Volume 1 - CH 26

A few business days had passed since the day she enjoyed walking around town with Falk, and the ice cream shop had another day off.

She wore the hair ornament that she bought that day even on her days off. It’s easy to use and pretty, so it’s become a favorite.

She immediately added the purchased nuts to the ice cream topping menu.

Falk arrived early and enjoyed the texture and flavor of the nuts sprinkled on top of the milk ice cream.

Today she planned to make ice cream in the morning and spend the afternoon slowly for the first time in a while.

The necessary magic tools such as a mixer have also arrived, so the preparation time has been greatly shortened. As much as she can afford it, she’s going to put her heart into the problem of attracting customers.

It seems that word of mouth is starting to circulate here and there, so she wants to extend it somehow.

She decided to hand out a point card to customers who visited the shop for the first time and distribute discount coupons that can be used by two or more customers.

The stamp cards and discount coupons are handmade. While scattered colored ink and paper on the table, they are diligently mass-producing.

When she was spending the afternoon like that, the bell at the front door of the shop on the first floor rang.

Alme was startled by the visitor’s face, checking from the window without thinking. Surprisingly, Julio, Campbellina, and Julio’s mother, Mrs. Beatos, were all there…

(Huh… what the hell is going on…!?)

She was so scared that she hesitated a lot whether to open the front door. She knew that something bad was going to happen when they came all the way to the house.

Should she stay away… she thought about it, but it would be a problem if they would come another day. It’s the most annoying thing to come during the business of the shop. It would be unbearable if a customer saw a strange scene and spread a strange rumor.

Thinking about it, it might be fortunate that they came just on holiday… For the time being, Alme decided to think so.

After taking a deep breath, she made up her mind and turned the key to the front door and opened it.

“H-Hello… Um, what can I do for you…”

“What is this? Isn’t it too late to open it? I don’t think it’s good manners to make people wait.”

When she opened the door, Julio rushed in while complaining. After that came Campbellina and Mrs. Beatos.

Campbellina was wearing a flamboyant, frilly dress today, and Mrs. Beatos was wearing a chic combination of a tight long skirt and jacket.

Their clothes are contrasting, but they seem to get along strangely. These two seem to be doing well even within the Beatos family. As for Alme, she was greatly disliked by Mrs. Beatos.

(Mrs. Beatos, you didn’t pay attention to Mr. Campbellina’s frilly dress and make-up…Maybe your attention to me was just revenge after all…)

Mrs. Beatos is on bad terms with her brother-in-law Julio’s uncle. Julio’s fiancé decided by her uncle was Alme, so she probably didn’t like everything anymore.

At the time, Alme was terrified, but now she just looks at it with a sense of helplessness.

By the way, her family seems to have been nobles with titles several generations ago, and she seems to have considerable pride in that. She should have been a commoner long ago, but her words and deeds are always viewed from above.

Julio also has a bit of that, so he may have inherited his mother’s temperament.

She recommended a chair in the shop to Julio and his party, who entered with a big swing, and let them sit down for the time being.

“… everyone is here… So, what do you need?”

“Alme, I have come to discuss the matter about the money that accompanies the breakup of my engagement with you.”

“That’s already been done, isn’t it? What are you talking about now…?

Julio strengthened his voice and returned the words.

“The discussion we had at that time was invalid. What we are going to talk about now is the official agreement. Alme, I said that I would cancel your debt to the Beatos family, but I decided to ask you to pay me back in full.”

“Huh!?”

Alme involuntarily turned her eyes to the remarks he hadn’t thought of. She yelled and leaned forward as Julio moved slightly.

“Hey, what’s with that attitude? Don’t shout like you’re disrespectful. After thinking about it, I came to the conclusion that this was a natural thing.”

“What is the natural thing! Since the engagement was canceled because you had an affair, it is natural that alimony will be generated, right?”

“Even if I changed my mind, you were the cause in the first place. I’ve been more miserable than you…! When we met for the first time, you rejected me with all your might! That’s the cause in the first place! I won’t let people say they forgot by humiliating them.”

“That’s… I already apologized many times for that matter, haven’t I?”

“Hmph, I don’t think you were feeling too much?”

She thought that this time is certainly bad. However, even if it is brought out now, it will be troublesome.

Just when she was about to convey that, Mrs. Beatos interrupted with a harsh voice.

“Well, the commoner woman immediately makes a fuss about herself as a victim and tries to plunder her money. Cancellation is invalid. 700,000 G to our Beatos family will be returned exactly, including interest.”

“And interest too…!?”

“Isn’t it obvious? What are you surprised about?”

“But…! You promised to cancel the debt when you broke off the engagement.”

“It was a verbal promise, wasn’t it? Did you exchange a letter? If so, please give it to me, here. Did Julio sign it?”

“…no…but…”

She didn’t have the time to create and exchange documents at that engagement annulment. Things related to money should have been dealt with in a way that left a mark, even if it was forced to take time…

While Alme was silent, Mrs. Beatos launched a follow-up attack.

“Also, please return the money that Miss Campbellina gave you.”

“Wha…, that’s what you unilaterally forced on me!?”

Even though Alme said she didn’t need any money, it was money that Campbellina had donated without permission. Are you asking her to return it too?

When she said that, Campbellina replied with tears in her eyes.

“No! I was threatened…! She threatened to mess with Julio if I didn’t pay her, and I was worried and scared that she might steal him away… I gave her the money… And in the end, she didn’t keep her promise either… I heard that she had a chat with Julio at the market the other day.”

“Please don’t use strange words!”

The story is told in an outrageous way. She hurriedly replied, but Campbellina was already crying and hugging Julio, who was sitting next to her.

Mrs. Beatos, who heard the exchange, let out a squeaky voice.

“Well! How terrible…! This is a threat! I could even call the police!”

“Please wait!”

Campbellina is a noble daughter. When she gets into big trouble, she’s not someone Alme can compete with because she doesn’t have any relatives.

Mrs. Beatos said as if to contend with the flustered Alme.

“–Then, if you don’t want to make things any bigger, pay the money properly. 700,000 G including interest, and the 100,000 G you received from Miss Campbellina.”

“Ah… the deadline is…”

Alme’s head was spinning at the size of the amount. She somehow endures it and asks back.

Julio answered the question.

“I’ll have it back in January.”

“Mmm, I can’t do it… not very much, but I’m ready…”

“In that case, I will take this house as a form of debt. I will sell it and turn it into money, so please keep that in mind.”

“No way…!”

Her home will be gone. She never thought of that.

She felt a rush of blood. She grasped her trembling fingertips and try to negotiate somehow.

“…I’m in trouble if I lose my house!

“-Well, I’m not a devil either, so I have something to think about. Well, how about five months then?”

If she paid back over 800,000 G in 5 months, the monthly amount is only 170,000 G.

It depends on the sales of the shop, but it’s a last-minute line that seems to be manageable if she cut her savings and living expenses.

How cruel…she thought, but she didn’t say it out loud. If she hurt Julio now, the negotiations will break down.

Alme quietly lowered her head to hide her bitter expression.

“Five months, please…”

“Okay, now it’s time to sign the document.”

Julio took out two sheets of paper and a pen from his bag and laid them out on the table. One is for the Beatos family, and the other is a copy for Alme.

When she held the pen, she took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She wondered if she was really okay and how she could best move.

When she was thinking about it, she suddenly remembered the fortune teller Ena took her to.

Didn’t the fortune teller say, “Watch out for financial troubles”…

She never thought that she would hit rock bottom like this. At that time, the fortune-teller said the same thing. “Get paid for your work,” 

If she believes in fortune-telling, she thought it would be better to pay off her debts with the money she has worked for.

It’s not like she’s blindly believing, but since she’s hit the financial troubles, she’s become somewhat persuaded, so she thought she’d just take the advice and believe it.

(…it’s okay, if you work hard, you’ll be able to manage the amount….–If you really need it, talk to Ena and Aiden… No, they’re the only ones who really help you when you’re really in trouble. But… But I have friends who take care of me, so it’s okay…! Besides, I have ice magic! I’ll show you how to earn money!)

She picked herself up and finally signed the paper.

Receiving the signed contract, Julio stood up satisfied. Mrs. Beatos and Campbellina followed suit.

“I certainly received it.”

“Yes…Is there a specific date for monthly repayment?”

“I don’t mind if it’s until the end of the month. Please deposit it in the bank. Do you know the number of the Beatos family?”

“Yes. Then, like that.”

She sent Julio and the others to the front door while briefly completing only the necessary conversations.

Campbellina and Mrs. Beatos left first, and only Julio stopped in the shop. He turned around in front of the door and whispered as if vomiting.

“Alme, let me give you one piece of advice. That man you were walking with the other day, you had better realize early that he is just playing with you. His appearance and status are surely not suitable for you.”

While saying that, Julio turned his attention to the hair ornament. She had a white flower hair ornament that Falk bought for her.

“… No matter how feminine you look, you’re so plain that men won’t love you. Do you think you look good with that kind of hair ornament?”

“Um, Mr. Beatos.”

Mr. Beatos, she emphasized the way she called him in a strange way, and returned his words.

“Whether this hair ornament suits me or not, it has nothing to do with Mr. Beatos.”

After retorting, Julio twitched his mouth slightly and left the shop in silence.

She was angry that her favorite was made fun of, so she just retorted a little. She wasn’t sure, but it seems that this time it worked.

The door closed and silence returned to the shop.

After confirming that Julio and his party were leaving through the window, Alme was greatly weakened.

“Financial troubles…really came…”

Once again, she grabbed her head.

But at that moment when she was hesitant about the sign, her head spinning at high speed came up with a plan.

Of course, it’s a money policy.

“There will be a festival in a month! If I can make 150,000 G in one day, I can earn 450,000 G in a three-day festival! It could work.”

A month later, there will be a four-season festival in Luorio. The festival is held for 3 days and the city is crowded with many people.

Such a business opportunity cannot be missed.

“If I decide to do so, I’ll have to prepare now!”

Alme was planning to take it easy today, but her plans have changed. There are many things to do, such as applying for a stall at the festival and devising a menu.

She slapped her cheeks that had lost their blood earlier, and got fired up. Her fingertips had completely stopped trembling.