BVDL 10

Chapter 10

“The original payout that should have gone to Seymour was 68,024 times.”
But because I bet alongside, it ended up being cut in half.

“L-L-Laria?”
Evan looked at me as if what he was seeing made no sense.
He had also received a 19-fold payout, which was a huge achievement, but no one paid it any attention. Even Duke Icard, who was casually standing with his arms crossed, looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“This can’t be…”
Ordi came over personally to hand me a check for 34,012 gold, but at my request, he instead gave me a check for 34,011 gold and a single gold coin.

“This is an impossible outcome… yet two people actually bet on this impossible outcome.”
I handed the gold coin back to Duke Icard.

“Father, it’s all thanks to you.”
“Hmm…”
“Thank you for the lucky coin. I’ll return it, and I hope it brings you luck as well!”

Duke Icard took the coin I handed him, gave a very slight smile, and put it in his pocket.

‘D-Did he… smile? Really?’

Meanwhile, Evan seemed curious about something else.

“Two?”
He tilted his head, seemingly confused that there was someone else besides me.
“Who’s the other person?”
“A commoner. And only eighteen years old.”

Ordi scratched his chin.

‘Sorry, Seymour… But you’ll end up with Princess Elani anyway. Well, probably.’
If things went according to the original story, no matter how much money Seymour had, Evan would remain indifferent to Elani, and she would eventually cheat again. My own nose was on the line now—while the original story’s leads could end in a happy ending, I could die at any moment.

“This is really going to cause a stir in tomorrow’s newspaper. With results like this… I think your name will probably be in the article as well.”
“Oh my, that’s a bit overwhelming…”

I blushed in embarrassment, but inwardly I was cheering. This was exactly what I needed for my future plans. 34,011 gold was a lot, but after buying a title, it wouldn’t leave much.

‘I absolutely have to disappear. I can’t hide half-heartedly. If I don’t vanish completely, Duke Icard will kill me. I need to prepare thoroughly.’

So instead of dying like in the original story, I decided to determine my future by going missing.
As long as the outcome was the same, that was enough!

‘Only if I disappear completely can Evan marry Elani.’

After that… whatever happened didn’t matter to me.
And I had no intention of living a life of hardship.

‘I already know firsthand how comfortable it is to be a noble with a title and land.’

Once you’ve seen the high life, it’s hard to go back. And hiding without money would be miserable, so I wanted to live in luxury, even while in hiding.
Even if I couldn’t maintain this level forever, I wanted at least a somewhat upscale standard of living.

If I had possessed a rich villainess’s body, I would have dreamed even bigger, but first, survival was the priority.

‘To keep playing and living comfortably, I need land. To have land, I need a title.’

Titles were expensive but purchasable. And only with a title could I buy land.
Even the original male lead, Seymour, started by purchasing the title of a viscount.

But there was a problem. To buy a title, you had to be at least eighteen—but I was fourteen.
If I waited until eighteen, everything would be too late. I still had many things to do after buying the title to earn more money.

But there was a solution.

‘A false identity!’

I could create a fictional person.

‘Create an official person on paper, buy a title, purchase land…’
Then I could hide perfectly under that identity.

And one more thing.

‘I’m only fourteen and staying at the Duke’s residence, so I can’t move freely.’

In other words, I needed an assistant.

‘I wish there were someone competent to act as a shadow duke.’

While I was thinking this, Ordi kept fussing.

“Young Lady, you are truly remarkable. Did you not personally bring in a bride?”
“Well, the mothers of the children were very close.”
“Even so, arranging a marriage isn’t an easy decision.”

The Icard family’s influence was incredible, and the little girl was really something else. He rubbed his hands together and kept flattering me.

“Your insight is impressive. Everyone was surprised by such an early marriage, but you recognized that she would bring luck to the Icard household.”

No, that’s not it… I didn’t bring her in for such a noble reason…

Duke Icard cleared his throat with a strangely proud expression. Why was he proud when it was me who made the money?

“Laria, have you adapted well to the Icard household?”

But since I was weak toward strong people and strong toward the weak, I meekly answered.

“Of course! Everyone is so nice. It hasn’t been long, but I want to get closer to them!”

You think you’re the only little one? I’m a handful too. I’m basically the Icard handbell.

“Father and Evan are both so impressive in appearance; seeing them together like this makes me so proud. Having a new family in the Icard household is luckier for me than horse racing.”

I even gave a small smile at the end.

Ordi quickly replied as if he couldn’t lose.

“That’s right. Duke Icard’s sense of humor is excellent, so it will be a very pleasant place to live.”

Wait, sense of humor? Flattery should have its limits… that’s a bit much.

“We don’t joke much at the Duke’s residence.”

Ordi looked surprised at Duke Icard’s blunt words.

“Then why not show your comedic skills there when everyone enjoys them?”
“Jokes are done with the mouth, not the feet.”

I froze for a moment.

‘Performed… with the feet?’
Ha, no. This is not okay. What is happening?

“Ahahahahahahaha!”
Ordi grabbed his stomach and laughed.

“Performed… with the feet! Ahahaha! Truly the best!”

This was the highest-level technique of a flatterer: laughing sincerely at a superior’s dad joke.

I had to admit my defeat.

‘Indeed, one shouldn’t be arrogant…’

The road of flattery never ends. Why would someone so young tell such a joke?

I gracefully accepted my loss and vowed to improve.

“You don’t need to perform jokes at the Duke’s residence, whether by feet or mouth.”

Evan, who didn’t need flattery at all, said this firmly.

“Why? I think it’s hilarious!”

And I, who did need flattery, smiled sweetly, selling my soul and a bonus dose of endorphins.

“Father, please continue this at the Duke’s residence! It’s totally my style.”

At that moment, a tickle rose in my chest.

‘This is it!’

It was the prelude to a cough that felt like I was about to cough up blood.

I jumped to my feet.
It was fine for the Duke to see me sick, but rumors could be dangerous—especially in front of someone who clearly seemed to gossip a lot…

The Duke brought me here because no one knew I was terminal. If everyone knew, my value would disappear, and he could dispose of me immediately.

“E-Excuse me for a moment…”

I covered my mouth with a handkerchief and hurriedly stood. I made sure to tilt it just enough so he could see a faint trace of blood. Lately, I didn’t cough up blood often, so I had to make every opportunity count.

The last expression I saw on the Duke’s face was strange again.