I, the Villainous Prince, Buy the Ruined Villainess with Money - Chapter 26-27

Chapter 26: Negotiation Complete

…Damn it.

I completely misjudged the price of dwarf-made gear.

I never thought it would cost several gold coins.

Letting my favorite suffer embarrassment like this—I’m a failure as her fan.

“I don’t mind if you pay in installments. I know full well the price is steep.”

“M-Master, it’s really all right… Something this expensive—”

“Hold it. Don’t you dare underestimate me. If my maid is humiliated, that’s my responsibility as her master.”

Right in front of me stood a figure in red short shorts, black tights, and black boots.

On top, a red leather jacket over a plain white T-shirt.

Her height and perfect figure combined to create an amazing silhouette.

She wasn’t overwhelmed at all by the flashy outfit.

And the price certainly wasn’t modest either.

Well… I was the one who told him to make the cutest, highest-quality stuff possible.

“Hm. Then let’s start with an explanation of the equipment.”

“Y-Yeah… (Crap, he’s totally staring. It’s obvious.)”

“The red top and bottom are made from red dragon hide. It’ll block any kind of flame. It should also repel or reduce water damage to some extent, despite that being its weakness.”

“R-Red dragon hide…!?”

“That’s right. But let’s move on. The white T-shirt is woven with devil spider thread to protect against poison. The boots and tights use black wolf materials for excellent durability. I’ve also worked in ingredients that insects hate, so it’s perfect for adventurers.”

I nodded along. He had definitely met every one of my requests.

Overwhelming defense and cuteness in one package.

The insect-repelling effect was a nice bonus too—this was truly worthy of my favorite, Yulia.

The only problem… was the price.

Just looking at Yulia standing beside me made that painfully clear.

“Devil spider… black wolf… Both are high-rank monsters that only top adventurers can handle.”

“Oh, really?”

“I’ve already lowered the price quite a bit. And while I didn’t skimp on this set, there are even better items available. Those would cost platinum coins, though.”

“Urk…”

Platinum coins were definitely out of the question.

I had used up eighty percent of my funds buying Yulia at the auction.

But she was still being targeted, and there was no guarantee she had escaped her doomed fate yet.

If that was the case, I wanted to give her the best possible equipment.

“Master… I’m already happy just knowing you care.”

“No way. If I backed down here, I’d never forgive myself. (For my favorite!)”

“So what will you do? If you don’t have the gold, maybe something else could cover it?”

He chugged his ale in one go as he spoke.

What a bold guy, even in front of customers.

…Wait, do dwarves really love alcohol that much?

“Heh heh heh, you’re not holding back, are you?”

“What was that?”

“Lend me that mug for a second.”

“…Fine, here.”

I took the mug and cast my ice magic inside, creating pure white ice.

When I handed it back, Garon stared intently at the contents.

“What did you put in there?”

“You’ll find out when you drink it.”

“Hm. Poison won’t work on me anyway… Let’s see… Gok gok gok.”

The moment he took a sip, his eyes flew wide open, and he gulped the rest down at lightning speed.

Then, when he finished, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Young man, what did you put in there?”

“It’s ice magic only I can use.”

“No way… This is the legendary ice magic… They say someone used it long ago.”

Apparently this continent is warm year-round, and natural ice basically doesn’t exist.

There used to be some in the past, and users too, from what I’ve heard.

I have my guesses about that, but nothing solid, so I kept quiet for now.

“So, what do you think? Will that cover the payment?”

“Of course it will! I’ve never tasted ale this good in my life! And if only you can make it, that makes it incredibly rare—just like how only I can craft this equipment.”

“Then we have a deal. I’ll supply as much ice as you want, so sell me the full set.”

“Leave it to me.”

We shook hands once more.

By the way, afterward… I ended up using a ridiculous amount of ice magic and draining my mana completely.

But for my favorite, it was a small price to pay.

—

Chapter 27: Heroine’s Perspective

…Hehe, I’m so happy.

I keep looking at the equipment my master bought for me, and I can’t stop grinning.

I even feel like spinning around in front of the mirror.

“It’s not clothes… but this is the first time someone has ever bought something for me. And in a way, this feels kind of new and fresh.”

My father and mother always made me wear the outfits they chose.

Ones that were modest and cute, meant to make me look like a proper lady.

But with my naturally flashy appearance, they never suited me at all.

Crown Prince Kyle used to say that going shopping together was too much trouble.

“More than anything, my master picked it out with me. He asked if this one was okay, if the size was right.”

He listened carefully to what I thought, and even though it was expensive, he gave me this equipment.

More than the price, I’m happy that he thought about what was best for me.

Even using his rare ice magic to make it happen.

“He said with his own mouth that it was ‘so I wouldn’t embarrass him’… but hehe, it’s completely obvious.”

I don’t know why, but my master is kind to me.

At first I thought it might be pity, but it doesn’t feel like that.

And it doesn’t seem like he has any improper feelings toward me, either.

“What is that feeling, I wonder? I don’t mind it at all… it’s just mysterious.”

Even so, my master is quite shy, isn’t he?

His words are blunt, yet everything he does is full of kindness.

He never walks ahead and always matches my pace.

I know he sometimes glances back to check on me.

“Hehe, he’s really adorable… it might be rude to say that.”

But he was awkward when talking with Garon, too.

I laughed more that day than I ever have in my life.

So much that it wasn’t ladylike at all.

Yet my master didn’t get angry or look disappointed.

“If anything, I think he was smiling. Being with my master is truly fun… is that all it is?”

When I wore the kimono, he told me I looked beautiful.

At that moment, it felt like an electric current ran through my body.

Just remembering it makes my body grow warm.

“My body feels all warm and cozy… what is this?”

These feelings inside me are new, and having someone say such words to me is new, too.

But it doesn’t feel bad at all; in fact, I’m happy.

Is it because it’s my master, or because I’ve never experienced this before?

“I know the word ‘happiness,’ but… could this be it?”

It’s an emotion I thought I would never have.

If this really is happiness… what can I give back to my master in return?