Ahwin spoke in a low voice, just loud enough for Penelope to hear.
“I’m being used right now, aren’t I?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“Alright, let’s take it further.”
Ahwin, suddenly energized, turned to the attendant.
“Where are the dresses prepared for Penelope?”
“All the dresses on that side were selected specifically for Miss Penelope.”
“They seem to suit her well. Pack them all and send them to my residence. Also, pick out some accessories that match the dresses and include those.”
“Understood, sir.”
The attendant bowed deeply in response.
‘Is he seriously doubling down on this?’
Penelope, now wide-eyed, leaned close to Ahwin and whispered in rapid-fire.
“You’re buying all those dresses?”
“Trying on each one would be a waste of time. I’ll have the dresses ordered from other ateliers sent to my house too. You can take your time trying them later.”
“Think this through again. That’s a complete waste of money!”
“Not for me. My time is more valuable than money. You and I have other things to do today. Let’s go.”
“Where are we even—wait, Ahwin!”
Ahwin grabbed Penelope’s wrist and led her out without hesitation. As she glanced around in embarrassment, she had no choice but to follow where he guided her.
The atelier’s front door swung open and then closed behind them.
Giselle, looking utterly pleased, basked in the envious stares of the women left inside.
“Where exactly are we going? At least tell me!”
“To the main branch of the Imperial Bank.”
“What?”
Why the Imperial Bank all of a sudden?
Penelope struggled to keep up with Ahwin’s rapidly changing thoughts.
“Wait, why do we need to go there?”
This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.
Ahwin turned his head to look at her, his expression one of incredulity.
“Why? To pay off the debt you owe them.”
“Well, yes, but I don’t have the money right now.”
“I have plenty. Let’s settle that unpleasant debt first, and then we’ll talk.”
Ahwin’s determined look left no room for argument. Penelope understood his intentions but felt utterly confused nonetheless.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m already deeply indebted to you, and now you’re offering to pay off my debt too? How could I ever accept that?”
“I don’t like the idea of you owing that guy anything. Borrow the money from me instead. Problem solved.”
Ahwin’s eyes glinted with satisfaction at his own suggestion, his posture straight and confident. It was almost as if she could see a giant puppy wagging its tail furiously in front of her.
‘Once he fixates on something, nothing else exists for him. Is this the kind of focus that makes a wizard? And is this really where he should be using it?’
Penelope sighed internally and lightly shook the hand Ahwin was still holding, trying to calm him down.
“I can cash out some stock certificates at the exchange. I have money too, you know. I can pay off the debt quickly.”
“Then do it. No delays.”
Ahwin urged her, clearly eager to deal with the bank manager as soon as possible. Of course, Penelope wasn’t particularly fond of Lihenz either, so she also wanted to settle the debt promptly.
“Still, can you slow down for a second? I’m having trouble keeping up.”
When Penelope panted slightly, Ahwin finally stopped walking. She exhaled deeply, then said to him,
“First, put on your robe. Pull up the hood too. Didn’t you say you didn’t want to attract attention?”
“Ah...”
It seemed Ahwin had finally realized something was off about himself. He raised a hand to his head and froze, his expression one of mild shock.
‘Is this really something to be surprised about?’
Hurriedly, Ahwin draped his robe over his shoulders and pulled up the hood. Only then did Penelope feel like she could catch her breath.
***
Unfortunately, Penelope couldn’t head to the stock exchange as planned. She didn’t have the Durek Railroad stock certificates with her.
It made sense—the certificates were securely stored in the secret vault of Halo Castle.
Thus, Penelope activated the communication sphere to contact Halo Castle.
The round, crystalline communication sphere was a magical device that allowed long-distance conversations, highly coveted and traded among nobles for exorbitant prices.
Soon, the face of the treasurer appeared in the sphere. The treasurer’s expression brightened as soon as he saw Penelope.
“My Lady, you’ve finally contacted us! Did you arrive safely in the capital?”
“I arrived safely last night. Is everything fine over there?”
“Everything is running smoothly here. You look much more refreshed, my Lady. It seems the capital has made you even more elegant in just one day.”
“You don’t need to flatter me like that,” Penelope replied bluntly, though she couldn’t help but smile faintly.
At that moment, a commotion erupted in the background. The voices of her retainers were loud and clear.
“Is that the Lady?”
“My Lady! This is the steward! Please take care of yourself, always!”
“This is the facilities manager. Did you arrive safely? Move your face so I can see the Lady properly!”
“You move! Your boulder-sized face is blocking the view! Stop breathing so loudly, it’s horrifying!”
Penelope couldn’t help but chuckle. Their words carried a warmth that revealed how deeply they cared for her.
“Pardon me for interrupting, but could you bring the treasurer back to the sphere? I have something to discuss with him.”
“Ah, of course, my Lady.”
The treasurer pushed the steward’s face away and reappeared on the screen, looking a little worn out from the chaos. He wiped the sweat off his forehead before speaking.
“My Lady, please go ahead.”
“I wanted to ask about the stocks we purchased last winter when we borrowed money from the Imperial Bank.”
“Ah, now that you mention it... Yes, you did say something about that.”
The treasurer nodded slowly, seemingly piecing together his memory.
Penelope let out a sly chuckle, causing the treasurer to flinch.
“Those stocks have skyrocketed.”
“Have they? That’s good news.”
“No, you don’t understand. The value has increased a hundredfold!”
“A hundredfold... A hundredfold?!”
“The 4,000 shares we purchased are now worth 20 million gold in market value. That means the estate now has 20 million gold!”
“...!”
The treasurer’s eyes widened as his jaw dropped. In the background, a mix of screams and cheers rang out.
“Everyone, quiet down! Please, for goodness’ sake!” The treasurer managed to silence the others before turning back to Penelope, still looking stunned. “My Lady, is this truly the case?”
“It is. The stock certificates are in the secret vault of Halo Castle. Please head to the stock exchange, cash them in, and deposit the money in the vault.”
“I will do so immediately.”
The treasurer swallowed hard and nodded.
“Oh, and please pay off all the debt we owe to the Imperial Bank.”
“Understood. Might I ask, was there an issue with the Imperial Bank?”
“I encountered their branch manager on my way to the capital, and the experience was... less than pleasant.”
“May I ask what happened?” The treasurer’s expression grew serious, clearly concerned.
Penelope recounted her experience with Lihenz during her journey to the capital. The treasurer listened intently, his face darkening as the story went on.
After some time, he spoke firmly, his tone resolute.
“From this moment forward, we will sever all ties with the Imperial Bank.”
Penelope’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Isn’t that a bit extreme?”
“My Lady, you are the face of this estate. For someone to treat our liege so disrespectfully, they must face the consequences of their actions.”
“He’s right!” came a booming voice from the steward beside the treasurer. “That insolent wretch dared to speak out of turn to our Lady! He clearly doesn’t know his place!”
Penelope let out an awkward laugh. “Just handle what’s necessary for now. If there are urgent financial matters in the estate, prioritize those first.”
“Rest assured, the estate is well-funded from our business profits. We can operate without issue. As for the remaining funds, we can use them for meaningful projects when you return—perhaps a school or a hospital, as you see fit.”
The treasurer’s enthusiastic response made Penelope burst out laughing. He had entirely anticipated her thoughts.