Chapter 11
Veloce was well versed in the currency system of this world. However, the monthly salary Marten wrote down was equivalent to about three months’ pay for an average person.
“Is it too little?”
Maynus asked with a worried look. Veloce quickly shook her head.
“No! It’s perfect!”
Veloce teared up and gave two thumbs up.
Best employer… best landlord… what else? Best boss?
Three months at that amount.
Maynus looked reluctant. Honestly, it was a worrying amount for him. He knew how much noble ladies usually spent, so being satisfied with this was surprising.
Of course, food, clothing, and shelter were provided by the duke’s mansion. For dresses, Veloce wore repaired gowns once worn by noble ladies and only bought underwear.
I heard that was what Veloce wanted.
Given the situation, she might have wanted new clothes or other things, but Veloce didn’t seem to have any such desires. Maynus chuckled quietly as he looked at the two thumbs Veloce gave him.
“Really…”
Veloce was strange and quirky in some ways. Like now… Actually, when she first came to see Maynus, she was quirky too. From the day they met again until now, Veloce kept baffling Maynus.
But… he was starting to get used to it.
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Wow, I got a job.
Veloce rolled on the bed with a face full of joy. What I had learned through hardships in Korea wasn’t completely useless.
I’d save that initial capital carefully, call a priest to awaken my powers… and then use those powers to make money. Like a squirrel gathering acorns…
Life here wouldn’t be much different from Korea, but it was still good. This was a pretty good start. It meant I could live here while making money.
Veloce hummed happily.
“You look happy.”
“Oh, Elsa. I got a job!”
“Really?”
Elsa’s eyes went wide.
“I got a job unexpectedly today… When I get my first paycheck, I’ll buy you a present too.”
“Congratulations.”
Elsa smiled brightly. Everything seemed happy now. Since I was going to work with Marten, I thought I could later sneak in a question or two about Artemio.
Isn’t this going too well?
Am I adapting too well?
Thanks to that, I fell asleep happily. And since Delerone’s family register issue was easily resolved, I had no reason not to be happy.
I’d have a sweet sleep!
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Ah, life really has its ups and downs. I definitely fell asleep happily, dreaming of a rosy future.
But the visitor who came to see me in the morning instantly crushed my mood.
“Long time no see.”
A woman with a proud nose and tight lips glared at me fiercely.
Her eyes held no affection. She had hated Veloce before, but after Ellice died, her hatred intensified. She probably blamed Veloce somewhat for Ellice’s death.
Those were the kind of people they were.
Veloce’s wicked parents. They had nothing to do with me now.
Veloce seemed to have done everything to get her parents’ attention, but I hadn’t.
They were people totally unrelated to me. I was just borrowing Veloce’s body.
“Oh, yes.”
I answered indifferently.
Even though they were unrelated, they were not welcome visitors. Veloce had no friends except Ellice, so I wondered who was visiting.
“That attitude… You really never change.”
The Artemio countess poured sharp criticism.
“You were always like that. You were inferior compared to Ellice. Couldn’t you even try to be a little like her? It should have been you who died, not Ellice…”
Though I created the character, it was amazing. How could a person be so narrow-minded and one-dimensional? Even if Ellice was pretty, how could they say such things to their own child?
I clicked my tongue softly.
I almost felt sorry for Veloce.
“Hmph. Still, I’m glad you came here without being stupid. There’s something we need Jeremias’s help with.”
Let’s hear what she has to say.
“Convince Duke Maynus to collaborate with Artemio. It seems he’s trying to monopolize the shipbuilding project. Can one family handle that alone? It’d be better to help each other. We’ll generously give up a large share, so try to persuade him.”
What nonsense is this?
I was briefed on the project yesterday, and it had been carried out solely by Jeremias from the start. Artemio had no spoon to dip in.
Yet they shamelessly made such ridiculous demands while pretending generosity.
“Hey, ma’am.”
“What did you say? You ungrateful brat! I taught you well! Can’t you change your nature? You need a beating to come to your senses!”
The countess swung her hand. It looked like she was going to slap me, so I quickly grabbed her wrist.
“Eek! Let go!”
“No, ma’am. You kicked me out, so that’s the end of our relationship. We’re not family, so why should I listen to you? Isn’t this ridiculous? And why should you get to enjoy that ‘generosity’?”
“Veloce!!”
The Artemio countess shouted. Her face was flushed red as she struggled. It was quite a sight.
She was so noble when kicking me and Delerone out.
“Don’t come here again for something like this. I won’t even see you.”
I pushed the countess backward and released her.
“Oh, and by the way, I named the baby Delerone. Interested?”
“Heeeey!”
I dodged the countess lunging at me and left the parlor. Ugh, I need to wash my ears. What nonsense I’ve heard.
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The Artemio countess clenched her teeth.
‘Has she gone mad?’
Otherwise, Veloce wouldn’t have changed like this. She always had eyes craving affection, with that annoying black hair hanging down.
Veloce was the main culprit who ruined the perfect life of the Artemio countess. After Veloce was born, the countess had to endure ridiculous rumors. She was cursed for giving birth to a child born with death, and so was the countess.
That stigma was lifted only after Ellice was born. Ellice was born with dazzling beauty. Moreover, she had sacred power and was revered as a saint.
If Veloce was the darkness of the Artemio countess, Ellice was the light.
As the countess picked her ear and spoke behind Veloce’s departing back,
“You should have died instead of Ellice. Useless girl. You cling to this family like a leech, doing nothing for it but wasting food. Just like you did in Artemio.”
Veloce stopped walking. The countess felt a slight thrill. Veloce was hurt. The countess was desperate to throw all the insults she had received back at Veloce.
She would do anything if she could throw Veloce into hell instead of herself. The countess calmly watched Veloce turning her head toward her.
“You really talk too much, ma’am.”
Veloce muttered coldly.
“Say whatever you want. I’ll live my own life. So don’t bother me and get lost.”
Veloce’s glare at the countess was fierce. But what could she do? No matter how much she denied it, Artemio blood flowed in her veins. The countess sneered.
“You insolent girl! I’ll leave for now, but this isn’t over. Remember, you’re living instead of Ellice. You have the duty to do what she would have done for us! Or do you want to kick out Ellice’s daughter too? What crime does that child have? Without the family’s protection, can she enjoy what she deserves? What if your fiancé brings her into the family? Think carefully, you fool.”
The countess pushed Veloce and left first, feeling a strange sense of victory. The last time she saw Veloce, she had a blank expression. The Jeremias family was a great family. The only ducal family in the empire, with many followers. They enjoyed much because of blood ties to the emperor.
If Veloce realized something from the countess’s words and married the duke, that would be the best path. Even if the duke hated Veloce, for the sake of dignity, the ducal family couldn’t ignore Artemio.
The Artemio countess only cared about getting funds and connections from Jeremias by any means.
