SYDC 21

chapter 21

A little later, Stella looked Serena up and down as she had just changed clothes and asked,

“How much do you think that outfit costs to buy so many of them?”

Since she had appeared out of nowhere and was being petulant, Serena didn’t feel like answering honestly.

Shrugging nonchalantly, she said,

“I’m going to inherit it anyway. I can easily afford this.”

It wasn’t exactly true, but she wasn’t obliged to be completely honest.

Stella crossed her arms and sneered.

“How are you going to buy Isabella’s clothes with just Rose Gold?”

“Well, maybe because I can buy them?”

Crossing her arms in return, Serena replied, causing Stella’s eyes to widen.

“You…!”

Her expression seemed to say, How dare someone like you?!

‘Why does she keep acting like this?’ Serena thought.

She had only met her yesterday, yet Stella seemed perpetually displeased. She appeared out of nowhere, poking around and picking a fight, making it impossible to let things slide politely.

Serena returned the favor, scrutinizing Stella from head to toe.

“By the way, I have Rose Gold. What do you have?”

Money isn’t everything, but curiosity got the better of her. What could she possibly have that made her treat others with such disdain?

Caught off guard, Stella froze for a moment, blinking her long eyelashes. Then, as if offended by such a ridiculous question, she snapped,

“I have far more than you!”

“Really? Then tell me.”

“Why should I tell you? Someone like you wouldn’t understand even if I did.”

Squinting, Stella sneered, oblivious to how ridiculous she sounded.

“If you wouldn’t understand even if I told you, that must mean it’s far less impressive than Rose Gold. Doesn’t sound all that amazing to anyone, huh?”

Stella’s eyelids twitched at the unexpected and sharp remark.

If it had been Daisy or Caroline, even this small jab would have sent them into a full-blown tantrum, but Serena remained unbothered.

Trying to appear composed despite obvious anger, Stella displayed her arms and neck.

“The clothes I’m wearing, my bracelets, rings, necklace… even just the dolls in my room are far too expensive to compare with Rose Gold. Do you even get that?”

So proud of herself for owning some worthless Rose Gold…

Her pretty green eyes burning with intensity, Stella continued,

“I looked it up, and that Rose Gold stuff is useless, more trouble than it’s worth. I wouldn’t even want that land where not even a single blade of grass grows, even if someone gave it to me.”

She was ecstatic just for buying Isabella’s clothes, having obtained something utterly useless. How could her entire family be this frustrating and foolish? It was almost miraculous.

“No, wait. Who said anyone’s giving it to you?”

Instead of shrinking under Serena’s words, Stella furrowed her brow at the sudden question.

“What do you mean?”

“Who said anyone’s giving it to you? You have to speak properly. No matter how insignificant the land is, it’s not that you don’t have it—you can’t have it.”

“You… you might not be educated, but are you out of your mind?”

Stella was both incredulous and amused.

“That land? I could buy two of them just by selling one of my teddy bears!”

“Exactly, but you still need someone to sell it to you. Who said anyone would sell you land or a title?”

“Are you really stupid? I said I just don’t buy it! If I wanted to, plenty of people would sell it to me! You don’t know anything!”

Stella huffed, claiming she didn’t need it, but could afford it anytime she wanted.

While their sharp conversation continued, Hans, Jeremy’s assistant, entered the reception room.

“Excuse me, Miss Serena. Mr. Jeremy requests your presence. He says the inheritance arrangements have been completed.”

“Really?”

She had promised to settle it quickly, but hadn’t expected it to finish this fast.

Stella sneered at Serena’s delight.

“Already finished? Seems like there wasn’t much after all.”

Though her tone was annoyingly smug, Serena paid no mind.

“Maybe don’t say that until you actually have something to show for it.”

Even an expensive jeweled teddy bear wasn’t comparable to land or a title. And if this was the real Stella, she would never have been able to hold such property.

“Hope you can buy it as easily as a teddy bear… but probably not,” Serena thought, finishing her greetings in the most unpleasantly polite way possible.

As she left the reception room, Stella, unable to control her anger, glared at Isabella and her staff as they tidied up clothes.

“Just a commoner…!”

Thinking she was a little better than the rest, acting haughty…!

Stella wanted to find any excuse to kneel her down, but Isabella’s reputation was too high. Nobles even collected her clothes as devoted followers, so even a commoner couldn’t treat her carelessly.

“…Why do all the clothes have to be so beautiful?”

Every outfit in Isabella’s boutique, even those Serena hadn’t picked, fit Stella’s taste perfectly.

Yet pride wouldn’t let her ask to see the clothes Serena had chosen.

Fuming, Stella pushed her own maid in frustration.

“What are you doing? Where’s my mother? Take me there!”

“Eh?! Ah…!”

Being her personal maid, she had followed Stella all morning and had no idea where Chloe was.

Confused and fumbling for an answer, another maid stepped forward.

“Miss, I’ll guide you. At this time, the young lady usually drinks tea in the indoor garden on the first floor. Occasionally, she reads in the library as well.”

Of course, she didn’t really know Chloe’s whereabouts.

As she babbled politely to appease Stella, her expression softened slightly.

Stella looked her over.

“You’re the one who explained the situation to your father alone yesterday, right? What’s your name?”

Even after more than a year of serving, she hadn’t learned the maid’s name? It was almost disappointing, but the maid smiled without a hint of resentment.

“Lady Redilyn, ma’am. It’s an honor that you remember someone like me.”

“You keep standing out—your hair, too.”

Stella’s gaze lingered on Redilyn’s fiery red hair and matching eyes. Dressed in a drab maid uniform, she was inconspicuous, but if properly dressed, she would stand out. Smart, adaptable, and attractive. A fine companion maid.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you supposed to guide me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Grumbling again, Stella sped down the corridor, vowing to demand a vast estate incomparable to Rose Gold, determined to make Serena cry from jealousy.

Following Hans, Serena arrived at Jeremy’s study, only to face some unwelcome faces.

“Finally, you’re here!”

“Where have you been without even breakfast? Do you know how long we’ve been waiting?”

It was her parents.

The couple, who usually paid no attention to whether their youngest daughter ate, jumped up from the sofa and approached Serena.

“What’s with those clothes?”

Caroline, buried in the sofa as if disinterested, asked wide-eyed.

Daisy was the same. Her younger sister, shedding her previously tacky style as if transforming, had rushed over and inspected Serena’s new clothes.

“Where did you get these? Did you buy them? When? Did you buy my clothes too? Huh? You did, right?!”

Serena could only shake her head, amused at Daisy’s dramatic expectations.

“No, I only bought my own clothes. Why would I buy yours?”

“What? You’re ungrateful! I lent you clothes yesterday!”