The Villainess Whom I Had Served for 13 Years Has Fallen chapter 168

168 – On the Value of Money -1-

Sitting at the table late at night, I unfolded the thick account book, tapping the pen.

-Tap.

In and out, I stared at the pen tip repeating the motion, sighed deeply, and got lost in thought.

“What should I do about this.”

Only sighs came out.

“There’s too much money.”

A sigh of success.

A happy dilemma that was unimaginable just a year ago. Forgetting the unfortunate past days when I had to consider selling my jewelry, I arrogantly smiled and opened the account book.

[Total Assets: 1.2 million gold]

This month’s expenses: 10,000 gold

[Breakdown]

Food expenses: 7,000 gold

Taxes: Evaded

Leisure activities budget: 1,000 gold

Miscellaneous: 2,000 gold

“Is this what rich people worry about… Difficult. It’s hard.”

It had been a long time since the units of shillings disappeared from the account book where I meticulously recorded every single shilling.

Although food expenses took the biggest share, I couldn’t help but laugh at the ever-increasing wealth in my wallet compared to before, muttering to myself.

“If I save well, I might be able to buy a house in the capital, or better yet, it wouldn’t be bad to build a mansion overlooking the sea.”

As the butler’s way of thinking changed with a more leisurely life, he used to worry about “how not to starve to death” before, but now he felt good thinking constructively about preparing for retirement.

In the past, he used to sigh and manage the household account, but these days, he found joy in doing so.

Indeed, money seems to be a reliable thing.

The boss said he would take care of the taxes, and even if problems arose, there was a tax evasion expert lady in the mansion. There was no need to worry.

“I’m good at laundering money.”

“It’s not just about adding water and spinning.”

“Oh, really?”

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“Yes.”

“Well, I know! Anyway, since you’re good at it, feel free to ask if you don’t understand anything.”

Since she seemed good at it, I thought if any issues arose, I could just ask her for help. Even though she had adapted to a jobless life, there were times when she showed a sharp mind, so I decided to trust her and nodded my head.

“From next month, should I give the lady some pocket money?”

Even though there might not be anywhere to spend it, it was necessary to instill a proper sense of financial management. I smiled as I wrote ‘pocket money’ in next month’s expenses.

‘She will probably like it….’

So far, money didn’t hold much weight for the lady.

For some, money is a means to support life, while for others, it’s like an unmovable shackle, but for the lady, money didn’t hold a significant meaning.

It wasn’t because she didn’t need money; it was our, Dadbarb and my, mistake.

The lady had never earned money herself and didn’t know how to, either. She only knew about taxes and business, never bothering with the details.

Last time, she glued the eyes on a teddy bear without looking at the amount properly.

We became a warm ATM for such a lady.

“Honey, give me some money.”

“How much do you need? 1 million?”

“Yes.”

Subtly, I made the lady see money in a light-hearted way. Just like when she was kicked out of the family, I had become her water supplier like Dadbarb, so I didn’t think things had changed much.

So, I thought about slowly teaching the lady the value of money and considered giving her pocket money after seeing her talent for subtly hinting at platinum coins.

As I pondered how much pocket money to give her, a familiar voice called out from the next room.

“Ricardooo!”

The lady was calling me in a booming voice. What could she want today? Smiling at the lady’s call summoning me as if the mansion’s roof was about to collapse, I covered the household account spread out on the desk.

“I’m coming right now.”

What could be the reason for calling me today?

Was it because she thought a cockroach or a ghost might appear? Sometimes the reasons for her late-night calls were varied, but nightmares or the fear of ghosts were often the main reasons. So, I roughly guessed the reason and took out a fairy tale book from the bookshelf.

[“My Glass Slipper Costs 3 Million Gold.”]

It wasn’t a fairy tale book from this world; it was a fairy tale book from a past life, filled with provocative content made specifically for the lady.

I tucked the fairy tale book under my arm and left the room. With a light step filled with the hope that she would like the fresh new work, I set off.

“Sneakily, sneakily.”

My steps, tiptoeing quietly, soon stopped in front of a door with a small sign hanging on it.

[“The Room of the Most Beautiful Villainess in the World.”]

A sign secretly placed by the lady in front of the door. I chuckled softly and gently knocked on the door.

– Knock, knock.

“Madam. I’ve arrived.”

There was no response.

Whether she had fallen asleep within three minutes or was simply being quiet behind the door, I felt puzzled as I knocked once again.

– Knock, knock, knock.

What’s this? Is she not answering because she’s bored?

As a proper butler unable to open a lady’s door without permission, I cleared my throat and spoke in a subdued voice towards the young lady beyond the silent door.

– Knock, knock, knock, knock.

“Ahem, Madam? Would you like me to prepare your bath?”

“…”

With no response from the lady, I sighed, lowered my head in disappointment, and shrugged my shoulders.

It seemed the lady didn’t require a butler after all.

“Alright then…”

But, it felt unsatisfactory to just leave. Having come this far, leaving without even seeing the lady’s face would be nothing short of neglecting my duty.

After swiftly making up my mind, I turned around and walked towards the lady’s door.

– Creak.

“Madam!”

Entering with a bright smile, I presented the plagiarized fairytale ‘My Glass Slippers Cost 3 Million Gold.’

In the dimly lit room that slowly came into view, as always, I forced a awkward smile in the chilly air that entered through the wide-open window and began to ramble.

“I told you not to sleep with the window open… Huh?”

On the bed, there was a huge dumpling. Not a real dumpling, but the silhouette of the lady, covered in a blanket up to her head, resembled one.

“Eek…”

Seeing the lady’s figure, so plump that it could be mistaken for a well-made dumpling, I approached her with a puzzled expression, slowly peeled off the blanket, and spoke in a gentle voice.

“Why are you like this? Did a bug come out or something?”

Upon seeing my face, the lady, with teary eyes, started rummaging through the drawer while wiping her eyes with her hands.

Amongst the busy hands searching through the drawer, glinting coins caught my eye. It seemed she had won some gambling without my knowledge. Indeed, I couldn’t keep up with her talent in the underworld.

After searching the drawer for a while, the lady pulled out a platinum coin and handed it to me with trembling hands.

“This!”

“Yes?”

“Take it.”

“Why on earth would I?”

“Just… Take it!”

What is this?

Though I didn’t know what it was, I accepted the coin she handed me with a warm feeling in my chest.

Money is truly supreme.

Vowing to ‘never spend’ the allowance I received from the lady for the first time, I put the coin into my pocket.

“Thank you…”

Without even a moment to tidy her disheveled clothes, the lady tightly hugged me. Despite being called a villain, it seemed she still felt a pang of conscience.

With the lady’s trembling breath against me, I smiled and patted her back.

“It’s okay.”

And Olivia.

“Thank goodness….”

She breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at the reddened blue window.

-Quest failed.

*

Embracing Ricardo, Olivia felt her heart pounding as she let out a sigh of relief.

The sudden appearance of the blue window seemed ominous.

Olivia closed her eyes tightly at the sight of the blue window beyond Ricardo’s shoulder, exhaling a rough breath.

“I won’t see it this time.”

Truly.

-Quest failed.

-As a penalty, you will be able to read a portion (5%) of the 66th side story ‘The Weight of Unpayable Debt.’

*

10 minutes ago.

The blue window reflected in Olivia’s eyes as she lay on the bed.

Even though she tried to avoid looking at it by burying her face in the pillow and shaking her head from side to side, the blue window that wouldn’t disappear made Olivia clench her fist and slowly lift her head.

[Q. Regarding the Weight of Unpaid Debt.]

You have a debt incurred by your mistake. It is a debt of 1 million gold that commoners dare not touch.

Being unable to move, you couldn’t repay the debt, and naturally, your debt became a matter of concern for the butler.

Do you remember? Using dark magic and a month later, the butler handed you a piece of paper.

With a smiling face, the butler said, ‘You can repay the money.’ and ‘Don’t worry.’ But in the smile of the butler, there was a worry that you couldn’t possibly repay.

You, as you are now, tore the paper without even looking at it due to your dislike of the butler, but if you had responded with a careless ‘Sure, do it yourself,’ the story would be different now.

You and your past self.

Have repaid the debt.

Of course, with Ricardo’s help.

(!) Find Ricardo’s efforts that you were unaware of.

1. Collect 3 platinum coins secretly. (1/3)

2. Peek at Ricardo’s account book. (0/1)

Reward: You will be able to read the 66th side story ‘The Weight of Unpayable Debt.’

Failure: You will only be able to read the latter half (5%) of the side story.