The next day, the count called her into his room.
"Lily, tell me why you made our servant do that yesterday."
"I believe it is a good opportunity for us."
The count sighed. "Lily, please listen. That barony has no potential. There is no point."
Lily thought, "Why is this happening? I can't just say this is all a fantasy novel and that the useless barony will somehow make it big."
"Father, please. I'm begging you. Please trust me this time."
"Lily, do you remember what you said the last time before spending all the money on parties and clothes? You said the exact same thing. Lily, I'm sorry, but it is not happening."
"Father, then give me just one silver. I'm not asking for 50, just one."
The count sighed deeply.
"Fine. Maybe after you lose this coin, you will come back to your senses."
The count tossed a single silver coin.
"Take this and go."
As Lily was leaving the building, she kept wondering how to make money.
"What the hell can I even do with a single silver?"
As she kept walking, she saw someone. He had silver hair and a creepy smile.
Looking at him, she instantly remembered. That guy was one of the male leads—Gale. He had magical eyes? Or was it ears? Anyway, he was really good at gambling because of them. If she followed his bets… she could turn her silver into hundreds of gold.
As she followed him into the dark alley, he quickly turned around.
"Lady, why are you following me? I know I am pretty attractive, but don't you think it's rude to follow someone you have never met?"
"What do you mean? I wasn't following you… not at all. I was just going in the same direction as you."
"Oh, into the gambling den? What is a pretty lady like you doing there?"
"I lost all my money. I need some more."
"If you need money… if you help me a bit, I can—"
"Hell no, you creep. I'll take gambling over helping someone like you any day."
"Alright, lady. Suit yourself," he said, walking away with a grin.
Inside the den, there were a ton of… scary-looking people.
She followed him closely.
"Pretty scary, right? Well, don't worry. They don't do anything… unless they get paid, of course."
As he sat down at a table, she asked, "What are the rules?"
"He's going to spin a wheel. You pick a number, 1–20. Get it right, and you double your money."
"What are you picking?"
"Wouldn't you like to know, lady?"
"Just tell me."
"14."
"Alright, can I bet on 14?"
After getting two silver coins, she kept following his bets.
Soon, her two coins turned into thousands.
The gambling den kicked her and Gale out.
"So, lady, I made you some money. What about my help?"
"Help my ass. I made these with my own sweat and blood."
"How cruel. You clearly only followed my bets. Don't you think I deserve a cut?"
"Hell no. I just followed my instincts, and well, they just happened to align with yours."
"Whatever you say, lady," he said as he walked away.
Lily thought to herself, "What is wrong with the male lead… is he really the same guy? Whatever, now I have enough coins."
Back at the mansion, she called her servant again.
"Yes, my lady," she said, running to her room.
"Invest these silver coins into the barony."
"My lady, please forgive my rudeness, but where did they come from?"
"I, uh… gambled my silver and got this much more."
"My lady, are you telling the truth?"
"Yes. Why would I lie?"
"I will tell the count at once."
As she looked up at the bright gold across the ceiling, she sighed.
"When am I going to get my sweet retirement funds…"