’s profits tenfold…”
“I’ll have to speak with the Emperor about severing diplomatic ties with Sorsen Kingdom, since they think money is everything!”
“What?”
Well, Benjamin had no way of knowing about that conversation, so it was fine.
“Lady Tulia. Do you know something?”
Benjamin suddenly broke my train of thought.
“If I were the Grand Duke, and I had a granddaughter like you, I would have wanted to gouge out the eyes of every man hovering around you.”
The smile on Benjamin’s face as he said that was so radiant that, for a split second, I fell into the illusion that I was facing a masterpiece sculpture.
Like a work of art carved from gold with a soft luster and meticulously decorated with hundreds of thousands of diamonds, one by one.
He was a man born with an overwhelming brilliance.
If it weren't for the loneliness that occasionally flickered in his honey-colored eyes, he would have looked like nothing more than a dazzling sun.
‘Ugh. That beauty is enough to make anyone lose their mind.’
Just as I was snapping out of it and trying to brush it off with a joke—
[System] The limited special benefit ‘Guide’ linked to the Inevitable Quest <3 Nights> has appeared!
[System] Guide: Please respond to the ‘Male Lead’ Benjamin with the following sentence.
[System] Guide Content 1
—He probably wouldn't have done that.
Suddenly, text appeared before my eyes.
‘Oh? This is surprisingly mild?’
It had been absolutely merciless when it came to Klaus.
‘Ah! Was the Guide so difficult with Klaus because he’s a hidden male lead?’
If that was the case, the Guide might give me relatively harmless things to say to Benjamin or Ferdinand.
This was obviously a stroke of good luck for me.
“He probably wouldn't have done that.”
[System] Guide Content 2
—Because I plan to return all the money Your Highness sent.
“Because… all the money Your Highness sent…”
I bit my lip, holding back tears, and continued, careful not to let my pronunciation slip.
“I plan to return it all…”
My heart felt like it was being ripped to shreds as I spoke.
It’s one hundred billion gold!
Such a staggering amount!
‘Think positive. The Guide is being lenient right now by only ripping my heart to shreds…!’
Yes, money isn't the issue. My survival is what’s at stake!
‘…But why are tears coming to my eyes?’
Benjamin’s smile slowly faded, but at least he didn't look offended.
“Lady Tulia.”
Since I had already politely declined his proposal, he seemed to have expected this reaction to some extent.
“You do not have to accept my heart, but please, at least accept the gift.”
Benjamin’s smile was fainter than before, but it remained as calm as ripples on the surface of a lake.
“That way, I can court you again, and again, and keep courting you, Tulia.”
‘No, how can such an angel descend to this earth? No, even in the heavenly realm, an angel like Benjamin wouldn't exist…’
I was so moved I almost cried. Just as I was naturally wiping away the tears pooling in my eyes—
[System] Guide Content 3
—No, I don't want it. Because the gift you gave is so vulgar.
My hand froze right by my eye. Being stuck like this, unable to move either way, perfectly represented my current state of mind.
Of course, it didn't disappoint.
You crazy System bastard…!
“Lady Tulia?”
When I remained frozen with my hand over my eye, Benjamin’s brow furrowed slightly.
He stepped closer to me. Stopping at a distance that strictly observed etiquette, Benjamin asked.
“Is something wrong with your eye?”
How sweet those words sounded in that moment.
Feeling like a sprout that had to reject the sunlight, I rolled the pooled tears back into my eyes with all my might.
This was one of my minor specialties from when I was Han Ina. Never cry in front of others, even if you're tearing up!
“Benjamin.”
I had already tasted enough of what "Penalties" were like.
I didn't know what kind of penalty I would face this time, and if I messed up, I could fail the quest itself.
And so, I…
“No, I don't want it.”
I had no choice but to follow the Guide exactly.
“Because the gift you gave…”
“…”
“Is so… vulgar.”
“…”
I checked the quest window like someone grabbing a lifeline, or someone looking for a legitimate excuse to avoid Benjamin’s gaze.
‘It’s the same as when I spoke to Leon. I didn't miss a single word of the Guide.’
So Benjamin should also…
[System] Inflict a serious wound on the male lead ‘Benjamin’ (Incomplete)
‘I’m losing it, stars…’
* * *
“Your Highness the Crown Prince. I am sorry, but you must cancel your afternoon schedule.”
Ferdinand, who was sitting at his desk handling the palace duties assigned to the Crown Prince, looked up.
“Why all of a sudden?”
“His Majesty the Emperor has, well…”
Ferdinand’s Chief Attendant spoke with an embarrassed face.
“He sent a servant saying you should visit the Sanctuary of Repose together.”
“How ridiculous.”
The Chief Attendant couldn't bring himself to respond and simply broke out in a cold sweat.
The Sanctuary of Repose was a beautiful tomb where members of the Brillant Imperial Family had been laid to rest since ancient times.
Since the Brillant Empire did not have a custom of praying to ancestors, the Emperor’s request to go to the Sanctuary of Repose meant he wanted to see only one person.
“Now that I’ve grown up, it seems he’s finally remembering Mother. Is he planning to hug a corpse and wail?”
“…”
“Or has the Emperor of this empire become a necrophile?”
“…”
The Chief Attendant only sank deeper into silence at the blunt cynicism. His back was drenched in cold sweat.
It wasn't just him; any servant standing in this spot would have been at a loss.
“Tell him I have a prior engagement, so I decline the visit to the temple.”
“B-but, Your Highness. The procession is already being prepared. They say the 3rd Imperial Knight Order has already donned their ceremonial uniforms, so must you not go as well…?”
“Hah.”
Ferdinand finally stood up, his face full of irritation. The Chief Attendant reflexively took a step back.
He still wasn't used to seeing the Crown Prince, who had always seemed like a boy, grown up like this.
“The master of a nation must have plenty of free time. To be organizing a procession to a grave and all.”
“Your Highness… They say His Majesty has also summoned the High Priest.”
“Is today the anniversary of the Empress’s death?”
To Ferdinand, the only Empress was his mother, Olivia.
Therefore, he did not use terms like "the former Empress" or "the late Empress."
Just Empress.
That was all he called her.
And the woman who had been a mere maid to that Empress Olivia was now…
Ferdinand, who had been sneering, suddenly found the whole situation comical.
“The ceramics in the Empress’s Palace will all be smashed again.”
“…Rumors are rife that the relationship between Her Majesty Empress Carmi and His Majesty the Emperor is not what it used to be.”
“As of today, there will be rumors that the Empress is plotting treason.”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince…!”
Ferdinand, having casually uttered words that could stop the heart of anyone in the Imperial Palace, walked out of the study.
“Your Highness? Are you going to His Majesty?”
“No.”
Ferdinand gauged the time while looking at the brilliantly scattering sunlight.
“I should meet the person I was supposed to see in the afternoon early. Prepare to go to the White Tulip Salon.”