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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Greedy Espin
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I polished each shiny gold coin one by one with a cloth before slipping them into the handbags Nanny had made for me.
This pink handbag, complete with ribbons and a rabbit face, was a children's item commonly known as my little bunny bag.
It was childish for me, but I cherished and used it out of consideration for Nanny's effort.
"Miss. Aren't you just going to deposit it at the bank anyway?"
Nanny watched me and shot me a look that said what was the point of polishing them.
But it just feels different, doesn't it!
Shiny money makes me happy!
How cool is that brilliant golden glow?
And...
"I'm going to the bank today, aren't I?"
I replied primly, and Nanny's eyes widened into circles.
"You're putting them in the bag to take them out like that?"
"Exactly."
"You're taking money out instead of depositing it at the bank... Don't tell me you're planning to spend it?"
"Then why else would I take money out? To spend it."
Was I going to take it out just to sightsee?
"Good heavens! What in the world?"
"Why are you so surprised?"
"Miss, don't you know what Master calls you?"
"......"
There was no way I didn't know.
It was a not-so-great nickname that perfectly captured my behavior.
Greedy Espin.
That was the term my father had recently started using for me.
But there was nothing I could do about it.
As the protagonist, it was only natural to prepare for the future.
If everyone else was making money, I should too.
The important part was that I needed to do less work myself.
'I don't want to repeat that cutthroat modern life.'
I needed someone else to work like an ox in my place.
So after some thought, I decided on investing instead of starting a business.
I used my transmigrator privileges to pick suitable investments, but there was a problem.
At the time, nine-year-old me had no capital to invest.
There was only one way for a kid that age to get money.
Allowance.
From then on, I scraped together every penny, body and soul, to get my allowance.
Fortunately, I had a gullible father who loved me to death.
-Father, you've worked so hard. Let me massage your shoulders.
I went behind my father and kneaded his shoulders with my tiny hands.
"Our Espin is such a good girl."
"Father, am I a good girl?"
"Of course."
Father smiled as if my actions were utterly adorable.
Perfect. Time to get to the point.
"In that case, give me my allowance!"
I cheerfully demanded my reward from Father.
Father's eyes went wide for a moment, then he assumed I must want something and smiled.
"Alright, here you go."
He readily agreed, his eyes sparkling with how cute he found my behavior.
"Here's your allowance."
"Yay!"
I immediately counted the gold coins Father gave me and held out my hand again.
"Father, this is too little. Give me more!"
Father froze for a second at my sparkling gaze.
"......Our Espin must want a lot of things."
"I love money. I really love it."
I answered confidently.
"......"
After that, I wheedled allowance from everyone around me whenever I got the chance.
-Give me allowance!
-I hate copper! I hate silver! I like gold!
-The shiny gold coins want to come to me.
-Oh dear, my pockets are empty. Won't someone fill them?
-Sigh, Little Bunny is hungry. Won't someone give it shiny gold coins?
I put on all sorts of antics and desperately gathered allowance.
"Espin, your father is bending over backward just giving you allowance these days."
Father sighed at my increasingly blatant greed for money.
'Hmm, playing hardball, are we...?'
"Father!"
I clenched both fists in front of Father.
"W-What's wrong?"
Father flinched at my determined expression.
Then I recalled a nursery rhyme from my past life and danced my shoulders energetically.
"Cheer up! You've got Espin!"
Father froze, unable to process my sudden behavior.
I beamed and kept singing and cheering.
"......"
Gradually, Father's face twisted into something that was neither a smile nor a frown.
That day, I belted out "Father, cheer up!" with all my might.
"I won't starve out there......"
Father sighed.
After that, he started calling me Greedy Espin.
Two years passed like that, and I became the notorious little rich girl of our estate.
"Miss, what are you planning to spend the money on?"
Nanny must have been worried since frugal me was suddenly spending money.
"I have my reasons."
"You don't want to tell me?"
I couldn't tell even Nanny.
"Yep, it's a secret."
I stuffed the little bunny bag full of gold coins and tied it securely so nothing would spill.
Slinging the bag over my shoulder.
"Nanny, I'm heading out."
"You'll be fine without me coming along?"
She seemed really concerned about me going out with money.
"It's fine. Billy's coming with me."
Billy was a former adventurer hired as my coachman because of me.
The capital had good security, but my parents were always worried since I loved wandering outside.
In the end, they hired a coachman who could also act as a guard.
They chose a coachman over a dedicated escort knight because knights were extremely expensive personnel.
'Having an escort knight in the capital also felt a bit over-the-top.'
Anyway, Billy had the full trust of my parents and Nanny.
They said he handled their wild filly well.
It was more like I got along great with Billy.
"I see. Be careful out there."
As expected, mentioning Billy put Nanny at ease, and she simply told me to take care.
I waved to Nanny and headed to the entrance.
"Good morning."
Billy, who had been waiting by the carriage, greeted me brightly first.
"Good morning to you too, Billy!"
Billy grinned at my greeting and opened the carriage door for me.
I hopped right in.
"To our spot?"
Once I was settled, Billy asked about today's destination.
Our spot.
That vague term referred to a secret place known only to me and Billy.
'He really understands me perfectly.'
"Yep, to our spot."
"Understood."
Billy smiled and closed the door.
Soon, the carriage set off.
* * *
"We've arrived."
I hopped down through the door Billy opened.
"Thanks."
"Not at all. Shall we head inside?"
Billy replied cheerfully and offered me his hand.
'Jeez, I'm eleven now, practically grown, but he still treats me like a kid.'
Contrary to my thoughts, I nodded obediently and took Billy's hand.
There was a heartbreaking story behind this.
This romance fantasy world was fascinating to me.
It had a medieval European vibe, but instead of gritty realism, it was like a game screen brought to life—full of dazzling splendor.
Antique yet sparkling.
So whenever I went out, I got distracted, darting off to gawk or stopping dead in my tracks to stare.
Lost in the sights, I lost track of time.
That led to frequent incidents where my parents panicked after suddenly losing me.
The first time they lost me, they were worried, but later they got angry.
Even when I said I could find my way home alone, they didn't believe me.
-Espin, if you wander off on your own or get separated from us one more time, we won't give you any more allowance. You won't get another gold coin you love so much!
In the end, Father took drastic measures.
-Espin! You wandered off again!
But it didn't fix the habit.
My greed couldn't overcome my instincts.
New sights made my body bolt toward them involuntarily—I couldn't help it.
"I'm sorry......"
"Espin, what are we going to do with you......"
Father let out a deep sigh.
He clutched his head like it was a headache.
Then my mother, who had been sitting silently beside him, spoke up.
-Espin.
-Yes, Mother.
Feeling guilty, I bowed my head low.
-From now on, whenever you go outside, you must hold an adult's hand.
Mother said in a calm tone.
"Mother, I'm not a baby anymore. How can I hold hands at my age?"
I whined, and Mother's eyes flashed.
"Would you prefer a leash then?"
It was so intimidating, like she might actually collar me.
"......"
She had seemed so delicate when I first possessed this body......
This was the true noble lady of a romance fantasy, refined yet fierce......
"You choose. Hand or leash."
Under Mother's intensely scary gaze full of sincerity, I meekly opted to hold hands.
'Here I am, at this age, still having to hold an adult's hand.'
Billy held my hand with just the right firmness and led me inside the building.
We passed through the bustling interior and arrived at the appointed spot.
Knock knock.
After I knocked,
"Come in."
Permission came from inside.
Before opening the door, Billy asked,
"Should I wait here? Or come in with you?"
His perceptiveness was top-notch.
Billy knew exactly when to step up and when to hang back, without being told.
"You can come in with me today."
It wasn't anything he couldn't hear anyway.
'I need to rope Billy in too.'
Billy gave me a briefly puzzled look but soon replied calmly that he understood.
We opened the door and went in. A young woman with long red hair tied in a ponytail rose from her seat.
"Hello, Delia."
"Come on in. I've been waiting."
Delia, recognizing me, gestured to the sofa in front.
I sat on the sofa at the signal to sit, and Billy stood behind me.
"Billy, sit down too."
I patted the spot next to me.
"I'm fine standing."
Billy smiled brightly, and I didn't press him further.
In the meantime, she rummaged in a drawer, pulled out some documents, and sat across from me.
"Long time no see, Lady Espin."
"Faster than I expected."
"The request was so vague, we thought we'd struggle more, but we got lucky."
Delia smiled with full professional pride.
"Did you find them?"
"Here's the information on the two people you requested. That'll be five gold coins."
'Five gold coins!'
Not cheap, but not exorbitant either.
I wanted to haggle.
'But trust is key today.'
"Cheaper than I thought."
Contrary to my heartbroken inner self over the expense, I said it as casually as possible.
"They were commoners, and you only asked for their current residences. A full background check would've cost more."
Delia's crisp explanation was intimidating.
I wondered how much real intel would cost.
I opened the little bunny bag on my lap.
The mouth of the plump, barely zippable bunny bag gaped open, revealing the shiny gold coins inside.
I pulled out five and handed them to Delia generously.
"Here you go."
My hand trembled because the coins were heavy.
Absolutely not because it hurt to part with them.
