“Then, I’d like to ask for about 10 million gold. Ah, it’s fine if you lend it to me without interest.”

Serena said, recalling the currency unit of this world.

In this world, 100,000 gold is roughly equivalent to 1 million won in Korean standards.

Perhaps because it was set in a romance fantasy written by a Korean person, the price levels were similar to those in Korea.

The average monthly salary for ordinary citizens was between 100,000 to 140,000 gold.

Anyway, 10 million gold means about 100 million won.

“10 million? Will that be enough with just that much?”

Isn’t that a bit much to say ‘just’?

Serena recalled the private bankbook she had found deep inside the carpet in her room earlier.

‘Since there’s 10 million gold in the emergency fund account…’

Of course, it would cost a bit more to get a house, set up a laboratory, cultivate a garden, and prepare materials and such, but since it’s originally a joint venture, they should cover the rest.

After thinking that far, she tilted her head lightly.

‘If it’s more than 10 million, I’d be worried about paying it back.’

Originally, when borrowing, you feel abundant, but when paying back, it feels like your own money is being taken away.

It feels like shedding tears of blood.

This is clearly why they say a person is different when entering and leaving the bathroom.

“I have some money saved up too.”

“Still, it seems it would be too little.”

Marquis Lavernia recalled the usual market price of rainbow gold.

Even unprocessed, it would be about 30 million, and if processed, it would require at least five times the amount she proposed.

“I think it would be fine…”

“It’s not enough.”

Serena pondered for a moment why the Marquis of Lavernia was insisting.

And soon she realized.

‘Ah, is he doing this in case I change my mind and come back?’

She nodded in understanding. At the same time, Marquis Lavernia thought.

‘Why does she keep refusing? Has she become uncomfortable thinking she’s a nuisance? I wonder who on earth said such crazy things to this child.’

Marquis Lavernia, with his arms crossed and expression hardened, looked at Serena who seemed particularly low on energy today.

She must have heard something from somewhere.

Whoever it is, wherever they’re from, I’m curious what kind of words they used to cut down a child who wouldn’t budge at ordinary words to make her so cautious.

The Marquis of Lavernia didn’t have much affection for Serena.

What little affection he had left disappeared when she caused trouble and finally made his wife bedridden.

But people are like that.

Even if I hit my own child, it feels bad when others hit them, and the Marquis of Lavernia felt upset thinking that she had heard such words from someone he didn’t even know.

“Just take it even if you don’t want to. It’s good as long as you don’t lack anything, right?”

“That’s true. Alright.”

Well, if you insist that much.

Serena quickly decided to accept the money.

I don’t know how much he’ll give, but if he said he’d give more, he probably will.

“You said you have some money, so 30 million should be enough. And there’s no need to pay it back unnecessarily.”

“Is that really okay?”

“Why are you asking such an obvious thing?”

Marquis Lavernia said with a frown.

Displeasure towards an unknown person was evident on his face.

Marquis Lavernia was a bit angry.

It’s good that his daughter is calm, but it’s annoying to see her being intimidated and cautious because of someone.

To think that Serena, who wouldn’t even blink no matter how angry he got, would be this cautious!

‘What kind of harsh words did she hear…’

Tsk, he clicked his tongue and tilted his wine glass.

‘Oh. The Marquis of Lavernia hated Serena more than I thought.’

And Serena thought, seeing him frown and click his tongue.

She was a bit surprised.

It was surprising that he endured until the Marchioness passed away in the original story, given that he’s showing this much emotion on the negotiation table.

His patience suddenly feels quite remarkable.

‘I didn’t know it was this bad.’

She didn’t expect him to say that he never wanted to see her face again, so of course, don’t even think about coming back to repay the money.

And with such an annoyed expression at that.

In fact, for Serena, after having her body taken and rolling around in that other world, this was a reunion after 11 years, so there was some happiness in truth.

After her past life memories returned, it was hard to think of them as real family, but still, isn’t there some affection from being together?

That’s why Serena realized that she was a little hurt herself.

‘Oh…’

She blinked her eyes, a bit amazed at this sudden realization.

I thought I had lost the emotion of being hurt long ago!

‘I still have some humanity left…!’

Serena was moved.

Hurt! Hurt!

That I’m hurt!

With the gaslighting that the professors casually threw at her, Serena thought her mental fortitude had evolved to something like orichalcum or vibranium.

She thought she would never be hurt no matter what happened, so this stinging feeling was a bit fresh.

“Well then, I’ll gratefully accept it.”

Is there any reason to refuse money that doesn’t need to be paid back?

There isn’t.

‘Alright, this should be enough.’

She nodded.

“Are you planning to stay overnight?”

“What? No, I was going to leave.”

She was thinking about it, but now that she knows how much they hate her…

She shook her head.

She couldn’t inconvenience a business partner who gave her 300 million¹previously, the author said 3천만 (30M) but here the author said 3억 (300M). I don’t know if it’s a typo or which one is true. for free.

We’ll serve you well, customer!

She thought she should go to the imperial palace as soon as possible to write up the removal documents and send them as a gift.

‘To be expelled from the family, the name needs to be removed from the imperial registry as well.’

While expelling blood relatives from the family is the head of the family’s authority, it actually required the imperial family’s consent.

This is because, after all, the head of the family can’t arbitrarily remove someone from the family register that the imperial family manages for status and identity cards.

‘If I bring all the approved documents, they’ll take care of it.’

Serena, having finished her thoughts, stood up from her seat. She felt a bit refreshed after completing what she had in mind.

‘…Ah, a life of freeloading is right around the corner.’

Before that, there’s the world-saving to do.

Suddenly, it felt bothersome.

‘No, I can’t.’

Serena thought of Lemerun and Kim Chul-soo.

Her lost motivation returned instantly. It’s a magic word.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Did you come for this?”

“I came because there was something to take, but this was the main purpose.”

Serena answered honestly.

The Marquis of Lavernia felt disappointed about the reason for his daughter’s visit after a long time, but decided not to show his dissatisfaction as she seemed to have regained her energy.

“Alright, take care on your way.”

“Yes, I’ll send it over once everything is processed.”

It was when Serena was about to turn and leave the dining room.

“What do you mean?”

“I received the money, didn’t I?”

“Ah…”

Does she mean she’ll let me know after purchasing at the auction?

While there’s no real need for that, Marquis Lavernia, thinking it wouldn’t be bad to see her face once more, nodded lightly.

Serena left.

No one could have guessed.

That not long after, documents for her removal from the family register, ready to be signed and submitted, would arrive.

It was truly a mind-blowing deal conducted in a state of mutual misunderstanding.

* * *

Serena, who returned from the Lavernia mansion, stayed holed up for about another week.

Not because she was depressed, but just because she was tired.

‘That was somehow exhausting…’

Serena thought, buried in her blanket.

There are such people sometimes.

People who feel drained just by meeting others or going to crowded places, even if they didn’t do anything.

Serena was like that.

She was a voluntary outsider.

And Serena knew that.

But only Serena knew it.

Magnus, who was very displeased with Serena just eating and sleeping, finally barged into her room again on the seventh day.

“What on earth is the problem! Serena Lavernia!”

Riiip–!

The curtains, which were tightly bundled to prevent even a speck of light from entering, were torn apart by an enormous force.

“…Ah.”

Serena, in pain from the pouring sunlight, twisted her whole body like a cockroach hit with insecticide.

Hit head-on by the sunlight, she muttered in anger.

“The sun will set soon! How long do you plan to lie down?”

“What’s your problem!”

“My problem? Are you seriously asking me that?”

Magnus’s bright yellow eyes flashed under his gloomy, shaded gaze.

He didn’t want to believe that there was a pigsty in the house, nor that a pig was growing mushrooms in that pigsty.

Naturally, he had no intention of standing by while such things happened in his mansion.

“I’m taking a 30-minute walk every day as promised!”

“No one calls going out to the terrace a walk.”

“I’ve also halved my meal portions!”

“You just divided the one meal you were eating into two, that’s all.”

“And I’m bathing once a day!”

“Do you want to give up being human?”

Serena’s mouth clamped shut at the rebuttal that came as soon as her protests ended.