“It’s not much, but with that amount, I could pay it back faster.”
The debt that Beatrice casually brought up was exactly 83 million liquettes.
While there were numerous articles speculating about the amount of Monde Duchy’s debt, none of the journalists had successfully guessed a number close to this figure. That’s how absurd the amount was.
And yet, Beatrice was asking for 10 million liquettes of it.
Sir Renard was in disbelief, and Cecile couldn’t close her mouth. Did anyone even exist in the Empire who could immediately procure 10 million liquettes?
“So the debt is in the tens of millions of liquettes.”
“Well, yes. Mother and I are trying everything we can, even selling our house. Everything’s being settled now, but after paying such a large sum suddenly, you know how it is. We don’t even have money to spend tomorrow.”
Beatrice quickly removed her opal and diamond bracelet, then took off her lace gloves while letting out a sigh.
“I need to maintain my dignity to earn money and pay it back, right? It’s really embarrassing, but I have no one else to ask but you. I’m really sorry. If you could just lend me 10 million liquettes, I’ll work diligently and pay it back quickly.”
She spoke very well. Too brazenly well. Kaela stared at Beatrice for a moment before asking.
“I’m curious about something – why did you come to me?”
She had thought Beatrice’s pride was too strong to ever ask for help from Kaela, whom she had always looked down upon. Above all, didn’t she have Peon, whose mother was closely connected with hers?
“You know a lot of people, sister.”
Kaela knew that every innocent question she asked would grate on Beatrice’s nerves. Those who have experienced it know well. They know exactly how such small words can hurt in difficult and trying moments.
But whether Beatrice was irritated or not wasn’t Kaela’s concern. Just as Beatrice hadn’t cared about the wounds she inflicted, it was only fair that Kaela didn’t care either.
“You know people who are much wealthier than me.”
“I’ve already asked all of them. They said they’d help, that’s why I can pay you back quickly.”
Ah, I get it now. In essence, while she came to borrow money, maintaining her pride by boasting even in the act of borrowing was Beatrice’s way.
“Just 10 million is enough. I’ll pay it back quickly.”
“That’s quite a startling amount.”
“It is a large amount. No, it really is a large amount, isn’t it? But thinking about it, you’re the person I’ve known since childhood who makes me feel most comfortable, and among all the people I know, you’re the most well-off.”
“There’s also Peon oppa.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t you know about the gold vein that was discovered in Lusenford?”
Cecile and Sir Renard, standing silently in the corner, stared at Kaela with widened eyes. Beatrice also looked at Kaela as if thinking ‘what on earth is she talking about?’
“There’s also a jewel mine. Peon oppa is wealthy.”
Kaela alone remained composed in the reception room.
Having deliberately positioned her maid and knight guard, she calmly gazed at Beatrice, who had tormented her childhood, continued to inflict wounds into her adulthood, and was deeply involved even in her death.
“If you’re looking to borrow money, it seems more appropriate to go to Peon oppa first.”
She smeared mud on Beatrice’s face – the same Beatrice who had always pushed Kaela into the mud. This is how it ends up. Doing the same things, without any hesitation, or rather, even with a sense of pleasure.
“Not me.”
The blue eyes that had been listening innocently, holding back tears, now looked at Beatrice calmly without a trace of moisture.
“Surely your relationship hasn’t deteriorated to that extent already?”
Beatrice, though wanting to leave this place, cannot leave since she came to borrow money.
If she storms out, well, it would just mean she’s not desperate enough yet, and that would be the end of it. Kaela spoke in a level, calm, and quiet tone, as if having an ordinary conversation.
“I thought you and oppa had a special relationship where even if romantic love disappeared, friendship would remain.”
She casually treated Beatrice as her husband’s mistress. Kaela was simultaneously insulting Peon, who wasn’t even present. She thought how she wished Peon could see this scene.
Her thoroughly twisted heart insulted Beatrice without any hesitation, insulted Peon, and even spat at herself, his wife.
She did it knowingly. She wanted to do it at least once. No, even doing it ten times wouldn’t have been enough.
“How much has oppa been providing you?”
How long would Beatrice endure? Kaela had endured everything until the end. If Kaela could do that, shouldn’t Beatrice be able to do the same?
“Don’t tell me it’s not enough even after what he’s given you?”
At this innocent question, Beatrice clenched her fists.
“Are you two conspiring to mock me?”
“I’m not mocking you. When lending such a large sum of money, I need to ask about your ability to repay, when you can repay it, I need to know everything.”
As the heir who would rule Ostein where gold rolled freely, Kaela possessed a sharp sense for money matters. When someone asks to borrow ten million liquettes, naturally one needs to understand the situation precisely.
Despite this reasonable point, Beatrice let out a big laugh while looking at the ceiling with a “ha.” Yes. This seemed to be the limit of Beatrice’s patience.
“If you don’t want to lend it, just say so!”
“Sister. It’s ten million liquettes.”
Kaela spoke calmly to Beatrice.
“You know that even wealthy individuals who possess 10 million liquettes are rare, and even if they have it, it’s not money they can immediately provide.”
Beatrice, who had been fuming, held back at those calm words. Even she had to admit it made sense.
“Even if I could lend it, it would take time to convert that money into gold coins. Since it’s not a simple matter, of course I need to ask these questions.”
“…Right. I suppose so.”
Her voice trembled with suppressed anger as she exhaled. Beatrice didn’t try to manage her expression or hide her true feelings. Of course, she wouldn’t need to with Kaela, whom she’d always considered beneath her.
“And I mentioned Peon oppa because spouses share a joint economy.”
Kaela noticed a murderous glint flash in those pink eyes.
Though she wasn’t sure exactly which of her words had triggered Beatrice, Kaela continued speaking. If Beatrice was angry, then she should keep talking, pouring oil and adding kindling to the fire.
“I’m not interested in your and oppa’s private life. But family assets are important.”
Kaela hoped Peon would definitely hear these words. With Sir Renard present, he probably would. Cecile was probably about to faint, thinking ‘How could our lady say such things?’
“If you’re asking me for 10 million liquettes, you must have asked Peon oppa for even more, and if that much money leaves at once, it would seriously impact next year’s budget.”
“You two are hilarious.”
Beatrice finally gave up on holding back. Her face instantly turned red as she raised her voice.
“Did Peon tell you I came to borrow money? He spouted nonsense about how all his money is yours and he needs your permission, and now you’re what? Joint economy? Are you using Peon to lord over me?”
That Peon had said such things was news even to Kaela. Apparently, her husband was saying the same things outside as well. Hearing about Peon’s words from Beatrice’s mouth was both fresh and gave her mixed feelings.
“You’re putting on airs just because you have some money? You think you’ve become somebody now that you’re married to Peon? You think you’re better than me because you can talk about repayment terms?”
“Well, it’s a fact that you don’t have 10 million liquettes and I do.”
“So you and Peon planned this together to humiliate me because you got this chance? Who do you think you are?”
Her voice got louder. Too loud, in fact. Sir Renard and Cecile were shocked, not understanding why Beatrice was suddenly going this far.
But Kaela wasn’t surprised at all. Judging by her mentions of Peon, she must have met with him first and come here extremely angry.
Now that she was provoked, she was directing at the always-easy-target Kaela the anger she didn’t dare express to Peon.
Kaela finally understood why she had thought she could never beat Beatrice. It was because the beautiful queen of society had monopolized Peon’s love that Kaela had so desperately wanted.
Though the gaunt Beatrice, red-faced and yelling, might still carry the title of society’s queen, with Peon removed from the equation, she was no longer an insurmountable wall to Kaela.
Beatrice was nothing to Kaela.
“Don’t get the wrong idea, Kaela. You’re nothing. You think Peon fell for you because he was tempted by your money and status? He married you on His Majesty the Emperor’s orders, not because he found you attractive!”
“I know.”
Kaela nodded with a slight smile.
“I know that well, which is why I just said I don’t interfere in yours and oppa’s private life. Don’t you remember?”
Beatrice flinched. How could someone be so simple and stupid? Kaela felt empty.
It felt utterly hollow that she had been hurt for so long, being pushed around by such a careless person who would lose their temper, shout whatever came to mind, and act so recklessly. The emptiness made her angry.
“I don’t understand why you’re so angry. This is the first time I’ve seen someone get angry while asking to borrow money. Why? If Peon oppa wouldn’t lend you money, you should be angry at him, so why are you angry at me? I don’t understand, sister.”
She called Beatrice “sister” very familiarly while tilting her head. Her expression was calm and indifferent enough to infuriate anyone watching.
“After hearing from Peon that I asked to borrow money…”
“This is the first I’m hearing of it. Didn’t you just come from meeting oppa? Then you’d be faster than any message from oppa who’s at the palace, right?”
“Then you must have ordered Peon to treat me this way!”
“How strange. How could I have known in advance that you would come to borrow money and given such orders?”
Beatrice was left breathing heavily, having run out of counterarguments. It was such a weak, unreasonable accusation.
“Besides, would oppa be cold to you just because I told him to?”
She was even more struck by these words and couldn’t say anything. Kaela snickered. She openly mocked her. She really was nothing at all. So utterly insignificant.
“I’m disappointed.”
This was something she had once said to Peon as well.
“I thought you two would last a long time, and I hoped you’d be happy, but to think you’re not even close enough to lend money. I’ve received quite a lot from oppa since we married, so I thought he gave you even more, but I guess not.”
Beatrice reacted immediately to the deep jab. She jerked her head up so sharply that her silver hair flew wildly.
“Right. You picked up what I threw away. Happy now? Feeling satisfied?”
“From what I can see, you weren’t the one who did the throwing away, but the one who was thrown away?”
“Hey!”
At the voice loud enough to make her ears ring, Kaela sighed and rubbed her face.
“What do you know? Have you ever been in love, or even held a man’s hand? Have you even slept with Peon? Do you even know what intimacy is?”
“So that’s what you take pride in.”
Beatrice’s pupils shook violently. What was this that made her feel so shameful and angry? She was too angry to control herself.
“The money won’t work out. It’s a shame you came all this way. Leave.”
“This is really…!”
Unable to contain herself any longer, Beatrice grabbed a teacup and threw it straight at Kaela. The cup flew through the air, still containing cold tea.
Surely Kaela would be doused with tea and hit by the cup. She was known to have no reflexes and couldn’t move her body quickly.
Sure enough, there was a loud crash as the teacup shattered, sending fragments flying everywhere. Both Beatrice and Kaela stared wide-eyed at the broken teacup.
“Your Highness!”
Not a single drop of tea nor shards of the cup had touched Kaela. Rather, they seemed to have deflected away from her. The angle at which the cup and tea had bounced away was impossible.
It was beyond impossible – something was strange. It was as if there was some defensive magic device near Kaela. Just as Beatrice was furrowing her brow, seeming to realize something–
Kaela picked up the teapot, opened the lid, and poured the tea directly onto Beatrice.
Beatrice, who took the sticky, syrup-mixed tea directly to her face, blankly watched as the tea seeped between her bracelets and rings and dripped onto her dress.
“You’re vulgar.”
Kaela, moving with unprecedented speed and dexterity, gripped the teapot tightly as she spoke.
“And stupid on top of that. You’re too stupid to understand even half of what I’m saying. Right? So leave.”
Her narrow chest heaved with unprecedented anger. Her head was boiling. She had never been this angry before. Kaela, dizzy with rage, spoke while breathing heavily.
“Go back and just live as you have been. That alone will be enough to ruin you.”
“Y-you…!”
How much did this cost! As her carefully styled hair got wet and fell into her eyes, Beatrice glared at Kaela. She would scratch that white, fair face with her nails.
Just as she lost all reason and jumped up, Sir Renard grabbed Beatrice. He judged that since Her Highness had ordered her to leave, it was now appropriate for the guard to intervene.
“What is this, let go!”
“Get out!”
A sharp voice came from Her Highness, who was usually indifferent and limp like a wind-up doll with loose springs.
“Get out of my life and my husband’s life!”
Cecile hurriedly ran to Her Highness, who was staggering.
Beatrice Ravalley was driven out in a disgraceful state from the townhouse where the Grand Duke and Duchess of Lusenford lived.
Just as the curious maids and servants in nearby mansions, along with elderly people who loved watching from their windows, were beginning to spread rumors, the master of the townhouse returned.
