Chapter 39
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 39
To think I’d see a young Ferdinand being slapped by the Empress and bleeding.
That was a scene I had never encountered even while playing the game, so I was more than a little flustered.
‘Maybe it would’ve been better if I hadn’t given him anything at all.’
Embarrassment washed over me as I recalled the cotton handkerchief I had handed to Ferdinand.
A cheap thing... something a commoner would use.
‘But I didn’t have a choice.’
Aubrey and Lilius had been incredibly spiteful even after I moved to the main castle.
Because of them, I could hardly buy any new dresses, nor could I get my hands on decent daily necessities.
‘It’s only thanks to Luc looking after my living conditions that I even look like a lady.’
But Luc Kelposher was, quite literally, an advisor.
It hadn't occurred to him to take care of the minor daily items a noble lady might need.
For instance, he knew how to order beautiful satin shoes, but he didn't realize he should also order a matching set of lace stockings to go with them.
So, the only handkerchief I had was that old, shabby thing I’d been using since my time in the warehouse.
‘I really should have bought at least one decent handkerchief before coming here.’
At least it was lucky that Adel had washed it clean.
‘He probably threw it away, thinking it was a piece of trash.’
Since I had played The Milk Bread, I knew better than anyone how foul Ferdinand’s personality was before he fell in love.
I glanced at the star still floating beside me and clicked it.
The status window immediately appeared before my eyes.
[System: Status Window]
Tulia Frezier (15 years old)
Overall Rating: D-
The reason I couldn't buy a single nice handkerchief?
It was because my Wealth stat was still at '0.'
After all that struggle, the budget allocated to Tulia had finally been normalized, but still...
‘I’m still in debt!’
That crazy Tulia.
Lilius wasn't the only one she had borrowed money from; debt collection notices were flying in from all over the place every month.
As I diligently paid them off, minor luxuries befitting a noble? They were a pipe dream.
‘She should have at least bought some gold. She had no eye for jewelry and just bought anything as long as it was big...’
It wasn't that Tulia lacked an eye for gems entirely.
Now that I had possessed this body, I could see it even more clearly.
Lilius and Aubrey must have constantly whispered in her ear that even if the quality was poor, large stones suited Tulia’s flamboyant face.
Thanks to that, Tulia’s jewelry box was filled with stones that were huge but worth very little.
It was essentially a nouveau riche’s jewelry box.
The kind of stuff that wouldn't even fetch much money if I tried to sell it.
Of course, I couldn't keep living hand-to-mouth as Tulia forever.
If I didn't raise my Wealth—specifically, if I didn't reach '10'—I would never achieve an Overall Rating of A.
For the record, Wealth 10 was a number that could only be reached by possessing an astronomical amount of money.
Unless I suddenly inherited the position of Grand Duke Frezier, it was a value that was absolutely impossible to achieve.
‘But it’s not like there’s no way.’
Thinking about the tasks ahead, it suddenly struck me how busy my situation was.
I had to earn money in reality, and I had to earn coins too.
‘Fortunately, I did get another thousand coins.’
I had already experienced firsthand how 1,000 coins could melt away and how the status window liked to stab me in the back.
It was better for my peace of mind to just think of 1,000 coins as being worth about ten dollars.
‘Oh, right.’
Come to think of it, the bottom of the status window was blinking.
I remembered that I had obtained a benefit, but I hadn't been able to check it yet because I was distracted by the cold and everything else.
Deciding it was time to check, I clicked it with my eyes.
[System] Benefit obtained!
[System] A special benefit is granted for achieving over 90% favorability with ‘Asis Frezier’!
[System] Asis Frezier’s Character Importance: ☆☆☆☆
[System] You have obtained the benefit ‘Lead Bank’!
‘Bank?’
A bank? What kind of bank?
If it’s "Lead," does it mean the metal?
It was a benefit I had never heard of.
As I sat up from the pillow in confusion, the sparkling text continued as if it had been waiting.
[System] Benefit ‘Lead Bank’ obtained!
[System] Benefit Effect: If you deposit coins for 7 days, you will receive 10% of the coins as interest.
I jumped out of bed without even realizing it.
“What?!”
* * *
The next morning.
“My lady, the doctor says there’s nothing wrong with your head, thankfully.”
“U-Uh-huh.”
“Phew.”
Adel let out a sigh of relief. Her expression showed she was truly relieved.
‘I suppose she would be.’
Last night, I had screamed at the top of my lungs in the middle of the night after seeing the benefit.
Startled by my voice, she had rushed in immediately, and as soon as morning came, she brought the chief physician. The doctor told her that my fever wasn't severe.
In other words, my brain hadn't melted from the heat.
Basically, he was telling her to rest easy because I hadn't gone crazy.
“But my lady, um... aren't you too hot?”
“Not at all, not at all. I have to do this to get well quickly.”
“You’re sweating buckets, are you really alright...?”
I could understand why Adel kept worrying that I might have lost my mind.
Right now, I was wrapped in three layers of blankets, sweating profusely, and even clutching a hot water bottle.
There was only one reason.
I could earn coins just by the act of trying to recover quickly!
[System: Status Window]
Tulia Frezier (15 years old)
Overall Rating: D-
It was only last night that I realized I could earn coins by taking care of my body to recover faster.
It was a bit funny, but if I thought about it, managing Corico’s stamina so she wouldn't die of illness was also important when playing the game.
I figured this coin-earning method was derived from that.
“My lady. Shall I change the water in the hot water bottle again? It seems to have gotten a bit lukewarm.”
“Yes, yes. Thanks, Adel.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
Regardless of her confusion, Adel took care of me devotedly.
‘Gaining a head maid like Adel is one of the few blessings Tulia has.’
It was just as Adel opened the lid of the hot water bottle to pour out the cooled water and refill it with hot water.
Knock, knock.
There was a knock at the door.
A moment later.
“Lady Tulia.”
The person who gave me a slight bow was none other than the butler of the main castle.
‘He’s Lilius’s man.’
Since Aubrey and Lilius had been in charge of the internal affairs for a long time, it was no surprise that the castle's butler was one of theirs.
As expected, the butler was looking at me with a stiff face.
I remained curled up in the blankets like a grub and asked.
“What is it?”
“My lady. Viscount Lilius is calling for you.”
“And why is he calling me?”
“He asks that you come out to greet the guests.”
“...Guests?”
“Yes, my lady.”
While I knit my brows slightly, Adel stepped forward.
“I beg your pardon, but the young lady is currently ill. The chief physician has prescribed absolute rest.”
The butler stared at Adel for a moment.
However, he quickly looked back at me and bowed again.
“Then I shall take my leave with that understanding. My lady.”
“Wait a moment.”
I was the one who called out to the butler as he was about to turn away.
“Butler.”
I continued as I wiggled out of the thick blankets.
His stiff face and the fact that he was Lilius’s man made it suspicious that he was giving up so easily.
“Who did my younger uncle say I should greet?”
And as expected, the butler looked frustrated for a split second.
However, like a butler who had managed the castle for a long time, he quickly composed himself and answered.
“It is Young Lord Lisian Frezier and Young Lord Leon Frezier.”
“Huh?”
Gasp.
I inhaled sharply without realizing it.
The true male lead and that total bastard from The Milk Bread have arrived at the main castle this early?!