Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 72

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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 72
As Grandfather laughed heartily and spoke with pride, Lucian and Duchess Papiope protested as if to say, “What is this?”
“Grandfather, using money to settle things is cowardly.”
“Father, didn’t you say gifts should be given with heart and sincerity?”
“Bah. Money is heart and sincerity.”
It wasn’t wrong.
The moment I received the document, I could feel Grandfather’s profound heart and sincerity—the way he thought of his granddaughter day and night.
Of course, I wasn’t in need of money. I could earn as much as I wanted without such gifts.
But wasn’t it the heart and sincerity behind a gift that truly mattered, just as Grandfather said?
“It’s the greatest gift, Grandfather.”
I accepted the deed of gift with both hands respectfully.
Grandfather looked utterly satisfied as he patted Duchess Papiope’s back repeatedly.
“There, you see, Viviana! Lucian! Isn’t my gift the one she likes best?”
“Why are you like this? The gift presentation ceremony isn’t over yet.”
I watched their quarrel peacefully.
With a morpho butterfly perched on my head, Duchess Papiope’s wish token and Grandfather’s deed of gift in my arms, I felt as though I possessed the entire world.
“Aiden, it’s your turn at last.”
“…Seeing everyone else’s gifts, I’m wondering if I should even be participating.”
Aiden hesitated for a moment, then stepped before me with a gentle smile.
“But I worked hard on it, so I hope it pleases you.”
He worked hard on it?
Before I could even wonder at his words, he handed me something.
It was a rabbit doll that looked like it would fit snugly in my arms.
“Don’t tell me you made this yourself?”
Aiden nodded slightly.
The thought of him, with his large frame, spending hours holding a tiny needle to craft this doll made heat rush to my face.
How adorable.
Our Aiden is so adorable…!
The doll I carefully received wasn’t something that could be made by sparing just a few days.
From the meticulous stitching to the flawless finishing touches.
He couldn’t have known about my birthday in advance.
How did he create such a beautiful doll in such a short time?
“I never knew you had such skillful hands…!”
“When I was a mercenary, I repaired torn leather and cloth myself.”
As I asked with sparkling eyes, Aiden drew a smile across his lips, seeming pleased.
I tucked the deed and wish token carelessly under my arm and cradled the rabbit doll in my embrace.
“Thank you so much… I’m not sure I deserve such an extravagant gift.”
“I’m honored that you’re pleased, miss.”
Indeed, no matter how much talk of money there was, the gift filled with Aiden’s heart and sincerity touched me most deeply.
Duchess Papiope seized the moment to stir public opinion, saying he was far better than someone trying to solve everything with money.
“My, if Father is right, then Aiden must be the winner with all that heart and sincerity poured into his gift?”
“Indeed, Mother. I did put in considerable effort searching for beautiful Morpho butterflies, but I cannot compete with that.”
“Lucian, listen well. Money cannot buy a person’s heart.”
“…Forgive me, but wouldn’t that be because the amount of money simply wasn’t sufficient?”
The two who had been exchanging perfect volleys suddenly hit a sour note.
“Don’t sway the atmosphere toward Aiden’s victory! One must compare long and short to truly know!”
When even Grandfather grew angry, chaos erupted.
I clapped my hands once.
“Now, now! Since I’ve received all the gifts, let me announce the winner.”
The quarreling ceased, and all eyes turned toward me.
In truth, the winner had been decided from the moment this ridiculous wager began.
“The winner is…”
Smack.
I rushed over and planted a kiss on Grandfather’s cheek with an audible sound.
Then I gave one to Lucian as well.
And to Duchess Papiope. I gave her a special kiss on the lips.
Finally, to Aiden’s cheek.
Smack.
Having distributed kisses to everyone, I beamed at them all.
“Clichéd as it may be, you’re all winners.”
In truth, preparing a birthday gift for me was perhaps the most difficult task of all.
I claimed I needed nothing, that I liked nothing. I wasn’t someone who lacked for money.
Perhaps because of this, every gift prepared for me bore the marks of careful deliberation.
The Papiope family members touched the spots where my lips had made contact, their own lips quivering.
“Well… all that effort searching for butterflies was worth it.”
“Hmm. If the judge has decided to exercise such discretion… I can now boast proudly to the Count living next door.”
Among them, the one who appeared most delighted was Duchess Papiope, who alone had received a kiss on the lips.
“My, I never expected to receive a kiss. How special.”
“Hehe. Well, you’re my mother, after all!”
On the surface, I laughed brightly, but inside, I was chuckling with sinister glee.
Though no one would have noticed…
The order in which I had given my kisses contained a calculated scheme.
Aiden stood dazed, gently touching his cheek.
Though he said nothing, the slight trembling of his eyes revealed just how delighted he was.
After presenting the gifts and awarding the prize, Duchess Papiope extended her hand to me with eyes narrowed in joy.
“Tania. This is supposed to be a banquet—shouldn’t you dance?”
“Oh. I haven’t yet learned how to dance from my etiquette instructor.”
“What does it matter if you can’t? There’s no one here you need to impress with false modesty.”
She was right.
The Banquet Hall held only members of the Papiope Family, and even the servants danced with uninhibited individuality, unconcerned with anyone’s judgment.
However, I had already decided on Duchess Papiope’s first dance partner.
It meant she couldn’t dance with me.
“Then could you show me dancing with someone else first?”
“Hmm. I have no desire to dance with anyone but my children. Should I dance with Lucian then?”
At that, Grandfather interjected as if offended.
“Viviana, why am I, your father, not even mentioned?”
“Father, you’ve danced plenty all this time—why are you like this?”
“Oh dear, now that you have your own children, you don’t even care about your father!”
As I watched the quarrel resume, I withdrew a slip of paper from my pocket.
It was the wish voucher Duchess Papiope had given me as a birthday gift.
“Duchess Papiope, I’d like to use the wish voucher you gave me just now.”
The two who had been bickering stopped at once and turned their gaze toward me.
“Have you already thought of something you want?”
“Something like that. I’d like to see you and Aiden dance together.”
“What?”
Duchess Papiope’s expression, which had been filled with anticipation, became flustered.
“Tania, think carefully. That wish voucher isn’t meant to be used on something so trivial.”
“Indeed, you should use it to ask for a dukedom, or to pluck a star from the sky, or to conquer the Empire.”
How on earth would any of that even be possible?

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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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