Chapter 20

"Has the preparation money not arrived yet?!"

Cedric's roar echoed through the Haggle family's office.

"What the hell is going on! It's already been five days! Five days!"

Cedric, who used to be a decently handsome man, could not resist the effects of aging, laziness, and luxury. His fat, trembling body shook as he glared at his subordinate with a look of reproach.

The subordinate's face stiffened, and he could do nothing but endure the angry outburst. After all, even he had no information about the preparation money that Cedric was eagerly awaiting.

It has been five days since Amelia married into the Hernberg family. Despite his repeated insistence on the immediate delivery of the preparation money, there has been no news of progress.

Duke Logan is known to be extremely busy, dedicating himself daily to important state affairs. Therefore, it is highly likely that he has put the matter of the preparation money on the back burner.

"That's why I emphasized that he should talk about it as soon as he arrived..."

Cedric clenched his fists with a look of disgust.

"Given Amelia's dullness, she must have forgotten it for sure."

Cedric muttered, "That good-for-nothing," thinking that despite keeping her alive for seventeen years, she was so ungrateful. She had been nothing but a nuisance, and he had only given her value in the form of money at the very end, yet she defied him.

Cedric, who had no interest in how Amelia had spent the past seventeen years, was trembling with anger.

"Father!"

At that moment, his beloved daughter Erin burst into the office, flinging the door open.

Her wavy blonde hair swayed as she hurriedly approached Cedric, her dress fluttering.

"Erin, Erin. I told you to knock before entering, didn't I?"

"Father, I'm sorry. I forgot to knock because it was such an important matter."

Seeing Erin's teary eyes, Cedric's anger from a moment ago vanished, and his lips involuntarily relaxed.

"I see, I see. If it's that important, then it can't be helped. So, what's this important matter?"

Erin's eyes sparkled as if to say, "Thank you for asking."

"Father! I want a new dress!"

"A dress?"

"Yes! I've been invited to a tea party at the Edmond Duke's house, and I want to buy a new dress to wear there!"

"Oh, I see, a dress, a dress..."

Usually, he would immediately say, "Buy whatever you like," but because Amelia's preparation money had not yet arrived, Cedric's face showed a slight reluctance.

"But Erin, don't you already have over a hundred dresses? Can't you wear one of those?"

In response, Erin pouted in dissatisfaction.

"The dresses I have won't do! I found a fashionable Charel dress when I went to town the other day, and I really want it! Are you saying it's fine for me to go to the prestigious Edmond Duke's tea party in an outdated, potato-like dress?"

Erin's high-pitched voice and teary eyes were a powerful combination.

Due to the lack of affection for Amelia, Erin had been raised as a spoiled and selfish daughter. However, Cedric was blind to her faults, seeing her as a savior born amidst his scandal with a maid.

This time, too, he was swayed by his daughter's request and nodded.

"A, ah... I understand, I understand. It's my fault. Buy whatever you like."

Erin immediately wiped away her tears and hugged Cedric's shoulder with a perfect smile.

"Thank you, Father! I love you so much!! I love you! You're the best father in the world, who grants all of Erin's wishes!"

"I, of course. I love you too, Erin."

Erin kissed Cedric's cheek, and he nodded in satisfaction.

"Alright, Father, I'll leave the dress matter to you!"

Erin skipped out of the office, humming happily. Cedric, who had been in a daze after being told he was loved and receiving a kiss, soon snapped back to reality.

"Damn... This is bad..."

He had impulsively agreed to buy her a dress, but honestly, the Haggle family couldn't afford such extravagance. Not only Erin, but his wife, Leiche, was also a lavish spender, with a hobby of collecting jewels.

The thought of his prestigious family going bankrupt due to his wife's jewels and his daughter's dresses was scandalous.

"All of this is Amelia's fault!!"

Abandoning any deeper thought, Cedric, now a typical old troublemaker, concluded.

He pounded his wrinkled fist on the desk, making it tremble.

"Hey"

"Huh..."

Cedric turned to his subordinate, who had been standing silently throughout the exchange.

"Send Melisa to the Hernberg family. Make sure she retrieves the preparation money quickly."

"Y-Yes, sir!"

The subordinate, unable to hide his agitation, hurried out of the office.