The Villainess's Exclusive Maid Is Too Good at Her Job - Chapter 56
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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 56
The two of them were just about to examine the documents when it happened.
Crash, bang!
A thunderous noise from outside froze their hands in place.
“What on earth is that sound?”
“I have no idea. What could possibly—”
Before Earl Graham could finish his question, the sharp sound of breaking glass pierced the air.
The startled couple rushed frantically toward the source of the commotion. And then—
“Good heavens! What in the world is happening!”
Countess Graham let out a shrill cry at the sight before her eyes.
Hulking men dressed in black were ransacking the house.
The gate, smashed open in their violent entry, hung pathetically askew.
“What are we doing, you ask, noble Countess? We’ve simply come to collect the money we lent to the Earl.”
“Y-you’ve come to collect a debt?”
The man at the front nodded with a smile in response to her trembling question.
“Those who lent money to the Earl have transferred all their claims to me.”
“That’s impossible! Why would they hand over their claims to someone like you!”
The man tilted his head at Earl Graham’s outburst.
“Well, because the Earl keeps breaking his promises to repay?”
The words struck home, and Earl Graham fell silent.
The man’s words were the truth.
I had borrowed money from various sources, but I had never properly repaid a single debt.
Since most of those who had lent me money were acquaintances or members of noble families, they hadn’t dared to press me urgently for repayment.
After all, demanding repayment was beneath the honor of a nobleman.
So for them, having someone purchase their debts was a welcome development.
It was a way to recover their money while preserving their noble honor.
Of course, Earl Graham and his wife would be distressed, but that was no concern of theirs.
They had already shown more than enough consideration by waiting this long.
Besides, there was nothing to fear from making an enemy of a family on the verge of ruin.
“We sent notification documents in advance. You didn’t check them?”
“Then… those papers from earlier…?”
At the Countess’s pale murmur, the man nodded and settled into a nearby chair.
The Earl and his wife bristled at how casually the man made himself at home, but neither could find words to protest.
“I think the explanation is sufficient at this point. Unfortunately, I have no intention of waiting any longer for you to repay your debts. I’d appreciate immediate payment.”
“Ahem. We have no funds at present, I’m afraid. However, we expect money to come in shortly, so if you could grant us a little more time—”
“Money coming in?”
“Our daughter works as a maidservant for the Ludwig Grand Duchy! Do you have any idea how prestigious that family is? So we can repay any amount of money!”
The man blinked at the Countess’s confident explanation.
“I’m sorry, but what does your daughter being a maidservant for Ludwig have to do with your current situation?”
“This is infuriating! My daughter will send money soon—”
“Wasn’t it you who borrowed the money in the first place?”
“…What?”
Only then did the two of them realize something was terribly wrong with how this situation was unfolding.
Watching the frozen pair, the man tapped the floor with his shoe.
“I’m here because I want to collect money from the people who borrowed it from me.”
“B-but how are we supposed to repay it? All of his business ventures have collapsed, and without Janet, there’s simply no way to get any money!”
At the Countess Graham’s outcry, the Earl Graham grabbed her with an angry expression.
“Did I say anything wrong? I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Must you be so vulgar about it?”
“Vulgar? You’re calling me vulgar? Right now?”
Seeing the two on the verge of quarreling, the man clapped his hands loudly.
“Enough, enough. I didn’t come here to watch you two fight.”
Thud, thud.
The man stomped the ground once more, threateningly, and gestured to a nearby subordinate.
“You brought the documents, didn’t you?”
“Yes, sir. Right here.”
“Good.”
Whoosh, swish.
The hand passing over the documents moved without hesitation.
“Let’s see. You borrowed 600 million Ecles. With the interest accrued, that comes to a total of 650 million Ecles.”
“H-how are we supposed to repay such a massive sum…?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll provide all the work you need.”
“W-work? You’re telling me to work now? I’m a nobleman!”
“Do nobles not starve to death when they go hungry?”
The man spoke with a grin, and his entourage lined up neatly behind him.
At such an obviously threatening sight, the Earl Graham and Countess Graham could only tremble, unable to speak.
“Those who do not work shall not eat. I’ll generously provide three meals a day, so from now on, you’ll work diligently. Do you understand?”
Not long after he finished speaking, Simon appeared through the broken gate.
“L-let go! Let go of me!”
Dragged along by two burly men with his arms pinned, Simon’s appearance made the Earl and Countess Graham squeeze their eyes shut.
“By the way, your son just incurred an additional 5 million Ecles in debt. Now you’ll need to repay 655 million Ecles total.”
Oh dear, oh dear.
The man clicked his tongue, then gestured, and the two burly men released Simon as if tossing him away.
“Ugh!”
Simon sprawled on the floor, while the Earl and Countess Graham sat with their eyes clenched shut, their faces drained of color.
The man’s eyes gleamed with delight as he surveyed the three of them slowly.
He loved moments like this.
The moment when villains trembled in fear, mired in their own filth.
“Now then, work hard from this point on. And don’t even think about running away. We follow those who flee to the ends of the earth.”
At the man’s words, the three of them huddled together and trembled.
#Chapter. Entrance Ceremony
July, the height of summer.
With two weeks remaining before the Academy’s summer semester began, a simple entrance ceremony was held for the special admissions students.
Test scores and admission recommendation letters.
Since both were crucial examinations, the number of successful candidates was never particularly large.
This year’s successful candidates numbered twelve, which was a reasonably respectable figure.
“Congratulations on your admission, my son.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
“Sniff. I’m so proud of you. How did such a precious child come to be born to us…”
“Father, please! Don’t cry!”
Having overcome such fierce competition to gain admission, the parents of the new students gathered to celebrate their children.
Noble or commoner alike.
Regardless of such distinctions, every parent’s pride in their child was the same.
And so, perhaps.
“It seems like only Theo and I are the ones whose parents didn’t come, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does seem that way.”
Just after the entrance ceremony ended.
The two of us sat side by side in chairs, surveying the Academy’s Grand Hall.
Watching the students being congratulated with tearful embraces here and there left my heart feeling oddly unsettled.
“To be honest, I was rather worried about what would happen if they came.”
What if Earl Graham and his wife had followed me here and demanded I prove their investment worthwhile?
‘To fear one’s own family’s arrival.’
Of course, they were worse than strangers to me.
“You needn’t worry about that. At least for the next year, they’ll have no reason to show their faces.”
“Mm. Thank you. I’ll send you the payment later.”
“Understood.”
Thinking of the Earl’s household people, bound somewhere and doing nothing but work, brought me satisfaction.
I didn’t consider myself a particularly good person.
If I received something, I repaid it in kind.
“Still, I’m really glad I passed the entrance exam with Theo. Otherwise, it would have been so lonely.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“Let’s do well together at the Academy.”
“Likewise.”
The two of us shook hands playfully.
That a connection that began with a contract had continued this far was truly remarkable.
Watching the new students leave in small groups with their families, I found myself thinking of the Grand Duchess.
“I wish I had simply asked the Grand Duchess to come, even though she wanted to.”
After all, Julietta Ludwig had become more than a friend to her—she was like a sister.
I should have simply asked her to bring a single bouquet.
‘Though she pretended to be reluctant, I suspect she brought the largest one available.’
I let out a soft laugh at the vivid image forming in my mind.
“Janet! Ken-, Theo!”
A boisterous voice echoed through the Academy’s Grand Hall with resounding clarity.
At the same moment, Theo and I snapped our heads up, our eyes widening as we recognized the voice’s owner.
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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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