Chapter 15 (2/2)

“I’ve been wondering about that as well.”

Nobles never seemed to know when to stop talking, almost as if their job was to spread rumors. No, it wasn’t just them. Everyone was chattering in the waiting room about what just transpired today, just like a year ago. She knew they were going to utter words she didn’t want to hear.

“It’s a gift for his fiancé, isn’t it?”

Julie clenched her teeth.

“Hohoho! Perhaps, but he could have just surrendered and let her win if that were the case.”

“You know his personality. I think he wanted to give the sword to her himself, which is why he went that far.”

She knew she shouldn’t judge them based on what she just heard, but they sounded so sure of themselves. The Snowflake Obsidian couldn’t be used alongside magic. Its inner mana was too strong that it could only function as a sword. It was also forged of a complicated metal that no one could wield without first gaining its permission. Even then, they’d have to swing it thousands of times to create a connection with it.

Why in the world would Deculein, a wizard, buy it?

“…”

Julie stopped yet another deep, soaring sigh from escaping.

“I’m jealous of his fiancé. She’ll be receiving a gift worth 40 million Elnes. Even a necklace worth 40,000 Elnes would be enough to make me feel honored.”

“Exactly. I can’t believe the Freyden family is still uselessly pushing and pulling. She should grab onto him and never let go while she still has the chance…”

Their gossips, speculations, and assumptions were about to drive Julie insane. Passing through the crowd of people, she immediately ran out of Schatzinsel and was soon met by a path filled with a sea breeze.

Julie curled up from the chill, calming her wavering heart as she breathed slowly.

‘It’s okay. I shouldn’t let them affect me. They’re nothing special anyway.’

There was no need for her to be swayed by words that weren’t even true.

‘I’m already used to this. I shouldn’t let myself be shaken any further…’

Not long after, a car approached her, and one of its back doors opened.

“Julie!”

A familiar voice echoed with the winds. She turned her head to face its source.

“…Sister?”

Smiling at her was the eldest daughter of the Freyden household, Josephine.

“I knew it would turn out like this. Hurry up and get in.”

Her older sister’s beauty was different from Julie’s. To her, their charms were on entirely different dimensions. Josephine’s bobbed hair was far silkier and smoother than any she had ever seen, and her distinct and elegant features made her look shabby in comparison.

“What are you still standing around there for?”

“….”

She felt uncomfortable being around her sister due to their many differences, but she still wordlessly climbed into the car. Josephine, who had as much influence in high society as Deculein, if not more, was the only person she could rely on for support in this situation.

*****

Julie was certainly a good person. As far as I was concerned, she was a long way from [The Villain’s Fate]. No death to her now. I confirmed that at the auction house through a certain intuition from my [Naked Eye].

It was pathetic to worry about her retaliating against me for taking the Snowflake Obsidian away.

“I’ve suffered so much…”

I truly did. Did the kind-hearted Julie just try to kill me? I saw a new side of her from that game we played. Just how much had she lost her mind there?

“We’re here.”

As I pondered over my thoughts, we finally arrived at the mansion.

“…Good work.”

“Thank you. Please have a good rest!”

I checked my watch, finding out that it was already past midnight. Climbing out of the car and walking through the garden, I immediately noticed a commotion taking place.

“…?”

The attendants, who gathered anxiously at the mansion’s entrance, ran towards me as soon as they saw me.

“My lord. My lord! Miss Yeriel—”

“I’ll handle this.”

I went upstairs without further inquiring about the situation. The servants followed and opened the door for me.

“…”

I was greeted by a living room filled with moonlight. Standing in the middle of it was a dark silhouette, who turned to glance at us as soon as the door opened. Even though her face was covered, I knew it was Yeriel. I was going to ask why she was there, but she spoke before I could. Her tone was dry, almost cracking.

“…The money I entrusted to you was supposed to pay for the Zeron mine acquisition. Did you really have to spend it all like that?”

Tears were falling from her eyes. I felt a prick of conscience, but I didn’t show it. Was that why I thought I had more money in my account than I deposited? I found having 200 million nothing short of the ordinary, considering I was supposed to be wealthy anyway. It was an honest mistake.

“Don’t worry. I purchased something that will benefit us.”

I wasn’t lying. I only bought items that would rise in value from the auction house. Using [Midas’s Hand], I planned to unlock their potential before selling them. We’d be earning two or even three times the low price I paid for them—

“You—!”

I didn’t think she would listen to anything I said right now, though. A tearing sound rang in my ears. After shouting, Yeriel began breathing heavily like a rabid beast.

“You…keep treating me like I’m some sort of garbage.”

Her voice trembled as much as her body did.

“Who do you think cleans up all the shit you leave behind your path?!”

I was flustered. In my short life, I had never experienced this much anger directed toward me.

“The times have changed! People worked day and night, even sacrificing their sleep, for the money you just wasted, you crazy bastard! Benefit? Bullshit! Are you suffering from a gambling addiction?!”

Dark red energy enveloped her entire body, signaling the manifestation of [The Villain’s Fate]. But at the same time, she also emitted a golden light. The [Man of Great Wealth] was beginning to manifest.

“You, you! You…”

The contradiction was easy to explain. If I didn’t settle the situation, Yeriel would become the reason behind my death. However, if I managed to resolve this, I’d reach a huge financial breakthrough. I knew what the answer to this predicament was since I knew what she desired.

“You don’t have to worry.”

“Stop spitting out nonsense! What I feel has gone beyond worry, you idiot! Stop shitting on us every time you get the chance, you damn shithead!”

She threw a tantrum, her tears and spittle splattering all over.

“I can’t believe this is how I’ll be spending the rest of my life! I couldn’t even finish college because of you! Fuck, I’ve never even had a proper relationship!”

“You don’t have to live this way.”

“What do you mean I don’t?! After our parents died, what have you done for the household, huh?! All you do is fool around and ruin our finances! Oh my God! I can’t believe you lost 150 million in one day, you fucking idiot—”

“I’ll give you my seat as the head of the household.”

“You piece of shit! All you do is make things hard for us! Stop shitting on everyone…?”

Yeriel’s abusive language slowed, then halted entirely. She looked like she doubted what she just heard. Confused, her eyebrows rose as she tilted her head sideways.

“What…just now, what did you just say?”

I, Deculein, was the head of the House of Yukline. However, I knew what awaited me at the end of that path.

“Just now…just now, what…?”

If Deculein returned and became the lord, the best ending we could hope for would still be dangerous. Even in the first game, Deculein was a professor and not a lord. Hence, passing over my seat as the head shouldn’t be a death variable. And even if it was, I still had no plans on playing SimCity.

“…Listen carefully. I’ll only repeat this once.”

The original head was Yeriel. In the game, Deculein was known as ‘Professor Deculein.’ In the second half of it, Yeriel had always been known as the ‘Count of Yukline.’ Therefore…

There was no need to complicate this problem.

“My position as the head of the household…”

It was something I had no need for. On the contrary, it was no different from a death Even if I didn’t give it to her now, she’d snatch it from me in the future, considering it was hers to begin with.

“I’m giving it to you.”

‘From me to you, my little sister…I voluntarily put it in your hands.’

“…Huh?”

Surprised, Yeriel didn’t know how to react.