I Bought the Villains With Money - Chapter 71

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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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Episode 71.
“Yes. Miss Bella seems to have been well. Your complexion is much brighter than when we last met.”
Bella thought to herself that Dayson was a poor judge of people.
Over the past several days, Bella had spent sleepless nights worrying she’d be sent down to her provincial estate. As a result, her cheeks had hollowed noticeably, so much so that Count Colcos remarked to her that morning whether something was troubling her.
“How have you been, Your Highness? I’ve heard some wonderful news from the Royal Court.”
Dayson’s expression darkened instantly. Then, remembering that Bella was Diana’s relative, he forced a smile.
“It is joyous news indeed. Did you hear it from Count Colcos? I’ve heard their bond with Her Majesty is quite close, and it seems to be true.”
“No, I heard it directly from Diana. It’s true that my father and Her Majesty are well acquainted, but that’s all there is to it.”
What Bella said was not a lie—Diana had spoken of it at the vassal conference, and Count Colcos had heard it and relayed it to Bella.
Yet Bella had cunningly omitted the chain of events, making it sound as though Diana had consulted Count Colcos directly about the engagement.
“Since Count Colcos is the only elder in the Irenber Family, it makes sense he would have been consulted first.”
Dayson understood exactly as Bella had intended.
“Oh, forgive me! I was so delighted I nearly forgot to ask. What brings you here today?”
Dayson, who had been contemplating something with a pensive expression, looked Bella in the eye and asked.
“Father said he was coming to pay his respects to Her Majesty, and I asked if I could come along. I wanted to see the Royal Palace, and I hoped perhaps I might see you, Your Highness.”
Bella twisted slightly and averted her gaze a little. Dayson’s pupils wavered.
“Me?”
Rather than answer, Bella nodded. Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.
Dayson recognized the rational affection Bella was displaying toward him.
Among nobility, it was not unusual for political betrothals to be promised before the age of ten, and for the future couples to maintain relations. It was nothing extraordinary.
If Karman had not been indifferent to his three children, and if Julia had managed to find suitable matches, Dayson, Cassion, and Yumire’s betrothals would have been settled long ago.
Dayson’s heart moved.
He did not dislike the affection Bella offered. Rather, he found it pleasing.
At Julia’s tea party, he had attended as an escort and observed the daughters of famous families, but none possessed the promise and beauty that made Bella so captivating.
‘Wait, there is one other. Diana.’
But Diana was his younger brother’s fiancée.
Dayson uttered a small sound of regret involuntarily.
Bella lifted her head.
“Have I offended you?”
“No, not at all! Not in the slightest! Well then, since we’re here, shall we have some tea? I insist on treating you.”
That was precisely what Bella wanted. She nodded, and Dayson, who had begun to move forward, turned back and offered her his arm. A proper escort.
As Bella took his arm and they walked toward the palace, she turned over the words she had spoken to Count Colcos in her mind.
“Father, let me try. I will capture Prince Dayson’s heart, so you must secure Her Majesty’s favor firmly. I do not wish to return to my estate like this.”
Should Julia’s resolve waver, Bella was determined to hold Dayson fast enough that Count Colcos could never be cast aside.
Bella’s grip on Dayson’s arm tightened.
***
To reach the Capital, one had to travel to a major city near Helsinkin and take a Portal.
Exhausted from the journey, I had made plans to visit Cassion as soon as I arrived in the Capital.
But those plans fell through.
“What is all this?”
I stood before the Study, where documents were piled high as mountains, and asked.
“Documents, Miss.”
Matthew, standing beside the mountain of papers, was in the process of placing yet another document atop the heap.
“…There’s an enormous amount.”
Though I was skilled at reviewing documents and even enjoyed it, the sheer volume was enough to crush my spirits at first glance.
“The Head of Family’s responsibilities are naturally extensive.”
Matthew spoke gently, as if offering me comfort.
His tone was kind, yet it preemptively shut down any complaints, and I laughed awkwardly.
So Father accomplished all this without a word of complaint. I was struck anew by his dedication, and my chest tightened.
At the same time, a competitive spirit flared within me.
‘I cannot lose either!’
I rolled up my sleeves and sat in Father’s enormous chair. My feet dangled in the air, and only my face and arms extended above the desk.
It was clear that the desk and chair were impossibly large for me.
“We shall need to replace the Study furniture right away.”
Matthew broke into a smile before quickly suppressing it. He spoke with considerable gravity, but I could see he was already laughing.
“Are these documents urgent?”
“They are. However, if you continue reviewing them in that position, your shoulders will be so stiff by tomorrow that you won’t be able to rise. Please sit at your usual desk.”
The children’s desk I had brought to the Study after my return. Made simply from sturdy solid wood without any unnecessary ornamentation, it was remarkably sturdy and spacious.
It could bear three mountains of documents without collapsing.
Matthew transferred the documents to the children’s desk.
‘Put it there from the start.’
I must have been acting proud about becoming Acting Head of Family, because suddenly my mood soured.
I slid my hips backward until I was perched on the edge of the chair, pressed my chin to my neck, and puffed out my cheeks.
He’d dumped mountains of work on me the moment I arrived, and then laughed because I’m small!
A flutter of disappointment toward Matthew was just beginning to wash over me.
“I’ve reviewed half of it, Miss. I’ve marked only the sections you absolutely must see, and I’ve set aside the documents requiring your input separately.”
Once he’d finished moving all the papers, he pointed to the colored tabs jutting out along the edge of the stack.
Red for sections I had to read, blue for documents needing my opinion, and yellow for unimportant ones.
At that explanation, the disappointment I’d nearly felt toward Matthew melted away without a trace.
“Thank you, Matthew!”
Whatever disappointment there was vanished, replaced by gratitude welling up inside me.
I hopped down from the chair.
Then, settling into my properly-sized seat, I spoke to Matthew.
“There’s no need to clear away Father’s chair and desk. I’ll sit in them someday.”
“Normally, when the Head of Family changes, the study and reception rooms are refurbished according to the new Head’s preferences.”
I knew that already.
“Matthew, I’m still Acting Head of Family. I’ll decide after I become the true Head and sit in Father’s chair at least once.”
Matthew nodded as if he understood my meaning. I gave him a smile and picked up a pen.
Fifty-five documents before I could see Cassion!
My fiery night had begun.
***
I woke early in the morning. The dawn I greeted in the Capital, in Irenber Mansion, in my own room felt fresher than any other day.
“Miss, you’re awake?”
Jennis’s face, as she entered with water for a light wash, was noticeably brighter.
“Mmm, Jennis. I slept wonderfully.”
“But you didn’t fall asleep until past midnight.”
I flinched. For a moment I wondered if Jennis had stayed awake watching me, then pushed the thought away. After all, I now knew about her information network.
“The mice told you?”
Jennis answered yes. An impressive network indeed, but I was growing worried that our house was overrun with rodents.
“Miss, there are exactly five mice in Irenber Mansion. They’re all my friends.”
Jennis spoke as she saw my face darken.
I’d heard that if you see one mouse, there are ten more you don’t. And that mice thrive where food is plentiful.
But only five mice in our Irenber? When surely no other household in the Capital stored as much grain as we did?
“I used my friends to encourage the others to relocate elsewhere. Mice aren’t exactly… the cleanest of creatures, after all.”
“Well done. But you can even arrange relocations?”
“I simply introduce them to better places.”
I didn’t ask where Jennis had introduced them. The thought alone was horrifying enough.
“You’ll be going to see His Highness Cassion today, yes?”
“Yes, I should. The betrothal is practically upon us.”
“You’ll need to arrange your dress first. Since the Royal Palace handles the ceremony decoration and order anyway, or so I hear.”
The Royal Palace had a dedicated administrator overseeing ceremonies alone—a fairly high-ranking official. People of meticulous temperament typically preferred that position.
The sort who tolerate no margin of error. The type who must align every chair at the precise angle, for instance.
“I thought His Majesty said the ceremony would be held at Irenber Mansion when the Lifrissan blooms.”
Lifrissan was the flower Mother especially adored. She’d even had a separate Lifrissan garden planted in the courtyard.
The glass conservatory at Irenber, which allowed Mother to see her beloved Lifrissan even in the depths of winter, was the Mansion’s greatest pride.
‘Now that I think of it, Father was truly devoted. His love for Mother was boundless.’
Being the fruit of their love, I felt myself precious in a way I hadn’t before.
“A royal event held at a private residence doesn’t make sense. Besides, the Royal Palace has its own Lifrissan garden. If it didn’t, the ceremony administrator would simply create one. That’s part of his job.”
“Still, since it’s your betrothal, I wish your opinion carried more weight. That’s usually how it goes.”
Normally, that would be true for a marriage.
But this isn’t an ordinary marriage. This is the union of the Irenber Family and the Petrol Royal Court.
“Even so, I get to choose my dress and jewels, don’t I? That counts for something.”
Jennis’s lips still jutted out. All the signs of her nagging about to begin!
“I’m busy today, Jennis! No time to dawdle.”
When I even clapped my hands to hurry her along, Jennis’s movements quickened.
She brought me tea, served breakfast, drew my bath—and with the competence of two people, Jennis managed it all effortlessly.
And at last, we arrived at Cassion’s palace.
From the palace entrance onward, I received greetings from countless people before standing before Cassion’s chamber door.
I knocked softly and opened the door.
“Your Highness, I’m here.”
I Bought the Villains with Money (Serialized)
Author │ Lee In-hye
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyung
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd. – Tiramisu
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyuk
Address │ 1101, 11F, Ace Techno Tower 8, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ http://blog.naver.com/jayplemedia1
ⓒ Lee In-hye 2021
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder,
and the content may not be used in any form or by any means without the permission of 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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