The Fox Wife's Hidden Fortune
No, that's not it! "I showed you an unsightly side of myself, Madam."
Hwaya's tears, like a fox rain, had stopped as quickly as they'd come, her sunset-orange eyes back to their usual bright glow. If not for the droplet stains still on my shoulder, it might have felt like she'd never cried in my arms at all. Of course, since I'd been the one pulling her in—and she was taller than me—it probably looked more like I was the one nestled in her embrace.
"Shall we start with brushing your hair, then?"
"Again? That's three times already."
"It's only proper after going out."
She seemed comforted enough, so no harm done. Hwaya sat me down and pulled a comb from her sleeve. Her touch, gently working through my long locks, was as soft as ever. I'd heard long hair could tangle and hurt when combed, but this heavy cascade had never once stung during all the time I'd been in this body. Probably thanks to Hwaya's skill—and the years of devoted care that came before. The soft rustle of strands and the smooth glide of the comb felt good even to me. No wonder some women put up with the hassle of long hair every day, despite the complaints.
"Madam, it looks like you'll have to take dinner alone tonight."
"Ah, I figured as much."
With that incident in the nearby village, it made sense. Sohwi must be swamped for all sorts of reasons. Overwork was the fate of every romance novel hero, wasn't it?
"It seems the damage was already spreading before we found it—they'd shared the food around."
"...Yeah."
Hwaya's words conjured the image of a mother in the square, yielding her own portion to the children. Everyone who'd eaten it had turned into those things. The kids... The screams echoing from the plaza still rang in my ears. Mothers safe thanks to love for their children—mothers whose love couldn't save them, their cries piercing the air.
"Isn't there something we can do to help...?"
Plenty of kids must have lost their parents too. The wounded adults could soldier on somehow. Even if life felt worse than death, even if every day dissolved into tears, time still passed. But children—who needed protection and love—they were different. For the young and frail, every passing day was torment.
I wanted to help, but... I was a penniless freeloader myself. Forget building an orphanage; even a single warm meal cost money. Broke as I was, anything I did would mean begging from the estate's coffers or its lord, Sohwi. Sure, if I could earn my own, it'd solve everything. But what could I do?
"Hwaya, if I learned sewing properly, could I make money from it?"
"Pardon? Well... housewives do take in sewing work sometimes."
"Wonder if I could manage it...?"
Hwaya's combing hands froze mid-stroke at my question. From her perspective, it must have sounded like the lady of a wealthy house announcing she'd wash dishes for day wages. But I couldn't think of anything else. All the modern knowledge tricks worth trying were already in the markets. Head to the capital with its royal court, and they'd probably be churning out steampunk gadgets.
"Madam, sewing wouldn't even cover one child's meals."
"Right..."
"More than that, there's no reason for you to earn wages sewing."
Just ask Sohwi, and it'd be settled. But filling my whims that way—what meaning would it have? I was already indulging selfish urges enough as it was.
"Your personal assets should be more than enough."
"Even so, every time... What?"
My personal what?
"The money from when you first made and sold that scented soap has piled up nicely."
Hwaya's casual remark made my head spin. Ryu Sua had started a soap business? If I'd known nothing and tried peddling soap to make cash, what a humiliation that would've been.
"Even the scented bath soap we use was your invention, Madam. It still brings in a steady income."
Even the fragrant liquid soap I used for baths—her creation, apparently. No wonder it foamed so richly and felt so smooth. Ryu Sua: beloved by all, rolling in riches. A true romance heroine spec.
Hmm... But that left me with nothing to do. Could've gone easy on me, Ryu Sua.
Having all that money—what good was it?
"It's just... hard to touch that money."
It wasn't mine. Using Ryu Sua's savings was still dipping into someone else's pocket. Not a real solution. If anything, it just filled me with defeat against the capable Ryu Sua. Could I even be useful as the Fox Wife?
"Why does it bother you to use those funds, Madam?"
As my worries deepened, Hwaya's paused hands resumed, her fingers slipping between strands to divide them into three neat sections.
"Worried there might not be enough for real needs later?"
"That too... and I just hate the idea of money I earned vanishing suddenly."
I didn't want to spend funds Ryu Sua might have earmarked, only for problems to arise. Especially not the heroine's savings.
"Then there's no issue using it."
"Huh? No, I mean..."
"In other words, as long as it's for the plans you set, it's fine, right?"
Was that how it worked?
"Not using it as planned might be the real problem."
"Uh...?"
"If your memories were intact, you'd have used it. Letting it sit is the issue."
Hwaya had finished braiding by then and knelt gracefully before me.
"Don't worry, Madam. I'm here."
She gently laid her hand over mine.
"Even if you don't remember, I've heard all about it."
"..."
"If it's still uncomfortable, we can earn back what we use together. I'll help."
The warmth of Hwaya's hand on mine was surprisingly soothing.
"...We'll think of it together?"
I murmured softly, and she tilted her head.
"Yes. You said it yourself—asked me to help from the side."
I hadn't expected her to throw my own words back at me. Right. I'd asked for help first, then gone digging alone again.
"Was it just empty words? This mama would be a little sad."
"N-no, that was a figure of speech!"
Ugh. Had my careless metaphor given her ammo to tease? Still, seeing her beam happily, calling herself "mama"—good was good.
"But I'd love your help."
"Of course, Madam."
With Hwaya's aid secured, we dove straight into planning. My grasp on local norms and money sense was lacking, after all.
"First, I want to keep spending minimal."
"I'll handle that part—just leave it to me."
Ideally, rather than daily meals, securing a safe haven mattered most. An orphanage would be perfect. But preparing land wasn't simple; no room for greed there.
"Your original plan was sponsoring the Hyeminseo."
"Hyeminseo?"
"Yes. It's a public clinic aiding commoners' medical needs—and sheltering orphans who've lost parents."
Ryu Sua had thought the same. Easier to bolster an existing place than build anew.
"But with the recent jaeng outbreak, it's already at capacity..."
The problem: even that place was bursting. Not just kids—other commoners gravely injured by jaeng. As a medical facility, it had no choice.
"Building our own spot really is best."
"That takes money and time..."
"There's a suitable place and building, but there's an issue."
"..."
At this point, it felt less "found" and more "conjured on the spot." Ryu Sua: truly young, rich, and landed.
"It needs court approval."
"The royal court's?"
For a mere orphanage? Did we really need his majesty's permission? Kids were the nation's future—couldn't they cut some slack...?
"Gathering people privately like that—if mishandled, it looks like private troops."
...No such luck. I'd forgotten: this was a real monarchy with a living king. One misstep, and treason charges—off with heads.
"Even relief under your name needs permits anyway."
"Even for daily meals?"
"Yes. The court views you on par with the Sangu."
I struggled to grasp what "on par with Sangu" meant. I barely knew what Sangu even were.
"Sangu are those appointed by the court to suppress jaeng in designated mountains and territories. Master is the Sangu of Horyeongsan."
Oh, right—the candy seller from Myogasan and Jeongi had explained that on my first outing. So much had happened since, I'd forgotten.
"The moment they suppress jaeng, they're like kings to those in their domain. They just don't say it aloud."
In short: a Sangu with popular support doing relief work? Instant rebel vibes. Heads. Rolling heads.
"You're not official yet, but same deal."
So ultimately...
"Convince Master well, and get his permission."
I had to cozy up to Sohwi.
After all that agonizing, it boiled down to the same thing... Still, just asking meant not begging Sohwi for the rest outright. Better? Hmm. Recalling my first outing request—rushing led to "seobangnim" sticking. Maybe not.
But agonizing alone changed nothing.
"The man's not even here."
I hadn't glimpsed Sohwi since returning to the estate. Had to see him to ask or not. Moonlight already bathed the night; time to give up and sleep.
I untied the strings of my thin red undershirt and shrugged it off backward. My pale arms and cleavage, barely concealed by the flimsy fabric, were fully exposed. Hwaya would faint if she saw, but short sleeves? No—wide-sleeved sleepwear was incredibly uncomfortable. Tempted to ditch the skirt too, but that'd leave just the breast binding—like a half-naked savage. Then I'd get an earful from Hwaya till blood trickled.
"Comes every night, but vanishes when I want him."
Like the saying: even dung's medicine when needed. Here every night—gone when I need him.
"Glad my lady feels the same."
Correction needed. Speak of the tiger, and he appears. How'd he show right after my grumble?
Sohwi, leaning in the open window, was surprisingly welcome.
"Aren't you busy?"
"Busy. But too busy for a night greeting to my wife?"
Perfect. While he's here, pitch the orphanage...?
Sohwi's gaze felt off. Looking at me, but not quite meeting my eyes...
"Pushed back the wedding for time, yet bare your chest waiting like this?"
"Eh?"
"My lady's quite the bold one, exposing so freely?"
Then I remembered the discarded undershirt. I frantically clutched my chest with both hands.
"N-no, it's not like that!!!"
Not baring it all! Just for comfort!