The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 81

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

81.

 

“Wow, you really have no sentiment, Uncle.”

 

Count Terodima laughed heartily at my words as I got out of the carriage with Casian’s escort.

 

“I thought it was the best way to welcome Rose?”

 

“That’s just what you thought by yourself, isn’t it? Aunt opposed it, didn’t she?”

 

“How did you know?”

 

When Count Terodima’s eyes widened in surprise, the Countess laughed refreshingly as if to say ‘I told you so.’

 

And beside her, the Count’s useful worker, no, incompetent son, cleared his throat awkwardly.

 

“You went to the capital and only became more witch-like, Rose.”

 

“I told you I don’t use such harsh words about people, young master.”

 

At my form of address, Count Terodima’s son Paul made a disgusted face.

 

“It’s been so long, why are you being like this? Do you want to see me die from stress?”

 

“No, Mother told me not to make you cry today.”

 

At my words, Paul looked at our mother resentfully.

 

“Aunt! This is her tormenting me! Rose is using formal speech and calling me young master for no reason!”

 

“Oh my, oh my. But her words are still pretty.”

 

At Mother’s words, Paul shook his head firmly with a tearful expression.

 

“What’s the point of pretty words when the underlying meaning isn’t pretty!”

 

“That’s right, Rose. Do as Paul wants.”

 

At Mother’s words, I nodded and spoke as usual.

 

“How come you haven’t grown taller even after two years? And Uncle brought ledgers, but what about you?”

 

“Hey, you just said Father was mediocre! And you’ve only grown a little too!”

 

While grumbling, he called a servant to place the ledger he had prepared on top of the one Count Terodima was holding.

 

“I grew at least a little, you didn’t grow at all. It’s different.”

 

“Still, I’m much taller than you!”

 

At my words, Paul gave a meaningless retort as if truly annoyed, but it wasn’t much of a blow.

 

Meanwhile, Casian, who had been listening to the conversation, was gradually becoming displeased.

 

I don’t know why he was so envious of a conversation where we were just being petty with each other.

 

Knowing how narrow-minded my superior could be, I hurriedly introduced him.

 

“As you can see from his knight’s attire, this is my superior, His Highness Prince Casian Artez.”

 

“He’s also Rose’s fiancé.”

 

Casian even added an explanation and greeted everyone in turn.

 

Especially when shaking hands with Paul, he even showed the pettiness of unnecessarily showing off his strength.

 

“Your High— I mean, Casian. That guy hates exercising, so if you do that, he might not be able to hold a pen tomorrow. He didn’t grow tall because he doesn’t exercise.”

 

“I can hear everything, Rose.”

 

Of course, Paul made another meaningless protest.

 

“I said it for you to hear. Aunt is very worried that you only accumulate work and fat instead of muscle.”

 

At my words, Paul opened his eyes in a triangular shape toward Countess Terodima like the incompetent son he was.

 

“Mother, please stop sending strange things to Rose in letters. She always uses that to scold me.”

 

“But Paul, you listen better to Rose’s rightful words than to my nagging. I think friends of the same age should have such conversations so your pride gets hurt and you grow up strong and upright.”

 

At the Countess’s reasonable point, Paul said ‘There’s really no one on my side in this house!’ but didn’t forget to bow to Casian before entering the hall first.

 

How diligent of him.

 

“There are other invited guests at the ball, so I need to take care of them too. Father and Mother want to talk with Rose.”

 

He even explained his reasons.

 

Even if the kid was a bit lacking, I was really glad he didn’t grow up to be mean.

 

After Paul left, Count Terodima said the ledger was a copy so we could take it, handed it to a servant who had followed us, then guided us into the hall.

 

“I apologize for the commotion, Your Highness.”

 

“Not at all. I thought a Count’s ball would have a different atmosphere…”

 

At Casian’s words, Count Terodima laughed heartily.

 

“You mean an atmosphere that divides people more by rank? Well, I heard that in my parents’ generation, they treated the surrounding baronies and viscounties like vassals.”

 

“But not now?”

 

“Being far from the capital means support comes late when difficult situations arise. Ah, I’m definitely not resenting the Imperial Court. The physical distance can’t be helped.”

 

“So you’re saying everyone started cooperating together?”

 

“It was when Rose was about seven, I think, when there was a severe famine in this area.”

 

Count Terodima winked at me once, then began talking about the famine incident that changed the atmosphere in this region.

 

Several years ago, there was a time when, if things had gone wrong, commoners would have had to send their young children to distant regions as servants, or else they would all have faced death together.

 

At that time, I said it was better than starving and had them plant relief crops to stave off hunger for now, and made them eat seaweed that people in this area didn’t usually eat.

 

Saying it wouldn’t kill them to eat it.

 

Here too, similar to what I had learned through history in my previous life, they thought relief crops were the devil’s crops, and there were too many seafoods they were picky about eating.

 

I really couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t eat such delicious things.

 

Thanks to that, an idiot like Paul had given me the harsh nickname of ‘witch.’

 

When the number of victims in Salice Barony decreased, other regions also became interested and they survived that difficult period by exchanging things they were less short of.

 

“After that, we decided not to have pointless power struggles with each other. This ball was actually held because it was time for it, rather than because Your Highness came.”

 

Count Terodima added another unnecessary excuse to me that it absolutely wasn’t a waste.

 

‘If we don’t hold a banquet when royalty comes, other petty royals besides Prince Casian might make up charges of disrespect for no reason.’

 

No matter how unnecessary the expense, if it could avoid trumped-up charges, that would be much better.

 

Count Terodima had a tendency to see me as too much of a miser.

 

“Anyway, it’s not the same as capital balls, so it might not be much to Your Highness’s eyes, but please stay comfortably.”

 

After saying that, Count Terodima returned Casian to me.

 

As Casian entered the hall, he looked with curiosity at the people naturally dispersing and greeting each other.

 

“Anywhere in the Empire, it would be rare to find people who care so little about what rank means.”

 

“Probably. Everyone has diligently become pragmatists.”

 

In the capital, the older the nobility, the more they tended to care about such things and avoid mingling with businessmen or newly titled barons.

 

It was also a problem that needed to be solved gradually.

 

“But Rose.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Can I be a little territorial?”

 

“Are you planning to turn the ball into a martial arts tournament?”

 

All the nobles here hate exercising and only do a bit of cardio and strength training three times a week because of me.

 

You want to emanate killing intent toward people with such modern people’s poor physical condition?

 

At my answer, Casian’s lips curved crookedly.

 

“I suppose I should be grateful you’re not saying no to that direction.”

 

“That direction?”

 

Casian said that, then kissed delicately from my fingertips to the back of my hand.

 

It seemed a bit more persistent than usual, but since it was familiar behavior, I casually let him do as he pleased.

 

“…Ex-excuse me!”

 

Paul, who had been bringing wine for me and Casian, was startled by the sight, turned bright red, and quickly disappeared.

 

“…Please understand, Your Highness. He acts like that because he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

 

At my words, Casian kissed my cheek with a completely pleased expression.

 

Paul’s behavior was somewhat amusing to watch, so I understood his mood.

 

Of course, Casian said,

 

“That doesn’t seem like something Rose should say.”

 

He teased me with an unnecessary fact.

 

“…Didn’t Your Highness also not have a girlfriend?”

 

This isn’t the time to tease me, is it?

 

You made a contract engagement because you didn’t have one, didn’t you?

 

“I’m really glad you know that so well.”

 

But Casian showed no damage at all and was even more delighted.

 

*

 

Before we knew it, it was the day to leave Salice Barony.

 

Since the ball continued late into the night, we decided to rest well, have a late breakfast, and then depart for the train station.

 

Of course, habits are hard to break, so I woke up at my usual time and spent the morning writing down things Father shouldn’t do.

 

I also didn’t forget to check the ledgers I had received yesterday and send them to Terodima County.

 

Finally, I took one last tour around the village with Casian to say our farewells.

 

“It’s not much, but take this with you, Miss Rose.”

 

“If you have the means to give me things like this—”

 

“I know, I know! Really, Miss Rose, you nag me every time you see me.”

 

“That’s why I told you so many times to start a bakery like Miss Rose said, I have no talent for land surveying either.”

 

Baker’s Son supported my argument with his thrifty wisdom.

 

“So I’m looking into hiring professional workers, anyway, travel safely, Miss Rose. And Your Highness, be careful not to get scolded by Miss Rose.”

 

Baker had given some rare good advice, but.

 

“I think I’d actually feel disappointed if I didn’t get scolded.”

 

Casian said something strange, so I was the only one who received looks of shock.

 

Anyway, seeing that the Salice Barony hadn’t changed much from two years ago put my mind at ease.

 

I felt even lighter knowing that the family debts would soon be completely paid off.

 

On the way back, instead of the passenger carriage, I rode in our family carriage with my parents.

 

“Take good care of your health, and think of what’s good for you before others. You understand, Rose?”

 

“If things get difficult, come back anytime. Mother and Father are fine as long as you’re happy.”

 

Finally offering what might be considered conventional words, my parents couldn’t hide their reluctance to part.

 

“You two must stay healthy too. I’ll make sure to reply to all your letters.”

 

“Of course, letters from you are always our joy.”

 

With those final words, we barely made it through the ticket inspection and boarded the train.

 

And so, in the evening with the sunset glowing at the station, my parents saw me off with some tears and proud smiles.

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