Chapter 6
I quickly turned toward the sound.
I had been so focused on the dragon that I hadn’t noticed anyone there.
A tall man stood—nearly 190 cm, with dark skin. His long white hair was braided, and his shirt was buttoned all the way up to the neck.
He said nothing, but the cold aura around him and his snake-like vertical pupils told me immediately: this man was the dragon.
Expressionless, he looked at me and asked: “How did you come here?”
His emotionless eyes swept over me. It felt like watching a finely crafted doll move—unnerving.
“I should be the one asking. Where is this? I was in the castle…”
“The castle? You mean Valfruga Castle?”
His blue eyes glimmered strangely.
“Yes. Did you bring me here?”
“Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t.”
His voice sounded exactly like the one I had heard.
I swallowed my words. It was better not to provoke him.
He walked toward me.
I wanted to step back, but the huge dragon body behind me blocked the way.
He leaned down to meet my eyes.
Even his breath was icy cold.
His gaze probed me like a snake’s tongue.
“What is your name?”
“Pelia Foldbish. No—since I’m married, Pelia Valfruga.”
“That name hasn’t been used long enough. You must have a name you’ve been called longer.”
His face gave away nothing.
Wait—does he know I transmigrated? Who is he really?
I stepped back in surprise, stumbled, and nearly fell. He caught my arm.
“It doesn’t matter. If that’s the name you want to use, so be it.”
Then he turned me slightly, moving me away from the dragon’s body.
His cold touch lingered on my arm, making me shiver.
But instead of hurting me, he stepped back and pointed to the dragon.
“Give me a name.”
“What? Your name?”
“Quickly. We don’t have much time.”
This wasn’t in the original story. I was so confused I couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality.
So I just blurted something out.
When I was young, the first dog I raised at the orphanage was black. After that, every animal friend at the orphanage got the same name.
“Then… Blackie?”
“What? Wait—!”
For the first time, his face showed an expression.
But at that moment, just like when I was pulled here, my mind went blurry.
***
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my bed.
“Sister!”
Rus threw himself into my arms, his eyes watery with tears. Seeing him calmed me.
What a strange dream.
“You suddenly collapsed. I was so worried. The doctor said you were just sleeping, but… have you been pushing yourself too much?”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry.”
I reassured him, but he still refused to leave my side.
“Anyway, Rus—what time is it? How long did I sleep?”
He hesitated, glancing at me.
“Rus?”
“…It’s already been a whole day since you collapsed.”
“What? …Oh.”
“The time limit is almost up, Sister.”
Oh no. I had planned to check if Frugg had secretly moved the jewels before the deadline.
Rus leaned in close and whispered: “Prugg hasn’t touched anything.”
How did he know?
Because of that dream, I found myself staring suspiciously at him.
“You were worried about that, weren’t you?” he said with his usual innocent smile.
Of course. He was smart enough to be the male lead and knew all my plans.
“Alright then. Time to carry out the plan.”
I squeezed his hand with a grin.
“You trust me, right?”
Rus nodded.
***
We headed to the office.
Because Prugg had spread the word everywhere, the whole castle had gathered.
“Madam, are you alright?”
“Our Madam is too delicate…”
“Should we burn more firewood?”
“But there’s no money for firewood.”
While people murmured, Frugg looked smug and triumphant.
“Well, Madam. Your time is up. Did you bring the one million marks?”
He clearly believed I had nothing. After all, word had spread that I’d done nothing all week.
I shook my head.
“Not yet. But I can earn one million marks right away.”
Prugg laughed loudly.
“How could a child like her run the household? Did you hear that? She says she can earn a million marks instantly!”
He looked around, encouraging the crowd to laugh at me.
But I stayed calm.
“If you’re curious, I’ll show you how. Follow me.”
People whispered, but followed.
“Where’s she going?”
“To earn a million here in the castle?”
“There’s less than 30 minutes left!”
I led them straight to Prugg’s room.
Prugg’s smug look faded to panic as he realized where I was heading.
When I reached his door, he rushed forward, pale.
“Wait! Madam, you can’t just enter my room!”
Then Rus spoke.
“Prugg. Step aside.”
“Young Duke!”
“Are you disobeying me? Move.”
“N-no! This was Madam’s bet! What does my room have to do with anything?!”
People started to murmur.
“What’s in his room?”
“But why would Madam head there?”
“Still, isn’t his reaction strange? Why is he so desperate to stop her?”
Realizing his mistake, Prugg forced a stiff smile and stepped aside.
“It’s only to protect my privacy. Please don’t touch anything inside.”
“Don’t worry,” I said.
Inside, the room was filthy as usual.
When my skirt brushed against piles of paper, he panicked.
“Careful! This is my room—”
“Shut up.”
I shoved him aside and pulled up the carpet.
He looked like he might faint.
“Wait! Don’t—!”
I ignored him, lifted the floorboard, and opened the small box hidden beneath.
A brilliant light spilled out—jewels.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
“That’s mine! My personal inheritance! How dare you—”
I pulled out a ring from the box.
“This too? Your inheritance?”
Everyone recognized it instantly: the family’s crest was carved into it.
The late Duke’s signet ring.
“Th-that’s the previous Duke’s ring!”
“They said it was lost when he died… why does Prugg have it?”
“What’s going on here?”
“Y-you…!”
Frugg tried to break free, but Rus ordered people to hold him.
“No! That’s mine! How dare an orphan touch my things!”
I ignored him and raised the box for all to see.
“These jewels aren’t yours. They belong to Rus.”
Finally, people understood.
“Wait… so Prugg stole the Duke’s relics?!”
“There’s no other explanation!”
“And what about all these jewels?!”
Rus answered firmly: “He embezzled the family’s wealth. And the one who uncovered it is my wife, Pelia.”
“Madam found it out?!”
“Then all this time, while we were starving, he was hoarding wealth?!”
“With those jewels, we won’t go hungry anymore!”
“Yes! She’s truly lucky for us!”
Someone shouted: “Madam is a blessing! Our lucky Madam!”
“Blessed Madam! Hurrah!”
Excited people lifted me into the air, cheering.
“W-wait…!”
“Three cheers for Madam!”
“Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!”
I tried to stop them, but it was no use.
How could words contain the joy of people who finally saw the end of poverty and hunger?
And honestly, seeing them laugh and embrace each other warmed my heart.
***
A few days later, a formal investigation revealed all of Prugg’s crimes. He first denied them, then confessed.
He was stripped of everything and exiled with nothing.He would never return to this land again.
I watched from the window as he left the castle, a pitiful figure.
And two days after officially taking over household management,
I learned the truth: The castle was in debt. Ten billion marks.
