Chapter 27
“You’re short by a little.”
“Ah…”
Theon said, counting the gold coins I had handed him.
“I had to pay Vittori for her services…”
“And you also spent some on snacks. Jenna always brings something back whenever she goes out.”
Thud—
I collapsed onto the library sofa.
I had found the perfect plot of land for my first investment, but I was exactly 1 gold short.
I wanted to purchase a small piece of land between the Empire and Karnai.
Karnai was located at the continent’s southernmost tip, and the border with the Empire was nothing but rocky mountains and cliffs.
Due to the difficult terrain and cultural differences, trade had been almost non-existent for centuries. Occasionally, errand boys for eccentric collectors would pass through the cliffs to obtain rare goods from the Empire, but that was it.
The only flat terrain was a forest nestled between two cliffs—overrun with thorny vines and occasionally man-eating beasts.
“The seller says payment must be made today. He’ll meet us at the capital via portal.”
Theon checked the time.
Neither he nor the seller seemed willing to cut me any slack.
“Can’t we pay tomorrow? He’s going to drink anyway.”
I pleaded with the saddest look I could muster.
Thanks to my past life, I knew this thorny forest was actually private land, and with enough effort, the monsters could be cleared.
Clein, obsessed with controlling the continent, had torched the forest and seized the nearby village. When many knights died during the operation, he unjustly blamed and executed the landowner.
I remembered the name of that drunk man dragged out of a tavern—and found him easily.
“If you don’t pay, he’ll transfer the land in exchange for his bar tab.”
“No!”
I screamed.
“Can’t I get my allowance in advance…?”
“You already received next month’s.”
“Then the month after that?”
“No advances beyond one month.”
Theon coolly ignored my pleading hands.
He asked to become my subordinate, but sometimes I wonder who’s really in charge here.
“Then can I borrow just one gold…”
“A superior borrowing from a subordinate is the start of corruption. I’ve also warned Jenna.”
You need power to be corrupt!
To him, all this seemed like part of my education.
He had previously refused to invest jointly, saying mixing money and hierarchy leads to ruin—and told me to raise funds myself. If successful, he’d ask for a big bonus.
“But everyone in the mansion is technically below me!”
“Not everyone.”
“Then should I borrow from the Duchess?”
“There’s someone else.”
“…!”
I froze, remembering the one person I’d forgotten.
There was one more option… though not one I liked.
Theon tilted his head. “What will you do?”
“Haa…”
30 minutes later, I was knocking on Callista’s door, my hand trembling.
“Come in, Lady Harper.”
Her maid welcomed me in.
Callista was reading on a large sofa. As soon as she saw me, she closed the book.
“What is it, Harper?”
Her voice, flat as always, made me nervous. I approached hesitantly and took a deep breath.
“…Please…”
“I can’t hear you.”
Her clear voice only made my heart pound more.
What if she gets angry? This might be insane.
But backing out now would only make her mood worse.
I bowed deeply and held out both hands.
“…Please lend me 1 gold…”
She said nothing for a while. When I looked up, her eyes were wider than usual.
“I’ll pay it back by the month after next!”
Theon said it’s important to mention repayment when borrowing.
“I’ll even sign a note. If you need collateral…”
I trailed off, unsure if I’d have to offer a limb.
“…Why do you need money?”
“To buy land.”
“For investment?”
“Yes.”
“And you want me to co-invest?”
“You can’t buy land with 1 gold. A proper investment requires at least 10,000.”
She frowned.
“It’s not only 1 gold. It’s much more expensive—I’m just short by that amount.”
“How expensive?”
“Eight gold.”
“…”
She seemed to be calculating something in her head.
“What kind of land is it?”
“A thorny forest with monsters. I haven’t seen it personally…”
Her expression grew more strange. As I was about to give up, she asked seriously:
“What do you want to do with it in the end?”
In the end?
Live far from her and Clein, with a private masseuse?
“To turn it into a trade route.”
I shook off the stray thought and answered honestly.
“A trade route?”
“Yes.”
I said with confidence. She still looked unconvinced.
“How much would that make per year?”
“Per day…”
I recalled Theon’s documents and smiled.
“Ten thousand gold per day.”
Callista’s calm blue eyes wavered for a split second.
“You called for me?”
“You’re here, Aramis.”
“You seem dazed today.”
He waved a hand in front of her face, and only then did she look at him.
“I saw Lady Harper earlier. She looked delighted holding a gold coin.”
“I gave it to her.”
“You give allowances now?”
“No. It’s investment capital.”
She replied.
“Her plan was convincing, so I took a share instead.”
“Sounds like a scam.”
He stopped when he saw her serious expression.
“Aramis, you once said the Council would try to use Harper. That children are easy to manipulate.”
“Yes.”
“I used to think the same…”
Callista smiled—a rare, amused expression.
Surprised, Aramis stared.
“But lately, I’m not so sure.”
Her smile deepened.
“Maybe she won’t be used so easily after all.”
I stared at a paper so creased it looked worn out.
“It’s been an hour, my lady. Shall I put it away?”
Theon reached for it, but I didn’t look away.
“Staring at the deed won’t change it.”
Yes—this was my land deed. The first land I ever owned in both lives.
Well, technically, one-eighth of it was Callista’s.
But still—my share was seven times bigger.
“Store it properly and get ready to go out.”
Right, I needed to prepare.
Today, we were going outside the estate.
To a place I hadn’t visited once since returning in this life—a place familiar from my past.
“The capital is colder than Luferne, so dress warmly.”
To the Imperial Capital… where Clein once took me.
It all began with a sigh from Shion.
“Haa…”
During our midday garden walk, he sighed so deeply it felt like the ground trembled.
“Shion?”
“Huuu…”
“What’s wrong?”
I asked kindly. The weather was good, the garden beautiful, and I wanted to be on his good side.
“Talk to me. I’ll listen to anything.”
“It’s… a romantic problem.”
…What?
My confidence drained in an instant. That was one thing I’d never experienced.
No lovers. Not even male friends. Clein didn’t count.
“Um, so… what’s the issue?”
I tried to redirect. Shion stared into space.
“It’s not even a relationship. Just unrequited love. I liked a girl I haven’t seen in a long time.”
“Someone from the mansion?”
“No. I saw her once in the capital. Iris—the daughter of the tavern owner where I worked.”
I stopped walking.
“…That’s a unique name.”
“Yes. I never confessed. I bet she’s running the tavern now. If I’d confessed, I might not still be hung up on her.”
He spoke wistfully, but my mind was racing.
Iris’s tavern.
That was the base of operations where Shion built his information network in my past life.
He used intel from patrons to grow an empire of saloons and spies—and Iris was his right hand from the very start.
Their connection began everything… though they were always just allies.
“You haven’t seen her since you were kids?”
“No. But I heard she’s not seeing anyone seriously. That makes it harder to forget.”
Poor Shion. The key word here is “seriously”…
