Chapter 9

“I understand. That’s a bit disappointing. I thought Jeremias’s succession was secure.”

“That’s enough nagging from uncle and aunt.”

Marten shrugged his shoulders.

I saw Elsa and Yuz whispering.

Ugh. I never thought the rumors would spread that much.

It was funny, but if the rumors kept spreading like that, I thought Maynus might kick me out.

‘Sorry.’

As I parted my lips, I saw Maynus turn his head away from me and snort.

I accompanied Marten out. He assured me that we would get the desired result within a week.

Maynus sighed deeply and said to me,

“…Since Lady Veloce arrived, there hasn’t been a quiet day.”

“Really, it wasn’t intentional. Not at all.”

Maynus sighed once more.

I knew he wouldn’t be pleased about the fiancée from ten years ago suddenly appearing and causing rumors.

But you’re all I have left.

“You promised to take care of me, didn’t you, Maynus?”

Maynus nodded at my words.

“Don’t worry, Veloce. I’m not the kind of man who would throw you and Delerone out in this weather.”

Maynus glared at me as he spoke. The kindness he had shown before was completely gone.

Good grief.

“Okay, I swear! Delerone is really not your child. Absolutely not!”

I raised my right hand and said loudly. Maynus looked at me with a face of disbelief.

“I’m serious! And I have no intention of becoming the lady of Jeremias!”

Those who had been focusing on us must have heard my voice. Maynus clenched his teeth and reached out to pull my hand away.

“Alright.”

“I will definitely, without fail, leave this mansion!”

“Understood, Veloce.”

As people started whispering, Maynus gritted his teeth and said once again.

Ah, why is this so fun?

Anyway, that’s how the scandal surrounding Jeremias was settled.

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“Wah! Oooh! Wah!”

I opened my eyes wide at Delerone’s crying.

I yawned and sat up, picking Delerone up. Soon, Delerone’s nanny from the next room would come.

She was hired personally by Maynus to care for Delerone. Jewel had requested a nanny to watch over Delerone.

“Haah. You don’t sleep at all.”

I teased Delerone with my swollen eyes from waking up.

“Wah! Gya!”

After walking around the room a few times holding her, Delerone blinked softly and smiled brightly again.

“Our Delerone. Who on earth did you get your looks from to be this pretty?”

“Lady Veloce.”

“Oh, come in.”

Stellin entered the room, wrapping her shawl. She was an unmarried mother raising a newborn baby boy.

“You’ve been working hard.”

“No, Lady Veloce. Alex woke up just now, so he’s already awake.”

I handed Delerone to her as I swallowed a yawn. After confirming Stellin had taken Delerone, I flopped onto the bed.

“Ugh, I’m sleepy.”

Delerone, who woke up at least once every dawn, made my sleep restless. But when she smiled, I couldn’t get annoyed.

“Did I think I’d be a mother at this age?”

I really hadn’t.

I yawned repeatedly and tossed and turned. There was no chance I’d fall asleep before Delerone returned.

So I decided to continue my recent thoughts.

I have to find a way to make a living. My short-term goal was to call a priest to the family and awaken my powers. I wanted Veloce to be a three-dimensional villainess. The sacred power wasn’t only Ellice’s. Veloce had it too. That would be my stepping stone to survive here.

I can’t keep relying on Maynus forever.

‘Ten years is enough. It’s time to let go.’

Besides, Maynus was almost buried as a side character. It would be unreasonable to keep using him out of guilt for neglecting him.

“What can I do?”

I have no magic and no special abilities. I don’t have money or power either.

Veloce could live recklessly only because of the backing of Artemio and Ellice.

Without a background, Veloce was nothing.

Veloce was purely a bundle of jealousy, hatred, and other negative emotions.

On the other hand, she was clueless when it came to scheming for her own benefit. Veloce thought Artemio would always stand behind her.

As long as Ellice was alive.

Veloce knew Ellice was her last stronghold.

But now that Ellice was gone, all that was left was this body.

“What a brilliant setup.”

If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have set Veloce’s character this way.

It’s hopeless, hopeless.

But the more I think about it, the angrier I get. Not only Veloce, but Delerone is also of Artemio blood.

Why do I have to worry about this when they have parents?

Veloce is grown, but Delerone is a newborn.

Moreover, Delerone has many privileges as an Artemio. And Artemio has lost its heir.

I could earn money now by using healing powers, but I was a bit skeptical. Ellice was an amazing saint, but how much power could Veloce have? Usually, genes concentrate on one side. That’s just a temporary fix, and Ellice’s child had rights to Artemio.

I wanted to raise the child unrelated to Artemio, but this was different. It was about securing a foundation for the child. If it was a right Ellice’s child should have, wouldn’t reclaiming it be a good idea? Apart from raising the child.

The heir to the Artemio Count family was originally Alexand, but now the position was vacant.

“…Then how about I take that vacant spot?”

Then I wouldn’t have to worry about making a living.

The Artemio count and countess were healthy, but time passes. If they weren’t going to close the family, they’d need an heir.

Of course, there was much to learn to lead the Artemio family, but isn’t studying the easiest thing?

Thanks to the author’s buff, I knew the country’s history, laws, and commerce well, so I just needed to learn the practical side.

Hmm. This is actually pretty good.

First, borrow money from Maynus to awaken my powers. I had healing power inside me. I couldn’t estimate its magnitude, but I could make money. Those with strong powers attracted people just by sitting still. But those with low healing power had to find people who needed healing and earn money. I could repay Maynus to some extent with that…

I could hire teachers to train me.

And I could check with Marten or other legal representatives if there was a way to inherit the family.

Artemio might be considering other options too…

It wouldn’t be easy, but it was worth trying. If I could become Artemio’s heir, Delerone could find her place.

Just as I was thinking about how to take over the Artemio Count family, Delerone returned, smiling brightly.

“Ah! Oooh! Mm!”

I patted Delerone, who was babbling sleepily with her eyes closing.

“Delerone, you have nothing to worry about.”

Her blue eyes, like Ellice’s, were clear and pure.

“Mm!”

I promise, Ellice.

My heroine.

I’ll do my best so your child can grow up without lack.

Of course, I’ll live comfortably too. If I raise Delerone well and pass down Artemio, maybe she’ll take care of me in my old age?

“Right, Delerone. You have to be filial, okay? Auntie doesn’t ask for much. Just food, clothing, and shelter. Got it?”

“Kya!”

That’s right, that’s right.

Our Delerone understands well.

I kissed the baby’s cheek that smelled faintly nutty and lifted my head.

Honestly, I didn’t want to suffer even after entering the novel. Since I was possessed by a rich heiress, I decided to live as a spendthrift fairy. That was my plan.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

I prepared a briefing diligently for the past week. Normally, this would be done with a PPT, but since I didn’t have one, I drew everything on parchment. I drew tables and graphs.

I wasn’t about to get a job at XX Electronics right now. The best way was to awaken my healing power. I had to think like a fantasy novel and find a way to make money. What good is thinking like Korea here?

In a world without chicken.

I had thought about selling chicken. But that needs money too. I didn’t have a penny. What business could I start? I had no choice but to save up little by little and plan something big.

Fortunately, after asking the maids, I gathered information and found that Veloce’s healing power could definitely make money.

And the big day finally arrived.