Chapter 7 – <Arnold Nursing Home>
“Was this person brainless?”
Upon returning to the room, Ceres took a moment to assess the situation.
As she looked into the accumulated debts and the immediate amount of money needed to repay them, Ceres felt a surge of frustration for the first time in a while.
The back of her neck ached from the rising heat.
“They actually thought it was a good idea to borrow this money?”
No matter how desperate one is for money, there’s a kind of loan one should never take.
“135%?”
An annual interest rate of 135%.
The loans taken against the house and land had interest rates mostly around this figure. The interest had long since surpassed the principal.
“Did she carry her head around just to look taller? What kind of audacity does it take to borrow from loan sharks?”
Back when she was Grace, there had been people who dealt in such loans. Of course, it had nothing to do with her life.
She had simply thought, there really are people who borrow this kind of absurd money, even though they know it spells the end of their life… They must be really desperate…
That had been the extent of her thoughts back then.
But now…
The previous owner of this body had indeed borrowed that kind of money.
“She was surprisingly bold.”
Or maybe she was truly brainless.
How could anyone look at such an interest rate and still think borrowing money was a good idea?
“Ha.”
Ceres suddenly remembered the scene of her in the darkness, the girl who had cried pitifully, begging for help.
Was the reason she took her own life because of money?
Because she couldn’t handle it anymore?
I get why the little one was so defiant now.
The aunt, Agne, who had returned to her family under the pretense of caring for her nieces and nephew, was the one who had introduced the loans.
She had convinced them to borrow money, using the excuse that they needed it to save Yulia.
“You’re right, though.”
You couldn’t let your younger sister die.
“But still…”
After thoroughly reviewing all the records of Yulia’s medical expenses, Ceres confirmed one thing again.
Arnold Nursing Home.
Yulia’s nursing home was far from a legitimate establishment.
The past bills were no different. They were just endless lists of expensive herbs on paper.
“Is this really a nursing home?”
Or is it an herb supplier?
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
With her permission, Antonion cautiously entered the room.
Looking at the table filled with various documents, the boy let out a long sigh.
“Do you even understand what you’re looking at?”
He didn’t mean to be dismissive, it was a genuine question.
“More or less.”
“Is it really impossible for Yulia to get treatment unless we sell the shop?”
Though Antonion had told his aunt that he’d never sell the shop, he understood, even as a child, that holding onto the shop might not be the solution when Yulia’s treatment was on the line.
“That shop… it was really important to Father and Mother.”
The shop located right in the bustling district.
It had been established by the first head of the Drow family.
The first Baron Drow had been a brilliant mercenary who earned great accolades in the war and was granted a barony in recognition. His business acumen was exceptional, and he amassed a great fortune.
When he passed, his will had only one request.
“That shop is a refuge for mercenaries. Never let it disappear.”
That wish had been honored for a long time, and Ceres’ parents had cherished and managed the shop with great care.
But three years ago, after her parents died in a carriage accident, the misfortune began.
Not long after her parents’ funeral, four-year-old Yulia suddenly collapsed.
Numerous healers came, but no one could determine the cause.
“I know a nursing home where there’s an excellent healer. How about sending her there?”
At Agne’s suggestion, Yulia was sent to the nursing home, and from then on, an enormous amount of medical bills started piling up.
“The only place that will lend you money now is here.”
“You need to save Yulia first, don’t you? If you don’t borrow the money, the poor child won’t get proper treatment and will die.”
The decision to turn to loan sharks had also been her aunt’s suggestion.
There hadn’t been any other option.
They signed the papers as Agne advised, and from that day, the massive interest began compounding on the already significant loan.
Now, the only thing of value left in the Drow family was that shop in the bustling district.
“Which means, this house will soon be lost as well.”
Tsk.
Ceres inwardly clicked her tongue repeatedly.
Even now, the interest was steadily piling up.
“Don’t listen to Aunt Agne anymore! The shop…”
“And if we don’t sell the shop? Is there another way?”
“That’s…”
Antonion hung his head low, unable to respond.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t come up with a solution.
What should I do?
Did they really have to sell the shop?
The place that their mother and father had cherished and protected for so long?
Even selling the shop wouldn’t solve all their problems.
Sure, it might cover this month’s treatment costs, but what about next month? And the month after that?
If they couldn’t even rely on the money coming in from the shop, how would they survive in the future?
But then, what about Yulia?
If they couldn’t pay for this month’s treatment, what would happen to Yulia?
…Pathetic.
In the end, there was nothing he could do.
He had boldly told his aunt that he would find a solution, but now, his own actions felt utterly naive.
“Look up.”
Ceres’ voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
When he looked up slowly, he saw her frowning deeply.
Antonion bit his lower lip hard.
She must think he was pathetic as well. That he was just a useless little brother who couldn’t help with anything…
Smack.
“Ow!”
Antonion quickly covered his forehead with his hand. Ceres had slapped his forehead quite hard with her palm.
“What are you doing!”
Antonion shouted in confusion, but Ceres just clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction, not hiding her displeasure.
“You’re only twelve years old.”
“What?”
“What’s with a little kid trying to handle everything on his own?”
“Are you looking down on me…!”
Smack.
“Ow! That hurts!”
“If anyone’s looking down on someone, it’s you.”
“……”
“I’m your older sister.”
“…What?”
“I’m your sister, and I’m five whole years older than you.”
Rubbing his aching forehead, Antonion stared at her with a slightly dazed expression.
Swish.
“……!”
Seeing her hand rise again, Antonion flinched, thinking he was about to be hit again.
Pat.
But instead, Ceres’ hand softly landed on his head, gently ruffling his hair. It was so tender and careful that Antonion found himself in a daze once more.
Tsk, what a lack of trust.
Although she didn’t know all the details, Ceres had noticed that Antonion seemed to be trying to take responsibility for everything on his own.
Running here and there, trying his best.
It must have been because the original owner of this body was so unreliable.
From what she had gathered, being ignored by the household staff had become a daily routine.
Whenever something unfair or upsetting happened, she would cry alone, swallowing her grievances without trying to fix anything.
And in the end, she even tried to take her own life.
What could that little boy have been thinking, watching his sister like that?
For a twelve-year-old, it was too heavy a burden to bear.
The older sister he should have been able to rely on had become someone he had to protect and care for.
“Leave it to your sister now.”
“Leave it to you?”
“Kid, you should step back now.”
“…Don’t call me that.”
Whether it was because he was angry at being called a kid or something else, Antonion’s face flushed slightly. Ceres lightly ruffled his hair again.
“What are you planning to do? Are you going to sell the shop?”
“Well, first…”
Ceres glanced at the pile of documents on the table.
The large letters on the topmost document read:
Arnold Nursing Home.
“First, I should go see Yulia, shouldn’t I?”
***
“Gur Village, huh.”
Holding the only map in the house, Ceres studied the location of the nursing home where Yulia was staying.
“Even riding on horseback, it would take at least a month.”
She needed to check Yulia’s condition first before making any decisions, but a month’s time was far too long.
“Could that still work?”
Ceres lightly waved her hand, hoping for a solution.
—
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