WHFIO08

Chapter 8

“Since we usually eat meals made from flour, let’s start with that.”

Elsez tapped her finger against the ledger where the flour purchases were recorded.

“If we assume one person eats generously, about 500 grams of flour a day, then a single 10-kilogram sack would last nearly twenty days.”

“…”

“So, for seven people over the past three weeks, the consumption would come to roughly seven sacks. Then, if we simplify and treat the past week as ten days, four people would have used up about two sacks.”

The steward stiffened, staring at her in shock.

Her calculation speed… that’s not normal.

The arithmetic wasn’t complicated, but for someone who had never formally studied mathematics, her rapid mental reckoning was unbelievable. Most people struggled even to decide how to approach the calculation to reach the answer they wanted. Yet Elsez had immediately worked it out with ease.

What was even stranger: Elsez had never worked in the kitchen, yet she knew exactly how much flour went into baking bread, how many grams were in a kilogram.

Elsez continued her mental arithmetic as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Seven sacks plus two sacks equals nine in total. But we bought forty sacks. Even after allowing for a generous estimate, the numbers are far too different, aren’t they?”

The steward faltered, unable to respond, while Elsez turned to Lenny, who was still staring wide-eyed at the unfolding scene.

“Lenny, go to the kitchen and check how many sacks of flour remain.”

“Ah… yes!”

Since the viscount’s household was not especially large, it didn’t take long for Lenny to return.

“There are exactly ten sacks left.”

Elsez fixed her gaze on the steward, who was breaking out in a cold sweat.

“We bought forty sacks. We consumed nine. So there should be roughly thirty left. Where, then, did the missing twenty go?”

“T-That is…”

“And even at a glance, the amount of spices recorded is ridiculous. Who would buy so much of something so costly when we’re already drowning in debt?”

The steward’s lips trembled, but no answer came.

Elsez spoke in his place.

“The reason is obvious. The more expensive the item, the easier it is to skim off money. To embezzle the same amount using cheaper goods, you’d have to falsify the records with absurdly inflated quantities.”

“…”

“So, should I sit here and calculate exactly how much you’ve pocketed?”

She closed the ledger with a firm snap, the sound heavy with finality.

The steward understood what she meant.

She knew everything. Continuing to deny it would only worsen his situation.

“Forgive me, my lady!”

He threw himself flat on the floor before her.

“I devoted my entire life to this household. Foolishly, I thought I deserved some reward, and so I let greed blind me.”

“…”

“You will soon become Duchess of Ritenhaus. I, meanwhile, would be cast aside, forced to return to my hometown with nothing. That thought… it drove me to this.”

What on earth did her becoming duchess have to do with him stealing from the family estate?

Elsez frowned at the absurd excuse, but listened in silence.

“I will return the money by tomorrow and leave for my hometown immediately. Please, I beg you, grant me mercy…”

“Well, fine. A few sacks of flour, a handful of spice boxes—it’s pocket change.”

Elsez’s words sounded forgiving.

But in truth, she was only pretending.

“That matter is settled. Now tell me—how did you handle the repayment of debts?”

Her question struck at the true heart of the issue.

The steward, however, answered calmly.

“Just as written in the ledger, my lady. Every coin was repaid. Yet those creditors make such a fuss…”

“And where are the receipts?”

At the word receipts, the steward froze.

For large loans, one always drafted a formal note of debt. And upon repayment, the lender was obligated to issue a stamped receipt bearing the family’s seal. Without it, disputes like this were inevitable.

Someone inexperienced with finance might not know this.

But Elsez—who had lived through a first lifetime earning money to raise four heroes—knew it all too well.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t collect them?”

“T-That…”

“If you acted as my representative, then it was your duty to ensure everything was handled properly. Should I take this matter to court, the blame would fall squarely upon you. And in such a case, whose word do you think they would trust? The steward, or the daughter of a noble house?”

The answer was obvious. And with the steward’s negligence so clear, he had no defense.

Elsez tossed the ledger onto the table and rose to her feet, her voice like ice.

“Return what you’ve stolen. Unless you wish to rot in prison for the rest of your life.”

***

That evening, after dinner, Elsez sat upstairs with her notebook, carefully organizing the household’s finances.

Reti, crunching happily on grape-flavored candies earned as a reward for behaving quietly at the temple, peered curiously at the figures.

“What are those squiggly worms?”

“Numbers. Units for counting money.”

“And why count them?”

“To calculate how many candies you could buy.”

Over the past two days, Elsez had discovered that Reti understood things best when explained in terms of sweets or cookies.

“Oooh!”

Sure enough, Reti’s eyes lit up as he began poking at the numbers with his little hands, counting them one by one.

Elsez, watching him, sighed.

The situation was dire.

Once the debts are repaid, almost nothing will remain. Enough for only a month of living expenses for myself, Lenny, and Madam Mars. Hardly enough to take on guild requests…

Her head throbbed.

At this rate, I’ll starve before I can rid myself of the Demon King’s power.

In all those novels, the reincarnated noble ladies never had to worry about money. Why was it only her, bound by the cruel weight of reality?

“Why can’t I be free of money troubles, even in another life…?”

She was still lamenting when a knock sounded, followed by Lenny’s voice.

“My lady, I brought you some milk.”

“Come in.”

Lenny entered and set down a steaming mug.

“It’s milk with honey. They say it helps you sleep better, and you’ve been struggling with insomnia.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Elsez took the mug—but then noticed where Lenny’s eyes had wandered.

Huh?

Following her gaze, Elsez nearly spat out her drink.

For there, perched atop the notebook, sat Reti, nibbling on a candy while counting numbers.

Reti froze. Lenny, too, blinked in disbelief. And Elsez’s heart stopped.

It was Lenny who broke the silence.

“My lady… did that doll just move?”

Her eyes widened in confusion.

Elsez lunged forward, clutching Reti before he could introduce himself.

“Ha-ha-ha, of course not! Dolls can’t move. You must have imagined it. Ha-ha…”

Desperate, she whispered into Reti’s ear, “Five candies. Five candies.”

The bribe worked. Reti, who had been squirming to break free, fell silent.

After rubbing her eyes and convincing herself she had been mistaken, Lenny turned her attention to the notebook instead.

Seeing the columns of expenses, she realized Elsez was troubled about money.

“My lady, why not seek help from Duke Ritenhaus?”

“The duke?”

“Yes. Though the viscount already borrowed a large sum… you’re his fiancée. Surely he would help?”

That name again. Ritenhaus. Always resurfacing.

Before anything else, Elsez needed to confirm whether the current Duke was the same elderly man she remembered from three years ago, or someone else entirely. It mattered greatly—not just for her engagement, but also for her reputation.

“What was… his name again? Suddenly it escapes me.”

Lenny gave her a puzzled look, but answered.

“Lord Tezet Ritenhaus.”

“What!?”

The name jolted her to her feet.

Now she remembered. Tezet—the illegitimate son of a noble house. In the game’s lore, that house was none other than the Dukedom of Ritenhaus.

I should’ve paid more attention to the character backstories instead of skipping them…

She had always focused on walkthroughs and damage stats, never bothering with lore that didn’t affect gameplay.

But one thing was clear: Tezet himself would never have proposed this match. Given his personality, the one to arrange it must have been her father, Viscount Rohine, in exchange for financial support.

In any case, this engagement must be broken.

If Tezet ever discovered the Demon King’s power inside her, he would kill her without hesitation. Until that danger passed, she had to avoid him at all costs.

But since this engagement is bound by debt, the only way to break it is to pay it off…

Her head pounded. Again, the answer was money.

“No. I can’t go to him.”

“I thought so… Then perhaps Madam Mars and I could find some work—”

“No, don’t.”

Elsez, who had already lived ten years in this world, knew exactly how to overcome this kind of crisis.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let either of you go hungry.”

Determination burned in her eyes.

This was her second lifetime.

And if there was one thing she was best at—

—it was making money.