The World Mistakes Me for Terminally Ill - Chapter 4

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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 004

2. Overprotection Always Begins with Misunderstandings

The construction of the new train station began in earnest with the Finance Minister’s business permit.

‘But that’s a concern. Even if we build a train station, it’ll be useless if the Train Guild doesn’t arrange routes for it.’

Before stamping the seal on the business permit, Bella had expressed such concerns.

Hearing those words, I laughed as if I’d heard an incredibly amusing joke.

‘Mother, have you forgotten? I’m the owner of Seton.’

‘Hmm?’

‘Who do you think provided the investment funds for the guild that operates the magic trains?’

Unless the guild leader is an idiot, if they don’t want their next quarter’s investment funds drastically cut, they’ll figure it out themselves.

I fluttered the daily newspaper I was reading.

“Hmm, as expected.”

[Empire’s Greatest Heiress Missing for Two Weeks. What Happened During That Time…?]

[Where Did the Party Girl Go After Leaving the Party?]

[Exclusive! Elisia Lunein Heads to the Duchy of Lunein-]

It’s already been two weeks since I came to Lunein.

Since I haven’t been showing up in social circles, the reporters are excitedly producing garbage articles.

‘Though the last one was something I subtly leaked.’

Now that I’ve laid the groundwork, it was time to wait for someone to take the bait.

“The train station is also going smoothly.”

When we began recruiting construction workers in earnest, Bikal told me that the Duchy was bustling with activity for the first time in a while.

Once money starts flowing, the market becomes active.

After checking on the projects I’d initiated one by one, I processed documents that had come up from Seton Trading Company branches throughout the empire.

Working like crazy, the morning flew by.

I was taking a brief break to drink tea when I heard a shocked voice from far away.

“Elisia!”

It was Bella’s voice.

Two weeks since coming to Lunein. The distant title of ‘daughter-in-law’ had somehow changed to ‘Elisia.’

‘Though she seems to call me that in surprise every time.’

Well, whatever. Good things are good things. Feeling pleased, I left my room and headed downstairs.

“What on earth is all this?”

Going to the hall, I found Bella holding her head while looking at a mountain of luggage.

Even now, workers were busily carrying luggage from carriages.

I said confidently.

“It’s my luggage.”

“What?”

“We really need to build that train station as quickly as possible. I shipped this when I left the Capital Mansion, and it’s only arriving now.”

I recalled the past two weeks of living that had been frugal to the point of poverty, dabbing at my eyes with a handkerchief.

Of course, it was an act.

“Oh, and I also called some contractors while I was at it.”

“…Contractors?”

“We need to change the interior.”

As soon as I said that, a group of people came rushing in.

“Greetings, Madam. Young Madam. Where should we start?”

“Welcome. The hall is busy right now, so please start from the inner areas. The butler will guide you.”

“Understood.”

After the contractors left, Bella muttered as if she was dumbfounded.

“You’re really determined to turn the Grand Duke’s Castle upside down.”

“Oh, Mother. Upside down? Such frightening words.”

This is clearly beneficial for the Duchy House too.

Of course, there was a slight personal motive that I couldn’t live in such a shabby place for three years.

It’s all my money anyway, right?

That wasn’t the only visitor.

“It’s an honor for our family to meet you, Duchess. And… Lady Lunein.”

“Welcome, Madam.”

It was the madam of the only remaining high-end dress shop in the Duchy.

With even the Duchess dressing simply to manage the territory’s finances, there was no way custom clothing could be popular.

This person was the only one who had somehow managed to maintain a dress shop under such adverse conditions.

Looking at her, I smiled brightly.

“Thank you for coming all this way.”

“Not at all, Madam. I’m truly grateful you called for me.”

“…What is this about? Clothes?”

Bella had been managing the territory through frugality and thrift, so she was resistant to luxury.

Despite being a high-ranking noble, she wouldn’t even glance at sparkling dresses and jewelry accessories.

I quickly linked arms with my flustered mother-in-law Bella.

“Summer is coming. It’ll get hot, so we should get new clothes made for a change of mood.”

“Let go of… Lunein is winter for half the year. Summer doesn’t get as hot as the Capital.”

“But winter clothes are uncomfortable, aren’t they?”

I looked around.

Unlike the Capital workers wearing relatively thin clothes, the Northern people were still wearing winter clothes.

They were sweating profusely even so.

‘They can’t afford to change clothes according to the seasons.’

As a business manager who values extreme efficiency, I couldn’t just stand by and watch this.

“Madam, where is what I ordered?”

“It’s in the carriage. Shall I bring it?”

“Yes. Please distribute them to the servants.”

The maids who came with the madam busily brought back something. It was uniforms made to suit the Northern climate.

‘I put quite a bit of thought into the design too. I have a condition where I go blind when I see ugly things.’

The more money I spend in the North, the more the Northern economy comes alive.

Making clothes isn’t just work for one tailor alone. Countless people are involved – those who transport materials, those who weave fabric, those who cultivate the materials for that fabric, and so on.

So I plan to continue acting as a ‘luxurious wealthy heiress’ and spend money lavishly.

Then whether they’re scammers trying to fleece my money or jackpots who genuinely need sponsorship, they’ll hear rumors about me and flock to the North.

‘If I gradually absorb material and human resources like that, won’t Lunein’s economy eventually recover?’

In that process, I’ll prevent Lunein’s false accusations, destroy the original story, then return to my own sweet home!

“…”

Bella silently watched the servants receiving clothes and being happy, then turned her gaze to me.

I winked and said.

“If Mother sets an example, they’ll feel comfortable wearing them too. Oh, I have so much money I don’t know what to do. I feel like spending extravagantly. Isn’t there anywhere to spend money?”

When I acted like a naive wealthy heiress, Bella raised her eyebrows.

The Capital workers who had been pretending not to listen while paying attention to my words glanced this way.

Bella spoke quietly so only I could hear.

“Aren’t you making too big a deal of things?”

“We need to do at least this much.”

I maintained a bright smiling expression while using ventriloquism.

That’s right. To make people curious, I need to make this much of a commotion.

So they’ll wonder ‘What’s happening in the North? What is Elisia up to now?’

Right now, it was good to have even one more person interested in Lunein.

That way, when the train station is completed, we can create a bang! and burst with synergy.

‘That’s also why I deliberately called Capital workers when Northern workers alone would have been sufficient.’

They’ll diligently carry rumors of what they saw and heard in the North back to the Capital.

Bella, who had swallowed a sigh at my words, walked toward the hall stairs.

I wondered if I had been too forward and stayed still, but my eyes widened at what Bella said as she turned back to look at me.

“Saea, what are you doing? Come here and help support me.”

The Duchess was such an enchanting beauty with an upright posture that it was hard to believe she had a grown son.

Which meant she didn’t need any support.

I blinked my eyes, then approached Bella with a bright smile.

“Oh my, if you like me that much, you should just say so.”

“…I was surprised when Shubel suddenly brought home a bride, but now I understand why you two got married.”

“Mother, that’s a bit much.”

I was chattering away with my arm linked through Bella’s when we happened to run into Shubel, who was coming down the stairs after bringing up the luggage.

“Mother, wife. Where are you going?”

“I’m thinking of watching Saea’s charming antics. You go do what you need to do.”

“I’m going on a date with Mother, so you can go carry the luggage.”

Shubel slowly blinked as he watched the two people brush right past him without a care.

For a brief moment, he clearly raised the corners of his mouth.

“Interesting.”

It was a twisted smile, different from usual and strangely unsettling.

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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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