3.
"Cough, cough, hack, hack!"
"Why is this woman trying to die before her execution?"
‘How pathetic, Marigold.’
The sight of Marigold on the gallows was utterly pitiful.
Tears and snot already streaked her face, whether from the rope tightening around her neck or sheer terror.
Lancel grabbed one of the onlookers gathered before the gallows.
"Why is she being executed?"
"Just plain bad luck, I guess."
The villager lowered his voice and continued, "They say the trade ship those people invested in changed its flag as soon as it left port and went on a wild rampage. Happens all the time."
"Oh."
"And get this—the young master who survived being plundered by that ship is related to the margrave of this region. He's the son of a relative of the son-in-law of the butler's family, or something like that."
"Near the nobility, it seems."
The family tree was a bit complicated, but it meant that the young master the villager mentioned was a child from a noble house, even if their status was somewhat lower.
‘So that's how it is.’
This wasn't just bad luck. It was one of the worst cases in the history of shipping investments.
Finding such an outcome on the first try might even be considered a talent.
"Execute them!"
"Yes!"
"Eek!"
The guard's sword severed the rope supporting the platform in a single stroke.
Thud!
A dozen or so people crashed to the ground simultaneously, dangling from the gallows.
Their final struggle was nothing more than futile thrashing.
Among them was Marigold.
"Ugh...!"
‘Oh no.
She's going to die.’
"Wait! Wait!"
Lancel rushed forward.
* * *
"So, Lancel Dante... are you saying that you are the guardian of this girl, or something like that?"
"That's right. The money I lent her for the shipping investment was mine, wasn't it?"
Marigold nodded frantically, tears and snot streaming down her face. The air around them whistled.
With corpses dangling on either side, Marigold clung to life by balancing on a wooden crate hastily erected beneath her feet. If she hadn't been so light, her neck would have snapped by now, joining the dead in their grim dance.
"Ha, what to do about this," the guard administrator muttered, scratching his head.
"No need to complicate things. Miss Marigold was deceived. Look at these dead men—they're all old foxes. She was investigating shipping investments to grow my money, and they tricked her with their silver tongues."
"...I heard that this Miss Marigold personally raised all the investment money...?"
What?
Lancel turned to Marigold. He watched the color drain from her face as she shook her head vehemently.
"...That's a misunderstanding. How could a child who isn't even of age raise money from so many people?"
"Yes, well... I did find that part a bit dubious myself."
"I'll write a letter directly under the Dante family name. Will that suffice?"
"There's no other choice."
The guard administrator's face brightened as if he had been waiting for those words. In this region, it would be hard to find a noble family with higher standing than the Dante family.
"Girl—no, Miss Marigold—bring her down here!"
"Yes!"
Marigold was soon released by the guards.
Lancel wiped a bead of cold sweat as he watched her collapse limply onto the ground, noticing a damp patch on her trousers.
Just a while ago, she was hailed as a saintess. Now she's a common criminal facing the gallows.
How cruel fate can be.
‘Marigold…’
"Alright, everyone disperse! Leave those hanging on the gallows to rot until their bones turn to dust!"
"Yes, Sir!"
As the sun set and the crowd dispersed, Marigold remained alone beneath the gallows, her head bowed low. She didn't move for several minutes.
"Hey, are you alright?"
Lancel approached and nudged her. Suddenly, Marigold threw her arms wide and lunged at his legs, burying her face in his trousers.
"My benefactor! Waaah!"
Marigold, who had narrowly escaped death, wept uncontrollably.
4.
"Phew!"
Marigold gulped down the ice-cold fruit drink in one gulp.
Her appearance was a mess. Her eyes were swollen shut, her nose was bright red, and a clear rope mark was etched into her neck.
"...I didn't want to see you again like this, benefactor," she mumbled, burying her face in the dining room table.
"That's what happens when you make dangerous investments."
"But... but..."
"No buts."
Lancel cupped her chin and lifted her head. "Explain exactly where you've been and what you've been doing for the past two years."
"..."
After a moment's hesitation, Marigold began to recount her adventures.
She told him about reselling animal fat from passing wagon merchants to earn gold coins.
Then she told the story of how she made bread and sold it to docked sailors to earn money.
Then the story of how she reported a swindler and claimed the reward.
Then the story of how she invested all her savings when she heard a famous captain had arrived in the port city, only to discover that he was a pirate.
It seemed she had lived a truly hectic life.
"They boasted that they'd return my investment by one hundred fifty times the amount, but then they suddenly became pirates. I thought my life was over," Marigold murmured, her eyes vacant.
"I heard you were the one who gathered those investments."
"T-that can't be true. I don't have that kind of money..."
"Hmm."
"It's true! I wouldn't lie to you, benefactor."
"Hmph."
Marigold's gaze drifted away from Lancel. What was the truth? He decided not to press further.
‘Making money isn't easy.’
Lancel had once tried to make money himself.
He'd made soap, writing utensils, and paper, among other things. All of them had ultimately failed.
"Benefactor... about the gold coins you lent me..."
Marigold fidgeted with her fingers, stealing glances at Lancel.
"You can repay me triple the amount within five years."
"R-really?"
Once again, she knelt on the floor, just like she had two years ago on that fateful day.
"I swear! I swear I'll succeed this time, benefactor! I'll repay you tenfold! Or... you could just travel with me instead...!"
"Ah, that's a bit much."
Lancel rejected her outright.
This time, he was on vacation. He'd briefly gotten caught up in things, but that fact remained unchanged.
Yet Marigold refused to give up. She leaned closer to Lancel, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"So, what if I succeed? Will you stay by my side then?"
"Well, that would depend on how successful you become, wouldn't it?"
"What if I become the wealthiest person in this region?"
"There are plenty of wealthy people in the Empire."
"Then what if I become the wealthiest person in the Empire?"
"It's good to have big dreams, but..."
"What if I become the wealthiest person in the entire Empire? The wealthiest in this entire continent? A tycoon who piles up mountains of gold coins? Would you stay by my side then?"
"Why are you so driven?"
Lancel gently pushed Marigold away, who had gotten so close that their breaths mingled.
"Just watch me, benefactor."
Marigold knelt on one knee, gazing up at Lancel. Her emerald eyes burned with unwavering determination.
"I will become rich. Really, truly rich—rich enough for my benefactor to want to stay by my side."
==========
—Marigold's heart swells with determination! Her chest fills with pride as she makes her vow to the young nobleman, Lancel Dante.
※Marigold will forever remember today's resolutions. Charm, Morality, Dignity, and Emotions has gone UP!!!
==========
"When that day comes... you'll stay with me, won't you, benefactor?"
Marigold's voice trembled with earnestness.
Lancel chuckled softly. "Let's think positively about it."
"...! You've given me permission!”
Afraid that Lancel might change his mind, Marigold bolted out of the dining hall.
"Just you wait, my benefactor!"
5.
———
[Fallen Noblewoman Simulation]
Schedule for the first week of August:
Monday - Shopping (Location: Port City port).
Tuesday - Business (Location: Port City market).
Wednesday - Business (Location: Port City market).
Thursday - Bake and preserve hardtack.
Friday - Make sweet and sour fruit jam.
Saturday - Business (Location: Port City port).
Sunday - Business (Location: Port City market).
※Let’s work diligently and steadily!
———
While Lancel stayed in the Port City, Marigold lived with remarkable diligence.
She went to sleep at two in the morning and woke up at six in the morning every day.
Whenever news that a carriage arrivedfrom another region, she would race to meet it, basket slung over her shoulder, faster than anyone else.
"I'll buy everything! Give it all to me!"
When a ship docked at the port, she would hurry there with a basket overflowing with food she had somehow managed to prepare.
"Three silver coins per jar! It’s cheap, it’s cheap! Bread and jam that won't spoil for ten years!"
It wasn't difficult to hear her voice while passing through the market.
Inwardly, Lancel felt relieved.
‘She'll manage just fine on her own.’
At the least, Lancel knew that Marigold wouldn't starve to death somewhere.
Though she might never become the wealthiest person in the Empire.
.
.
.
"Benefactor! Benefactor!"
Soon after, Marigold approached Lancel with a radiant smile.
"Look at this! The guild!"
She held up a metal badge, proof of her membership in the local Merchant Guild.
"You joined the guild?"
"Now I can join a merchant guild and travel for trade. I'll earn so much more money than before! What do you think?"
"That's... good."
"Yes!"
She beamed as if she had won the world, but Lancel felt a strange unease.
‘Traveling trade, huh.’
It wouldn't be easy.
"I'll be settled in the capital within a few years, benefactor. Please come visit me then. I'll earn a fortune and welcome you properly. That's a promise."
The following week, Marigold joined a massive merchant guild caravan for an arduous journey that would last eight long months.
"Benefactor! I'm leaving now! See you again!"
A deeply pulled hood, the hem of her robe fluttering in the sandstorm.
The only image Lancel retained of her was her bright face and the casual wave of farewell as she ambled away.
After that, Lancel temporarily pushed Marigold to the back of his mind.
* * *
Two years had passed.
Lancel found Marigold’s name in the most unexpected place.
It was in a barony in the western region that he was visiting during the harvest festival. Amidst the drunken laughter and revelry, Lancel’s attention was suddenly drawn to a wanted poster tacked on to a dilapidated notice board.
The culprit…
==========
—Wanted: Bandit Leader Mary
—Reward: 25 gold coins
==========
"......There’s no way."
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