058. What can I sell?
The low setting sun was casting a crimson hue on his smooth face. He must have been working until just now, because a piece of paper was hanging precariously at his fingertips.
Whoosh, the wind that created green waves in the vineyard slightly tousled the black hair on his forehead.
He looks just like a child. He fell asleep from exhaustion after playing, defenseless...
Emilia watched the man's shirt rise and fall regularly before plopping down on an empty chair.
It's really weird. At first, she thought she'd wake him up by slapping him in the face.
How dare you use my mother to lure me into such a vile trap, and then you just sleep away like that!
But when she actually looks at the person sleeping deeply, her heart quickly becomes empty.
More than anything, the small, open bottle of medicine temporarily quelled the burning desire to fight. It looked so similar to the one the doctor had given Charlotte long ago when she had frequent seizures, calling it a 'tranquilizer'.
Hardius didn't wake up for quite some time.
In the meantime, the shadows grew longer and the sky became darker. The gaze that had been fixed on the man slowly turned to the other side of the terrace.
It was a place so beautiful that it could cool her boiling heart.
Starting with a fountain that sprayed cool water, there was a long line of metasequoia trees on both sides, and at the end of it was a small pond filled with lotus flowers in full bloom.
A tall cloud bridge crossed a shallow stream and led to a vineyard. The vast vineyard seen from the terrace was a spectacular sight beyond words.
They say it's a royal villa, but it's different.
Emilia, who was absent-mindedly thinking, suddenly realized something strange.
By the way, why is that man sleeping here? This place was used as a royal villa for nearly 100 years...
“Were you trying to disappoint me?”
Emilia's head turned to the side. Hardius, who had just woken up, was looking at her.
Her heart fluttered for a moment at the sight of his languid gaze. Emilia put her short hair behind her ear as if to show off.
“Do you think I cut off all this precious hair just to shake your heart? That’s really outrageous.”
“Is there another reason?”
Hardius, who asked like that, was no different from usual.
She thought he would at least pretend to be surprised... but his expression doesn’t seem to care whether her hair is long or short, or whether she’s being sarcastic or not.
For a moment, Emilia felt angry.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. It’s disgusting.”
Emilia opened the pouch she was holding and glared at him as if she was going to chew him up.
There was money in it. It was exactly the amount of money that the stepmother owed Ramsco.
Emilia, who was planning to pay it back right then and there, changed her mind in an instant and brought it here.
“Do you think I’ll give in so easily? For a little bit of money?”
Hardius blinked slowly.
“Take it now. I will repay the principal and interest in full.”
His languid eyes turned back to the money. He blinked a few more times and muttered, “...you sold your hair.”
“I’ll admit one thing. The young master is a genius in that regard. How did you manage to trick my stepmother’s factory? How did you manage to cook up Aunt Rosie? Well, it must have been easier for Meyer than breathing. You said you’d protect me and my family? And then you make me pay usury? And what else? I won’t have a government?”
He realized it with a lot of sarcasm.
It wasn't just a cold-blooded determination to repay the money that made her cut her hair.
The disappointment that was wrenching her heart, Emilia wanted to cut it off.
“Making an innocent stepmother visit at a place like ‘Ramsko’... It’s really petty and lowly.”
Only then did Hardius sit up.
The blanket fell away, revealing a muscular torso. Long arms reached out and picked up a water bottle.
Emilia watched him quietly as he opened the lid, poured water into the cup, and drank it in gulps.
Her heart starts to boil again at his utter indifference. He asks her absurd questions as if he is determined to pour oil on her.
“You took Beppu Dilson with you, right? When you went to Ramsko.”
“...Can’t you tell just by looking at it?”
Emilia answered curtly and pointed to the old man in the room. But damn it, that annoying old man is dozing off!
“Keep going.”
“...What?”
“Where did all this money come from? Hair alone wouldn’t have been enough.”
Ha! That guy is finally admitting it.
“I sold everything that made me look like a pitiful lady. All the money I had saved up and the money I received from Mr. Haspel were in there.”
Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes. Emilia barely swallowed the hot lump that had risen to her throat.
“You know what? That money was for Mitch’s new school uniform. It was a savings to send Charlotte to a school for the blind. It was a farewell gift from that kind old man and a wedding present for Laura. And it was the first money I ever earned on my own. The master trampled all of that down. You wanted to continue your dirty deeds...”
As she was struggling to utter each word with trembling lips, a cup of water was suddenly handed to her.
Once again, her stomach turned inside out, and something surged up as if it was going to explode.
Emilia held back. Every time she got angry, something terrible happened.
From now on, she will become a person as cold as ice.
So she's going to freeze that guy to the bone. She's going to freeze his heart and then she's going to smash him to pieces, mercilessly, completely!
“I wondered what a brothel was, but it was a place where you could buy women with money. That’s what you’re trying to do now, my lord. You’re trying to turn me into a prostitute. Of course, I won’t just give in. Absolutely not.”
Hardius crossed his arms without denying a word. He then looked down at Emilia.
The gaze fixed on her forehead was so intense that she had to hold her trembling hands tightly.
“...Then what would happen if I said this?”
A low, wet voice flowed down her back. Emilia slowly raised her head. Her eyes met the man’s.
For a moment, she froze.
Emilia could now immediately tell what the darkened look in the man's eyes meant.
“What if I have more money to pay back?”
The shock took her breath away.
“Then what are you going to do? You’ve cut off all your precious hair. What are you going to sell now?”
The sleepy eyes stare at Emilia listlessly.
She felt sick. Her body started shaking.
“What can you sell?”
She was thinking about screaming. She tried to scream at the top of her lungs, using all her strength in her lower abdomen, to call out to Uncle Beppy.
The scream that was rising from the bottom was just about to tear through her throat.
“Don’t worry, Emilia. Not now.”
Hardius has transformed.
He walked away from her, drawing an elegant line as if he had never said anything rude. After a while, the cup of water was pushed in again.
“Drink before you pass out.”
Could this be a dream? Or a play?
Could it be that she is watching a madman playing two roles?
“Don’t worry. I wasn’t drunk or on drugs.”
Hardius then drank first as if he were trying to show off. Gulp. The surroundings were so quiet that she could hear the sound of him swallowing it.
When Emilia couldn't move, he grabbed her trembling hand and made her hold the glass of water. He even supported it with his own hand so she wouldn't drop it.
Even in the midst of all this, the man's hands were damn warm.
The glass cup wrapped around her palm slowly brought back the frozen sensations.
Emilia took a sip of water and moistened her dry lips.
She was absentmindedly thinking, but then she suddenly stood up from her seat.
No, you idiot! Don't be fooled again! I'm sure they're trying to chase the old man away!
Emilia tried to chase after him with trembling legs, but she had to stop before she could take a single step.
Isn't that Hardius coming back to the terrace with the old man?
"Mister?"
Beppy stood firmly behind Emilia.
“Now sit down.”
Hardius leaned back again on the sunbed. Emilia looked down at him, her back straight.
“What kind of joke is this?”
“Beppy Dilson is standing by your side. Sit comfortably.”
"No."
Emilia shook her head.
“I don’t believe it. After all, he is the master’s man. He will definitely do what you say, not me. You made me believe it like this, and at the crucial moment...”
Suddenly, a loud noise was heard behind her.
“Beppy is a good servant! I protect Emilia! I protect her!”
Emilia looked at Beppy from afar, a little surprised.
How should I take it?
The old man's glaring eyes seem sincere, but the problem is his master, Hardius Meyer.
“You still don’t get it? Beppy Dilson is really your person.”
He spoke seriously and looked back at Beppy.
“What did I just say? Tell the young lady exactly what I said.”
“If you bully Emilia, I’ll punish you. I’ll punish Hardius, too. I have a gun, too.”
There really was a gun in his hand. Emilia was shocked once again.
“I told Beppy. If anyone messes with you, shoot them on the spot. Including me. Right, Beppy Dilson?”
Beppy nodded and put the gun back on his waistband, then covered it with the hem of his jacket so it couldn't be seen.
He seemed quite adept at handling a pistol. When did he learn it...?
“So Emilia, please shut up and look over there.”
He pointed to the sky beyond the vineyard. She thought he knew what he meant.
At the moment of a magnificent sunset, the red sun will dye the entire vineyard blood red.
The wondrous scenes created by nature were tempting Emilia.
But she never turned her head. Distrust was deeply rooted in her heart.
“Tell me quickly. How much money do I have to pay back?”
His slightly cold eyes stared at Emilia for a long time.
“Please. If you have any good feelings toward me, tell me quickly. How much more money did my stepmother borrow? Ramsco clearly said that was all I had to pay back. Where on earth did she borrow the money from again...?”
Her heart was pounding with anxiety. The confidence that had soared to the sky after she had spent the whole day walking around and piling up money was disappearing like a mirage.
Yeah, she was making fun of Hardy Meyer. He's not the kind of guy who'd set up a trap for the price of a few words.
How much could it be? Can it be stopped? How did the stepmother get into so much debt?
The unpaid wages are only three months' worth, and nothing special has happened in the meantime. When a normal person suddenly falls into debt, it's usually because they've gambled or someone is sick.
Or someone set a trap...
“How much money do I have to pay back?!”
Hardius turned his head at the scream-like cry. He picked up a sack of money that had been carelessly thrown around.
“About twice as much.”
The low setting sun was casting a crimson hue on his smooth face. He must have been working until just now, because a piece of paper was hanging precariously at his fingertips.
Whoosh, the wind that created green waves in the vineyard slightly tousled the black hair on his forehead.
He looks just like a child. He fell asleep from exhaustion after playing, defenseless...
Emilia watched the man's shirt rise and fall regularly before plopping down on an empty chair.
It's really weird. At first, she thought she'd wake him up by slapping him in the face.
How dare you use my mother to lure me into such a vile trap, and then you just sleep away like that!
But when she actually looks at the person sleeping deeply, her heart quickly becomes empty.
More than anything, the small, open bottle of medicine temporarily quelled the burning desire to fight. It looked so similar to the one the doctor had given Charlotte long ago when she had frequent seizures, calling it a 'tranquilizer'.
Hardius didn't wake up for quite some time.
In the meantime, the shadows grew longer and the sky became darker. The gaze that had been fixed on the man slowly turned to the other side of the terrace.
It was a place so beautiful that it could cool her boiling heart.
Starting with a fountain that sprayed cool water, there was a long line of metasequoia trees on both sides, and at the end of it was a small pond filled with lotus flowers in full bloom.
A tall cloud bridge crossed a shallow stream and led to a vineyard. The vast vineyard seen from the terrace was a spectacular sight beyond words.
They say it's a royal villa, but it's different.
Emilia, who was absent-mindedly thinking, suddenly realized something strange.
By the way, why is that man sleeping here? This place was used as a royal villa for nearly 100 years...
“Were you trying to disappoint me?”
Emilia's head turned to the side. Hardius, who had just woken up, was looking at her.
Her heart fluttered for a moment at the sight of his languid gaze. Emilia put her short hair behind her ear as if to show off.
“Do you think I cut off all this precious hair just to shake your heart? That’s really outrageous.”
“Is there another reason?”
Hardius, who asked like that, was no different from usual.
She thought he would at least pretend to be surprised... but his expression doesn’t seem to care whether her hair is long or short, or whether she’s being sarcastic or not.
For a moment, Emilia felt angry.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know. It’s disgusting.”
Emilia opened the pouch she was holding and glared at him as if she was going to chew him up.
There was money in it. It was exactly the amount of money that the stepmother owed Ramsco.
Emilia, who was planning to pay it back right then and there, changed her mind in an instant and brought it here.
“Do you think I’ll give in so easily? For a little bit of money?”
Hardius blinked slowly.
“Take it now. I will repay the principal and interest in full.”
His languid eyes turned back to the money. He blinked a few more times and muttered, “...you sold your hair.”
“I’ll admit one thing. The young master is a genius in that regard. How did you manage to trick my stepmother’s factory? How did you manage to cook up Aunt Rosie? Well, it must have been easier for Meyer than breathing. You said you’d protect me and my family? And then you make me pay usury? And what else? I won’t have a government?”
He realized it with a lot of sarcasm.
It wasn't just a cold-blooded determination to repay the money that made her cut her hair.
The disappointment that was wrenching her heart, Emilia wanted to cut it off.
“Making an innocent stepmother visit at a place like ‘Ramsko’... It’s really petty and lowly.”
Only then did Hardius sit up.
The blanket fell away, revealing a muscular torso. Long arms reached out and picked up a water bottle.
Emilia watched him quietly as he opened the lid, poured water into the cup, and drank it in gulps.
Her heart starts to boil again at his utter indifference. He asks her absurd questions as if he is determined to pour oil on her.
“You took Beppu Dilson with you, right? When you went to Ramsko.”
“...Can’t you tell just by looking at it?”
Emilia answered curtly and pointed to the old man in the room. But damn it, that annoying old man is dozing off!
“Keep going.”
“...What?”
“Where did all this money come from? Hair alone wouldn’t have been enough.”
Ha! That guy is finally admitting it.
“I sold everything that made me look like a pitiful lady. All the money I had saved up and the money I received from Mr. Haspel were in there.”
Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes. Emilia barely swallowed the hot lump that had risen to her throat.
“You know what? That money was for Mitch’s new school uniform. It was a savings to send Charlotte to a school for the blind. It was a farewell gift from that kind old man and a wedding present for Laura. And it was the first money I ever earned on my own. The master trampled all of that down. You wanted to continue your dirty deeds...”
As she was struggling to utter each word with trembling lips, a cup of water was suddenly handed to her.
Once again, her stomach turned inside out, and something surged up as if it was going to explode.
Emilia held back. Every time she got angry, something terrible happened.
From now on, she will become a person as cold as ice.
So she's going to freeze that guy to the bone. She's going to freeze his heart and then she's going to smash him to pieces, mercilessly, completely!
“I wondered what a brothel was, but it was a place where you could buy women with money. That’s what you’re trying to do now, my lord. You’re trying to turn me into a prostitute. Of course, I won’t just give in. Absolutely not.”
Hardius crossed his arms without denying a word. He then looked down at Emilia.
The gaze fixed on her forehead was so intense that she had to hold her trembling hands tightly.
“...Then what would happen if I said this?”
A low, wet voice flowed down her back. Emilia slowly raised her head. Her eyes met the man’s.
For a moment, she froze.
Emilia could now immediately tell what the darkened look in the man's eyes meant.
“What if I have more money to pay back?”
The shock took her breath away.
“Then what are you going to do? You’ve cut off all your precious hair. What are you going to sell now?”
The sleepy eyes stare at Emilia listlessly.
She felt sick. Her body started shaking.
“What can you sell?”
She was thinking about screaming. She tried to scream at the top of her lungs, using all her strength in her lower abdomen, to call out to Uncle Beppy.
The scream that was rising from the bottom was just about to tear through her throat.
“Don’t worry, Emilia. Not now.”
Hardius has transformed.
He walked away from her, drawing an elegant line as if he had never said anything rude. After a while, the cup of water was pushed in again.
“Drink before you pass out.”
Could this be a dream? Or a play?
Could it be that she is watching a madman playing two roles?
“Don’t worry. I wasn’t drunk or on drugs.”
Hardius then drank first as if he were trying to show off. Gulp. The surroundings were so quiet that she could hear the sound of him swallowing it.
When Emilia couldn't move, he grabbed her trembling hand and made her hold the glass of water. He even supported it with his own hand so she wouldn't drop it.
Even in the midst of all this, the man's hands were damn warm.
The glass cup wrapped around her palm slowly brought back the frozen sensations.
Emilia took a sip of water and moistened her dry lips.
She reminded herself over and over again that she must remain calm.
“I’m telling you the truth, the government, I don’t want that. But it’s always open to the possibility of something else.”
“Something else? Don’t beat around the bush and tell me exactly.”
“Can I really buy you with money? If I could buy you, how much could I have? Things like that.”
"It's crazy."
“Yeah. That’s crazy.”
Emilia, who had momentarily lost herself in the light laughter, was soon looking at the empty bottle again.
“If only you were a prostitute...”
It might be because she had heard such vicious words just before.
Emilia wasn't so shocked anymore. She waited for her racing pulse to subside before opening her mouth calmly.
“I... have no power or money compared to you, my lord. It may seem like I can step on you and break you, and do whatever I want with you. But I won’t just give in. I’ll fight to the end.”
Hardius stared at her with eyes that were almost tragic for a long time. Then he suddenly passed her and left the terrace.
His steps stopped in front of Uncle Beppy.
As expected, he shook Beppy awake. The old man was startled and looked up at his master blankly.
Hardius said something, and Beppy's shoulders slumped down helplessly. Then a large hand scratched the back of his head.
Am I being scolded?
“I’m telling you the truth, the government, I don’t want that. But it’s always open to the possibility of something else.”
“Something else? Don’t beat around the bush and tell me exactly.”
“Can I really buy you with money? If I could buy you, how much could I have? Things like that.”
"It's crazy."
“Yeah. That’s crazy.”
Emilia, who had momentarily lost herself in the light laughter, was soon looking at the empty bottle again.
“If only you were a prostitute...”
It might be because she had heard such vicious words just before.
Emilia wasn't so shocked anymore. She waited for her racing pulse to subside before opening her mouth calmly.
“I... have no power or money compared to you, my lord. It may seem like I can step on you and break you, and do whatever I want with you. But I won’t just give in. I’ll fight to the end.”
Hardius stared at her with eyes that were almost tragic for a long time. Then he suddenly passed her and left the terrace.
His steps stopped in front of Uncle Beppy.
As expected, he shook Beppy awake. The old man was startled and looked up at his master blankly.
Hardius said something, and Beppy's shoulders slumped down helplessly. Then a large hand scratched the back of his head.
Am I being scolded?
She was absentmindedly thinking, but then she suddenly stood up from her seat.
No, you idiot! Don't be fooled again! I'm sure they're trying to chase the old man away!
Emilia tried to chase after him with trembling legs, but she had to stop before she could take a single step.
Isn't that Hardius coming back to the terrace with the old man?
"Mister?"
Beppy stood firmly behind Emilia.
“Now sit down.”
Hardius leaned back again on the sunbed. Emilia looked down at him, her back straight.
“What kind of joke is this?”
“Beppy Dilson is standing by your side. Sit comfortably.”
"No."
Emilia shook her head.
“I don’t believe it. After all, he is the master’s man. He will definitely do what you say, not me. You made me believe it like this, and at the crucial moment...”
Suddenly, a loud noise was heard behind her.
“Beppy is a good servant! I protect Emilia! I protect her!”
Emilia looked at Beppy from afar, a little surprised.
How should I take it?
The old man's glaring eyes seem sincere, but the problem is his master, Hardius Meyer.
“You still don’t get it? Beppy Dilson is really your person.”
He spoke seriously and looked back at Beppy.
“What did I just say? Tell the young lady exactly what I said.”
“If you bully Emilia, I’ll punish you. I’ll punish Hardius, too. I have a gun, too.”
There really was a gun in his hand. Emilia was shocked once again.
“I told Beppy. If anyone messes with you, shoot them on the spot. Including me. Right, Beppy Dilson?”
Beppy nodded and put the gun back on his waistband, then covered it with the hem of his jacket so it couldn't be seen.
He seemed quite adept at handling a pistol. When did he learn it...?
“So Emilia, please shut up and look over there.”
He pointed to the sky beyond the vineyard. She thought he knew what he meant.
At the moment of a magnificent sunset, the red sun will dye the entire vineyard blood red.
The wondrous scenes created by nature were tempting Emilia.
But she never turned her head. Distrust was deeply rooted in her heart.
“Tell me quickly. How much money do I have to pay back?”
His slightly cold eyes stared at Emilia for a long time.
“Please. If you have any good feelings toward me, tell me quickly. How much more money did my stepmother borrow? Ramsco clearly said that was all I had to pay back. Where on earth did she borrow the money from again...?”
Her heart was pounding with anxiety. The confidence that had soared to the sky after she had spent the whole day walking around and piling up money was disappearing like a mirage.
Yeah, she was making fun of Hardy Meyer. He's not the kind of guy who'd set up a trap for the price of a few words.
How much could it be? Can it be stopped? How did the stepmother get into so much debt?
The unpaid wages are only three months' worth, and nothing special has happened in the meantime. When a normal person suddenly falls into debt, it's usually because they've gambled or someone is sick.
Or someone set a trap...
“How much money do I have to pay back?!”
Hardius turned his head at the scream-like cry. He picked up a sack of money that had been carelessly thrown around.
“About twice as much.”
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