Murloc, of course, couldn't say a word. Even he seed to think that, in his drunken state, he might have done it.
Grandfather clicked his tongue with a disapproving expression.
“What a fine sight in front of your nephews, Murloc. You got drunk and broke a gift?”
“T-That’s, I—”
“I won’t bother asking you to compensate for it since it was cheap, but you’ll reflect in confinent for a week.”
“F-Father!”
“It’s not about the bracelet. It’s the fact that you’re a disgrace! If sothing like this happens again, I’ll put you on a lifeti prohibition.”
“...Yes, Father. I-I will be more careful.”
I exchanged glances with Ethan.
Roystan was definitely going to get scolded again by Murloc later for bringing up the bracelet.
Either way, the matter was settled.
I lightly held onto the seal and returned to my seat.
Grandfather let out a sigh before changing the subject.
“Oh, and Rosie. There’s sothing else I need to discuss.”
“Yes, Grandfather. Please go ahead.”
“Co to my office during lunch. We need to talk about the engagent with the Dyfenril Duchy.”
Everyone’s eyes widened. Grandfather looked slightly displeased as he continued.
“Last night, Dyfenril Duchy contacted us directly. Their council of elders has included Rosie Noart among the candidates for consideration.”
Ah.
That was excellent news.
‘Finally, I can et Zahid!’
My heart pounded.
anwhile, the faces of my relatives all turned pale.
If I beca engaged to the Dyfenril Duchy in this situation, I would no longer be soone they could ignore.
“Father, about that engagent.”
Murloc, who had been dejected monts ago, imdiately spoke up.
“In the long run, it won’t benefit the Noart Count Family. Dyfenril is about to collapse. What use is the forr glory of a duchy that’s on the brink of ruin?”
Grandfather shot Murloc a terrifying glare and then exploded.
“Benefit? Do I look like soone who trades away my granddaughter’s marriage for profit? Even after amassing this much wealth, do you think I’d be so obsessed with money that I’d marry off a twelve-year-old girl for it? Huh?”
“T-That’s... um...”
Murloc imdiately lowered his gaze.
Then Felide stepped in.
“But Father, joining forces with Dyfenril to counter the Temple would co at too great a cost. Noart’s enemy may be the Temple, but Rosie still carries a trace of Temple blood. It’s too risky to involve her in such a major matter...”
“What a fool. And does Rosie not carry my blood?”
I rolled my eyes and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
One thing that had worried all this ti was my lineage connected to the Temple.
But Grandfather didn’t seem to have any particular resentnt about it.
“Did she ask to awaken divine power herself? I despise the Temple, not an innocent child.”
For a mont, warmth spread through my chest.
This was practically Grandfather making a public declaration at breakfast—
That he had no issues with my background.
That the rest of the family had no right to challenge it.
“But Father, still—”
My aunt, Monica, stepped forward.
“Putting everything else aside, Rosie is still too young. And, beyond her age, she is terribly foolish. Marriage is a union between families. If we present Rosie as she is now, it will only bring us sha.”
Monica didn’t even spare a glance as she continued.
“You’ve all heard, haven’t you? How my brother’s 1.37 trillion gold was squandered into thin air.”
Julian muttered a quiet curse under his breath and shoved his hands into his pockets.
It seed like he was reaching for that damned slingshot again.
“Just because Julian once ntioned investing in magic stones, she threw away an absurd amount of money without hesitation... Who knows when Julian even said that, but it was definitely before the developnt of the Romseok Mines.”
I looked at Julian and shook my head, silently telling him not to do it.
The last thing I wanted was for that slingshot to make an appearance here.
“No sense of ti, no concept of investnt, no grasp of numbers... How can we present such an idiot to the Dyfenril Duchy?”
Monica’s words were precise and cutting.
“Even if they are facing an unavoidable crisis, Dyfenril is still Dyfenril. If we approach them with soone so beneath their status, it will only bring disgrace.”
Her pointed statent had all the uncles nodding in agreent.
Even Grandfather narrowed his eyes, remaining silent.
“You alright?”
Ethan whispered.
“Gotta sting a bit. Can’t argue with the facts. Is 1.37 trillion gold so mutt’s na? From a rational perspective, dumping it all into magic stones was an idiotic move.”
I shrugged. Ethan kept mumbling.
“Investnts are judged by results. How much of that 1.37 trillion gold is left? Even a billion? If you lose the numbers ga, there’s no way to win.”
anwhile, Julian was grinding his teeth, his legs bouncing anxiously.
He gripped the slingshot tightly, looking like he was about to jump in at any second.
“Brother, please. Just hold on for a bit.”
I desperately tried to calm him down.
And in that mont, I made up my mind—I had to get rid of that damn slingshot today.
"Just for a mont. Please."
Right then, the dining hall doors opened, and the servants entered carrying dessert plates.
‘And now’s the mont.’
In their hands, along with the plates, were today’s newspapers.
This was the usual ti for the papers to be delivered.
“See, they always bring the newspaper along with dessert plates? Then Grandfather starts a full-blown discussion about the state of the world. Every single word is a test. You can’t even eat properly.”
Julian had explained this breakfast ritual to before.
"Rosie-Rosie is a Noart too, so soday you should co with . The food's great. But not yet... That atmosphere is way too brutal. You’d get indigestion."
"That bad?"
"Of course. Sotis they even make you read it aloud. You know how Grandfather is obsessed with newspapers. He even has them delivered to the annex every morning with breakfast... If you're going to breakfast, at least make sure you can read."
I had only smiled quietly in response.
And now, I waited silently for the dessert plates and newspaper to arrive.
A few monts later, people’s eyes widened as they skimd the headlines.
The front page had a shocking report.
Romseok Mine Developnt Failure.
At that mont, I was the only one who reached for my dessert plate.
Contrary to the Temple’s expectations, the inner veins were completely empty. The supply was less than 1% of the estimated yield.
Hmm.
The chocolate cake was soft and incredibly delicious.
Magic Stone Prices Begin to Skyrocket.
Everyone remained frozen, their gazes fixed on the newspaper.
I smiled gently and turned to Ethan.
"Ethan, you said investnts are judged by results, right? So... can I speak now?"
The dining hall fell into complete silence.
And the one who finally broke that silence was Julian.
“Wow... I really was a genius, huh...?”
Hmm.
It was inevitable that I had credited Julian with the magic stone investnt.
If suspicions ever arose later, it would be troubleso.
If they asked why I had dumped all that money into magic stones, I wouldn't have a good answer.
So I had no choice but to say I had vaguely rembered Julian ntioning it once.
“I was seriously insane... What do I do with this absurd talent...?”
Muttering to himself, Julian suddenly smacked the table and burst into laughter.
“I was the only genius among these idiots! The only one! Of course, they had to keep in check, I was just too brilliant! Hahahahahaha!”
Uh...
I slowly lowered my head.
In the deafening silence, only Julian’s triumphant voice rang through the dining hall.
“You think all-in investnts are easy? Do you?! But I made that call! ! And my little sister even rembered it! Hahahaha!”
Hmm.
It was a little embarrassing, but... well, if Julian was happy, that was all that mattered, right?
Still... why couldn’t I bring myself to lift my head...?
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Why isn’t anyone ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) saying anything? You were all running your mouths just a mont ago—co on, say sothing with those flapping lips of yours! Hahahaha!”
The dining hall was soon filled with Julian’s laughter.
“...Julian.”
And finally, Grandfather cut through the noise.
“You will stay behind after breakfast.”
“...Huh?”
“Your table manners alone confirm your mory loss, but regardless, you need to fully grasp the situation.”
And just like that, Julian was summoned to face Grandfather.
I chuckled to myself, thinking—
Zahid.
We finally have the money.
I can co save you now.
Just wait a little longer.
Reviews
All reviews (0)