Chapter 16
Of course, it's because my guilt would lessen if Gabriel were the sub-male lead. Stealing the heroine Kanna's husband feels different from making the guy who had a crush on Kanna fall for someone else. The vibes are just different. As I vaguely responded to Kanna's chatter, brushing off the lingering unease, the topic had already shifted to the painting.
"A painting?"
"Yeah. Apparently, it was donated to the temple."
"Is that so? If it's of Donau's corpse, I'd kind of like to see it."
Right? I'm curious just how saintly they made it to call a dead body an angel or whatever.
"Want to go see it? I can't go myself."
"Why? I'll go with you, Lady…."
"Kanna!"
Hena hurriedly cut her off as Kanna seemed ready to insist on going together. Nice one, Hena!
Kanna, puzzled at first, nodded upon seeing my disgusted reaction.
"Yeah…. It must be uncomfortable for you, Lady."
Exactly. I'm curious, but actually going to gawk at a painting of a corpse is another matter. I have no desire to view artwork of a dead body. A corpse painting? As a modern person, it feels kinda criminal.
Of course, locals like Kanna and Hena would see it differently. The era's old-fashioned, and some religions view death as sacred. Here, the temple's calling it an angel, blessed by God—probably something like that.
"If you're going to see it, better go quick."
Gabriel wanted it taken down, so it might be gone soon.
***
Kanna and Hena decided to go to the Grand Temple to see the painting. Since it was their first outing in ages, I gave them plenty of money to buy treats and have fun. Ten gold coins should suffice, right?
To guard against pickpockets or thugs demanding they hand over their cash, I split the gold into two pouches and gave one to each.
"Lady…. I could buy a house with this."
No, Hena! How do you buy a house with that? House prices are insane these days! Oh, right—this is a novel world. But romance-fantasies have heroines tossing around tens of thousands of gold. Are houses cheap here?
"Really?"
"Yes. A house costs about 5 gold."
Whoa. Then the ten gold I just gave them could buy two houses? Evangeline must've hoarded without spending—her room had piles of gold coins. No wonder romance-fantasy heroines speculate in real estate. Damn! If I'd known the original story, I wouldn't obsess over the summoning circle—I'd be a speculator.
"I have lots of money too!"
Kanna proudly pulled out her pouch to show off. It held one silver coin mixed with coppers. "Lots of money," yet no gold and only one silver? Kanna's not a newbie…. Don't tell me they don't pay on time?
"Hena. How much do regular servants make?"
"Rohanson Mansion pays well, but elsewhere it's usually about 4 silver a year."
4 silver?
"Twenty silver make one gold coin."
Hena quickly added. Sorry for being such an ignorant employer who doesn't even know basic economics. Good thing I played it off as amnesia.
Twenty silver per gold? Annual salary of 4 silver means one gold after five years of work? Whoa…. Then the ten gold I gave them is fifty years' wages? No wonder Kanna and Hena freaked out.
But with prices like this, why does Evangeline have so much money?
Oh, right—the diary said her mom was a duke's daughter. Secret inheritance from her behind that sleazy Count Rohanson, probably.
Then Kanna's proud sum must be her actual wage. 1 silver is pretty good pay.
"Lady, this is too much."
"It's fine."
Hena fretted, but I had no intention of taking it back. Villainesses buy loyalty with cash anyway. Plus, the romance-fantasy heroine penniless? No way!
A bitter pang hit me. Most romance-fantasy heroines are nobles—why'd Kanna draw the short straw!
Honestly, I don't get why this romance-fantasy world's status system is so nerfed. Depressing romance-fantasy vibes? Heroine's a maid, villainess just a count's daughter—not even a duke's—male lead (or sub?) is a knight commander…. Nope. Gabriel's disqualified as male lead. Kanna needs a duke as her partner.
"Then we'll be off."
The Rohanson carriage I'd prepared arrived, so it was time to send them. Stay safe out there, don't get hurt or scammed, watch out for peop… no, watch the carriage.
"You know what to do there, right?"
"Yes. I'll check if Sir Gabriel's handling things properly."
With suspicions he might be the sub-male lead, I asked them to report back on his progress. Botch the job, and he's out as male lead—straight to sub.
I'd sent a letter ahead entrusting them since I wouldn't go, and Kanna's involved anyway, so she'll explain well.
"You'll be okay without me?"
"Yes. Because you're always watching over us, Lady."
Kanna now trusted me like a religion. Grateful, but I'm no god—I can't watch you forever, Kanna….
"Riding the Count Rohanson carriage means no one will bother us needlessly."
Hena explained Kanna's words. Aha. That's what she meant.
Kanna must've suffered under Evangeline—lip service much?
***
The carriage smoothly rolled away from Rohanson Mansion.
Bearing a noble crest, no one blocked the way, arriving swiftly. Unless you had two lives, no one charged a noble carriage. Nobles typically raged at blocked roads even if they just clipped a leg.
Kanna gazed out the window at bustling streets whizzing by, marveling at the splendor.
"Sis. Shall we stop by our dress shop too? Let's buy desserts to bring the Lady!"
"Kanna, you don't mean to spend the Lady's money, do you?"
"Why not? She gave it for us to spend."
The Lady seemed unaware of prices giving ten gold, but even if she knew, she wouldn't skimp. Whether returned intact or spent with some left, she'd be fine. If Kanna bought a house she liked on this outing, she'd probably just nod.
Sis couldn't grasp the Lady's favor, always scared and watchful, but the Lady overlooked Kanna's cheekiness anyway.
'Sis needs to realize someday how much the Lady cares for us.'
Of course, Kanna wouldn't push Hena hastily.
"Sis. I've never been anywhere like that, so I got excited. Sorry."
"Kanna…."
Instead, she drooped her eyes, acting dejected. This always made Hena spoil her like she'd fetch down the sun. A bit manipulative, but true.
Kanna had been frail since birth, bedridden near death until recently—no wonder she'd never seen bustling streets. No money either.
And Hena rarely went too—every coin went to Kanna.
"Fine. We'll stop on the way back."
"Thanks, Sis! Awesome!"
Kanna beamed, and Hena's stiff expression softened into a smile.
Hoping Sis would spend on herself for once after sacrificing for her sick sister, Kanna pondered gifts bought with her own earnings—not the Lady's money. Sis would love that. What to get?
"But just briefly. Too late, and the Lady'll worry."
"Yeah. Promise."
Of course, the Lady knew everything they did outside. Instead of excuses, Kanna nodded obediently.
'Sis must be blind.'
Kanna poked the eye beside her. It startled, squeezing shut, then glared tearfully.
The Lady had attached one eye to Kanna. Clustered eyes floating around or mold-like on walls creeped her out.
But this lone popped-out one should've been gross—yet felt cute. Because the Lady gave it?
This eye protected Kanna when the Lady wasn't there.
It'd once scolded a servant rummaging their third-floor room.
Hena said the third floor was off-limits, but he'd sneaked in, probably hunting valuables from the late Countess's room.
He seemed clueless about Kanna and Hena living there—not targeting them, so just scare him off.
Kneeling him sufficed—he begged for life offering all he had. No harm intended. His desperate pleas recalled her Donau kidnapping, so she let him go. Afterward, Hena mentioned odd rumors.
'The late Countess's ghost haunts the third floor.'
Apparently, to escape her, offer silver coins. Obvious source.
***
"Um…. We've arrived."
The coachman called Hena and Kanna. His trembling voice and averted eyes showed he feared her.
Since becoming the Lady's confidante, mansion staff all dreaded Hena.
'That' Lady Evangeline's exclusive maid.
That was Hena's new moniker. With some quitting in terror and Daisy sent to the convent blind, Hena's composure stood out.
Kanna stuck to the Lady and wasn't formally hired, so people treated her casually—then puzzled later, "Who was that girl?"
"Thank you."
"No, no. I'll wait out front."
Would the coachman recall chatting casually with Hena before?
"So grand."
As the coachman fawned, Kanna gazed up at the Grand Temple, voicing her awe.
