Chapter 10
The day was set as D-Day because it was the day Marten, who promised to help with Delerone’s family register, was coming.
I took a deep breath.
You can do this.
Your skills from those project presentations haven’t disappeared, right? Remember how you got an A+ on that team presentation in college!
The professor said it too, didn’t they?
If you live with that spirit, you can survive anywhere. Alright, Veloce.
“Delerone, cheer me on.”
“Kya!”
Delerone slapped my cheek with her palm. I kissed her chubby cheek and stood up. Is this how a general feels before going to battle?
Honestly, I don’t know how many times I felt a reality check while writing this plan over the past week.
Is this what it feels like to be a businessperson looking for investors?
I only had one person who might invest in me, Maynus.
Alright, shall we go?
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When I arrived, Marten was already there.
“Am I late?”
“No. I arrived early because I had something to discuss.”
Marten greeted me politely.
“Everyone, please sit.”
Maynus gestured, and I took a seat.
“Veloce.”
“Yes?”
I opened my eyes wide at the sudden call. Like a thief feeling guilty. Thinking about borrowing money made me shrink oddly.
I gave an awkward smile.
“The issue with Delerone’s family register has been neatly resolved. Marten?”
“Here are the documents, my lady.”
“Oh.”
“She has been registered under the name Delerone Artemio.”
“I see. Thank you.”
The documents were properly processed. Since the baby hadn’t been registered at all before, Artemio had no grounds to object.
I had worried about unnecessary objections.
“Then my business here is done…”
“Wait, Marten!”
I hurriedly stopped Marten, who was about to leave.
“Yes, yes! My lady?”
“Maynus, I have something to say.”
“…What is it?”
“I’d like Marten to listen too.”
I handed the prepared documents to Marten and Maynus. Maynus looked puzzled as he opened the papers. Marten and Maynus took time to review the plan I had poured my heart into.
“What… is this?”
“Oh. I don’t think I can just rely on others here.”
“So?”
“I’m thinking of borrowing money from Maynus.”
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Maynus looked at the awkwardly smiling Veloce as if she were ridiculous. But Veloce was thinking quite realistically.
Veloce might no longer live as a noble lady. She didn’t know yet, but Artemio was searching for another heir to sit in the count’s seat. They prioritized talented children as long as they shared blood.
So thinking about making money to survive was a very sensible attitude.
“…How are you sure you have healing power?”
“It’s the same power that appeared in Ellice. And I have it too. Since I had a bad relationship with my parents and low expectations… they tested me and my siblings, and Ellice’s abilities were far superior. Still, I think I can make money.”
Then Marten raised a question, looking at another part.
“My lady, what is this?”
“Oh. Don’t you know what a pie chart is? It’s the easiest to understand… The bigger the section, the higher the percentage. I surveyed the most in-demand jobs recently. Fortunately, healing was second.”
“And this one?”
“Oh, this is a histogram… It’s something like that. It’s drawn to make comparisons easier.”
“And this?”
“That’s just for my convenience…”
“Using such charts to organize a report…!”
Marten gasped. Maynus realized he had never seen such neatly prepared documents. Their eyes met.
‘Are you thinking of hiring one more person?’
‘Do you have someone to recommend?’
The conversation we had before came to mind. It felt like the perfect candidate had appeared.
Marten seemed to think the same about Maynus. Actually, Marten would handle most of the work, but he just needed someone to help with paperwork.
“Um…”
Maynus lowered his voice toward Veloce, who was giving a passionate briefing.
“Yes?”
Veloce stopped and looked at Maynus.
“I’ll lend you the money.”
“Wow!”
“But…”
“But?”
Veloce tilted her head.
“No. I’ll just give you the money. I want to hire you, Veloce.”
“Eh?”
Marten nodded vigorously toward her.
To think someone with this skill had been buried until now. That’s why they say noble ladies in the empire should be encouraged to be socially active.
Marten spoke with a moved expression.
“Lady, I can’t hide how impressed I am with these documents! I’ve never seen such perfectly and neatly organized papers using various techniques!”
“Is that so?”
Veloce awkwardly tilted her head. Marten handed her the documents he had prepared.
Even to Veloce, the papers were so dense with text that they were overwhelming. Such documents wouldn’t catch the eye or be easy to understand.
I had never written such reports even in university. If I had, I would have surely gotten an F. I’d be hit with twin guns.
“If you lend me your skills, I will pay a fair price. Of course, it will be hard alone. I’ll assign other assistants…”
“Um…”
Veloce parted her lips.
‘Think about it, Veloce. No need to repay the money. Just help with paperwork.’
This was a good opportunity. I had done paperwork to death at my company. Making money was…
‘Just like a salary, right?’
Plus, I could get paid more confidently. I could keep my conscience and pride at the same time. Not only that, I could get paid monthly like rent.
I hadn’t brought anything, so I was relying on the duke’s household for food, clothing, and shelter.
I’d become a magpie repaying a small favor!
And I’d gather capital to hire a legal representative and reclaim Artemio’s rights.
Veloce nodded firmly.
“Good. I accept your offer!”
Veloce unintentionally succeeded in getting a job. And Maynus and Marten truly succeeded in discovering a remarkable talent.
They had been struggling to find someone reliable. If she was staying in the same mansion, she’d be more trustworthy, right?
And the Veloce that Maynus knew… had no social life. She was living only inside the mansion, taking care of Delerone.
She seemed to borrow books from the study, but her activity range was really narrow.
Moreover, according to Marten’s findings today, Artemio had no intention of taking Veloce and Delerone.
“Then we should draft a contract. Marten, can you prepare it right away?”
“Yes. I have a template. You just need to fill it in.”
Veloce put down the papers. I hadn’t expected this to happen, but I was glad since I was bored with nothing to do.
‘Is this what being a working mom is like?’
Veloce scratched her cheek.
“I think a monthly salary format would be good. How much should it be? And how about a three-month contract for now?”
“Good.”
Veloce nodded.
Maynus stroked his chin.
“Marten, how about about two-thirds of what you receive?”
“I think that’s reasonable, Your Grace.”
“Veloce, don’t feel bad. Marten has certifications…”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter!”
Actually, looking only at Veloce here, it was like entering the job market without any certifications. But since she got a job, of course, she couldn’t be the same as Marten.
Marten wrote down the amount.
“Hup!”
Veloce covered her mouth.
Goodness!
