ILOIML 07

Chapter 7

“What?”

No way.

Even if she was cast aside, she was still the Duke’s wife—no, the Grand Duchess!

She must have brought a dowry. Even if she was unwanted, Bella was famous for her luxury even before marriage. The Marquis, who cared a lot about appearances, must have shown off too.

“Then whose money was I shopping with?”

“You either charged it to Lord Carsen’s account or wrote down the amount you wanted in the ledger and took the money.”

No way.

I thought she had financial independence, but she was completely leeching off Leon like a parasite. In a situation where I might need to beg for my life soon, this was the worst.

No wonder Carsen once joked about getting a bill taller than me.

Back then, I didn’t understand why he looked so angry when I shopped “with my own money.” But now, I completely understood.

Feeling overwhelmed, I ran my hands down my face again and again.

After thinking for a long time, I made up my mind and stepped out of the bedroom.

At first, I walked with determination, but the closer I got, the more I found myself skipping slightly.

Not yet. Calm down. This isn’t the time.

As I walked through the hallway, I kept repeating that to myself like a spell.

At Leon’s bedroom door, I took a deep breath in and out, then nodded to the servant outside.

He went to inform Leon.

A moment later, I heard Leon’s high-pitched voice. He opened the door himself.

‘Leon, I need money… You’ll understand, right?’

But he didn’t open the door fully—just peeked out with half his face, looking suspicious.

I pushed the door wide open and walked in. Leon quickly stepped back.

“Leon!! What should I do!”

I whined, covering my face, and quickly walked past him.

Behind me, I could hear Leon’s little footsteps trying to catch up.

“Bell-Bell, why are you eating your snot? That’s gross.”

I ignored him and spun around dramatically.

He held out a handkerchief.

“Don’t eat it. Wipe it.”

I ignored the handkerchief and looked at him with teary eyes.

“Bell-Bell borrowed a lot of money from a friend. I wanted so many things in the capital, and I was hungry too, but I didn’t have money!”

“I have lots of money!! How much?!”

“Thirty solars.”

“That’s cr—”

“Crazy?”

“Uh? Bell-Bell, you’re crazy. So pretty. Your eyes look like emeralds.”

“I get that a lot.”

“I’ll buy you jewels!”

Leon, stop changing the subject. Just give me money.

“No jewels. I want money.”

“…Carsen.”

Leon’s tone dropped, much deeper than usual.

Carsen met his eyes and walked over with a frown, clearly not pleased.

I couldn’t look him in the eye. He had just watched my entire performance.

“I’m rich, right?” Leon asked.

Carsen nodded reluctantly.

“Yes. Very rich. But Madam has also spent quite a lot.”

Since I already spent a lot, can’t you just give me more with a smile this time? Why do you have to look like you’re chewing something bitter?

I even acted all pitiful and whiny!

“Hmph. Bell-Bell needs a dignity allowance.”

“What’s that?”

Don’t act clueless.

“As your wife, I need to be able to buy things and feel emotionally secure…”

“Too hard!!”

“It’s not hard.”

Just give me money.

Stop pretending you don’t understand.

You should be glad I’m not trying to manage the household budget too.

“And my friend said her husband gives her five solars every month.”

Was that too much?

Carsen looked at me, then spoke.

“That’s a lie. Bell-Bell doesn’t have friends.”

I frowned, and Leon quickly said,

“I’m Bell-Bell’s friend! Carsen.”

Leon clenched his jaw and called Carsen again.

Carsen sighed deeply and said,

“Madam, I’ll try to deal with the current debt first. As for the dignity allowance, we’ll discuss it among the aides and consider it positively. If Master commands it, we won’t need a discussion.”

Then he looked at Leon.

“Leon?”

Leon glared at him.

Let them figure that out themselves later.

“Bell-Bell, I’ll give you money. For candy and chocolate.”

He meant: don’t give her too much—just enough for snacks.

I understood right away.

“Bell-Bell was lonely in the capital. Since Leon wasn’t there, I tried to comfort myself by shopping and ended up spending too much.”

“Bell-Bell spent a lot here too. Hehe.”

“Hmm…”

Okay, but Bella wasn’t me. Can we stop now?

I swallowed the words and gave a soft smile.

“Then I’ll trust Leon and Carsen.”

Back in my room, I grabbed a pillow and slammed it on the bed over and over.

I was furious.

“Ugh, do I really have to do this? Bell-Bell? What a joke. I’ll earn my own money instead!”

* * *

As the debt was being sorted out, I wrote an apology letter to Elizabeth.

Just like I could understand the language naturally, I could also write it easily.

“Could you give this to Carsen?”

Carsen left to meet Elizabeth with the letter—and the money.

Thanks to Leon’s generosity, I was given a monthly dignity allowance of 1 solar.

I was satisfied… until I later learned this was way lower than what other noble ladies received.

After a short bit of thinking, I decided to earn some money along with my tiny allowance.

I tried to remember the novel’s plot, but since the story hadn’t fully started yet, I didn’t have much to work with.

But I did remember something important—holy relics that became valuable in the era of monsters were already hidden somewhere.

And I remembered where they were, thanks to the part where Saintess Cassia explained them to Leon.

After I decided to find and sell the relics, one thought kept bothering me.

Was it okay for me—not Cassia—to find them?

But Leon didn’t fall for Cassia because of the relics.

So if I just found a few and sold them to Leon, that should be fine.

After all, he would’ve used them anyway. And technically, I was selling, not giving them.

Right now, the world still seemed peaceful—no signs of monsters or destruction—so it didn’t feel real.

But the thought of relics made it feel like I really was inside the novel.

“A novel…”

I rested my chin on my hand and stared off.

If I hadn’t appeared, would this story have been about a hero saving the world—with a touch of romance with the saintess?

“Yeah… if only I weren’t here…”

That thought made me feel down.

Was I afraid because I knew the world was heading for ruin?

I shook my head hard to drive out the gloomy thoughts, but they didn’t go away.

“Just focus on making money. Even if the world ends, I’ll need money to be prepared.”

Where was the closest relic?

I slapped the desk and jumped to my feet.

“I need to go pray at the Temple of Thea.”

The biggest Temple of Thea in the North was right here in Aster.

And there, the legendary sacred sword Aesar was hidden—

The same sword that Leon would later never part from.

“What? Madam, all of a sudden?”

Amy and Mary exchanged surprised looks.

“What do you mean ‘suddenly’? Didn’t you know how faithful I am?”