The Female Lead Takes Care of Everything - Chapter 63

That evening—

Word spread that Nivellia and Armiphera’s business plan had been approved, and soon, congratulations were coming from all directions.

“Nini, congratulations.”

Soles handed Nivellia a gift to celebrate her new business.

“Wow!”

Nivellia opened the box and gasped in surprise.

Inside was a beautiful fountain pen—pure white with a blue sapphire detail—resting neatly in its case, along with a small bottle of ink.

“T-This is what grown-ups use! Real grown-ups who do real work! Can I really use something like this…?”

“A proper boss signs things with a fountain pen. Let’s give it your best this time too, alright?”

“Okay!”

Nivellia answered cheerfully, vowing to start practicing her signature with the pen starting that very day.

Next up was Aref.

“Miss… I got you this.”

With advice from Caleo and Ardores, Aref handed Nivellia a lovely bouquet of flowers.

Bright reds and whites were mixed together, making it vibrant and cheerful.

Nivellia bounced on her toes as she accepted it.

“They’re so pretty! Thank you!”

“Y-You’re even prettier, Miss…”

“Hehe!”

“And also…”

The flowers were just the beginning.

Aref pulled out the real gift he had been hiding.

“I—I want to invest in your business!”

Aref’s true present was the savings he had quietly built up—an investment into Nivellia’s new venture.

A whopping 53 million Uba.

“Whoa!”

Armiphera couldn’t hide her astonishment when she saw the number in his account.

‘You… you’re amazing…!’

Where do you even find a boy this good-hearted and loyal? Is this kid really only eight? Is there some noble, calculating wolf living inside him?

While Armiphera was silently swooning over her future nephew-in-law—

“Eeeek!”

Nivellia, completely overwhelmed, ran straight into Aref’s arms and hugged him tightly.

She clung to him like a koala, arms and legs wrapped around him, burying her face into his shoulder.

“Really? Really, really?”

“Yes!”

Aref staggered a little, but answered firmly.

In fact, his voice was even stronger than before.

“But Aref…”

Soles, who had caught Aref just before he fell backward, spoke gently.

“That’s the money you’ve been saving to use when you become a knight. Are you really okay with this? You don’t have to give everything to Nini.”

You were saving it carefully, even thinking of putting it in a long-term savings account…

At those words, Nivellia’s expression suddenly turned serious.

She slowly unwrapped herself from Aref and stood back down, fiddling with her fingers.

Aref felt a little sad as the warm weight in his arms disappeared.

“You’re right. I know…”

Nivellia hadn’t forgotten either.

She remembered how many times Aref had said he wanted to be a great knight someday.

“Are you really okay giving it to me?”

“I’m not giving it. I’m investing.”

“But what if I fail again?”

All the times she had tried and failed came rushing back to her mind.

She’d once believed her cookie business would do well. It had started off strong… but in the end, it failed, leaving her with only debt.

The money she’d invested in the pharmaceutical company was still tied up too.

On top of that, she had always used only her own savings. This was the first time she’d be using someone else’s money to run a business.

‘Nini is the leader…’

She was supposed to earn money and take care of her people.

‘What if I fail?’

She was afraid she’d lose Aref’s money and wouldn’t be able to pay him back.

Worse, she was afraid he’d be disappointed in her if that happened.

‘I’m scared.’

For the first time, Nivellia realized just how frightening it could be to earn money.

“Miss Nivellia.”

Seeing her frozen in fear and unable to speak, Aref spoke up in a steady, clear voice.

“It’s okay—even if you fail.”

“……”

“Because this investment… it’s my choice. Not yours.”

“……”

“I believe you’ll succeed.”

“But what if I fail…? Then you won’t get your money back.”

“Then that’ll be my mistake.”

Aref said it firmly.

“Because I don’t believe you’re going to fail.”

His bright red eyes were filled with complete, unwavering trust.

Nivellia didn’t want to betray that trust.

But she knew this wasn’t something she could decide alone.

This business wasn’t just hers—Armiphera was part of it too.

“You’re the boss, Nini.”

Armiphera smiled warmly.

“And I’ll follow the boss’s decision.”

Nivellia then turned to look at Soles.

Soles clearly didn’t feel great about Aref’s investment. More specifically, he was worried about putting all of Aref’s money into one venture.

He understood Aref was doing it out of care for Nivellia—but still, he hoped Aref would keep some money aside as backup.

Aref was an important little brother to him too.

“…Hmm.”

Well, what could he do?

“Aref, are you really sure you won’t regret this?”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

Soles nodded.

“Then I’ll invest too, Nini.”

Just like that, Nivellia suddenly had 103 million Uba to work with.

But she didn’t just accept the money casually.

“We need a contract. And it has to be notarized.”

Just like before, Nivellia called in Monitos to help draw up the investment contract and have it officially certified.

“You’re starting another business?”

A few days later, Monitos visited the Deiamor estate and was surprised by the news.

He looked at Nivellia with that familiar expression—like he was wondering how badly she was going to mess it up this time.

“This time, I’m going to make it work.”

But something about her was different now. Monitos saw it in her eyes.

“I’m going to succeed and pay Aref and my brother back. I’m really going to try my best.”

“You’ve definitely got the spirit.”

While writing up the contract, Monitos asked casually,

“So, what kind of business is it?”

“It’s a secret. Business stuff like this has to be kept secret.”

“Well, well. You really have changed.”

“Nini’s different now.”

“Good. That means you’re growing.”

Feeling proud, Monitos did something rare—he reached out and gently patted her head.

“Ehehe…” Nivellia grinned like a little kid, cheeks puffed with pride.

“Hey, Monitos, do you want to invest?”

“Should I?”

“Yeah! But just so you know, I might fail.”

“You’re not supposed to say things like that. You’re the boss. If you want investments, you’ve got to say you’ll definitely succeed.”

Now clinging to Monitos’s broad back like a little cicada, Nivellia asked again,

“Then I’ll definitely succeed! So, will you invest? Come on, invest!”

“Don’t you know how to be polite, you little rascal?”

“I do! I say hello to grown-ups. I even said ‘hello’ to the Great Witch the other day!”

“Well, that’s impressive.”

Because she’d done such a good job, Monitos agreed to invest 10 million Uba.

And he wasn’t the only one.

“Stone mushrooms, huh? Haven’t heard that name in ages.”

“Oh, they’re tasty. If you get some, save a bit for me too, will you?”

Somehow, Della and Magia found out about the new business and each invested 10 million Uba as well.

But the person who surprised Nivellia the most…

“Here.”

…was Caleo.

He handed her a bank account slip.

“Remember how your dad borrowed money from you back then… and lost it all gambling on cards?”

“I almost hated you back then…”

“Thank you for not hating me.”

That was when Nivellia had given her father 50,000 Uba.

It was the very first money she had ever earned—tiny hands working hard to save it up.

Caleo had taken that money, along with the losses Nivellia had suffered in her previous failed businesses, and quietly saved it all up over time.

Even the 1.28 million Uba she recently lost.

He managed the savings wisely, and eventually, it grew into a fortune of 20 million Uba.

Caleo handed that money back to Nivellia.

“This time, you’ll definitely succeed.”

“……”

“You can do it, right?”

“…Yeah!”

Nivellia threw her arms around Caleo’s neck.

“I love you, Daddy!”

“I love you so much too, my little Nini.”

“Hehe!”

And just like that, their total investment grew to 153 million Uba.

“Wow…”

Armiphera looked at her niece with newfound respect.

“You’re seriously something else.”

“Nini’s pretty amazing. I’m not joking.”

“Now that we’ve got real capital, let’s get serious and start preparing.”

Nivellia stared silently at the fired-up Armiphera.

Feeling the gaze, Armiphera raised an eyebrow.

“What? Why’re you staring?”

“Auntie.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re not putting in any money?”

I’m putting in 3 million Uba. You’re a grown-up—are you just going to get help from me?

“Isn’t that a little unfair? Doesn’t it make you feel guilty?”

“……”

The Mercenary Queen was completely caught off guard.

“Pfft!”

The evil dragon Ather, lounging on a thick cushion on the sofa, burst out laughing.

Today’s dress was a vivid poison-green that looked almost toxic.

Her outfits were getting more extravagant by the day.

“Nini raised all this money, and what are you doing, Auntie?”

“I—I’m using my brain, okay? I help with the parts Nini finds difficult. I’m acting like a secretary!”

Armiphera quickly defended herself.

To be fair, she wasn’t entirely wrong.

While the business was technically Nivellia’s idea, most of the actual planning and organizing had been done by Armiphera.

Because her business partner, after all, was a four-year-old child.

“Oh, right! Auntie is my secretary!”

Luckily, Nivellia accepted the excuse without complaint.

‘This must be why they say never to go into business with family…’

Armiphera felt a small emotional wound open up—and her dignity as an aunt took a hit.

But she couldn’t take it out on her adorable little niece.

“Hey! Ouch!”

So instead, she took it out on the evil dragon, mashing down Ather’s head with both hands as payback for laughing.

As the reopening of the Kitty Shop approached, new changes were being made.

“You know what? We should rename it. Let’s call it the Kitty Trading Company.”

“Trading company?”

“A trading company is a business that helps transport goods. It’s a step up from a regular shop.”

Not wanting to be teased again, Armiphera dressed in a smart suit and filled out the order forms.

Beside her, Nivellia was busy sketching a new signboard.

“A trading company is bigger than a shop. They don’t just move stuff—they sell it themselves too. And they make more money.”

“Wow!”

Nivellia already loved the sound of it. Kitty Trading Company rolled off the tongue better than Kitty Shop.

“Okay, pop quiz!”

Armiphera grinned.

“What do we need in order to move goods?”

“Power… enough to bend the world to my will?”

“Nini, be honest. You’re not really a preschooler, are you? Are you living your second life or something? Do you remember a past life?”