After discussing some details with Ophelia, handing over the formula, and signing the contract under the witness of the Goddess of Dawn, the matter was considered settled.
Next, they talked about the profit-sharing arrangement.
“The City Guard Knight Order currently has 500 recruits undergoing basic training, consuming 15,000 bottles of potion every month. Each bottle yields a profit of 1 Glo, which converts to… 62 Gold Pounds and 6 Flyn.”
“According to the profit split, I need to pay you, Lily, 3 Gold Coins and 3 Flyn every month.”
“Of course, I have to arrange various things this month and won’t be able to make any profit yet, so if you want to start receiving your share, it’ll have to be from next month.”
Ophelia spoke quickly, and Lillian only caught that she wouldn’t be getting any money until next month, and also…
“What do you mean 3 Gold Coins?”
“One Gold Coin is worth 2 Gold Pounds. Isn’t that common knowledge?”
While the face value of Gold Coins might be common knowledge to Ophelia, it certainly wasn’t to Lillian.
She’d grown up in the outer city district, where the most commonly used currency was Glo and Copper Coins.
Flyn was considered a precious saving, and she honestly had no idea about the Gold Coin’s face value.
The Dawn Empire’s currency consisted of four types: 1 Gold Pound = 12 Flyn, 1 Flyn = 20 Glo, 1 Glo = 100 Copper Coins.
One Copper Coin’s purchasing power was roughly equivalent to one Soft Girl Currency from her previous life.
Lillian frowned, realizing things were more complicated than she thought.
She’d heard rumors before that one Gold Coin weighed 10 grams, and at last life’s gold prices, that would be about 7,000 Soft Girl Currency, so 300 Gold Coins would roughly equal over two million.
But if, as Ophelia said, one Gold Coin equals two Gold Pounds, and one Copper Coin has the purchasing power of one Soft Girl Currency…
Then the debt she owed to the Count’s Manor was actually 14 million Soft Girl Currency!?
That was seven times more than what she’d previously thought!
Eleanora, you’ve really done a number on me!
Lillian’s teeth ached slightly.
Noticing Lillian’s expression and mood shift, Ophelia asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just thought of something happy,” Lillian said through gritted teeth.
She understood now — Eleanora never intended to let her leave the Count’s Manor!
If it were the old Lillian, surviving solely on a maid’s monthly wage of 10 Glo, saving every penny, she’d still need to work for the Count’s Manor for forty whole years to pay off that 14 million debt!
I can’t breathe.
“Oh, right, I heard you signed a master-servant contract with Miss Eleanora?”
“Yes.” Lillian shrugged, answering helplessly.
“What about the penalty fee?”
“There isn’t one. I broke an antique vase, owed money, and so I’m working as a maid at the Count’s Manor to repay it.” Lillian looked at Ophelia in confusion. “Your Highness, do you mean you want to help me pay off the debt?”
“Of course. After all, you’re my Lily.”
Every time she heard “my Lily,” Lillian got goosebumps — it sounded like they were really close or something.
“Lily!” Ophelia wagged her finger at Lillian. “I already told you, don’t reject me calling you that.”
“So how much is it exactly?”
“Three hundred Gold Coins.” Lillian stated the number flatly.
“Ahem, ahem.” Ophelia seemed choked by the air. “How much?”
“Three hundred Gold Coins,” Lillian enunciated clearly to make sure Ophelia heard.
“Do you remember what the vase looked like?”
“Black, with some strange, branch-like patterns on it.”
Upon hearing Lillian’s description, Ophelia surprisingly calmed down.
“I see, that makes sense.”
“Makes sense? How?”
“You broke the Antique Elven Vase that the Dawn Empire Emperor gifted to the Count of Korn 300 years ago. If it’s that, it’s definitely worth 300 Gold Coins. Actually, 300 Gold Coins is on the low side.”
Lillian had every reason to doubt whether that 300 Gold Coin vase was a fake.
Using such an expensive item to trap a little doctor from the outer city? Eleanora was really generous, wasn’t she?
But unfortunately, the vase was real.
If Lillian remembered correctly, the contract mentioned it.
Lillian was willing to call Eleanora a goddess.
“However, 300 Gold Coins, I can afford.” Ophelia stroked her chin and smiled at Lillian. “But you have to be my maid, how about that?”
“Please forgive me for refusing, Your Highness.” Lillian rejected Ophelia’s offer without hesitation.
She’d figured it out — neither Eleanora nor Ophelia were good people.
One set the trap so she’d break a priceless vase just to force her into being a maid.
The other was willing to pay the 300 Gold Coins if she agreed to serve as her maid.
That’s 14 million, not 1,400!
Neither of them was a good person.
Suddenly, Lillian thought of the silver-haired girl who’d been crying in her arms that morning.
Well, Eleanora wasn’t too bad.
But she still needed to figure out a way to stay far away from both of them.
Lillian closed her eyes and rubbed her temples; the news she’d just received had dealt her quite a shock.
Once her headache eased a bit, seeing nothing else was pressing, she took her leave.
Ophelia didn’t stop her but said only, “In a few days, I’ve prepared a surprise for you, Lily. Don’t you dare refuse it.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Lillian didn’t care much, bowed, and left, then mounted her carriage back to the Count’s Manor.
She wanted some time alone.
Ophelia watched Lillian’s retreating figure and gave a playful smile.
When she visits the Count of Korn’s Manor, she hoped Lily would like her “surprise.”
It was bound to be interesting — she was looking forward to Lillian’s reaction.
Not long after, Lillian returned to the Count’s Manor.
As soon as she entered, she went straight to her bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.
Staring at the brown ceiling, Lillian thought again about those 300 Gold Coins.
Ophelia would indeed start providing her with income from next month, and it would likely increase over time.
But it was a long road ahead.
A training knight order, 3 Gold Coins a month, 300 Gold Coins total — that’s roughly over eight years.
If the entire empire’s market was large enough, maybe it could be reduced to four years, two years, or even one year.
But it was still too slow.
Lillian felt restless, a knot of frustration tightening her chest.
Fourteen million!
Eleanora!
“Knock, knock.” A familiar rhythm came from outside the door.
Opening it, it was the young maid Eileen, her eyes bright upon seeing Lillian.
“Lillian, it’s really you! You’re home so early today.”
“By the way, the young mistress said she wants to have dinner with you tonight.”
Eleanora?
Fourteen million!
Lillian gritted her teeth.
“I’m not going!”
Realizing her tone was harsh, Lillian quickly composed herself.
“Sorry, Eileen, I’m a bit tired today. Please apologize to the young mistress for me — I won’t be able to make it for dinner.”
“Goodbye, I need to rest now.”
Bang.
The door closed.
Eileen just stood there with her mouth slightly open, motionless.
Is Lillian really okay?
She must still be angry, right?
Is the young mistress just fooling herself?