Surviving as a Terminally Ill Heiress - Chapter 14

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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 14

To whom? Well, to the person who gives me my allowance.
In other words, going to the Duke of Ambrose and flattering him a little.
I reflexively furrowed my brow.
At that, Naomi’s smile deepened.
“My, what an unwilling expression. Shall I cover it for you instead?”
She’d pay on my behalf?
Suspicion came before any temptation.
She merely laughed as though the situation amused her, but her eyes watching me were largely indifferent.
No malice, but no great favor either.
Yet suddenly offering help like charity? I, no naive child, recoiled like a sparrow wary of a cat.
“Your kindness is appreciated, but I’m not sure I could repay it.”
“Rather, it is I who am repaying you now. I never returned the item you lent me.”
What… Oh, the Ring?
I found myself touching my bare neck.
True enough—on my first day at Ambrose, I had told her to take the Ring, calling it a loan.
It had been my only proof of identity, but once I’d gained entry to this household as intended, there was no need to reclaim it.
Besides, the Duke of Ambrose must be keeping it safely by now.
‘His son’s… keepsake, after all.’
Though death hasn’t been confirmed yet.
And that Ring was a custom-made Magical Artifact—extraordinarily rare and expensive.
Wouldn’t the father benefit more from owning it than some child who’d never even seen the Young Master’s face?
In practical terms, it was the sort of matter one could simply smooth over.
But the woman before me, who seemed to defy every meaning of “simply,” spoke.
“All debts must be paid in full. Any merchant worth her salt knows that.”
“…Then I’ll keep it in mind for later.”
“Pardon?”
“It seems too valuable to settle so carelessly. I’d rather save it for when I truly need your help.”
Naomi paused for a moment, then laughed aloud for the first time—a soft, musical sound.
“As you wish, young lady.”
A hint of warmth seemed to enter her voice.
“…How remarkably alike you are.”
Hm? Wait, what did you just say? I felt goosebumps prickle across my arms.
When I turned to look as though I hadn’t heard, Naomi simply let it pass with that characteristic quiet smile.
A smile free of emotion, straightforward eye contact, with lips curving gracefully—and a certain authority in how she composed the moment.
I want to learn that smile. It’s elegant yet resolute, carrying a power that settles things.
She seemed to be someone from whom I could learn much.
I did seem to have taken a liking to her. I’d have wished to grow closer, but…
“Oh, it’s cut out again.”
Just then, the Telegraph Device’s light and sound abruptly died.
The maids restarted it with practiced ease, muttering complaints.
“The overload happens far too often these days.”
“We’re thinking of adding about three more units.”
Three more?
I widened my eyes without meaning to.
Once, a mail carrier who’d been pestering me mentioned that a single Telegraph Device could buy a mansion.
Yet they mean to add more here? Three at that?
“Perhaps… we should consider this a little more carefully?”
Naomi and the maids turned to look at me all at once.
I laughed awkwardly and spoke.
“You never know—one day a Magical Artifact far faster and more precise than the Telegraph Device might be invented.”
The maids tilted their heads in puzzlement.
Clearly my remark sounded preposterous to them.
Yes, they wouldn’t believe it. The Telegraph Device itself had only recently come into the world.
‘But Pandium will announce it soon enough.’
Pandium, the Magicians’ Estate.
Land of great inventions that amazed the entire continent with each unveiling.
There, they were about to spring forth the Communication Apparatus—what came after the Telegraph Device—virtually overnight.
‘Is that why initial sales didn’t go well? Because the public didn’t believe…’
One could hardly blame them. People had only ever sent coded messages between distant postal stations, and suddenly this allows direct voice communication across even greater distances!
It seemed more plausible that the Magicians’ Estate had perpetrated a hoax than that such a thing could exist.
‘The Estate’s reputation, for all its power, isn’t particularly favorable.’
The opposite was true of the Grand Temple, with similar influence.
Yet Pandium is Pandium—one of the pillars supporting the Ateara Empire.
Its renown, though slightly tarnished, would not crumble easily like the Grand Temple might.
‘Eventually the Communication Apparatus will gain momentum through word-of-mouth and sell like wildfire.’
Especially among those sensitive to fast news.
Merchants, for instance.
“How very interesting,” Naomi murmured softly.
I thought she was merely humoring a child’s baseless bluffing.
‘But why does this feel so… unsettling?’
When I glanced sideways, Naomi was watching me with an unreadable expression.
What… what is this? Did I say something odd?
“Well, I mean, it could happen or it might not, but still it might be something to consider, so… anyway, I should be going.”
Time to escape.
“Lucky 1 Bell.”
Caught. I was almost there.
With the door within arm’s reach, I couldn’t even turn around as Naomi’s sudden words stopped me.
“On his first birthday, a child of Ambrose receives exactly 1 Bell as a gift from the Household Head. It is his first Personal Wealth and the blessed mark bestowed by the Household Head himself.”
Click-click.
Naomi slowly ascended the stairs behind me as though pursuing.
With her footsteps so ominous, cold sweat began to bead on my skin.
“What… what kind of blessing is…?”
“Go forth and earn great wealth.”
“How wonderfully heartwarming.”
Just hearing it felt like overturning a bowl of potato soup onto my chest.
But why was she bringing this up now?
“What is your current Personal Wealth, young lady?”
“10 Bells.”
“Ten… so you’re ten years old. Well, considering the Young Master’s time of departure.”
As if to punctuate her words, Naomi reached her hand above my shoulder.
And then click—the sound of her grasping the door handle was unusually clear.
“Unfortunately, you never received the Lucky 1 Bell.”
“…I probably missed more than just that 1 Bell.”
Finally grasping the full implication, I saw Naomi laugh quietly.
“Did I not tell you? What, pray, should any merchant worth her salt do?”
All debts must be paid in full.
Naomi kindly opened the door wide before me.
My eyes sparkled. Thanks to her, I had found a way to hold the banquet without trouble.
Though grateful, surely she wasn’t settling the Ring’s debt with this?
As if sensing my worry, Naomi readily added:
“This, by the way, is payment for the interesting story you told me.”
So she truly valued it that highly?
At this point it was nothing but absurd prattle from a child.
I myself had spoken rashly only out of concern for wasting coin—I’d never expected Naomi to listen so intently.
Perhaps she was purer of heart than I thought, or genuinely fond of children.
“Um, thank you……”
“Until next time, then.”
Thud.
Naomi shut the door behind me as though pushing me out.
As though further time here was too precious to waste.
So she truly is the Duke of Ambrose’s aide…..
I stood bewildered for a moment before trudging onward.
Either way, I now had to see the Duke of Ambrose.
‘…But where?’
My footsteps halted almost at once, before the grand red staircase of the Lobby.
The Ambrose mansion divided itself around this magnificent staircase.
The Eastern Wing and the Western Wing.
The place Maya had shown me a few days ago was the Western Wing, where I currently stayed.
Many of the spaces there were for guests and servants; the Reception Room I’d visited on the first day was also on this side.
But the places the Duke of Ambrose frequented……
I looked up at the opposite wing, unfamiliar to me.
“Miss Bebe?”
Just then, I caught sight of Finn passing overhead.
“Is there something you need in this area?”
“There is, but……”
I spoke offhandedly, with a hum.
“I thought I’d go up anyway.”
Finn’s eyes widened round, and she smiled brightly.
Lowering her head, she politely gestured with her palm for me to come up.
The Eastern Wing.
The domain of the Household Head and his direct line.
For the first time, I set foot on those stairs.

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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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