Unspeakable bubbles

"but……"

"You still have to give me most of the remaining money."

"what?"

"Bubble, since you haven't agreed to my previous conditions, then I have to do things by business."

Nicole said seriously, "I'm not helping for nothing; you have to do something in return."

Section 354, Chapter 353: The Bottom Line

"After deducting my share, you'll probably have about this much left each month from Bubble."

Nicole held up both hands to indicate a number.

"fifteen?"

"It's one hundred and fifty gold coins!"

Fearing the young girl might not grasp the significance of this number, Nicole gave an example: "The patrolmen typically earn around thirty silver coins per month."

“One gold coin can be exchanged for ten silver coins, Bubble, that’s not a small amount of money.”

'But it's not a lot of money that can get you anywhere,' Nicole added to herself.

"This is really a lot of money!"

The little girl looked at the fat count in surprise: "Even if so much money is removed, will Bubble still get 150 gold coins every month?"

Fair trade, no deception of the young or old!

Nicole smiled and said, "There's one last question: how often do we renew our contracts?"

"Three years, I guess."

"Okay! Three years it is."

Nicole immediately produced a pre-prepared contract and filled in the dates in the blank spaces.

"Look, if there are no problems, then sign and put your fingerprint on it."

"kindness."

“I will have this contract notarized at the Sixth Agency branch, and we will each have a copy.”

Count Nicole continued, "I will arrange for the people to be sent to the Viscount's territory immediately. By the way, Bubble, you only have two servants with you... that doesn't feel quite right."

"Since you have money now, I personally suggest you find a few guards as soon as possible."

"Guards? No need, Bubble will take care of herself."

Nicole frowned. With the contract already signed, he didn't want anything to happen to the young girl.

"Bubble, the guards aren't just there to protect you; they're also a form of pomp and circumstance!"

"As a nobleman of Saine, you can be poor, you can be rife with scandals, but you absolutely cannot be without pomp and circumstance."

“Hmm,”

Seeing that the girl seemed to want to say something more, Nicole quickly said, "I'll send Kidd and his bodyguards to take you back. It's settled!"

"Your two servants are still waiting for you outside. Go back quickly, don't make them worry too much."

"Qiong and Zhenming? They're not outside; Bubble came here alone."

"..."

Count Nicol immediately showed a look of lingering fear: "Oh, you child..."

"Uncle!"

"what?"

"Why is the old man so concerned about Bubble?" the little girl asked Nicole, her big eyes blinking.

Nicole wanted to say that it was only right for a neighbor to care about you, but seeing Bubble looking at her like that, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

I care about you because you have something worth caring about.

"Uncle, thank you so much for caring about Bubble!" the little girl said with a smile.

"..."

The fat count shook his head, and then suddenly gave a bitter smile, as if he had thought of something.

“Bubble, I have always looked up to Duke Boyle and tried my best to be a true nobleman.”

"A true nobleman?"

"Yes!"

Nicole paused for a moment, then asked, "What do you consider to be the definition of a true nobleman?"

"They have territory, money, and... a grand display!"

"Yes, what you said is all correct, but I think..."

"The most important thing for a true aristocrat is to have principles!"

Nicole got up and paced back and forth in front of the little girl.

"Nobles are not robbers; they do not take anything good without any effort."

"What I prefer is a win-win situation."

The fat count pointed at the bubbles, then at himself: "I think the contract we just signed is a win-win situation!"

“I could have chosen to use drastic and brutal methods to deal with my new neighbor.”

"But I don't like that!"

"Your eating manners are too awful; you'll be in big trouble one day."

"...Uncle, you look very sad."

The little girl looked at him with some concern: "Are you feeling unwell?"

"It was just thinking about some old things."

Nicole said vaguely, "Everyone makes mistakes. I was young and impetuous too."

He glanced at Bubble and couldn't help but say, "Once upon a time... it really was a moment of weakness, and I failed to uphold my bottom line."

"In the end, it could only lead to one mistake after another..."

"I've always been quite late,"

"Father! Why didn't you tell me that Bubble was coming?"

Becky trotted over to her father and said reproachfully, "You promised last time that you would let me know as soon as Bubble arrives."

Nicole paused slightly after her daughter interrupted her last words, then returned to normal.

He patted his daughter's head: "I was just discussing serious business with the Viscount."

"Have we finished discussing the important matters?"

"Haha, it was already agreed upon a long time ago."

Nicole smiled and said, "Bubble is going home anyway, why don't you see her off?"

..............................................................................

"Bubble, where have you been all morning? Zhenming and I have been looking for you for ages."

Finally seeing Bubble return, Joan breathed a sigh of relief but couldn't help complaining, "If you're going out to play, you should tell us in advance."

“Bubble didn’t go out to play; Bubble went to do something important,” the little girl said earnestly.

"You went to Count Nicole's place?"

Zhenming said, "I just saw that it was the Earl's carriage that brought you back."

"Yes, Bubble went to ask the old man for help."

"Huh?" Joan looked incredulous.

She was about to say something when her real name stopped her.

"Although I don't want to admit it, this is actually the only way out."

Hirano Mana shook her head: "It's just a bit early. I originally wanted to wait another week before letting Bubble go to him."

"Eh!" Joan's eyes widened immediately.

"Alright, alright, stop making such a fuss. Do you really think the two of us can hold out?"

“That’s not what you said at the beginning!” Joan shouted.

Zhenming ignored her and asked Bubble, "Have you two reached an agreement?"

"Yes, I signed a contract with the old man. Bubble's house will be managed by the old man for three years."

“After deducting the wages paid to the old man’s subordinates and the money the old man himself would give him, Bubble would receive 150 gold coins every month.”

"..."

Joan and Makoto exchanged a glance, both showing expressions of surprise.

Honestly, these conditions aren't bad at all!

"It really is one hundred and fifty gold coins, not silver coins?"

"It's gold coins!"

"Bubble, have you agreed to any other conditions?" Joan asked hurriedly.

"Nothing."

"This……"

Zhenming looked completely bewildered: "The nobles of Sien are really strange. I thought that once you went there, you'd be swallowed whole, bones and all, but I never expected..."

"The final result was actually acceptable."