I Bought the Villains With Money - Chapter 61

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 61.
Julia’s chambers reeked of roses—so thickly that my head began to throb. I couldn’t bear it any longer and spoke up.
“Might I open a window, Your Majesty?”
Julia nodded, and her attendant moved swiftly. As the window swung open, the cloying rose scent rushed out, replaced by cool, fresh air.
“I do apologize for summoning you on such short notice, Lady Diana. Ah—but since you’re to be betrothed to Cassion, surely I needn’t be so formal? You’re practically my daughter already.”
Gooseflesh crept up my forearms. Thank goodness I was wearing long sleeves; otherwise Julia would have noticed my disgust at that very moment.
‘Though she probably senses it anyway.’
I forced a smile and set down my teacup.
“You’re very kind to put me at ease.”
The words were hollow.
“I knew you and Cassion got along well enough. But I had no idea the betrothal was already being arranged.”
“I assumed you were already aware, Your Majesty—after all, His Majesty Karman approved it, and your people are everywhere in the palace. Surely nothing escapes your notice.”
I’d tread carefully, but I wouldn’t hold my tongue.
I represented the Irenberg House now. Even if only as Acting House Head.
Here, perhaps, I should clarify the distinction between Acting House Head and House Head.
A House Head holds absolute authority over all matters of the house and makes every decision alone.
An Acting House Head, by contrast, retains most basic powers—save one: they cannot unilaterally command the house’s military forces.
Any major transaction involving vast sums required a council meeting, and detailed records had to be kept.
Moreover, if grounds for revocation arose, an Acting House Head forfeited everything immediately.
It seemed trivial, but these three restrictions narrowed my field of action considerably.
Still, I was House Head—Acting House Head, yes, but the title itself meant I represented the Irenberg House. I was its face now.
“You’re right. There’s nowhere within these palace walls, nowhere in Brum, nowhere in all of Petrola that I don’t have eyes and ears. And yet I didn’t know. Perhaps we simply weren’t close enough—or perhaps you kept it from me?”
“Impossible, Your Majesty. You simply turned your attention elsewhere—to others besides Cassion and myself. I confess, I was almost hurt by your indifference.”
I smiled without meaning, and Julia smiled back to match.
“It sounds as though you’re asking for more of my attention.”
“The attention of the royal family is always a gift to be grateful for.”
“Then I shall make a point of observing you both more closely from now on. We can’t have you feeling neglected.”
I laughed silently to myself.
She’d just announced her intention to watch me more carefully—and without a trace of shame.
“Oh, and congratulations on your appointment. I hear you’ve become Acting House Head.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
“Given your youth, your retainers must be quite worried about you.”
It sounded like a threat—a promise to probe my retainers’ doubts, to plant discord within the house by making them question my capabilities.
‘Unfortunate for her, that plan will fail. I intend to visit the estates first thing.’
To look after my people.
That would be my first act as Acting House Head.
“I’m fortunate to have many capable people around me. I hope to rely on their guidance as I learn. It’s an opportunity His Majesty has graciously provided, after all.”
Becoming betrothed doesn’t make one an adult, and technically I shouldn’t be eligible for this role at all.
But Karman had made it possible. Truly, the throne was a remarkable seat of power.
Of course, it was Calis who’d done the legwork, sweating through the night to make it legally sound.
‘It’s an opportunity he fought hard to secure. I can’t afford to fail.’
I tightened my grip on the teacup, silently steeling myself.
“If you ever need my assistance, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“How generous of you! To have such support is truly reassuring.”
Me, asking Julia for help?
‘Not in this lifetime. Unless I’m trying to con her.’
Julia’s mouth closed, and I found myself with nothing more to say. So we sat in silence, sipping our tea.
The cups were nearly empty. Despite the open window, the air in the room felt stale and suffocating.
She hadn’t summoned me just to look at my face. If she had something to say, I wished she’d say it plainly.
Why was she being so cautious?
‘Perhaps the title of Acting House Head frightens her more than I thought.’
When I’d been Dayson’s partner, Julia never read my moods quite so carefully.
“Why are you always so slow? Did you prepare the funds I asked for? Diana, I’ve told you a dozen times it was critical for Dayson.”
She had a habit of making unreasonable demands and then rushing me about them.
“Good heavens, I can’t fathom what goes through your head. I don’t understand what Dayson sees in someone so infuriating.”
She’d belittled me without hesitation.
It hadn’t always been that way.
Only after I’d become betrothed to Dayson and Count Colcos took control as guardian did Julia reveal her true nature so nakedly.
If she changed this much with me merely as Acting House Head, what would she do once I became the true House Head?
‘Is she planning to use polite speech while poisoning me with words—like a serpent’s tongue?’
“Oh, that’s right, Diana. You seem to know Guardian quite well.”
Julia mentioned Guardian with casual indifference, as though remarking on a pebble she’d spotted along the road.
“Yes, Your Highness. I happened to meet him by chance at the Magic Association festival last time. I went with Dayson, and somehow we ended up running into Guardian and his magic there.”
I decided to emphasize the word “chance.” It would be difficult to find evidence that I’d known Guardian beforehand.
“Is that so? Diana, you’re quite fortunate. Have you heard that Guardian has agreed to teach Cassion?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I have.”
Denying it would be pointless—she wouldn’t believe me anyway—so I answered honestly.
“I was rather surprised. That Cassion was a mage, of all things. You were surprised too, weren’t you?”
Julia was studying me carefully.
Whether I’d known beforehand that Cassion was a mage.
It didn’t matter much either way, but still, it was better to feign ignorance here.
“I was absolutely shocked! When I happened to meet Guardian and he said, ‘You’re a mage’—I got goosebumps all over!”
I widened my eyes as childishly as possible and gestured with my hands, fabricating the scene entirely.
“That’s understandable enough. A mage has never been born in the royal family before, not even once. It’s remarkable, even wonderful. That’s why I approved Guardian as Cassion’s teacher.”
What did she just say?
I set down my teacup and lifted my head to look at Julia.
“You didn’t hear this part, it seems. The King was uncertain about whether to appoint Guardian as Cassion’s teacher, so I urged him to do so.”
I couldn’t believe it.
Karman might have told Julia about Guardian. But Julia giving her approval—that part didn’t make sense.
‘Why? Could the two of them have struck a bargain?’
Julia never took losses willingly.
Cassion being a mage was bad news for Dayson. And securing such an exceptional teacher as Guardian only made it worse.
“We shouldn’t be discussing such matters now. Shall we talk about the engagement ceremony?”
After that, I continued conversing with Julia, but I gleaned no information that could satisfy my curiosity.
Julia kept hurling empty words at me, all the while observing my reactions.
Her eyes gleamed sharply, as though ready to pounce the moment she spotted an opening.
For two hours I maintained tense composure through pointless conversation.
***
“Miss, you should rest a little.”
Jennis set a snack on the desk and spoke softly.
I rubbed my drowsy eyes and looked up. Jennis had already closed the window, and before me sat a tray with a steaming cup.
Growing up meant someone bringing you snacks.
“It’s warm milk. They say it helps you sleep well.”
As I blinked slowly at the cup, Jennis added:
“Did you add honey?”
“Of course.”
Does warm milk with honey truly aid sleep?
Absolutely not!
Because after drinking milk, you have to brush your teeth!
Still, I grasped the large cup in both hands and blew on it before sipping.
‘It’s delicious.’
The rich, sweet taste of milk spread across my tongue.
My body, chilled by the cold wind flowing through the window I’d kept open to stay awake, grew warm again thanks to the milk.
‘It would be perfect if I melted some chocolate into this.’
And marshmallows on top!
“Shall I light the fireplace?”
“No. If I get too warm, I’ll fall asleep.”
“You need to sleep, Miss. That’s how you grow.”
Jennis retrieved the blanket she’d left and draped it around my shoulders.
“All right. Just one more thing.”
I picked up the thinnest document from the pile before me and waved it back and forth.
Jennis narrowed her eyes at me, then sighed. Instead of leaving, she settled onto the study sofa.
“Go rest, Jennis.”
“I’ll escort you to your bedroom and tuck you in there, Miss.”
Arguing with Jennis when she was stubborn was futile—truth be told, I was rather weak to her—so the document in my hand truly became my last one.
“By the way, Miss. I’m curious about something. May I ask?”
“What is it?”
“How did you suddenly get permission for the engagement?”
It was unusual for Jennis to ask me a question. Typically, she already knew most things I hadn’t told her.
Truth was, I’d been taken aback when Karman’s letter arrived so abruptly.
I understood why he acknowledged me, but I couldn’t be certain of the exact reason, and just as I was wrestling with that doubt, Karman’s third letter arrived.
[The Brook Kingdom and the Donet Kingdom are showing considerable interest. How much Anti-Nausea Medicine can you produce within two months?]
Just as I’d anticipated, both kingdoms had responded enthusiastically to the Anti-Nausea Medicine.
Since I couldn’t explain every detail to Jennis, I kept my explanation brief.
“He’s simply charmed by my brilliance.”
“That’s right, Miss. You are a genius, after all.”
I’d expected her to react with something like “What on earth?” but instead I found myself flustered.
No matter how often one receives praise, it never becomes comfortable.
“But Miss, even a brilliant mind like yours needs rest to function properly.”
Jennis seized every opportunity to worry about my health.
“Fine, I promise this is truly the last one! The faster I read, the faster I’ll sleep. So stop bothering me.”
I spoke to Jennis with deliberate sternness and bent my head over the papers.
The moment I thought of Jennis waiting, my concentration sharpened.
“Deforestation caused by logging……”
At last I’d finished reading the final document.
I Bought Out the Villains with Money (Serialized)
Author │ Lee In-hye
Publisher │ Kim Joo-hyung
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd. – Tiramisu
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyuk
Address │ 11F (8th Tower), Ace Techno Tower, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, 1101)
Email │ [email protected]
Homepage │ http://blog.naver.com/jayplemedia1
ⓒ Lee In-hye 2021
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder,
and the contents may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and author.
Violation of this may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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