Episode 117. Belated Alimony
“I’ll give you alimony.”
Eric answered surprisingly meekly.
“How much are you going to give me?”
“30 million res.”
‘A mere 30 million res? Even Jane, a commoner, saved 50 million res while working.’
He was too frugal. Seeing him try to pay the alimony so cheaply made her laugh.
‘The alimony claim alone would be more than that.’
The Count Wence had a lot of wealth, so she didn’t want to back down after receiving only 30 million res.
“You, your guts have gotten smaller since I last saw you. Oh, by the way, has your family fortune declined? To the point where you can only give your ex-wife 30 million res?”
Rose raised her head provocatively and looked at Eric. Eric quirked an eyebrow at Rose’s provocation that touched his pride.
“Your family has been going through a rough patch lately. Not only were they oppressed by the Grand Duke, but they were also abandoned by Duke Flice.”
“They weren’t abandoned, they were turned against u.s”
Eric retorted immediately. He then continued.
“The Count Wence family is greater than you think. They wield wealth and power comparable to that of the Grand Duke of Artaeum.”
He emphasized that they had many hidden, unknown assets.
“So, if it’s just for money, there’s no need to stay with him. I’ll give you 1 billion Res as compensation.”
Thankfully, Eric took it upon himself to provide a large amount of compensation. It wasn’t much compared to the 10 billion Res she had borrowed from the Grand Duke, but...
“1 billion Res fell from the sky, didn’t it?”
Rose suppressed the corners of her lips. If she smiled too proudly, she would truly look like a woman obsessed with money, as Eric had intended.
"That's enough money to buy a large mansion and still have some left over. I won't tell you to come back right away, so don't stay in that mansion with the Grand Duke anymore."
"Deposit the alimony into my account."
Eric wasn't particularly greedy for his assets.
For one, he said he'd give it to her as alimony, so there was no need to refuse.
Alimony was a legitimate payment for the divorce.
"You didn't answer, did you? If I give you alimony, you'll be out of that mansion, right?"
At Eric's words, Rose stared up at him blankly. Rose's eyes grew cold. She smiled, as if she found it ironic, and then spoke to him.
"I'll take care of that. Don't tell me what to do. You just spend the alimony."
Rose glanced at Eric with a tone that suggested she had nothing to regret, then turned away.
She didn't respond to Eric's demands. That's why she thought she might not receive the alimony.
If she had accepted Eric's offer of a billion re, she would have ended up being the one who dissuaded him.
She figured it was money she could take or leave, so she just said whatever came to mind.
'What? I really sent it, didn't I?'
A few days later, Rose was checking her balance when her eyes widened.
Eric had really sent Rose 1 billion Res.
She had belatedly received the alimony she had been owed.
Doana had been waiting for days to meet the red-haired knight.
And today, she finally met him.
"What the hell is this!"
"What do you mean?"
"A loan! You told me I'd definitely get it!"
Doana, furious, huffed at the red-haired knight.
The man, who had been looking puzzled, finally smiled as if understanding.
"Ah. What did I say?"
"Do you know how embarrassing I was? I went all the way to the bank in the capital because of you!"
"Did you go to the bank?"
Unlike Doana, who was flushed red, he was remarkably calm.
‘You’re back? Ha! That look says you didn’t think I’d come back, huh?’
The man's expression made Doana extremely angry.
"If I asked about a loan, shouldn't you have assumed I'd go to the bank? You get a loan from a bank, so where else would you get it?"
She glared at him with a pitiful expression.
"Why did you say something like that when you know nothing? Please keep your mouth shut about anything you don't know."
"There seems to be a misunderstanding."
"What kind of misunderstanding is that?"
Doana glanced at the man and muttered to herself. Doana's behavior must have offended, but he continued speaking without a trace.
"I didn't say you could get a loan from a bank."
"Then where would you get a loan?"
The man's lips curled at Doana's question. It was only for a split second, but his eyes flashed greedily. However, Doana didn't notice.
"I know someone. I was told I could get a loan if I went to him, but I guess the message didn't get through."
"Someone you know?"
"Yes. Banks are usually tough on borrowing money, aren't they? People I know aren't so tough. You're the wife of Count Wence, so they'll lend you the money right away."
Doana's distorted face slowly began to relax.
"Oh, what? That's what it was?"
It wasn't a bank, but a private loan. Doana breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of being able to borrow business funds. Then she looked at the man in front of her.
"He's ugly, but... still very useful."
He was also completely captivated by her, making him the perfect man to exploit.
'As expected, beauty is power.'
Whether in Korea or here, when it came to beauty, she was at the top of the food chain.
While Doana was intoxicated by her own beauty, the man greedily licked his lips.
‘This... looks like it could be a real jackpot.’
His heart pounded, his excitement pounding.
He wondered if he could even abandon his knighthood and live a life of luxury.
'Since you said you're going to build land and buildings, you'll borrow a lot of money. Then, I'll get paid a lot too!'
The red-haired knight was elated with his inflated dreams.
He had been making pocket money by introducing clients to loan sharks.
He'd been doing it occasionally because the bean scraps he'd been getting were quite lucrative, but this time, he'd asked for a very big client.
The knight was thrilled at the thought of using Doana to make money.
He wasn't in love with Doana.
It was Doana's delusion that she thought he was in love with her.
To him, Doana was simply a woman he turned to when he was lonely and a source of income. Nothing more, nothing less.
'I have to get her to borrow as much money as possible.'
He hid his dark thoughts with a mean smile.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum was extremely busy.
The business proceeded without a hitch. A large crowd of people was crowded into the laboratory. These were the magicians and scholars who had previously agreed to accompany the Grand Duke.
They looked different from their initially neat and tidy appearances. Their eyes were dull, as if they hadn't slept for days, and their once-tidy hair was disheveled.
The Grand Duke slipped into the laboratory. He gazed inside with a pleased expression.
When the Grand Duke appeared, the people flinched, then quickly rolled their eyes.
One of the men approached the Grand Duke.
"Um, Grand Duke. I've rebuilt it, incorporating what you mentioned last time."
The corners of his mouth twitched slightly. He seemed quite nervous.
"Yes, let's take a look."
The Grand Duke watched the sewage system they had built with a half-expected expression.
The water was purified several times as foreign substances entered. However, the Grand Duke's expression was not so bright.
"It doesn't filter perfectly."
Everyone in the laboratory shuddered at his words.
"Isn't this perfect?"
"Ha, I knew it."
"This is driving me crazy. When will I ever get to go home! This is confinement, confinement!"
They tore their hair in agony, anticipating what was to come.
"It's better than before, but this won't do. Do it again."
As the Grand Duke finished speaking, groans could be heard here and there.
"Then I'll stop by home for a bit."
The Grand Duke had made a deal with Duke Flice. In exchange for looking after him, he'd obtained information about Cedric.
"...But this is strange."
The Grand Duke felt he was missing something. The beast he'd seen earlier was incredibly strange.
"A beast sent to threaten... Is it just such a low-level beast?"
A beast with no combat ability whatsoever. It had a round body and a cute appearance, but all it knew how to do was lick something.
The Grand Duke, unable to hide his bewilderment, looked out the window.
The full moon, floating in the dark night sky, shone with a faint light. The pale moonlight shimmered, illuminating the Grand Duke and Rose.
“I’ll give you alimony.”
Eric answered surprisingly meekly.
“How much are you going to give me?”
“30 million res.”
‘A mere 30 million res? Even Jane, a commoner, saved 50 million res while working.’
He was too frugal. Seeing him try to pay the alimony so cheaply made her laugh.
‘The alimony claim alone would be more than that.’
The Count Wence had a lot of wealth, so she didn’t want to back down after receiving only 30 million res.
“You, your guts have gotten smaller since I last saw you. Oh, by the way, has your family fortune declined? To the point where you can only give your ex-wife 30 million res?”
Rose raised her head provocatively and looked at Eric. Eric quirked an eyebrow at Rose’s provocation that touched his pride.
“Your family has been going through a rough patch lately. Not only were they oppressed by the Grand Duke, but they were also abandoned by Duke Flice.”
“They weren’t abandoned, they were turned against u.s”
Eric retorted immediately. He then continued.
“The Count Wence family is greater than you think. They wield wealth and power comparable to that of the Grand Duke of Artaeum.”
He emphasized that they had many hidden, unknown assets.
“So, if it’s just for money, there’s no need to stay with him. I’ll give you 1 billion Res as compensation.”
Thankfully, Eric took it upon himself to provide a large amount of compensation. It wasn’t much compared to the 10 billion Res she had borrowed from the Grand Duke, but...
“1 billion Res fell from the sky, didn’t it?”
Rose suppressed the corners of her lips. If she smiled too proudly, she would truly look like a woman obsessed with money, as Eric had intended.
"That's enough money to buy a large mansion and still have some left over. I won't tell you to come back right away, so don't stay in that mansion with the Grand Duke anymore."
"Deposit the alimony into my account."
Eric wasn't particularly greedy for his assets.
For one, he said he'd give it to her as alimony, so there was no need to refuse.
Alimony was a legitimate payment for the divorce.
"You didn't answer, did you? If I give you alimony, you'll be out of that mansion, right?"
At Eric's words, Rose stared up at him blankly. Rose's eyes grew cold. She smiled, as if she found it ironic, and then spoke to him.
"I'll take care of that. Don't tell me what to do. You just spend the alimony."
Rose glanced at Eric with a tone that suggested she had nothing to regret, then turned away.
She didn't respond to Eric's demands. That's why she thought she might not receive the alimony.
If she had accepted Eric's offer of a billion re, she would have ended up being the one who dissuaded him.
She figured it was money she could take or leave, so she just said whatever came to mind.
'What? I really sent it, didn't I?'
A few days later, Rose was checking her balance when her eyes widened.
Eric had really sent Rose 1 billion Res.
She had belatedly received the alimony she had been owed.
***
Doana had been waiting for days to meet the red-haired knight.
And today, she finally met him.
"What the hell is this!"
"What do you mean?"
"A loan! You told me I'd definitely get it!"
Doana, furious, huffed at the red-haired knight.
The man, who had been looking puzzled, finally smiled as if understanding.
"Ah. What did I say?"
"Do you know how embarrassing I was? I went all the way to the bank in the capital because of you!"
"Did you go to the bank?"
Unlike Doana, who was flushed red, he was remarkably calm.
‘You’re back? Ha! That look says you didn’t think I’d come back, huh?’
The man's expression made Doana extremely angry.
"If I asked about a loan, shouldn't you have assumed I'd go to the bank? You get a loan from a bank, so where else would you get it?"
She glared at him with a pitiful expression.
"Why did you say something like that when you know nothing? Please keep your mouth shut about anything you don't know."
"There seems to be a misunderstanding."
"What kind of misunderstanding is that?"
Doana glanced at the man and muttered to herself. Doana's behavior must have offended, but he continued speaking without a trace.
"I didn't say you could get a loan from a bank."
"Then where would you get a loan?"
The man's lips curled at Doana's question. It was only for a split second, but his eyes flashed greedily. However, Doana didn't notice.
"I know someone. I was told I could get a loan if I went to him, but I guess the message didn't get through."
"Someone you know?"
"Yes. Banks are usually tough on borrowing money, aren't they? People I know aren't so tough. You're the wife of Count Wence, so they'll lend you the money right away."
Doana's distorted face slowly began to relax.
"Oh, what? That's what it was?"
It wasn't a bank, but a private loan. Doana breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of being able to borrow business funds. Then she looked at the man in front of her.
"He's ugly, but... still very useful."
He was also completely captivated by her, making him the perfect man to exploit.
'As expected, beauty is power.'
Whether in Korea or here, when it came to beauty, she was at the top of the food chain.
While Doana was intoxicated by her own beauty, the man greedily licked his lips.
‘This... looks like it could be a real jackpot.’
His heart pounded, his excitement pounding.
He wondered if he could even abandon his knighthood and live a life of luxury.
'Since you said you're going to build land and buildings, you'll borrow a lot of money. Then, I'll get paid a lot too!'
The red-haired knight was elated with his inflated dreams.
He had been making pocket money by introducing clients to loan sharks.
He'd been doing it occasionally because the bean scraps he'd been getting were quite lucrative, but this time, he'd asked for a very big client.
The knight was thrilled at the thought of using Doana to make money.
He wasn't in love with Doana.
It was Doana's delusion that she thought he was in love with her.
To him, Doana was simply a woman he turned to when he was lonely and a source of income. Nothing more, nothing less.
'I have to get her to borrow as much money as possible.'
He hid his dark thoughts with a mean smile.
***
The Grand Duke of Artaeum was extremely busy.
The business proceeded without a hitch. A large crowd of people was crowded into the laboratory. These were the magicians and scholars who had previously agreed to accompany the Grand Duke.
They looked different from their initially neat and tidy appearances. Their eyes were dull, as if they hadn't slept for days, and their once-tidy hair was disheveled.
The Grand Duke slipped into the laboratory. He gazed inside with a pleased expression.
When the Grand Duke appeared, the people flinched, then quickly rolled their eyes.
One of the men approached the Grand Duke.
"Um, Grand Duke. I've rebuilt it, incorporating what you mentioned last time."
The corners of his mouth twitched slightly. He seemed quite nervous.
"Yes, let's take a look."
The Grand Duke watched the sewage system they had built with a half-expected expression.
The water was purified several times as foreign substances entered. However, the Grand Duke's expression was not so bright.
"It doesn't filter perfectly."
Everyone in the laboratory shuddered at his words.
"Isn't this perfect?"
"Ha, I knew it."
"This is driving me crazy. When will I ever get to go home! This is confinement, confinement!"
They tore their hair in agony, anticipating what was to come.
"It's better than before, but this won't do. Do it again."
As the Grand Duke finished speaking, groans could be heard here and there.
"Then I'll stop by home for a bit."
One scholar stood up, looking disheveled.
"Home? Why?"
"I want to wash myself thoroughly so I can start the project again with a clean and clear mind."
He insisted on going home, making grand statements about washing.
However, the Grand Duke's words fell on deaf ears.
"Didn't I provide you with a residence in my mansion?"
In contrast to the Grand Duke's bright face, their faces turned gloomy.
"This is a fraudulent contract."
"Didn't they say they wouldn't let you leave work?"
They whispered in low voices. They had been fooled by the sweet talk. The Grand Duke had been operating them relentlessly.
To make them work even harder, he had even provided them with a room within the mansion.
"Just endure a little more. If you succeed, you will be rewarded accordingly."
With those words, the Grand Duke left the laboratory.
The scholars and magicians writhed in pain, writhing in silent agony.
His footsteps led him toward Rose's office.
“I wonder if she’s sleeping...”
It was late, past midnight.
As he entered Rose’s office, light leaked through the crack in the door.
“I guess she’s not asleep yet.”
He knocked on Rose’s door and went inside.
Rose, dozing off, entered the Grand Duke's sight. However, Rose wasn’t alone. Neruan was with him.
Neruan was covering Rose’s sleeping body with a blanket. The Grand Duke's eyebrows quirked as he watched.
He strode over to Rose and snatched the blanket from Neruan.
“I’ll take it, Neruan.”
Neruan, suddenly having the blanket snatched from him, scratched his face.
“Have you gotten a little closer?”
The Grand Duke's discomfort was clearly evident. He had thought it was cute when they were bickering, but now he thought, ‘This is annoying.’
Watching their affectionate behavior made him extremely uncomfortable.
It was good that Rose and Neruan were close, but he couldn't tolerate him touching her body.
"Well, not really."
"Really?"
The Grand Duke looked at Neruan with narrow eyes at his denial. At that moment, a thumping sound was heard outside the window. It was the sound of something hitting the window.
The Grand Duke and Neruan's heads turned involuntarily.
"That's...!"
It was a demonic beast. A small demonic beast was licking the window with its huge tongue.
"Neruan."
"Yes."
"Take Finn out there and catch him right now."
"Understood."
As soon as the Grand Dukegave the order, Neruan stormed out.
The Grand Duke frantically turned his head to look for any other demonic beasts.
"Cedric... Could it be that he sent you?"
The Grand Duke muttered to himself, his suspicions reasonable.
Last time, Duke Flice said so.
Cedric, that guy could control demonic beasts.
He told Julius he hadn't joined forces with the Duke of Flice, but that was a blatant lie.
"Home? Why?"
"I want to wash myself thoroughly so I can start the project again with a clean and clear mind."
He insisted on going home, making grand statements about washing.
However, the Grand Duke's words fell on deaf ears.
"Didn't I provide you with a residence in my mansion?"
In contrast to the Grand Duke's bright face, their faces turned gloomy.
"This is a fraudulent contract."
"Didn't they say they wouldn't let you leave work?"
They whispered in low voices. They had been fooled by the sweet talk. The Grand Duke had been operating them relentlessly.
To make them work even harder, he had even provided them with a room within the mansion.
"Just endure a little more. If you succeed, you will be rewarded accordingly."
With those words, the Grand Duke left the laboratory.
The scholars and magicians writhed in pain, writhing in silent agony.
His footsteps led him toward Rose's office.
“I wonder if she’s sleeping...”
It was late, past midnight.
As he entered Rose’s office, light leaked through the crack in the door.
“I guess she’s not asleep yet.”
He knocked on Rose’s door and went inside.
Rose, dozing off, entered the Grand Duke's sight. However, Rose wasn’t alone. Neruan was with him.
Neruan was covering Rose’s sleeping body with a blanket. The Grand Duke's eyebrows quirked as he watched.
He strode over to Rose and snatched the blanket from Neruan.
“I’ll take it, Neruan.”
Neruan, suddenly having the blanket snatched from him, scratched his face.
“Have you gotten a little closer?”
The Grand Duke's discomfort was clearly evident. He had thought it was cute when they were bickering, but now he thought, ‘This is annoying.’
Watching their affectionate behavior made him extremely uncomfortable.
It was good that Rose and Neruan were close, but he couldn't tolerate him touching her body.
"Well, not really."
"Really?"
The Grand Duke looked at Neruan with narrow eyes at his denial. At that moment, a thumping sound was heard outside the window. It was the sound of something hitting the window.
The Grand Duke and Neruan's heads turned involuntarily.
"That's...!"
It was a demonic beast. A small demonic beast was licking the window with its huge tongue.
"Neruan."
"Yes."
"Take Finn out there and catch him right now."
"Understood."
As soon as the Grand Dukegave the order, Neruan stormed out.
The Grand Duke frantically turned his head to look for any other demonic beasts.
"Cedric... Could it be that he sent you?"
The Grand Duke muttered to himself, his suspicions reasonable.
Last time, Duke Flice said so.
Cedric, that guy could control demonic beasts.
He told Julius he hadn't joined forces with the Duke of Flice, but that was a blatant lie.
The Grand Duke had made a deal with Duke Flice. In exchange for looking after him, he'd obtained information about Cedric.
"...But this is strange."
The Grand Duke felt he was missing something. The beast he'd seen earlier was incredibly strange.
"A beast sent to threaten... Is it just such a low-level beast?"
A beast with no combat ability whatsoever. It had a round body and a cute appearance, but all it knew how to do was lick something.
The Grand Duke, unable to hide his bewilderment, looked out the window.
The full moon, floating in the dark night sky, shone with a faint light. The pale moonlight shimmered, illuminating the Grand Duke and Rose.
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