Chapter 9 - Baby Cash Wheel Spins - Chapter 9 (9/353)

☆ Chapter 9 ☆

5000 Cash Draw Ticket!

Just hearing the words made my heart race. I nodded with a bright smile.

‘I’ll use it!’

An announcement appeared before my eyes, and a wheel with a grinning devil waving his hand was displayed.

‘You cheat!’

I wanted to argue, but it was just a picture on the wheel.

‘…Could the draw probability be a scam too?’

A rational doubt crept in, but I shook my head.

‘No. Stop it. Think positively.’

I swallowed hard as I watched the wheel spin.

I had read somewhere that strong desire becomes reality.

‘5000 Cash! 5000 Cash! 5000 Cash, come on!’

‘Oh!’

I clenched my fist at the congratulatory message.

‘Even if he’s a devil, he can’t be that bad, right?’

The next line made me freeze.

‘What’s there to congratulate! Are you mocking me!’

100 Cash! Not even 1000 Cash, just 100 Cash!!

The smallest amount among the cash options.

‘Even in my past life, when others drew 1000, 2000, or 5000, I only got 100… even here!’

Who would stick 100 won to someone’s nose?

A rotten reality where 5000 Cash Draw Ticket is worse than 5000 Cash Reward!

I sprawled on the bed, flailing my arms and legs. Aaah!

An announcement popped up as if mocking me.

‘Can’t summon novels, huh? Even if I tried to summon one with 1100 Cash, I’d just hear that I don’t have enough.’

100 Cash, 200 Cash, how long would it take to save up for snacks?

I fiddled with the book cover, then suddenly looked up.

‘Right! There was an unconfirmed notification, wasn’t there?’

As I thought, the notification continued from where I had left off.

‘Yeah.’

I don’t know what the additional reward is, but I wish they just gave me cash instead of a draw ticket.

Honestly, I didn’t have much hope.

I lay on my side and stared at the notification window.

‘Huh?’

I jumped out of bed.

When I thought it was a novel rental, it turned out to be a full rental?

‘Wow! This is even better than getting 5000 Cash!!’

Duke! Thank you!

I don’t understand it, but I’m grateful for the best possible outcome!

I bowed in the direction of the Duke’s office.

‘Well, then…’

I stared at the floating notification window.

I was about to summon "I'm a Gold Spoon but I'm Running Away" but hesitated.

‘It seems like saving cash will be harder than I thought…’

This time, the additional reward was good, but what about next time?

After experiencing the miracle of a 5000 Cash Draw Ticket turning into 100 Cash, I was worried.

‘I’ll save it for now.’

I might need some ability in the future, so it’s better to keep it as insurance.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

I quickly hid the book under the blanket. If they saw the changed book and questioned me, I wouldn’t know what to say.

The maids entered.

“I’m sorry, Miss. We all left our posts when you woke up.”

“No!”

I shook my head and quickly got out of bed.

“Are you hungry? We didn’t wake you for meals because you were sleeping so soundly.”

Hearing that, my stomach growled.

“Yeah. I didn’t even realize I was sleeping.”

I felt a bit embarrassed, as if all I did here was sleep. I scratched my cheek, and Anna nodded as if understanding.

“Huh, you must have been tired.”

With Anna’s support, I felt more confident.

Right. It’s understandable! So much has happened today!

I completed an extreme quest and survived an interrogation!

Most importantly, I’m a baby!

Seeing me proudly stick out my belly, the maids laughed.

But the warm atmosphere was short-lived. Nancy dropped a bomb.

“Everyone was shocked. Who would have thought you’d fall asleep on the Duke’s lap without a care in the world.”

“Huh?”

I turned my head to look at Nancy.

“I, I fell asleep on the, no, Dad’s lap?!”

“Yes. You slept so soundly.”

“Slept… soundly?”

On the Duke’s lap, of all places?

“First, you nodded off, and then you stretched out on the Duke’s lap and slept soundly.”

Wow, I really had a good sleep.

“The office, which was colder than the northern snowfield, was suddenly filled with warmth.”

“I bet everyone had a hard time holding back their laughter.”

I don’t think the men who were choking back laughter were really that way.

Why did I do that?

At that moment, a bad feeling crept over me.

“So, Anna brought me here?”

Anna brought me here, right? Please say yes.

“No. The Duke carried you here himself.”

Why do my bad feelings always come true?

“Next time, Anna should bring me.”

“What?”

“What if Dad finds me annoying?”

Annoying children are disliked.

“Miss…”

Anna had a strange expression. Then, as if making a decision, she knelt and met my eyes.

“The Duke would never find the youngest Miss annoying.”

“Right. Did you see him call the tailor today? I’ve never seen him do that before. He even finds measuring for clothes annoying, so the butler is worried.”

“The Duke really cares for the youngest Miss.”

The maids each comforted me, all with the same expression as Anna.

‘That’s not something to have that expression for.’

I’m not craving my father’s love.

I felt bad for causing them to worry.

“I’m really fine!”

The more I tried to sound cheerful, the more their faces twisted.

Anna gently took my hand.

“The Duke… is just awkward.”

“No, I’m really—”

“I know it’s hard to understand. I didn’t know for years working in the Duke’s household, but now I see he’s just awkward.”

The more she spoke, the more confidence appeared on Anna’s face, as if she had just realized something.

“I thought the Duke was perfect, needing no one and not understanding those who do.”

That’s not perfect.

My lips moved, but I didn’t say it out loud.

“But seeing how he treats the youngest Miss, I realized he’s just awkward.”

“Seeing how he treats me?”

“Yes.”

“Right. I’ve seen things I never saw before while working in the Duke’s household.”

“Even talking to the youngest Miss like this feels strange.”

“The Duke’s family is different from ordinary people…”

“Different from ordinary people?”

At my question, Anna looked to the others for help.

Seeing the maids quickly close their mouths, I pretended to be confused.

“Why? How are they different?”

“Sigh, different. It means special.”

“Right. How often do you see such a grand family?”

Seeing the maids awkwardly laugh, I narrowed my eyes.

‘Something’s up. The Pheraton Duke’s household is not ordinary.’

But the maids didn’t seem willing to tell me.

‘Well, it’s probably wrong to tell a baby about family matters.’

Especially if it’s bad.

Seeing the troubled expressions of the maids, I changed the subject.

“I’m hungry!”

The maids laughed in relief. Watching Nancy leave to get food, I thought to myself.

‘Hmm, I need to find out more about the Pheraton Duke’s household.’

It doesn’t seem like an ordinary family.

Chapter 3. The Reader of the Wheel Does Not Tolerate Sweet Potatoes

Talanka Marquess’s residence, reception room.

“To, to withdraw the investment! What do you mean by that…!”

The Talanka Marquess looked at the old man before him with a flustered expression.

“You know the reason better than I do.”

“…I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Of course you don’t.”

The old man sneered coldly, unaffected by the Marquess’s denial.

The Talanka Marquess gritted his teeth.

“No matter how much you are the Duke of Delbarten, you can’t unilaterally withdraw the investment! Didn’t we sign the contract?”

“Do you think I don’t know that? I came here today to pay respects to your late father, the previous Marquess.”

The Duke of Delbarten stood up from the sofa after finishing his words.

“Good, Duke!”

The Talanka Marquess tried to stop the Duke of Delbarten, but it was in vain.

‘Damn it.’

Damn it, damn it!

Alone, the Talanka Marquess roughly wiped his flushed face.

“Marquess, sir.”

The door burst open, and an aide entered.

“What is it!”

“S, Stahr has sent a message to stop the trade—”

Crash!

Before he could finish, a loud shattering sound echoed as the Marquess threw a glass at the aide.

“Again… again! Blocked?!”

“Yes, Marquess.”

“Wasn’t Stahr the last remaining trading partner?”

“Yes…”

“Damn it!”

Bang!

As the Marquess slammed his fists on the table, the butler entered the reception room with a document.

“Marquess, the Sherodell Marquess has sent an official letter.”

“What?!”

The Marquess snatched the document from the butler’s hand and quickly read it.

The letter stated that the Sherodell Marquess also intended to withdraw the investment, and would proceed with legal action if an agreement couldn’t be reached.

Rip.

The document crumpled in the Marquess’s grip.

With all trading partners cut off, the investors were now trying to withdraw their funds.

“What about the request for a loan from the Gallion Bank?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“How can this happen! I’ve been the Marquess for five years! And…!”

He was finally entering a stable period, and his network of connections was solid.

‘But to be brought down by a single gesture from the Duke of Pheraton…!’

His teeth ground together.

After the Duke of Pheraton took his daughter and left, the Talanka Marquess’s financial lifeline began to dry up.

‘To move like this for a girl who isn’t even his blood…!’

It’s absurd.

‘No, no. It can’t be for that dirty bastard girl.’

The Duke isn’t a fool; he must know she’s not his daughter.

‘It’s a matter of the Duke’s family pride.’

Regardless, she carries the Pheraton name.

Seeing her mistreated, he’s retaliating to protect the family’s honor.

‘Why did the Duke of Pheraton have to return that day, at that time?’

He thought the Duke wouldn’t return until the war was over.

“Perhaps we should liquidate a few businesses. Maintaining them is already a struggle. And we should put the mana stone mining project on hold…”

The aide cautiously suggested.

“Delaying the mining will make other investors leave! The big players are already leaving, causing instability!”

The Marquess paused.

Is it really a coincidence that all the big players who invested in the mana stone mining project are leaving at once?

And the Duke of Delbarten’s reaction, “You know the reason better than I do.”

‘The lie about the Duke of Pheraton investing has been exposed!’

But that’s impossible.

He secretly told only a select few big players that the Duke of Pheraton had invested, showing them the evidence with the child support check.

They firmly believed his words.

He demanded absolute secrecy, and they wanted their dividends to increase, so they didn’t tell anyone.

‘Where did it leak from?’

No matter how he retraced his steps, he couldn’t find a leak.

‘Damn it, if only I could use the family’s funds…!’

Due to Talanka’s special circumstances, the Marquess didn’t have the authority to use the family’s funds.

Wiping his face roughly, the Marquess shouted.

“Listen carefully. Whatever happens, this must not reach my father’s ears!”

Fortunately, his father, the previous Marquess, was in seclusion in the territory.

If he found out about this, it could be more than just a lack of funds.

‘Damn it, I have to fix this somehow…’

He raised his head and shouted.

“Tie, bring Tie here!”

“Understood.”

The butler left, and a short while later, Clatie entered.

Unlike the chaotic atmosphere of the Marquess’s household, she always had a bright and cheerful smile.

“Dad!”

The angelic child ran towards the Marquess.

“Oh, right. My daughter. Aren’t you curious about your cousin?”

“Huh?”

“Why don’t you go to the Pheraton Duke’s residence and see how she’s doing.”

“Huh? Why me?”

Clatie tilted her head. If she had to see, shouldn’t the other girl come?

“You’re cousins, after all. You’ve grown up like sisters.”

“Sisters? Me and her?”

Clatie’s delicate brows furrowed.

“It’s just a figure of speech. Even if you’re sisters, you’re not the same.”

“Pfft.”

Clatie pouted.

Her perfect birthday party was ruined in an instant by that girl.

The party was ruined by that brat, and her pride was hurt.

“She should come to see me if she wants to!”

Why should I care about such a girl first? The one who goes first loses.

That girl is the one who should be revered, not the one I should care about.

“Don’t be like that. Wouldn’t it be hard for Tiel to be separated from you?”

“But—”

“Of course, she should come, but she can’t. The Duke of Pheraton won’t grant her request.”

“Hmm—”

Clatie thought about the Marquess’s gentle persuasion.

‘Well, how much does she want to see me? She can’t live without me.’

A child hated by everyone.

‘The only one who treats her well is me.’

“I have no choice. I’ll go first.”

Clatie was impressed by her own kind and considerate decision.

How kind am I?

“Right! That’s my daughter.”

The Marquess stroked Clatie’s head and instructed her.

“See how she’s doing. Also, check the atmosphere at the Duke’s residence.”

“Got it. Hehe, they’ll be surprised when I come.”

I’m personally checking on her.

‘They’ll be honored by my visit.’

Clatie smiled like an angel.