The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 77

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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77.

 

“…Where did you hear that from?”

 

The Coachman? Or perhaps Father?

 

Maybe it was Mother…

 

I asked Casian back while pondering how to get some petty revenge on these suspicious people.

 

“Does it matter who said it?”

 

“Of course it does.”

 

That way I could at least get revenge by doing something like not replying to their letters.

 

Casian laughed readily at my words.

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I heard Rose even made you cry, so I wondered if he might have been somewhat to your taste.”

 

That was truly an impertinent remark.

 

When I frowned, he took my hand and kissed the back of it while whispering softly.

 

“If you hadn’t reacted that way.”

 

“If I hadn’t?”

 

“I would have had to think about whether there was some small punishment I could give to Terodima Count’s son.”

 

That’s too harsh to say about a noble youth who, after being thoroughly defeated by me, rarely focuses solely on work.

 

“You can’t do that. He’s the best worker in this area.”

 

Even though our family went completely bankrupt, that family helped us—there was also the feeling that we couldn’t lose a noble family that worked so diligently for us—and that’s how we managed to survive.

 

I can’t repay kindness with enmity.

 

It was something I said to try to improve the image of the Terodima County somewhat.

 

“…Your Highness, why are you suddenly radiating murderous intent?”

 

“Perhaps I should investigate the Terodima County after all, ouch.”

 

I slapped the back of his hand to give him light punishment while speaking firmly.

 

“That’s abuse of power.”

 

“After saying such things, you tell me not to do petty things either. You’re being too harsh on me alone, Rose.”

 

“I’m truly relieved as your aide that you know it’s petty behavior.”

 

Even if you investigated them, nothing significant would come out…

 

‘I helped clean up the mess after making Terodima Count’s son cry, and I even taught him a completely new bookkeeping format.’

 

And I still vividly remember the Count saying ‘I’ll do it properly even if it’s petty’ after being corrected by me several times.

 

At my words, Casian hugged me tightly and rubbed his forehead against my shoulder like a puppy nuzzling.

 

“You’re heavy, Your Highness.”

 

“How heartless.”

 

Seeing him laugh lowly while only saying that, it seemed his momentarily uncomfortable mood had been resolved.

 

“So, Rose.”

 

A gentle voice penetrated my ear.

 

“Between the Count’s son and me, who do you prefer working with?”

 

At that question, I was so absurd that I burst into laughter.

 

“Are you really asking because you’re curious about that?”

 

“Of course?”

 

“You’re making such an ridiculous comparison.”

 

I raised my head to look straight into the eyes of Casian, who had somehow become sullen, and stated a fact that didn’t even need answering.

 

“Obviously it’s the cunning and wicked Second Prince Casian Artez.”

 

Of course, this side is also much more troublesome.

 

However, at my insignificant words, his face brightened like spring flowers blooming, making my ears feel hot for no reason.

 

*

 

The next day, after sleeping well and waking up as usual, I headed to the study.

 

I intended to check the parts I needed to review before breakfast time and the things I had been worried about.

 

‘I’m so worried about whether they properly used the money I sent for repayment.’

 

Every letter said things like ‘I’m grateful, but the money you earned should be used for you.’

 

I was constantly uncomfortable, worried they might have just diligently saved it instead.

 

Since Father was a neat and methodical person, the location of documents was exactly the same as two years ago, so reviewing them wasn’t difficult.

 

‘Tsk, I clearly told Baker to open a bakery since he has no talent for farming.’

 

Why does someone with the family name Baker stubbornly try to continue farming as the family business!

 

Last year, the year before that, it was also a deficit, and seeing that the family was leveling the land together this year, it was obvious it would be a deficit again.

 

And it wasn’t just Baker who was the problem, but Father too.

 

‘Knowing that, why don’t you stop him and lend him small amounts again?’

 

I had repeatedly told him not to lend any more unless it was for opening a bakery.

 

In the first place, our family went completely bankrupt because of his soft heart, taking on the debts of the Estate people.

 

‘In the original story, the Baron couple would have headed to the Capital before that and survived!’

 

While sighing, I also thought positively that my parents didn’t ignore the Estate people as lords.

 

I had said that, but I also understood Baker’s feelings of not wanting to sell the land passed down through generations.

 

‘So why won’t he listen when I tell him to hire professional workers? That would be much better for the wheat and other plants being cultivated.’

 

While I was examining the ledgers for a while like that, I felt a presence at the door.

 

It wasn’t time for Father to be awake yet, I thought as I looked up to see Casian, who seemed to have come from morning training, holding a light wooden sword with his neck area wet with sweat.

 

“Need help?”

 

“It’s not that much work. The Salice Baron isn’t very large.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“And Father will be getting a lecture from me soon, but he looks so pitiful in front of Your Highness.”

 

At my words, Casian seemed to understand immediately and left the manor, saying he would take a look around the village before breakfast.

 

About twenty minutes after Casian left, I heard hesitant footsteps.

 

Of course, I didn’t miss that sound and called out immediately.

 

“Father, if you come in now, I’ll keep it short.”

 

“…Rose, since you’re here for once, can’t you just rest peacefully?”

 

“I’ll rest peacefully after quickly finishing this, so please sit down.”

 

And Father sat on the sofa with drooping eyebrows and hesitantly opened his mouth.

 

“You see, Rose. Baker said he’d only try until this year—”

 

“Father, this isn’t good for Baker or for our family.”

 

It was the beginning of a warm and peaceful family meeting time.

 

*

 

Father wasn’t an authoritarian personality who would dismiss something just because it was his young daughter’s words, so he accepted rational persuasion well.

 

“…Usually children are happy when you save the money they earned, that’s what Count Terodima said!”

 

Of course, he had been slightly influenced by a friend with a similar personality, but that could also be resolved through reasonable discussion.

 

“Do you trust Count Terodima’s words more than mine, Father? Then I don’t need to reply to your letters anymore, do I?”

 

“That can’t be, our daughter’s words are the most right!”

 

After such an amicable family meeting time ended, we were able to attend breakfast without being late.

 

Mother gently comforted Father, whose shoulders were drooping.

 

“I kept telling you, listening to Rose is what makes Rose suffer less.”

 

“That’s right, I should have listened to my wife earlier…”

 

The perceptive superior appropriately glossed over such atmosphere and praised the soup that came out for breakfast.

 

“How fortunate! I simmered it thoroughly with vegetables I personally planted and participated in harvesting.”

 

Thanks to that, Father quickly recovered his mood and was able to return to his usual dignified appearance.

 

After finishing the meal, Father decided to shut himself in the study and handle work like a proper Salice Baron.

 

Casian and I decided to look around the village together.

 

“Oh right, Rose. Count Terodima sent word that he’d like to invite you to a ball the day after tomorrow evening.”

 

“The day after tomorrow?”

 

Mother waved a letter that had arrived and spoke to us as we were about to leave.

 

“Yesterday many people saw you two at Terodima History, so a letter came urgently to confirm in the evening, and I replied that we would attend.”

 

“He chose the date well.”

 

“Well, I can’t interfere with my daughter, can I?”

 

Then Mother smiled softly and pressed another letter into my hand.

 

“You want to go there with His Highness tomorrow, don’t you?”

 

“…How did you know?”

 

“You were innocent when you were around nine years old too.”

 

Are you saying I’m not innocent now?

 

When I looked at her with complicated feelings, Mother just smiled and headed to the study with light steps.

 

Leaving behind Casian, who was staring at me with a puzzled expression.

 

*

 

“Shouldn’t you tell me now?”

 

Thanks to Mother’s interference, I was tormented by Casian all day yesterday.

 

He acted like someone who really couldn’t stand not knowing something he was curious about.

 

‘Though he might have just wanted to tease me.’

 

If he had set his mind to it, taking the letter I had hidden in my pocket would have been nothing to him, but he just pretended to cling to me somewhat annoyingly throughout our walk around the village.

 

Thanks to that, even the villagers said things like:

 

‘As expected of Miss Rozelita! Even His Highness the Prince is so eager like that.’

 

‘That’s right, those strange magazines said the young lady bewitched His Highness the Prince or seduced him, but none of us believed it.’

 

‘You two look so close, it’s really reassuring!’

 

‘Your Highness, if you just listen well to Miss Rozelita, you’ll have no problems making a living.’

 

I was thoroughly teased in strange ways.

 

Since it turned out this way, I suppose I wanted to keep it secret until we arrived, and I had my own grievances from what I’d endured.

 

“Your Highness does that often too, not telling me where we’re going.”

 

“Then should I be delighted and look forward to it?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

Casian, who had helped me into the carriage first and sat across from me, opened his mouth with a bright smile.

 

“Because when I do that, it’s when I’m trying to spend good time with Rose.”

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