I Did a Good Job For the Villain's Early Education - Chapter 53.1
Chapter 53.1
“This is the room. It’s a six-person room, is it too cramped?”
“Oh, no! It’s… it’s wonderful….”
With its fresh, spring-like curtains, plush beds, and wide hallway, the scale of the accommodations was beyond anything Aki had imagined. She’d rushed over straight after work, and now could only gape.
“The cost is as we discussed. You’re welcome to explore anywhere on the grounds, except for the family’s private quarters. The stairs are this way, and down here is the dining hall.”
“Wow.”
“It’s normally the servants’ dining hall, but I’ve arranged for you to use it. Just be sure to tidy up after yourselves.”
“Of course….”
“You’re responsible for your own cleaning and meals. Keep things tidy, like it’s your own home. How does that sound?”
The smile was as warm as the midday sun. Avel Delaphion, daughter of a baron, seemed more like a shrewd businesswoman than a noble lady.
“The transit stop is just outside the gate. You probably saw it on your way here. It’s quite close.”
This was ten times better than her previous lodgings. A little pricey, perhaps, but considering the average market rate, it was a good deal. Aki suppressed the urge to sign the contract immediately.
“Um, I need to discuss this with my brother first.”
“Of course. Discussions are important. But…”
Dark eyes flicked over her prospective tenant’s shoulder.
“Sis! The last room’s taken!”
“My lady, a family just offered to rent the entire floor!”
“There are at least twenty more people waiting for consultations right now. How much longer should we keep them waiting?”
A brief glance. Rounded shoulders lifted in a casual shrug.
“I hope there’s a room left by then.”
“I’ll… I’ll take it! Three months! I’ll sign the contract for three months.”
“An excellent choice.”
A long, polished smile stretched across Avel’s face. Amidst the sudden influx of people, Aki and her brother barely managed to secure their accommodation.
* * *
“Sis, they’re all gone.”
“Anyone else who comes will have to go on the waiting list. What about the deposits and monthly rent?”
“All recorded in the ledger.”
The scale of the monthly rent was different. Avel beamed as she looked at the amount collected from the tenants. Every room had been rented out within three days of showing them around a few sections of the estate.
‘Well, what’s the point of leaving empty rooms unused?’
Avel’s strategy was simple. People displaced by the reconstruction needed housing, and Delaphion Manor had rooms to spare—so many, in fact, that they’d been locked up due to lack of upkeep.
Cleaning and renting them out generated income with minimal initial investment. The cleaning itself was easily handled by hiring a few hands for a few days.
This venture had several advantages. First, it provided a ‘steady source of income,’ something she’d been aiming for for years.
‘Sana’s school expenses are higher than I expected.’
Even with the scholarship, everything beyond tuition cost money. Just that uniform alone… how much had it been? Avel, glancing at the high-collared cape, spoke.
“Sana.”
“Hmm?”
“Your button’s misaligned.”
“…Oh.”
“You’re home now, so go change.”
“I was just about to. Just finishing this up.”
Avel peeked at the ledger.
‘This is more than enough to cover what I spent before.’
Second, a giant metaphorical middle finger to the royal couple. That historic moment was fast approaching.
But the greatest advantage of turning the manor into shared accommodation was something else entirely.
Clatter!
“A-Avel!”
“Lady Noltie, what brings you here?”
“I, I was looking at the hall for, for maintenance purposes, and, well, something seems amiss.”
“What is it?”
Avel feigned ignorance, though she knew perfectly well.
“They’re taking down the, the chandelier in the hall. What’s the meaning of this?”
“Oh, I’m planning to use the hall as a room.”
“W-what?”
