WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Potter
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◈ The Protagonist of a Romance Fantasy Only Likes Me ◈
Chapter 28: Wealthy Marigold. (2)
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3.
“Cough, cough!”
“This woman hasn’t even been executed yet. Why is she already trying to die?”
Poor Marigold.
Marigold looked utterly pitiful, bound to the gallows.
The rope around her neck must have been choking her. Her face was already smeared with tears and snot.
Lancel grabbed one of the people gathered in front of the gallows.
“What is she being executed for?”
“For having terrible luck, I suppose.”
The local who answered lowered their voice and continued.
“I heard the trade ship those people invested in changed flags as soon as it left port and caused a huge mess. It’s a common thing.”
“Oh.”
“Apparently, a young master who survived being plundered by that ship is the child of a relative by marriage of a steward’s family serving the local marquis.”
“Noble-adjacent, then.”
The family tree was complicated, but in short, the survivor was from a noble family, even if a low-ranking one.
‘So it was that kind of case after all.’
This was more than just bad luck. Even among shipping investments, this had to be one of the worst possible outcomes.
Finding a case like this on her very first try could almost be called a talent.
“Carry out the execution!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Eek!”
A guard swung a sword and severed the rope supporting the floor.
Bang!
Around fifteen people dropped at once, hanging from the gallows.
Their thrashing bodies were their final struggle.
Marigold was among them.
“Ughhh!”
Oh no.
She was dying.
“Wait, wait!”
Lancel hurried forward.
* * *
“So, Sir Lancel Dante... you’re this girl’s guardian, something like that?”
“Yes. The money I lent her for shipping investments was mine as well. Right?”
With tears and snot streaming down her face, Marigold nodded furiously. Her head moved hard enough to make the wind whistle.
The people on either side of her were already hanging dead. Marigold had survived only by standing on a hastily placed support beneath her feet. If she had not been so light, her neck would have snapped and she would have joined them by now.
“Ha, what should we do about this?”
The guard administrator scratched his head.
“There’s no need to make this difficult. Miss Mary was deceived. Look at these dead men. They’re all old foxes. Miss Mary was looking into shipping investments to grow the money I gave her, and their slippery tongues deceived her.”
“...I thought I heard that this Miss Mary had gathered the investment herself...?”
What?
Lancel turned toward Marigold. The color drained from her face as she violently shook her head.
“...You were misinformed. How could a child who hasn’t even come of age collect money from so many people?”
“Yes, well... I did find that part rather doubtful.”
“I’ll personally write a letter under the name of House Dante. Will that suffice?”
“I suppose it can’t be helped.”
As if he had been waiting for those words, the administrator brightened. In this region, there were few nobles higher-ranking than House Dante.
“Girl, no, Miss Mary, take her down!”
“Yes, sir!”
The guards soon released Marigold.
As he saw that the seat of her trousers was slightly damp while she collapsed onto the floor, Lancel had to wipe away a cold sweat.
‘Not long ago, she was praised as a saintess. Now she’s a common criminal facing the gallows.’
What a strange fate.
Marigold.
“All right, disperse! Leave those hanging from the gallows there until they turn to bones!”
“Yes, sir!”
The sun set.
Below the gallows, after all the spectators had gone, Marigold remained with her head bowed. She did not react for several minutes.
“Hey, are you all right?”
The moment Lancel approached and poked her, Marigold spread her arms and rushed at his legs.
“Benefactor! Waaah!”
Marigold, returned from the dead.
She sobbed her heart out.
4.
“Gulp!”
Marigold drained the cold fruit drink in one gulp.
She looked terrible. Her eyes were swollen, her nostrils were bright red, and rope marks were clearly etched into her neck.
“...I didn’t want to see you again like this, Benefactor.”
That was the first thing Marigold said as she buried her face in the restaurant table.
“That’s what happens when you make dangerous investments.”
“But, but...”
“No buts.”
Lancel cupped her lowered chin in his palm and raised her face.
“Explain exactly where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing for the past two years.”
“...”
After hesitating for a moment, Marigold described what she had been doing.
She told him about making gold by reselling animal fat from passing wagon merchants.
She told him about making bread and selling it to docked sailors.
She told him about reporting a con artist and collecting the reward.
She told him about hearing that a famous captain had arrived in the port city and handing over her entire investment, only to discover that the captain was a pirate.
She had truly lived a busy life.
“They loudly promised to give me a 150-fold return, then suddenly became pirates. I really thought my life was over.”
Marigold muttered with hollow eyes.
“I heard you gathered the investment yourself.”
“T-That can’t be true. I didn’t have that kind of money...”
“Hmm.”
“It’s true! I’d never lie to you, Benefactor.”
“Hmm.”
Marigold avoided Lancel’s eyes. What was the truth? He decided not to press her.
‘Making money isn’t easy.’
Lancel had once tried to make money himself.
He had tried making soap, writing implements, and paper, to say nothing of other things. They had all failed in the end.
“Benefactor, the gold coins you lent me...”
Marigold fidgeted with her fingers and watched Lancel carefully.
“Repay me three times the amount within the next five years.”
“R-Really?”
Just like two years ago, she dropped to her knees on the floor.
“I will! I’ll succeed this time, Benefactor! I’ll repay you ten times over, not just three! Or you could just travel with me...!”
“Ah, no.”
Lancel refused flatly.
This Iteration was a vacation. He had gotten caught up in things for a moment, but that did not change.
But Marigold did not give up. She leaned close, her eyes gleaming.
“Then what will you do if I succeed? Will you travel with me then?”
“That would depend on how successful you become.”
“What if I become the richest person in this region?”
“There are plenty of people richer than that in the imperial capital.”
“Then what if I become the richest person in the imperial capital?”
“It’s good to dream big, but...”
“What if I become the richest person in the Empire? What if I become the richest person on the entire continent? What if I become a great tycoon who can pile gold coins into mountains? Will you stay with me then?”
“Why are you so motivated?”
Lancel lightly pushed Marigold away, now close enough that he could feel her breath.
“Please watch me, Benefactor.”
Kneeling on one knee, Marigold looked up at Lancel. Her emerald eyes were filled with determination.
“I’ll become rich, Benefactor. Truly, truly rich enough to make you stay by my side.”
==========
Marigold brims with motivation! Her heart begins to swell with a vow made to young noble Lancel Dante.
※Marigold will remember today’s resolution forever. Charm, Morality, Elegance, Sensitivity UP!!!
==========
“When that day comes... you’ll stay with me, right, Benefactor?”
Marigold’s voice was earnest. Lancel gave a small laugh.
“I’ll consider it favorably.”
“...! You gave me permission!”
Afraid that Lancel might change his mind, she hurriedly ran out of the restaurant.
“Just wait and see!”
5.
[Fallen Noble Lady Simulation]
Planning the schedule for the first week of August.
Monday: Shopping. (Location: Port city harbor)
Tuesday: Trade. (Location: Port city market)
Wednesday: Trade. (Location: Port city market)
Thursday: Bake hard preserved bread.
Friday: Make bittersweet fruit jam.
Saturday: Trade. (Location: Port city harbor)
Sunday: Trade. (Location: Port city market)
※Let’s work diligently and honestly!
While Lancel stayed in the port city, Marigold truly worked hard.
She went to sleep at two in the morning.
She woke at six in the morning.
Whenever she heard that wagons from another region had arrived, she ran faster than anyone else with a basket on her back.
“I’ll buy it all! Give it all to me!”
Whenever she heard that a ship had arrived at port, she hurried over carrying piles of food she had somehow prepared.
“Three silver coins a jar! Cheap, cheap! Bread and jam that won’t spoil for ten years!”
It was not hard to hear her voice as he walked through the market.
Part of him felt relieved.
‘At this rate, she’ll manage well on her own.’
At least she would not starve to death somewhere.
She would not become the richest person in the Empire, but still.
.
.
.
“Benefactor! Benefactor!”
Some time later, Marigold came to find Lancel with a bright expression.
“Look at this! The guild!”
Marigold held up a metal badge. It was identification proving that she belonged to the regional Merchant Guild.
“You joined the guild?”
“Now I can join a merchant caravan and engage in traveling trade. I’ll make much more money than before. What do you think?”
“That’s... good.”
“Yes!”
She smiled as brightly as if she had gained the whole world, but Lancel felt oddly uneasy.
‘Traveling trade...’
It would not be easy.
“I’ll settle in the imperial capital within a few years, so please make sure you visit me, Benefactor. I’ll earn lots of money and welcome you properly. It’s a promise.”
The following week, Marigold joined a large merchant caravan. It was to be a long journey lasting eight months.
“Benefactor! I’m going! See you again!”
Her hood pulled low, the hem of her robe whipping in the sandy wind.
The only final image of her that remained in his memory was her hand waving cheerfully goodbye.
Afterward, Lancel put Marigold out of his mind for a while.
* * *
Two years later.
Lancel found Mary’s name somewhere he never expected.
He was briefly visiting a western barony during the Harvest Festival. Amid the drunken laughter and chatter, a bounty notice posted on a shabby board caught his attention.
==========
Target: Mary, leader of a bandit gang.
Reward for success: 25 gold coins.
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“...It can’t be her.”
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