Chapter 92: Villainess Olivia (1) |
On a bright afternoon.
Dressed in warm clothes, Miss Olivia and I ventured out from the mansion for the first time in a while to stroll through the capital's bustling area.
"What should I buy as a gift for Dad, Ricardo?"
"It's not Dad, it's Lord Darbav."
"That's what I said. Dad."
Miss Olivia firmly nailed down her address for Darbav without a hint of hesitation.
Nodding, Miss Olivia thought of a gift to give Darbav and wore a content smile.
"Hehe…"
I imagined that if Miss Olivia ever had a child, she would refer to herself as ‘Mommy'. The image of her scolding her child came to mind.
-Eeeek! It’s not mommy, it's mother!
-That's what I said, mommy.
-Get out!
Would that be alright…?
I chuckled at the future scene playing out in my mind and pinched Miss Olivia's cheek.
"Eek! Why?!"
"Just because. I was imagining the future where the Miss becomes a mom."
Sitting in her wheelchair, Miss Olivia looked up at me with a naive expression.
"Would I look pretty?"
"Yes, you would look very beautiful, resembling Miss Olivia. Of course, the demeanor would be a complete mess, though."
"Eeeek! Don't insult my daughter!"
Miss Olivia was protective of her imaginary daughter, showing signs of awakened maternal instincts. Watching her puff up and wave her fists, I thought she'd make a good mother.
Amid our frivolous banter, we were on our way to Malik's newly opened rice cake shop, Forest Friend Tteokbokki. We also took the opportunity to buy a gift for Lord Darbav's birthday.
The plan was to visit Malik much earlier, but meeting Darbav in the capital delayed our schedule.
Although I hadn't said when I'd visit, I sent a letter to Malik, so he might be expecting us.
Even though the new business partnership with the gastronomy tycoon was nerve-wracking, Malik was so shrewd in business I didn't worry at all. Even if I had worried, there would be no point.
After all, all I did was offer a tteokbokki recipe, so it's not like I had the right to say much.
Miss Olivia and I were heading towards the address written in the letter, intending to score some free tteokbokki.
"What will you give as a gift to Dad, Ricardo?"
Wrapped in her clothes against the chilling wind, Miss Olivia asked, sniffling.
I secured the buttons on Miss Olivia's fur coat and replied.
"Uh… I'm still considering, but perhaps gloves or a scarf."
"Gloves? A scarf?"
"Yes, I was thinking they are sensible gifts. How about you, Miss Olivia?"
"Hmm…"
Truth be told, I had another gift prepared but pretended to be indecisive, enquiring about Miss Olivia’s thoughts.
"That's a thought…"
Miss Olivia trailed off as she scanned the variety of stores lining the bustling street.
In truth, I had been preparing Darbav's birthday gift for quite some time.
Hoping it might wash away some of the resentment that had built up till now.
The gift was slightly burdensome, one I've been preparing for a long time.
A potion that boosts magical power.
I was planning to gift it to Darbav for his birthday. The potion, one of the ‘Sage's Elixirs’, and a glimpse into heresy, would be the perfect present for a mage like Darbav.
Darbav, being in possession of an archmage's power, the potion I took during my last venture into the Hamel Dungeon would help transcend his limits.
For a mage, magical power was essential, and I thought it would be a more valuable gift than millions of gold to someone like Darbav.
That's why I mentioned the most trivial gift to Miss Olivia. If I had been honest, surely she would feel discouraged.
I considered gifting the potion to Darbav through Miss Olivia, but knowing Darbav, I was sure he would look forward to a gift personally chosen by Miss Olivia, so I kept my plan deeply buried in my heart.
"Hmm…"
Miss Olivia furrowed her brow, deep in thought.
Having given a variety of gifts to the Lord in the past, it was hard for her to choose the best one.
Back when the Desmonds were prosperous, Miss Olivia could afford to gift jewels, suits, and even diamond mines. But now, due to limited funds, the realization that she couldn't give a present as impressive as before weighed heavily on her.
"I want to give something, but I don't have the money."
Wanting to help Miss Olivia, I whispered quietly.
"Borrow from me."
"Interest-free?"
"No. An annual interest rate of 3%."
"…Capitalist."
"I think this is a very reasonable offer."
"To think that Ricardo would charge interest to an owner as pretty and lovely as me. You're the bad one."
"Your self-awareness is quite remarkable. Then let's make it 1%. I need to make a living too."
"Deal!"
Miss Olivia pushed the wheels of her wheelchair cheerfully with a pleased smile.
After about ten minutes,
While she was pushing the wheels of her wheelchair, she stopped moving when she saw a certain tailor shop.
[Royal Boutique]
A clothing store Miss Olivia used to frequent. With prices for a single dress often exceeding those of an entire mansion, Miss Olivia halted before the shop window and ogled the displayed necktie pin.
"That…"
Noticing my gaze, she muttered under her breath.
"That would really suit Dad."
The gold necktie pin, as Miss Olivia said, seemed to match Darbav really well.
Not too lavish, with diamonds delicately set on the outline against a golden backdrop, the necktie pin combined transparent diamonds with gold.
Maybe because she was an affluent noble in the past, Miss Olivia had exceptional taste.
I sneakily observed Miss Olivia and shrugged my shoulders.
"Shall we go with that one?"
"It looks expensive."
"Aye~ How much could that tiny necktie pin really cost?"
"…Right?"
Hope shining in her eyes, Miss Olivia looked at me, and I responded by nodding and taking hold of the wheelchair's handle.
"It's cold, so let's buy it quickly and go."
2:00 PM.
It seemed better for us to make a quick decision rather than wander around in the cold weather.
With white breath fogging from my mouth, I pushed the wheelchair.
"Let’s go."
"Yeah…!"
Miss Olivia smiled shyly and brightly.
*
"Excuse me?"
Inside the Royal Boutique.
I spoke to the attendant in a surprised voice. I knew it was quite awkward to act like this in a public place, but I never imagined a necktie pin no larger than a finger could be more expensive than the cost of repairs for a mansion.
"Haha…"
The clerk gave me an awkward smile with startled eyes. It seemed like this wasn't the first time such a thing happened; they suggested another product that was also a popular gift.
"This is a new release, so it's a bit pricey. Instead of this one, how about our handkerchief? It's made of the finest cotton, feels good to the touch, and folds nicely at every angle."
Grateful that the clerk was suggesting another product considering the state of my wallet, I hesitated upon seeing Miss Olivia's downcast expression.
"Uh… that.."
Gazing at the necktie pin inside the display case, Miss Olivia gave a wistful smile.
"It would have matched Dad so well."
Miss Olivia felt sorry she couldn't buy the gift she had chosen. Glancing at her, I asked the clerk with a shaky voice.
"By any chance, is there a discount available?"
The clerk replied with a light laugh.
"It's already discounted."
A discounted price of 300,000 gold.
The world must be mocking us, trying to test our resolve with money.
Annoyed, I sighed, sending a silent prayer to the heavens, where perhaps some deity was holding their belly laughing at us.
"Miss Olivia."
"Yeah…"
"Could you wait for a moment?"
"Huh?"
I gazed out the window with determined eyes, considering the balance of my bank account and the limit of credit I could withdraw, my expression turning steely. Confused by my demeanor, Miss Olivia asked me.
"No, let's buy something else."
"No. I want to buy this."
"It's too expensive…"
"Isn't it a rare occasion to give Lord Darbav a gift? We should do it properly."
The butler's face is a reflection of the master's.
Unable to bear the sight of Miss Olivia's disappointment, I clenched my fists and gazed at the bank, declaring my intention.
"I'll be right back."
"No..no! I'll come with…!"
"Please stay warm here."
Not wanting Miss Olivia to witness the process of taking out a loan, I asked the clerk to reserve the item and not sell it to anyone else as I dashed outside.
Money.
I had hoped not to resort to a certain skill for a long time.
Glancing at the small, twinkling casino next to the bank, I gritted my teeth.
‘I apologize to my forebears.'
Bowing to the future penniless gamblers about to be fleeced, I got ready.
*
In the shop that Ricardo had left,
Olivia sat alone in a corner, sipping hot tea.
"Ah… It's hot."
Longing to buy a suitable gift for her father but constrained by circumstances, Olivia felt sorrowful as she stared blankly at her reflection in the teacup.
"Money…"
Wondering why she was indulging in luxuries without having the means, Olivia felt foolish, but just this once, she wanted to give her father a decent present.
Remembering her father still wearing the suit she had tailored for him two years ago, Olivia's face turned pained.
The family had faltered because of her.
The guilt over the family's poverty grew each day she spent in the mansion.
The number of servants that used to crowd the mansion had decreased, and her father's annual tradition of getting new suits had stopped.
Olivia sipped her bitter tea, filled with melancholy.
"Yuck… it's bitter…"
As the wind blew outside,
And Ricardo did not return,
A sudden feeling of loneliness overcame her.
-Jingle.
The door to the shop opened, and a new group of customers entered, drawing Olivia's attention.
"Giggle! Have you seen the new stuff they got? It's gorgeous."
"Yeah, yeah. I got a few pieces by buttering up Olivia back then, but now we can't even get them for free. Ah, such a pity!"
"What are you saying~ When Olivia got expelled, you popped champagne celebrating."
"That was then!"
A group of young female students entered the shop.
Wearing the Royal Academy uniform, they were girls who'd clung to Olivia and fawned over her back when she attended the academy.
Olivia lowered her head upon seeing them.
"Ricardo… When will you come."
Trying to hide from their view and stay unnoticed, Olivia shrunk as she waited for Ricardo, who had yet to return.
About ten minutes passed,
The laughter of the students looking around the shop suddenly ceased.
Olivia lifted her head slowly.
"Did they leave…?"
As she lifted her head, thinking it safe, she was suddenly faced with a confrontation.
"That's Olivia, right?"
A plump female student looked down at Olivia.
"Still alive and well, I see."
With a smirk as if she’d just found an entertaining toy, the student's mocking glance shook Olivia.
"It's been a while. Woori."
Malicious words started hurling towards Olivia.
"Have you been well? They said you died. Guess you're alive."
"No, look. She's a cripple."
The student mumbled while glancing at Olivia's legs.
Olivia lowered her head.
"Right. Buy us a bag too."
"Phahaha. What are you saying? She's got no money. Her family kicked her out."
"…"
"Phahahaha, really, Olivia?"
The female students who couldn't even look her in the eye at the academy now mocked her, and all Olivia could do was lower her head without saying a word.
And then.
"Sigh…"
She let out a deep sigh.
Olivia raised her head slowly.
She looked around and, confirming the absence of Ricardo and the clerk, she murmured softly.
‘Ricardo told me not to get angry…'
As their snickering grew louder,
A cold voice escaped Olivia's lips. Not her usually naive tone, but a voice as chilling as ice.
"Shut up. You bitches."
Olivia was a villainess.
"Before I kill you."
