“Huh?”
Ante gave a small chuckle at his younger sister’s confused expression.
“My Lina came to see her brother first, that’s a big deal.”
He whispered as he sat down at his desk.
“I’m glad.”
A smile spread across his face.
Bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window, his silver hair gleamed beautifully.
Golden eyes that complemented his fair skin were captivating enough to catch anyone’s gaze.
Seeing his warm smile warmer than the sunlight streaming into the room, Angelina realized once again how handsome her brother was.
It wasn’t easy to think of someone you saw every day as good-looking, but Ante’s appearance was indeed striking.
“If anyone hears, they’ll think I hardly ever come.”
Angelina grumbled as she smiled sheepishly.
But upon saying it, she couldn’t recall when the last time was she had come to see her brother.
There was no particular need to see him because they always had dinner together three to four times a week, and Ante would often visit her room casually.
Although she frequently saw his face, Angelina realized it had been a while since she had come to see him on her own.
Ante, as if knowing what she was thinking, continued the conversation affectionately, maintaining a gentle smile.
“So, Lina. What brings you here?”
He unexpectedly held her hand.
“Oh, it’s nothing much…..”
Angelina’s embarrassment melted away as she remembered the reason for her visit.
She smiled beautifully.
It was a beautiful capitalism-induced smile, the kind that comes naturally with the excitement of spending money.
As he witnessed his younger sibling’s bright smile, which he hadn’t seen in a long time, Ante’s eyes widened in surprise, and at that moment, Angelina spoke with a voice as bright as her expression.
“Give me some pocket money.”
The words coming out of Angelina’s mouth, who hardly ever made demands as she grew up, were hard to believe.
And it didn’t end there. Cheerfully, she added, “A lot.”
Ante’s eyes, bewildered by her words, lit up with joy and delight.
* * *
Angelina tapped her chest happily, wearing a content smile.
The blank check in her hands felt more reliable than a hundred knights.
‘Anyway, my brother is generous.’
In response to her request for pocket money, he handed her blank checks without asking for a reason.
“This is just to give you the feeling of spending money, Lena. Wherever you go, whatever you buy, just send the bill to the estate. “
Angelina realized this time that, as the daughter of a marquis, spending money does not necessarily have to be in cash.
This was the first time she learned of this, as merchants were always called in to do the necessary shopping.
‘So, this is what it feels like to have a lot of money.’
Being part of the prominent Flaubert family, she had never imagined experiencing this feeling. It was quite regrettable.
‘I thought I could always enjoy it.’
Perhaps if she hadn’t learned that she had a limited time to live, she would still be feeling that way.
‘Well then, where should I start…’
Angelina looked around slowly.
She had come to the city center to fulfill the first item on her bucket list.
The Marquisate was a very lively place.
Although not as grand as the capital, it was a sizable city with a large dock occupying a significant portion of it, signifying trade as its main source of income.
Ships brought not only goods but also various people, cultures, and arts.
With so many diverse goods being traded, it was the perfect place for lavish spending.
“Hmm.”
However, after wandering around for a while, Angelina realized one important point.
‘So, how does one go about spending money?’
Just because someone knows how to eat doesn’t mean they know how to feast.
Having never spent more than necessary, Angelina had no idea how to spend recklessly.
Should she exchange all the blank checks for coins and scatter them around everywhere?
No, that wasn’t spending; it was just wasteful.
Does it mean buying anything she fancies while walking around?
But she didn’t fancy anything.
Angelina was someone far removed from ‘desire’ by nature.
To indulge in reckless spending, one must have many desires, but she didn’t have any.
After all, she already had everything she needed as a member of the Marquis’s family.
In the middle of the square, Angelina, who had been pondering for minutes while looking at the coins in the “Wishing Fountain,” finally decided to ask for help.
“Laura.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Laura, who had been silently following Angelina around without even knowing the destination, responded calmly.
“Do you want something?”
“Nothing, in particular.”
“I see.”
For a moment, Angelina forgot.
Laura was also a woman who was quite content with having nothing.
Instead of Laura, who was of no help, Angelina turned to Harley, her guard, who was beside her.
“Harley, if you suddenly came to a lot of money, what would you want to have?”
In response to Angelina’s sudden question, Harley widened her round eyes.
“A lot of money? What I want?”
Harley, who had only been taking care of Angelina for a few months, was worried.
As this was the first question from a young lady who rarely asked for anything, she wanted to give the right answer.
“Wouldn’t I want to buy expensive clothes and jewelry that I haven’t been able to afford?”, Harley answered honestly.
“With the salary I receive now, I have enough for rent and savings, so I would like to indulge in some luxuries I haven’t been able to afford!”
Angelina noticed the slightly loosening sleeve of Harley, who joyfully exclaimed.
“Great idea.”
Nodding approvingly, Angelina changed her pace. The place she was heading to was none other than a popular clothing store.
“Is this place sufficient?”
“This place is popular among us commoners, but… wouldn’t it be a bit lacking for you, Miss?”
Thanks to Ante, who insisted on only the best for Angelina’s belongings, Angelina always had her clothes custom-made by famous designers.
Therefore, Harley thought that her lady did not quite fit in with these ready-to-wear shops.
But, with a very appropriate expression in response to Harley’s words, Angelina called over a staff member.
“What’s new here?”
“Everything on this clothing rack is brand new.”
The store owner, who sensed that the customer who had just entered had a lot of money, greeted her with a capitalist smile and guided her.
“Is this all?”
“The dresses are the latest this season, and the shoes are displayed below here. The similar style bags and scarves you see here are all we have.”
Angelina, who was quite pleased with the smiling shop owner, casually said, “Give me everything. And if there are matching accessories, include those too.”
“Oh my.”
She knew the customer was wealthy, but she didn’t expect her to be this extravagant.
“Yes, understood~ What sizes would you like for the dress and shoes?”
The owner, barely calming her excitement, asked.
Angelina, with round eyes, asked Harley standing next to her.
“Harley, what’s your size?”
“Huh? M-me?”
“Yes. Your dress and shoe sizes.”
“Oh, Miss, you… You’re not buying my clothes, are you?”
Angelina casually replied, as if wondering why Harley was surprised, and then told the shop owner, “According to her measurements.”
“Yes, understood~”
“Ah, Miss??”
Leaving the flustered Harley behind, Angelina spoke to Laura standing a step behind.
“Laura. Choose something too.”
“I’m fine.”
“I can’t just buy for Harley.”
“I don’t enjoy dresses.”
“Right. I’ve never seen you in a dress.”
Laura always wore pants. She did wear an apron over them to cover up, but Angelina knew how nice her legs were every time she saw them.
“Then let’s buy pants. Don’t they have any here?”
“Of course, we do~”
“It’s okay, Miss. I don’t need more clothes.”
Seeing Laura’s reluctant expression, Angelina sighed softly.
“I assumed you’d want clothes.”
Her thoughts were too short.
“Okay, Laura. What would you want if you suddenly came to a lot of money?”
In a tongue-in-cheek tone, Angelina asked Laura, who sighed briefly before questioning.
“If I don’t say anything, you plan to purchase something random, right?”
“Yep, you know me well.”
Having watched Angelina for so long, Laura had a good idea of her tendencies.
“So, if you don’t want me to spend money on something useless, just let me know. What would you like me to buy?”
In fact, it was Angelina who overlooked that spending money on something useless was true extravagance.
“I’d like a knife.”
“A knife? A kitchen knife? A sword?”
“I prefer a dagger.”
Upon adding that the one she was using was too old, Angelina, with a disapproving sound, looked at Laura.
‘A dagger.’
