The World Mistakes Me for Terminally Ill - Chapter 20

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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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The World Thinks I’m Terminally Ill Episode 020

Whether I secretly pinched his thigh or not, Bella’s words continued.

“This child said to me, ‘Mother, there are valuable things in this world that money cannot buy. Do you know what they are?’ What do you all think they might be?”

Everyone fell into thought.

“There are many things, but we shall discuss three of them.”

Bella slowly opened her mouth.

“Faith.”

“…”

“Loyalty.”

“…!”

“Pride.”

People fell silent. The knights’ eyes grew firm.

“Those are precious things that can never be bought with money, but they don’t possess material value. We are human beings who need money to live.”

I recalled the words I had said to her while planning the banquet.

‘Loyalty needs compensation.’

‘Compensation, you say?’

‘Yes. Such shining things cannot be priced, but people need money to live. To eat, dress, and survive.’

‘…That’s true.’

‘They may not desire compensation, but human hearts are incredibly fragile, and if neglected, even fortress-like loyalty will crumble.’

‘…’

‘So give them fair compensation for their labor and peace of mind. So they can live with pride in a better environment. Now we can do that, can’t we?’

Bella spoke.

“As the estate’s Finance Minister, I will raise everyone’s salary by 1.5 times.”

“…!”

“Furthermore, if there’s anything that needs Lunein’s help, submit it through the butler and knight captain. Everyone present here must submit something, without a single exception.”

This wasn’t limited to just the knights.

Realizing this, brief exclamations and murmurs erupted among the servants as well.

During Lunein’s period of decline, it wasn’t only the knights who stayed by our side.

We must not forget those who work in unseen places. It’s because of them that this society functions as well as it does.

“I’m sorry and grateful for everything until now.”

The Duchess bowed her head. Everyone stared at her with blank faces.

After speaking politely, Bella added in a somewhat playful tone.

“Lastly, there’s a welfare benefit for all of you who have devoted yourselves to Lunein for so long… It would be better to hear this from our daughter-in-law. Elisia worked hard to prepare all of this.”

No, Mother, you were doing so well and then again…!

I groaned inwardly, but with everyone’s sparkling eyes already looking at me, I had no choice but to speak.

“A large medical center will open in the Capital City. Anyone who works for Lunein can receive free examinations there.”

I added one more thing.

“Of course, this applies to your families as well. Those with sick family members should definitely use it.”

I specifically addressed one knight whose eyes were wavering.

“Jeron, doesn’t your younger brother suffer from an endemic disease?”

“How do you know that…”

“That’s not what’s important. I’ve procured the medicinal materials needed for treatment, so have him receive treatment at the medical center.”

“…!”

Since ancient times, when close servants or associates are bought off, it’s usually because of money or family. Especially money, and more often debt than wealth and glory.

So it was necessary to provide welfare while blocking that at its source.

“And…”

I mentioned several other things as well.

“I have a personal principle. Namely, ‘Never forget the efforts of those who have shared difficult times with us.'”

“…”

“Because Lunein was there for me during my difficult times, I hope that your futures will be bright and beautiful, as you became light when Lunein was struggling. That’s all.”

And I made the most dignified expression possible.

Actually, I was a bit embarrassed.

‘Why am I doing this? I deliberately left it to Mother.’

Then the impact would have been doubled! Their loyalty would have grown twice as much!

We don’t have many knights as it is, so I need to carefully nurture the ones we have.

…Sorry for these worldly thoughts, but this kind of show is my specialty, so please understand.

‘Father isn’t angry, is he…?’

Somehow my gaze met Jerkhal’s deep eyes.

Normally I would have shamelessly preached ‘a father-in-law’s love for his daughter-in-law’ and pushed forward, but now I felt a bit guilty and quietly averted my gaze.

No matter how much I had Bella’s permission and Shubel’s help, I had acted freely in his castle, so he might be angry…

‘But I did it all with my own money, didn’t I?’

I decided to be shameless.

“Mother, I’ll head back first.”

“Alright, dear. You worked hard preparing everything. Go in quickly.”

Of course, starting tomorrow. Today I’m too embarrassed, so I need to escape.

“Wait.”

Just as I was about to leave the banquet hall, Jerkhal stopped me.

I wiped away my guilty expression and turned around with a bright smile.

“Yes, Father.”

The problem was that my mouth wouldn’t stop.

“But I’m not ‘wait,’ I’m Elisia.”

“…”

“Or Risha? Daughter-in-law?”

Apparently, only my reason was embarrassed.

Jerkhal was silent for a moment before speaking.

“Do you have time tomorrow? I’d like to have a talk.”

Here it comes. I answered resolutely.

“Of course! If it’s for a date with Father, I’ll make time even if I don’t have any.”

“…”

“I’ll bring pretty cookies tomorrow. Should I come to the Duke’s Study? Oh, but what flavor do you like? Rich butter? Or sweet chocolate chip?”

Is it my imagination that Jerkhal seems speechless?

While I was chattering away, Shubel appeared beside me.

“My lady.”

“Yes?”

“Why don’t you give me any? I like any flavor.”

“Why are you asking me for them?”

“Because I want to receive small, cute cookies from my lady.”

“I don’t really want to give you any.”

“…Could you please give me some?”

“Ah, stop! Don’t look at me like that. I’ll give you some.”

While I was bickering with Shubel, I heard Jerkhal’s voice.

“Just the same.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. Come to the Duke’s Study tomorrow at 1 PM.”

“Yes, Father.”

In the end, I had an appointment for a private meeting with my father-in-law.

‘Since it’s come to this, I’ll thoroughly charm Father and then ask him to appoint additional knights.’

I smiled while making sinister plans inwardly.

With the knight order’s return, my work doubled.

Taking care of them so they wouldn’t be uncomfortable, and handling the incoming complaints.

There were also checking the progress of ongoing projects, handling merchant guild affairs, and keeping track of capital trends.

After spending a busy morning, I headed to the Duchess’s study in the afternoon as promised.

‘What could she want to discuss?’

From the train station to the dinner party. There were so many things I’d gotten involved in that I couldn’t even guess.

As I arrived while pondering this—

“Do you really think Lunein can recover?”

…A fastball right from the start.

I paused while opening the cookie box.

“Please try these first.”

I stubbornly finished opening the box and held out what was inside.

Cute animal-shaped cookies. They looked quite fancy on the outside.

Jerkhal silently looked down at them for a moment.

“Did you make these yourself?”

“Yes.”

It’s my only hobby.

The fussiness of things like egg whites dying if even one drop of water gets in, or not rising if the temperature is even one degree too low, was quite helpful for stress relief.

I looked at Jerkhal with sparkling eyes.

He who had been silently looking at the box picked up one cookie that looked incredibly tiny compared to his large hands.

“Mm.”

Then he put it in his mouth all at once and said exactly one word.

“How is it?”

“…It’s fine.”

“Wow.”

I smiled brightly.

‘As expected, a father-in-law’s love for his daughter-in-law.’

To be honest, while I had talent for inflating assets, I was terribly untalented at actually making things.

Whatever I made looked decent on the outside, but the contents were questionable.

But what you’re good at and what you like are different things. Baking was my hobby, and it’s human psychology to want to share what you make with people around you.

“Who else did you give them to?”

“To Shubel. He asked for some, so I gave him a whole bunch.”

“Mm.”

He briefly prayed for his son’s soul and then silently emptied the entire cookie box.

I felt proud.

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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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