Chapter 11: Chapter 11

* * *

ten dresses, so valuable and beautiful that it would be a shame to even touch them.

despite worrying about the exorbitant price of the ten dresses claimed to be the most expensive in the boutique, luna was able to settle the payment with just a few checks.

while they were more expensive than the custom-ordered dresses, which involved discussions with the designer from the materials to the lace, the price was still incredibly high, not something that could be easily bought like a snack.

as a result, with money to spare, luna purchased everything necessary for her attire, including shoes, gloves, a fan, and a hat. the staff was astounded by the extent of her shopping spree.

“we will quickly make the necessary alterations and send them to the mansion. we look forward to seeing you again.”

“well, i’ll have to think about whether i’ll visit this unwelcoming boutique again.”

when luna mentioned the rude staff member she encountered, a prompt apology was given. of course, no matter how they tried to make amends, luna had no intention of returning. she could simply call the designer to the mansion when needed.

having completed a satisfying shopping experience, luna left the boutique in a good mood. it wasn’t because the staff member who had treated her rudely received disciplinary action, but rather because seira’s friends who had belittled her, had kneeled before her so easily and unbelievably.

“what are you all doing? i told you to fulfill the first wish.”

in response to luna’s cold words, the entourage of the young ladies who had mocked her didn’t know what to do and averted their gazes. their expressions seemed to question if they really had to obey.

of course, they had to.

as if they hadn’t understood her words properly, luna reminded them of her first wish.

“aren’t you supposed to walk from here to the mansion? did you forget that i told you to walk back?”

“…”

luna’s first wish was simple.

it was for them to walk from the boutique to the mansion.

with their extravagant and uncomfortable shoes, heavy dresses, and the difficulty of even walking a short distance with their soft and delicate feet, leaving the main street and going towards the mansion would be challenging for them.

therefore, nobles knew that carriages were precious assets almost on par with their own feet.

‘to ruin the only carriage the baron had and to kill the horse, causing my father and me great hardship.’

as a result, baron peils had to commute in a shabby carriage that was hardly different from a luggage cart, pulled by an old horse. due to the inconvenience, the baron readily accepted fersen’s offer to commute in the duke’s carriage.

‘they will understand only if they experience the same. they brought it upon themselves.’

luna never even considered seeking revenge, but it seemed that the gods finally took pity on her and presented her with an opportunity.

what was it next time? they set fire to a servant who suffered burns and made him quit, brought animal carcasses to the mansion’s entrance, made a mess of the path leading from the mansion to the outside, and sent countless exhausting letters.

‘i haven’t personally experienced it yet, but they ripped luna’s dress at the original social party. thanks to that, luna went back to the mansion in tears.’

as a reader, she didn’t have any thoughts at the time, but now, looking back, the torn dress was likely something luna had cherished dearly and purchased with the money she had saved.

it may not have been worth much, but it wasn’t a trivial dress either. perhaps it was a precious treasure to luna.

because of that, there were countless things she had to repay them for. she regretted why she had chosen three wishes, as there was an endless list of things to repay.

luna pondered what wish she should make next to be considered a well-made wish that would spread rumors, as she glanced at the still defiant entourage.

“what are you all doing? are you planning to spend the night here? oh! if by any chance you want to ride in a carriage, go ahead. but in return, you’ll have to become my maidservants for a year. you know that, right?”

if there hadn’t been witnesses, they probably wouldn’t have obeyed and tried to leave. unfortunately, there were witnesses, and their documents were even kept by someone else.

with those documents and witnesses, if she filed a lawsuit, legally they would have no choice but to become her maidservants.

therefore, whether they moved according to their own wishes or not, they would suffer no loss.

“…hurry up!”

a young lady shouted at the coachman with a blushing face. she must have been resentful of herself. why did she come here today of all days? it would be a regrettable decision.

but even if they regretted it, the deed had already been done. when the coachman hesitated to move, the tearful woman, her eyes filled with tears, shouted again.

“go quickly! didn’t you hear me!?”

only then did the reluctant coachman lift his foot. the other noblewomen, crying as well, reluctantly followed the coachman’s lead.

luna swallowed her laughter, thinking that if anyone saw them, they would think their family was falling apart.

“do not even think about meeting the coachman halfway. i personally plan to see you all the way to your mansions.”

“…!”

in response to luna’s words, one of the ladies who had been staring at her with watery eyes burst into tears.

as pitiful as that sight was, the most pitiful person in this world was the one who had received a punishment that would not even be compared to those girls.

eventually, the coachmen returned to the mansion first, and the noblewomen wearing pointed shoes walked on the bumpy road, only arriving at the mansion after midnight.

* * *

“i’m back.”

even though it was very late, when luna announced her return, all the lights in the baron’s mansion turned on.

the tired-eyed baron, with a worried expression on his face, asked her.

“i told you to come back quickly, but i didn’t expect you to come back so soon. was it because you ran out of money?”

“no, that’s not it. i finished my work and came back early.”

“work?”

“yes, father. i have something to tell you. although it’s late, can we have a moment to talk?”

surprised by the sudden request for a conversation, the baron nodded his head.

the two of them sat facing each other in a small room that didn’t resemble a living room, sipping on a cup of lukewarm tea, and began their conversation.

“i hope father will quit his job.”

“…hmph!”

upon hearing the sudden request to quit his job, the baron snorted.

anticipating this reaction, luna handed him a handkerchief she had prepared in advance and continued speaking.

“actually, i recently purchased the peils territory that i sold a while ago.”

“what… what did you say? someone offered to buy it anonymously, and i wondered why… but why did you…?”

“and gold was found there.”

the baron dropped his teacup. fortunately, it landed on the worn-out carpet and didn’t break.

“…g-gold?”

“yes. father, gold was buried in that rocky estate you sold. so i went down there to confirm it.”

“confirm…?”

the baron looked as if he had seen a ghost, so luna placed the promissory notes she had on the table.

“this is the money i received from the merchant guild in exchange. it’s not the full amount, just a part of it. i will organize the documents and start mining the gold in earnest.”

the baron couldn’t close his mouth as he looked at the promissory notes on the table. he counted the amount several times and rubbed his eyes, even slapping his own cheek.

“so, i’m asking you to quit your job in the duchy.”

“b-but suddenly quitting my job just because we have money…”

“no, it’s not like that. i’m not telling you to relax and enjoy. even though we made a contract with the merchant guild, we can’t fully trust them. so i hope father will oversee and manage the gold mine.”

it wasn’t a request made solely to sever ties with duke rodrian. they truly needed a trustworthy person to oversee and manage the gold mine.

although the baron was in debt, it was due to starting his own business or making investments. fortunately, he had a talent for completing tasks assigned to him without mistakes. therefore, he was a perfect fit for managing the gold mine on behalf of luna.

“while we’re at it, let’s make the peils territory a more livable place. it’s too contrasting with the neighboring vincent territory.”

the duke alternated his gaze between his daughter’s face and the promissory notes. he still couldn’t believe it.

after a while of silence, he suddenly covered his own eyes with his palm.

“…i’m sorry for causing you worry. your father is so incompetent…”

seeing him blame himself, luna’s previous thoughts of criticizing her father vanished.

even though it was a world within a novel, luna was born anew in this place, and the baron was her father. and he was a nobleman, after all. luna was well aware that her father always lowered his head at the duke’s residence and concealed his sorrowful heart, all for his only daughter.

she gently pulled the baron’s hand, which covered his eyes. his palm and eyes were moist, but she pretended not to notice and sought an answer.

“you’re not incompetent. you raised me so well without a mother. i’m always grateful to you, father.”

“thank you. tomorrow, i’ll go to work and decide the day to quit.”