Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 67

Chapter 67

"And land!"

"Huh?"

"Land to build it on! And money!"

"Haha, that's true too."

I covered my mouth with both hands and stomped my feet excitedly. Hasn't everyone dreamed of it at least once? Being a building owner.

I have that floating stone mine from Colton's mansion, don't I? I should check on how that's progressing.

I will definitely build it. A twenty-story building!!

"Why are you, an Algenprina, so obsessed with a building?"

"Everyone dreams of it once, you know! Being a building owner!"

I shouted with sparkling eyes, and Kali looked at me as if he couldn't understand at all.

Why don't you get it, why!! A mixed-use building at that!

"First and second floors, restaurants; third floor, a tearoom! Fourth floor, maybe a small library? Fifth floor, a flower shop or indoor garden for walks. Sixth floor, a movie—no, a performance hall! And from the seventh floor up, shops. Sell everything that can be sold!"

As I rattled it off like a machine gun, Mother and Kali stared at me with wide eyes.

Oh, that's a bit embarrassing.

In my head, I'd already planned out what to do on every floor up to thirty, not just twenty. Thanks to my past-life memories. Haven't you ever talked about this when bored?

"Hey, if you got a clean twenty-story building, what would you do?"

"If you got fifty billion won in your bank account?"

It was a topic you could talk about for five hours.

"You were thinking about that? How fun. Tell me more."

Encouraged by Mother, I laid out all twenty floors. The twentieth floor, of course, would be entirely mine—a rooftop wine bar, a bathtub, ultra-luxurious suites, and a swimming pool. Wait, can I build a pool? Anyway, a royal floor with everything.

"You've got a goal now—work hard."

"Rachel, don't give her false hopes."

"What? What's false about it! What part!"

"How are you going to manage all that?"

"I'll have a manager for each floor! And a head manager to compile reports! I'll just sit on the top floor and stamp documents."

"Just say you want to laze around."

"I'll become a building owner, you'll see. With one twice as tall as yours!"

"...Stop wasting money and just take that."

Kali pointed at the Czerban Grand Ducal building.

"That?"

He's giving it to me? Just like that? Of course, he's not the Grand Duke yet—but if he becomes one?! Why?

"I'll take it!! I'll take it!"

Of course, I won't refuse if offered!

"Oh my! Oh my, oh my!"

"Eek! Madam, did you hear what the young master said?"

Mother and Julia suddenly clapped and laughed. Their smiles were so wide they even pulled out their fans.

"What? Why, why are you laughing?"

"Young lady! That building belongs to the Czerban Grand Ducal house, but technically, it's the Grand Duchess's property!"

"...What?"

"Of course, there's no Grand Duchess right now, so it's still the Czerban Grand Ducal house's building."

Silence fell between Kali and me. So, to anyone watching, it looked like Kali had just proposed to me?

I met Kali's gaze. I hadn't said a word, but Kali's face was about to catch fire.

Could he really be about to have flames shoot from his head?

"You'll need more than that to propose to your noona. Bring something bigger!"

"Shut up."

Kali glared at me with sharp eyes. I giggled, teased him once more, then ran to hide behind Mother.

"Is that so, Kali? You'll have to try harder?"

"Haaaa."

Unable to talk back to Mother, Kali let out a deep sigh.

"Shall we grab something to eat first?"

"Agreed!!"

Food stalls stretched endlessly. Mother looked surprised when I said I wanted to eat street food, but she didn't stop me. Whenever something smelled good, I popped it into my mouth.

"Anyone would think we're starving you at home."

Mother laughed, brushing the hair from my face.

Well, you can't get this kind of spicy, exciting flavor at the ducal estate.

"Grrr. Grrrr."

Bibi had caught the scent and started begging for some.

"Bibi, this is too spicy for you."

"Hm? Miss, shall I give you some unsalted chicken?"

"Thanks. I'll pay for it."

When I handed him a large chicken breast, Bibi devoured it eagerly. His tail was wagging so hard it looked like it might fall off—he must have liked it.

"This is pretty good."

"Oh, madam. You can handle spicy food, I see."

The stall owner grilling chicken skewers smiled and spoke to Mother.

"That sauce is our secret 'tear-inducing spicy' recipe—it's impressive you're eating it without even breaking a sweat."

"It runs in the family."

The Algenprina bloodline carries the gene for holding alcohol, and the Astrova bloodline carries the gene for handling spice. Thanks to that, I can eat spicy food really well too!

But this is seriously delicious. It tastes like fire chicken. It'd be perfect with some mayonnaise!

As I popped the last piece of chicken into my mouth, I noticed Kali's untouched skewer in his hand.

Hmm, come to think of it, Kali never really enjoyed spicy food. Can't drink, can't handle spice. Oh dear.

"Surprise!!"

I snatched the skewer from Kali's hand and bit into it.

"What...!"

Instead, I handed him a skewer labeled "mild" and walked off.

"Eat that. You spice wimp."

"Spice, what?"

"It's a thing. Lightweight."

"More weird words."

"Wait a moment! Madam! Miss!"

The stall owner called out to us as we were about to move on.

"There's a spicy food eating competition in the square—they're still accepting applications if you hurry. Why not give it a try?"

"Spicy food eating competition? What's the prize for first place?"

"The Imperial Chef's special spicy sauce, I believe."

If it were a cash prize, I wouldn't have bothered—our family has plenty of money. But the Imperial Chef's special spicy sauce? Not just any spicy sauce—it's special!

"Hehe, this really stirs the competitive spirit."

"Mom, are you entering too?!"

"Why not? It's a memory-making experience."

Mother was clearly eager to participate—she practically sprinted toward the square with Kali and me in tow.

"Mom seems even more excited than me, doesn't she?"

Ah, right. It's been a while for Mom too—enjoying a festival in such a crowded place.

"Registration for the spicy stew eating competition is about to close!"

Mother quickly signed us up, writing our names. The Astrova family couldn't feel spice at all—until a certain threshold, after which it all tasted the same. Like, if bomb-level spice is fire-chicken level, then nuclear-bomb-level is also fire-chicken level, and tear-inducing nuclear-spicy is also just fire-chicken spice.

As the competition began, the host started calling out noticeable contestants' numbers to hype up the crowd.

"No! That number 33 madam—where did she come from?! She hasn't changed her expression once!!"

"And the number 34 young lady beside her is also amazing! She's even smiling!"

"Oh! Contestants are starting to drop out! Number 16 eliminated! Number 27 eliminated!"

They said the first prize was the Imperial Chef's special spicy sauce. But this spicy stew was also incredibly delicious. Wow, I want to recruit that chef! It's not just spicy—it's deliciously spicy!

"Aaaah!! Water!! Give me water!!"

A muscular man, drenched in sweat and with bright red lips, screamed for water.

"Ah! At this rate, the strong dark horses—the madam and the young lady—are the only ones left! The faster eater wins!"

"Oh!"

It was that kind of contest? I was definitely faster than Mother. Having already scraped up the last of the broth, I sheepishly presented my empty bowl.

"The unknown number 34 young lady is today's winner!!!"

"I won!"

Winning is always good! If you're doing it, first place is best! Even if your rival is your mom!

"Oh, too bad. Still, the food was delicious. I wonder who the chef is."

As people swarmed in to clear the tables, Mother pulled down her wide-brimmed hat and adjusted mine.

"We will now present the first prize! Come on up, please! The creator of the first prize—the Imperial Chef's special spicy sauce! The man who made today's spicy stew, former Imperial Chef Matt!"

Huh? What? A real Imperial Chef?

An elderly man with a long beard stepped onto the stage. As I received the special sauce in a luxurious box, I shook hands with Chef Matt.

"You're the first person I've seen eat stew without changing expression. No, not the first—that person used to eat it with a faint smile too. This sauce goes well with any dish, so please... wait."

Matt looked at me, then turned his head to the person beside me—my mother.

"No, that can't be..."

"Huh?"

"That person suddenly showing up here... no, could it be?"

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