I Bought the Villains With Money - Chapter 87

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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 87.
I thought today I might actually manage to have a pleasant conversation with Cassion, laughing together….
“That worthless dog doesn’t deserve the mosquitoes!”
Cassion spat out a torrent of crude language, his face twisted in fury.
The object of Cassion’s violent cursing was none other than Dayson.
This mess had started when I’d convinced Cassion to take a walk with me after so long.
We’d run directly into Dayson, who happened to be strolling with Bella. And that’s when he’d done something that absolutely infuriated Cassion.
“Your Highness, please calm yourself.”
“Do I look calm to you? Diana, aren’t you upset? There Dayson goes, making advances toward you right in front of me—how does he have the audacity to propose that you dance the opening dance at my birthday celebration with him?”
It was a proposal no person with even a shred of sense or courtesy would make. But then again, expecting sense or courtesy from Dayson was a fool’s errand.
“That’s just how he is. Getting worked up only hurts Your Highness. Besides, I refused him clearly in front of you. So please, don’t be upset.”
“Diana. You lied to me?”
“I’m sorry?”
Cassion huffed indignantly at me. I couldn’t fathom why he’d suddenly turned his anger in my direction.
“You said you had money.”
“Yes, I do have money. Irenber is mine, after all.”
And soon I’d be richer still.
The coal mine had been completed, and the Northern Region distribution network that Chanel had opened was already verified.
Once I established coal trade routes to the frozen territories using that network, it would be an absolute fortune.
I could already imagine the market’s enthusiastic response.
When the coal mine went into full operation, Irenber’s wealth would grow exponentially.
So much so that mathematicians themselves wouldn’t be able to predict the scale of it.
Oskin was already spreading rumors across the realm that Helsinkkin was about to become wealthy, and that I was responsible for every bit of it.
As a result, my desk was piled high with letters from regional territories begging for me to come inspect their lands.
“Let’s just dispose of Dayson and move on.”
While I was worrying about how to reply to all those letters, Cassion had suggested this.
He must despise Dayson quite thoroughly.
“Your Highness, I don’t want to do that. Not because I’m short on funds. I could handle the aftermath however necessary. But Dayson is far too valuable to simply kill like that.”
“Too valuable?”
“I want to torment him for years.”
Cassion’s mouth fell open, then snapped shut again.
Even after spilling all those curses, his anger hadn’t dissipated—his cheeks puffed up in a childish pout.
I pressed the new medicine that Lebert had developed into his hand.
“What’s this?”
Cassion’s frown deepened when he saw the sky-blue pill—the same color as Lebert’s hair.
“It’s a new medicine Lebert made. You take it when your digestion’s acting up. Your Highness, you know your digestion isn’t great.”
A digestive aid that clears everything out—we’d taken to calling it Tuller-Ppeng.
On days when Imperial Studies classes ran particularly tight, the four of us had no choice but to eat lunch together, and each time Cassion would get indigestion. This was a medicine I’d specifically requested for him.
There were no lessons today, but being upset over Dayson had surely twisted his stomach out of shape.
“I don’t want to take medicine Lebert made.”
Once upon a time he’d asked if there were any new medicines, praising how well they worked. But ever since Lebert had been formally introduced, he’d started refusing the pills more often.
“It’s safe. I’ve tested it thoroughly.”
Even with my assurance, Cassion whipped his head away and clamped his mouth shut.
‘If he doesn’t take it now, he’s going to suffer all night.’
I pinched the small pill between my fingers and pressed it against his lips.
“Hey!”
While he was opening his mouth to protest, I popped the pill inside.
It landed on his tongue.
“Ugh.”
The bitterness made him scowl.
“Now that it’s in your mouth, you might as well swallow it.”
I quickly handed him a cup of water, and Cassion drank it with an expression that said he hated anything bitter.
‘Phew, at least he didn’t spit it out.’
I couldn’t understand why he refused Lebert’s medicine when it worked so well.
After some time had passed, the furrows that had creased Cassion’s forehead began to smooth out.
“Didn’t you say Dayson has been meeting with Bella?”
I thought this was all over. Apparently it wasn’t.
Cassion brought up Dayson again.
“Yes. From what I hear, they meet quite often.”
Which was why Count Kolkos’s shoulders had been riding high lately.
Dayson had already begun spreading word that he would become her son-in-law.
Did Julia know and simply let it pass?
Or was she truly intent on marrying Bella to Dayson?
Lately, I couldn’t fathom what Julia was doing—or what she was thinking. Her seclusion had grown longer still.
“Invite Bella to my birthday celebration.”
“Your Highness? Why?”
I already disliked Bella’s presence in the Capital, and now I was to invite her to the gathering besides?
I was curious what lay behind Cassion’s request, especially since he knew I despised both Count Kolkos and Bella.
“If Bella’s there at your side, Dayson won’t flirt with you!”
“Does it truly bother you that much?”
“I hate it! I really do!”
Cassion abandoned all logic and reason, whining like a child. Once he slipped into that childish mode, I was powerless against him.
What was I—a soul with the mind of someone in her twenties—supposed to do against a twelve-year-old?
“Fine. I’ll invite Bella. So please, Your Highness, compose yourself. And stop talking about poisoning Dayson.”
Cassion quieted. We calmly shared a peach pie. His cheeks puffed out charmingly.
He’d become endearing again. I smiled contentedly.
As Cassion picked at the remaining pie, he suddenly asked in a grave tone.
“But really—couldn’t I do it? I’ve been studying Poison Craft lately. I could make a tasteless poison.”
So much for endearing. He was a villain.
***
-A gathering at the Irenber Mansion? It’s been over a year, hasn’t it?
-More than a year indeed. And for Prince Cassion’s birthday, no less—how romantic.
-Romantic, my foot. It’s an effort to stay in the Crown’s good graces, isn’t it? Since the Young Lady Diana is so young, they’re reinforcing ties with the royal family against unforeseen circumstances.
-I heard differently. They say Prince Cassion had fallen out of favor with His Majesty.
-Nonsense. I heard his treatment changed completely.
-Then what accounts for the neglect before that?
-Everyone thought he’d die back then. But it seems Prince Cassion’s illness actually got better. I’ve been hearing stories that he walks through the Royal Palace in perfect health now.
“…is what people are saying.”
Jennis relayed the rumors she’d gathered using her mouse companions.
There was no way gossips would simply let the birthday gathering at the Irenber Mansion pass unremarked.
“What’s the main point of disagreement?”
“Whether His Majesty will attend the gathering or not, Miss. What do you think?”
This morning, His Majesty had held a breakfast celebration as he always did for princes and princesses on their birthdays.
He’d arranged it as elegantly as Dayson’s had been, summoning the heads of promising families. His Majesty congratulated Cassion and asked what gift he wished to receive.
Cassion gave a perfectly unremarkable answer: “a sword worth using.” His Majesty immediately instructed someone to procure a sword as a gift.
His Majesty had discharged his duties as a father in offering Cassion his congratulations.
“It’s not easy for His Majesty to move about.”
A king venturing beyond the palace walls was uncommon—especially without advance notice.
Given the silence so far, it seemed he wouldn’t come.
“Where did you place your wager?”
“Goodness! Miss, I didn’t make a wager.”
Jennis’s lie was transparent.
“You bet on His Majesty not coming, didn’t you?”
“How did you know?”
Innocent Jennis folded so easily.
When I smiled meaningfully, Jennis splayed her hand and tapped her forehead repeatedly.
“So tell me honestly—where did you place your bet?”
“He’ll come, Miss.”
I was curious about Jennis’s reasoning.
“Why?”
“During the betrothal ceremony when the bomb went off, I happened to be looking at His Majesty, and his fists were clenched so tight. His jaw was trembling with tension.”
Jennis lifted her chin upward and clenched her teeth with an exaggerated expression.
“And that means?”
“It was the look of someone worried to death. That’s how I read it. He must care for his son deeply.”
Jennis, having communed with animals, might have developed sharper instincts about people.
I picked out a pair of earrings that caught my eye from among several jewelry sets, murmuring, “We shall see.”
“Oh! Those earrings look lovely. With your whole ensemble so bright today, pearl earrings are just perfect.”
Jennis took the earrings from me and fastened them through the small holes in my ears. Then she asked.
“Where will you place your wager, Miss?”
I whispered my answer to Jennis and hurried through my final preparations. Then I headed straight down to the gathering hall.
“I’m the one everyone came to see, so what happens if you’re late?”
Cassion, who had arrived at the banquet hall early, rose from his seat and accepted my fur stole.
Cassion, dressed in Bensi’s clothing, shone even more brightly than usual today.
Though Cassion was turning twelve now, frills still suited him — and Bensi hadn’t missed the opportunity.
“Remove all the frills!”
“This is your only chance, Your Highness. Please, just wear it!”
Bensi, who had taken charge of Cassion’s wardrobe, refused to yield to his complaints and insisted on asserting her artistic vision.
As a result, only I was enjoying myself.
To think I got to see Cassion in a frilled shirt tied with a delicate ribbon.
“Will you pull out my chair?”
Cassion asked.
Ever since he’d started taking etiquette lessons as part of his Imperial Studies, I’d noticed him paying closer attention to me.
“Your Highness, would you like to make a wager with me?”
I spoke as I sat in the chair he’d pulled out. My wager with Jennis had transformed into a wager with Cassion.
“A wager? Do you think I’m a child? I’m twelve now. Don’t treat me like a little boy.”
“My goodness, when did I ever do that? And what’s wrong with treating Your Highness like a child? I’m fourteen, after all. Compared to me, you are younger. I’ve eaten more meals than you have…….”
As I was explaining the gap between us to Cassion, who had grown increasingly sensitive about his age, a commotion erupted outside.
“Your Highness, let’s make a wager.”
I spoke to Cassion while staring intently toward the entrance.
Buying Out the Villains with Money (Serialized)
Author | Yi In-hye
Publisher | Kim Ju-hyung
Publishing House | J Plus Media Co., Ltd. – Tiramisu
Marketing | Han Jae-hyuk
Address | 11th Floor, Ace Techno Tower 8, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, 1101)
Email | [email protected]
Website | http://blog.naver.com/jayplemedia1
© Yi In-hye 2021
※ This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder,
and the contents may not be used in any form or manner 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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