Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: I've Properly Fallen for a Madman
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17. I've Properly Fallen for a Madman
Heison declared confidently.
"That's right! I have no idea what you're seeing to say that..."
Before Heison could finish, Tail gripped the tip of the golden rose tightly.
And with an expressionless face, he brought it right up to the blazing fire nearby.
"Hiiiik! What are you doing?!"
As Heison screamed, Tail replied in a flat tone, as if asking whether he'd eaten.
"You said you made it with 100 gold coins. But it feels like I made it with 50."
"But...!"
"Then we should check."
Tail grinned.
"Let's melt it down and see how many gold coins come out."
Heison flinched at Tail's eyes, cold and flickering with rage.
This wasn't the aura of an ordinary person.
And in that moment, he realized.
Ah. I'm screwed. I've properly fallen into the hands of a madman.
Without taking his eyes off the frozen Heison, Tail asked Allen.
"Sir Allen."
"Yes."
"What would the punishment be for insulting a noble?"
Allen chuckled inwardly.
With the stage set like this, he'd realized Heison was lying.
Allen's expression was like that of the grim reaper, making Heison's back slick with sweat.
"If insulted with the mouth, the mouth is cut off. If with the feet, the feet are severed."
Allen's words slowly tightened around Heison's neck.
"If with the hands..."
Allen's chilling voice pierced Heison's ears.
"The hands must be cut off."
Allen emphasized each syllable, his voice eerie.
"Chop. Them. Off."
"Heuk!"
Heison screamed and unconsciously clutched his wrists.
As Tail took a step toward the terrified Heison, who trembled while staring at him...
Tail grinned.
It was a mischievous, impish smile.
"So. I'll give you one last chance."
Tail's eyes curved softly.
And in a low voice, he said.
"Where are the other 50 gold coins?"
In the end, Heison knelt and begged.
Tears and snot streaming down his face, he agreed to make 17 more golden roses—not just with the embezzled 50 gold coins, but adding 70 more from the commission Chloe had given him.
He even signed a contract to pay back triple if caught embezzling again, and he couldn't stop crying until Tail and Chloe left.
'Well. It's a bargain compared to his life.'
Thinking that, Tail headed back when he felt sparkling eyes from beside him.
"Lady Chloe?"
At the same time, Chloe grabbed Tail's hand.
"How did you know?"
"...Pardon?"
Her eyes sparkled with admiration and envy.
"That the gold in that flower was only half. How did you know, Tail?"
Because I think about money all day, so it's obvious.
But he couldn't say that outright to this innocent princess.
Tail answered simply.
"I'm very interested in finance."
Well, it wasn't entirely untrue.
He was deeply interested in money.
Just slapped "finance" on it.
But Chloe thought differently, and her eyes sparkled twice as bright.
She'd always been weak with money and numbers since childhood.
So Tail, with his interest in finance, seemed incredibly sexy.
Like his brain was handsome too.
This is a total brainiac hunk!
She murmured in rapture.
"I must have him..."
She absolutely couldn't let him go.
Not understanding her words, Tail blinked.
"...Pardon?"
Snapping to her senses, Chloe smiled brightly.
"Make sure to keep the golden rose."
And every time you see that everlasting rose, think of me.
Swallowing the rest, Chloe and Tail returned to the monastery under Allen's protection.
"Hehehe."
Tail let out a silly laugh.
A beauty shimmering just out of reach before his eyes.
Just looking at it was pure bliss!
Its name was gold. Rose.
"Kuhhehehe."
Tail sat before the ornate golden rose on the windowsill, admiring it.
Bathed in the vivid red glow of the setting sun, the golden rose proudly displayed its splendor.
'170 gold coins went into this.'
He'd tried to skim some off the top, but Heison was a better blacksmith than expected.
It was several times more beautiful and delicate than the previous one.
As if infused with a soul, the rose seemed vividly alive.
"Heeheehee."
Propping his chin, Tail giggled to himself.
He was beaming at the golden rose when the door burst open.
"...What are you doing?"
A face so refined you'd suspect it belonged to a woman.
Short, deep brown hair.
A shy dimple.
Pale pink lips and slightly tanned skin.
The one entering was Tail's roommate, Yujin.
With no response from Tail, who was blankly staring at the golden rose, Yujin called again.
"Hey. Tail?"
His voice was especially soft and delicate compared to the other boys.
Without even turning to Yujin, Tail spoke.
"Ah. Sorry. I was so entranced by this beautiful work of art that I lost my senses."
Tail grinned widely.
"They say just looking at plants brings joy, and it seems true."
Just gazing at it filled his body with happiness.
Seeing Tail like this, Yujin clicked his tongue.
It wasn't the first time he'd seen Tail go mad over money.
"That's a sickness too. Tsk tsk."
Regardless, Tail kept chuckling.
Toward such a Tail, Yujin said.
"Anyway, get ready quick. It's almost 6 in an hour. What should we make for dinner tonight?"
At Yujin's words, Tail's eyes lit up.
6 o'clock was when he went to meet Cecilia.
"Gasp. Has time passed that quickly?"
Lately, Yujin had been personally making Cecilia's meals.
Every day, 1-2 hours before 6, Tail decided on the menu, and Yujin whipped it up right away.
'What menu for today?'
Tail stroked his chin leisurely.
"Hmm, she's had only soup for days, so now she can have other foods little by little."
Saying that, Tail pondered.
"I want to give her nutritious stuff like meat or veggies soon..."
But he hesitated, worried about overwhelming her and causing issues.
Then Yujin suggested.
"How about hamburger steak?"
"Oh!"
Minced meat would be softer than chunks, so it should be fine.
Yujin nodded and said.
"Karen foreleg for the meat."
Karen was a deer-like animal whose tender texture made its meat especially popular with kids and the elderly.
And it tasted great, so Cecilia would probably love it.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Yujin."
Saying that, Tail stood up.
Glancing at the time, it was nearly 5:10.
Tail casually shrugged off his top and headed to the bathroom.
"Gotta wash up quick."
He couldn't smell of sweat when meeting Cecilia.
His bare upper body was packed with solid muscles.
Despite being only about 13, Tail's body was impressive, as if he'd hit his second growth spurt early.
Yujin found his gaze fixed on Tail's body without realizing.
Yujin blankly swallowed hard.
"Huh? What? Why are you staring like that?"
Tail asked oddly at Yujin's dazed stare.
Startled, Yujin shouted loudly.
"N-No! Nothing! I'm going to make the food!"
As Yujin fumbled to open the door and flee, he nearly bumped into Noha standing there.
"S-Sorry."
With a flushed face, Yujin apologized and rushed past Noha.
Glancing at the retreating Yujin, Noha blinked.
"Is something up with Yujin?"
"Nah? Looked like he was in a hurry to make food."
Dismissing it casually, Tail asked Noha.
"But why are you here?"
"A letter came for you."
Noha handed Tail a white envelope sealed with wax and promptly left.
Turning the letter over, Tail frowned.
'What's this?'
He didn't expect mail from anyone.
Examining it, he spotted a symbol at the bottom.
A black-painted wing emblem.
Recognizing it, Tail grinned.
'From Khan.'
It was the emblem of Khan's guild, Black Wing.
Tail opened the letter immediately.
[Important matter, so we'll talk in person]
"Hmm."
Tail let out a short groan.
'An important matter Khan can't discuss easily.'
Thinking he'd have to visit the Black Wing Guild soon, he headed back to the bathroom.
Meanwhile.
Yujin, running breathlessly, panted with breaths up to his chin.
"Hua. Hua. Hua."
His cheeks still burned.
'Crazy. Crazy.'
Tail's muscles kept flashing in his mind.
In that moment, it really hit him that Tail was a man.
Slap!
Yujin slapped his cheeks.
"Get it together. Can't fall for him now."
Muttering softly, Yujin hurried to the kitchen with quick steps.