Chapter 24 - Who’s On Their Knees?

“Darn it! Why are you suddenly taking back your investment?”

Marquis Leroy was organizing his business plan in his office, and was unable to control his frustration and violently hit his desk. A few months ago, he was told that it would be an honor to invest in his mining business.

Now the man changed his mind, and withdrew his investment. The reason he could get away with it was because the contract was not stamped with the family’s seal.

‘Only wages to the miners need to be covered…’

There were some negative financial repercussions to buying a mine. However, it was a valuable investment because it was an ore that could replace pink diamonds.

‘I’m just a little short on money.’

He was trying to get the investment because he was working on another business, but his investor suddenly withdrew.

‘This could disrupt the mining operation.’

He was seriously thinking about where to borrow money from when the Marquis heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

When the permission was given, the butler carefully opened the door and entered.

“What’s going on?”

“Count Aster is here to see you.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

Marquis Leroy couldn’t hide his confusion when he was told that the Count was waiting for him in the drawing room.

He didn’t expect someone he hadn’t met in so long to just visit him. Why so suddenly?

Rather than being worried about the rudeness of visiting without contacting him first, he was more curious about why he had come to visit.

‘Count Aster.’

Marquis Leroy roughly arranged his desk and left for the drawing room.

‘If it was Count Aster…’

It was a name he remembered because it was famous for something very important.

The Marquis furrowed his brow as he tried to figure out what the important thing was. He thought hard, but before he knew it, he’d arrived at the drawing room.

Marquis Leroy entered the drawing room with a stiff expression and shook hands with Count Aster.

“It’s nice to meet you, Count Aster.”

The Count was waiting leisurely for Marquis Leroy to arrive and greeted him with a genial smile.

“I’m honored to meet you like this, Marquis Leroy. I’m also sorry for being rude by coming here without contacting you first.”

“Don’t worry too much about it and take a seat.”

Count Aster had a magnanimous expression, but he still couldn’t remember where he knew the man from.

‘I think it was about money…’

Was there a lot of debt?

No. Did he commit fraud?

He didn’t think so. What the heck was it?

The Marquis tried to think it over again slowly.

“I’ve heard that Marquis has recently bought a mine and started a business.”

“I’m actually really busy with it.”

“Oh, no. I might make you busier.”

“What kind of…”

Count Aster laughed aloud as the Marquis stared at him, unable to understand his intentions.

“I really want to invest.”

“Wait, what…?”

Marquis Leroy’s mind froze as he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His expression seemed absolutely bewildered.

Count Aster noticed the Marquis’ expression was not very welcoming. He smiled awkwardly and uttered.

“If it’s not possible…”

“No! Not at all! Not at all! I’m more than grateful!”

Marquis Leroy’s voice grew louder and louder with delight. His heart could not contain his excitement.

‘Right, Count Aster!’

He was famous for being a rich man.

He was stupid for forgetting such an important thing, but he couldn’t miss let this golden goose escape.

“If you could invest, it would be a great boon.”

“Thank you for your willingness to do so. I will try not to inconvenience the Marquis’ business.”

There was no need to discuss the matter at any particular length after that.

Count Aster asked that the business-related papers be conveyed to him separately through a letter, for the purpose of making a simple investment.

After about an hour, the conversation ended with a handshake, and well wishes for their future endeavors.

Marquis Leroy saw him off at the door of the mansion, and did not take his eyes off Count Aster’s carriage as it drove away.

‘What a windfall.’

The trouble, that had been a pain in his neck for the past few months, had been solved so neatly.

The smile of satisfaction never left the Marquis’ face, as he promised himself a good night’s sleep.

.

.

.

Count Aster sighed, and looked out of the window of his carriage, as he was returning to the mansion

In fact, he knew that Marquis Leroy’s mining business was slowing down because he lacked capital. The decision to invest was made only after seeing Leticia.

While there were several attempted treatments for the sick Countess. She only became healthy after receiving the bracelet from Leticia.

It was all thanks to Leticia, so he wanted to be of some help to the Leroy family.

‘I hope it helps Leticia.’

She had a hard time taking care of her family when she was young, so he hoped his good deeds would allow her to live a little more comfortably.

Sadly, Count Aster hadn’t heard the news.

The fact that Leticia had been excommunicated from the Leroy family.

***

Within 10 days, the true value of the wishing bracelets began to be seen. Nearly a month later, it gained sensational popularity regardless of status.

“Oh? You’re wearing it, too.”

“Of course I bought one.”

“No way. Everyone wears that bracelet these days.”

Unlike the aristocrats who could purchase large quantities, commoners could not afford to buy so many bracelets. They could easily buy a single bracelet as they were not too expensive to buy individually. The bracelet has a sincere meaning, but many people bought it because of the cute flower design.

“I didn’t expect it to be this successful.”

“Me too. At first, I thought I screwed it up because there was no reaction…”

Leticia said, looking at the bracelets on the wrists of people passing by. Elle nodded vaguely.

“Isn’t it harder to find someone who doesn’t have one?”

Ian murmured quietly because he still couldn’t believe it. The popularity of the wishing bracelet, which he had expected to shine only for a little while, seemed unstoppable.

Even if people wanted one, they were running out of stock.

The time when she was depressed because she couldn’t get any attention felt like a dream, and Elle pinched herself. Fortunately, nothing changed because this scene in front of her is real.

‘Everyone’s wearing the bracelet I made.’

People passing by gushed that the bracelet was cute and how they liked it.

“Miss Elle.”

“….”

“Are you crying?”

The moment Leticia cautiously asked, Elle suddenly hugged her as if he had been waiting for her. Leticia flinched in surprise, then smiled warmly and patted her back.

“This isn’t a dream, is it?”

“What do you mean? It’s real. Enjoy yourself, Miss Elle.”

“But I can’t believe it.”

Elle was shedding tears, and slowly raised her head.

“It’s all thanks to Miss Leticia.”

“What?”

“I was the one who designed the bracelet, but Miss Leticia was the one who gave me the wishing idea.”

“This was something achieved through Miss Elle’s efforts.”

Leticia spoke in a warm but determined tone.

Enoch, who was watching the two of them, quietly called out to his sister.

“Elle.”

“Big Brother…”

“Just admit it’s the result of your hard work.”

“….”

“You’re talented, very talented.”

Enoch was always blunt and didn’t express his feelings well. So when he gave Elle a compliment, she felt like crying again.

She looked up at the clear sky to try harder to hold back her tears.

“I’ll do even better in the future.”

In the end, the tears she had swallowed finally flowed down her cheeks. She bit her lip to stop from crying.

“Wow, you look so ugly when you cry.”

“Be quiet, Ian Achilles.”

“Don’t cry, you look uglier when you cry.”

“That’s it!”

She slapped Ian’s arm hard in annoyance.

Elle quickly wiped her tears away on her sleeves and told Leticia.

“Oh, right! We have somewhere we need to go.”

“What? Right now?”

Leticia asked curiously, as she wiped Elle’s tears away with a handkerchief. Elle nodded and answered.

“We’re going to the Leroy Mansion.”

“Why there?”

“What do you mean why?”

Elle grinned as if she’d never cried.

“To see Diana kneeling and apologizing.”

***

“What are you wearing?”

“This?”

“That shoddy bracelet before… No, I don’t think I’ve seen it before.”

Diana frowned as she was happily drinking tea on a dazzling sunny day. She’d never seen a bangle like that on the wrist of the Count’s daughter, who she came to the tea party with.

“Oh, Miss Leroy. You don’t know about these?”

“Yes? What is this?”

“It’s very popular these days.”

“You can’t even buy them if you want to.”

Everyone looked at the young lady and tried to help her elaborate.

“It reminds me of my childhood when I was playing with flowers.”

“Oh, that’s what I thought too!”

“The design looks like a flower on my wrist.”

“That’s right! That’s exactly what it feels like!”

“It’s a great way to remind you of your childhood.”

Unlike the young women who were smiling and clapping happily, Diana took a sip of tea with a bored look on her face. However, her face hardened at the words that followed.

“The design is cute, but I love how this bracelet means ‘to make your wish come true.’”

“That’s right. It may be superstition, but I hope my wish comes true.”

“Wait, what?”

Stunned, Diana quickly held out her hand.

“Please show me that bracelet for a moment.”

“What? Oh, this one?”

The Count’s daughter was perplexed by the unusual request and self-consciously showed her bracelet.

A bracelet made of two thin green threads and finished with pink gemstones in the middle. It was definitely the bracelet that she’d laughed at for being childish and crude last time.

With an incredulous look on her face, Diana asked the Count’s daughter.

“This can’t be… Is this a wishing bracelet?”

“Yes. So Miss Leroy knew about it.”

“Come to think of it, it was made by a certain young Miss… Who was it?”

No, it can’t be.

Diana clenched her hands, denying what these children were saying.

But the truth was already too obvious to ignore.

“Miss Achilles?”

“Yes, that’s right! It’s Miss Achilles!”

“I heard she made it with the young lady she lives with.”

“Who?”

When one of the noble ladies asked with a curious expression. The young lady, who mentioned Miss Achilles, looked over at Diana with a sly expression.

“The rumour is that it’s Miss Leroy…”

“Miss Leroy? But Miss Leroy is here… Oh…”

When the tactless Count’s daughter tried to ask if Miss Leroy was here, she suddenly shut up. It was because she belatedly realized that Miss Leroy meant “Leticia,” and not “Diana.”

In a chilly atmosphere, Diana held up an empty cup of tea to hide her trembling lips and pretended to drink tea.

‘What’s so good about it?’

She didn’t want to see the young ladies chatting excitedly over the childish and crude bracelet again.

‘I don’t think I’ll ever come back.’

She regretted thinking it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get together and talk like this once in a while.

She clicked her tongue in frustration, then a completely forgotten memory began to come back to her.

[If you succeed with that childish and crude bracelet you mentioned, I’ll apologize to Miss Achilles.]

[I’ll prove it’s worthwhile to people.]

[If I succeed, you will kneel and apologize.]

“….”

Diana ground her teeth and her hand clenched the teacup so hard it cracked.

‘Why didn’t you remain a nobody.’

Unable to control her anger anymore, she slammed her teacup down.

The young ladies could feel the tense atmosphere, and avoided looking at Diana.