Became the Owner of a Poor Estate
Chapter 14
That was because the Chloe Grace they knew was a fool who could barely read, let alone perform mental arithmetic.
Donghee blinked, surprised by their shock over such simple addition.
“Of course. I can do calculations like this with my eyes closed. Anyway, Butler, what do you think?”
“In my estimation, we should be able to get at least 150 gold for the lot.”
“Not 200 gold?”
Donghee didn’t know exactly how much 1 gold was worth in Korean won, but she called out a high price for starters. Sure enough, she saw Gold Rich, who had been acting so composed, flinch at the amount she named.
“I’m disappointed, Gold Rich. I told you I had plenty of these. It seems I’ll have to take my business to another jeweler.”
She didn’t actually have the luxury of calling another jeweler, but Donghee decided to play hard to get.
Acting as if the deal was off, she stood up, picked up the jewelry box, and walked slowly toward the table.
As Chloe drew closer to the table, Gold Rich’s head whipped back and forth faster and faster between the jewelry and Chloe.
Donghee leisurely packed away the necklaces as if she didn’t have a care in the world, while secretly gauging Gold Rich’s expression out of the corner of her eye.
Gold Rich’s sallow face turned a deeper shade of yellow every time a necklace disappeared from the table.
At this rate, his face is going to turn the color of dirt.
“Butler, contact the other jeweler—”
“No! I will give you 200 gold!”
Gold Rich hurriedly grabbed Chloe’s hand.
His thick hand was hot and damp, likely from his agitation.
Donghee frowned and pulled her hand away, wiping it off on her dress.
Flustered, Gold Rich pulled a neatly folded handkerchief from his pocket and offered it politely with both hands.
“My apologies, My Lord. I let my eagerness get the better of me. Please forgive this ignorant merchant’s rudeness.”
She liked that he was quick on the uptake.
“Then it’s 200 gold for the four of them, right?”
“Yes. I will pay you immediately.”
Color returned to Gold Rich’s face as he realized the deal was struck.
“Give me 1,000 gold and go. You can come back and collect the rest next time.”
“Pardon? You just said 200 gold! That price is preposterous!”
Gold Rich bolted upright, looking utterly dumbfounded.
His thick cheeks flushed red with anger. Looking at his face, Donghee thought he looked like a toad being roasted over a fire.
“You’re so impatient.”
Donghee brought over another box she had left on the bed and placed it on the table.
Gold Rich’s face twisted in annoyance at the sight of the old box, which looked like it ought to hold sweet cookies.
No matter how clueless Chloe Grace was, raising the price this much was unheard of.
However, as soon as the lid opened, Gold Rich’s dissatisfied expression vanished, replaced by a jaw that dropped to the floor.
Inside the box—which looked like it could be thrown away without a second thought—were four sets of the exact same necklaces he had just seen.
“How about it? 1,000 gold.”
At Donghee’s triumphant question, Gold Rich reached a trembling hand toward the box and asked, “M-May I examine them closely?”
“Of course.”
The moment Chloe gave her permission, Gold Rich forgot all his dignity and plopped down on the floor, pulling out a pair of white cotton gloves from his breast pocket.
The name ‘Gold Rich’ was embroidered on the back of the gloves in gold thread.
“Well then.”
Gold Rich’s face took on a look of grim determination, like a knight preparing for battle.
He took a deep breath and slowly reached into the box. Donghee watched silently as his fingertips trembled with nerves as they dipped into the box.
He’d probably faint if I told him I have over a hundred more of these.
From the moment Borimdang became an activated area until the day before Gold Rich arrived, Donghee had been busily ferrying jewelry over.
As a result, every single box in her room was stuffed to the brim with jewels, and she was only showing Gold Rich a fraction of them now.
“How is such craftsmanship possible?!”
“My word! It’s beautiful!”
“This could never be the work of a human! Oh! Heavens, surely I am not dreaming!”
“To think such a day would come for me! H-Huhuuhuhu!”
Gold Rich sat there until sunset, talking to himself, laughing, and crying by turns.
It wasn’t until it grew dark outside that he stood up with a puffy face and a radiant smile. He looked as refreshed as someone who had just woken up from a long soak at a spa.
“1,000 gold! I will pay it. No! I will give you 1,100 gold. I beg of you, My Lord, please continue to trade with me in the future!”
He bowed deeply at the waist, requesting—no, pleading—with her.
Donghee felt the corners of her mouth twitching upward at the mention of more money than originally promised, but she forced herself to maintain a dignified expression.
“I’ll think about it.”
At Chloe’s nonchalant dismissal, Gold Rich folded his stout body into a 90-degree bow.
“I humbly entreat you. I will pay you most generously.”
“We’ll see how you behave.”
“Thank you.”
After offering a fawning smile, Gold Rich brought over a large chest himself and began carefully packing the jewelry inside.
Watching him, Donghee thought she should bring back some proper cases next time.
After all, nothing was more effective at driving up a price than fancy packaging.
Since the cases would be made of materials not found in this world, they might fetch a decent price themselves.
Once Gold Rich had finished packing all the jewelry into the chest by himself to ensure no one else saw them, he locked it with a sturdy padlock. Only after hanging the key around his neck and tucking it into his shirt did he call for someone.
The person who entered at Gold Rich’s call bore a striking resemblance to him.
The only difference was that he was a bit taller and younger.
“Is he your son?”
When Chloe asked with interest, Gold Rich replied with a proud smile.
“Yes, I am taking him around to teach him the trade.”
“I see.”
“What are you doing?! Greet the Lord of Grace! He’s my son, but he’s so slow on the uptake! My apologies!”
“It’s fine. It happens. If I’m offended, I’ll just trade elsewhere. Don’t worry about it.”
“Oh! My Lord! You brat!”
Gold Rich barked, smacking his son on the back of the head.
“Apologize to the Lord this instant!”
“……Yes. My apologies. Please forgive my negligence.”
The son prostrated himself and begged for forgiveness without even knowing why.
The father, who had been badmouthing the Lord of Grace until just moments ago, now looked like her most loyal subject to anyone watching.
Aha. So this is the taste of power.
Donghee savored the victor’s leisure and gave her most benevolent smile.
“Is your son’s name by any chance Silver Rich?”
“How did you know?!”
Gold Rich’s eyes widened in shock at her dad-joke level humor.
“Heol, really?”
She definitely shouldn’t open a naming center in this world. The names here were far too literal.
Gold Rich went on to inform her that his second son’s name was Bronze Rich and his youngest daughter’s name was Dia Rich before finally leaving the drawing room.
“I shall see you soon, My Lord!”
“Yeah. Off with you.”
Donghee waved her hand dismissively, mimicking Gold Rich’s initial expression.
“Yes, thank you.”
As Gold Rich bowed deeply, his son, Silver Rich, called for one of the attendants waiting outside. A man strode in carrying a large chest.
Donghee unconsciously swallowed hard, feeling tense at the man’s sudden appearance.
He was a giant of a man, looking to be at least two meters tall. Not only was he tall, but he was also covered in bulging muscles; his thighs were as thick as Donghee’s torso.
His feet were so large it looked like it would take several times more leather than a normal person’s to make his shoes.
In contrast to his intimidating physique, the man had a strangely cute face. It seemed to be due to his exceptionally sparkling round eyes and lush eyelashes.
Caught in the gap between his face and body, Donghee didn’t know whether to be afraid or to laugh.
The man set the chest full of gold coins down on the floor as lightly as if he were putting down a lunchbox.
“There is 1,000 gold inside the chest. And this is the additional 100 gold I promised. 1,100 gold in total.”
Gold Rich said politely, placing a leather pouch containing 100 gold on top of the chest.
“I trust you.”
Gold Rich, never dreaming she was just too lazy to count it right now, bowed with an expression of profound gratitude and departed.
The chest Gold Rich left behind was filled to the brim with glittering yellow gold coins.
Scrooge the butler, who had been managing the fief’s finances by tightening his belt, rubbed his eyes several times, unable to believe the overflowing gold before him.
“Butler.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
His voice even trembled slightly with anticipation.
“It’s still not nearly enough money, but let’s start with the most urgent matters.”
“If you mean urgent matters…”
“First, let’s do something about Morta Village.”
