“So she took the seal and the key with her?”
"Yes. Pascal Trading Company requires identity verification.”
“Hmm.”
Kayan's expression turned light when he received Liam's report.
It had not been long since they had been asked to supply the Grand Duchy with piles of Boletta hide
Even when asked what it was for, she offered no opinion, which was frustrating. And now, suddenly, you want to get the seal back?
“What exactly are you planning?”
Kaiyan crossed his arms and furrowed his eyebrows before asking a passing question.
“Did she go alone?”
“She was accompanied by a maid.”
"Show."
Kian nodded once, tapping the edge of his desk with his long fingers
As soon as Liam left after handing in the report, Kayan took something out of a drawer.
It was an ornament bearing the Blair family crest, meticulously crafted with meticulous detail.
It was none other than the ring that the head of the Grand Duchy of Blair had inherited – an accessory capable of changing one's appearance.
* * *
Bonita, who was collecting the gold coins in the bag she had brought from the Grand Duke's residence, looked very happy.
I wasn't much different.
“There's more than I expected.”
The sparkling gold coins, brilliantly reflecting the light, formed a great fortune at a glance.
I had heard rumors that the comic book was growing in popularity and that many people were searching for it, but I never imagined it would come to this.
For a fleeting moment, I wondered if I should give up my investments and move to the countryside to live in peace...but I quickly abandoned that idea.
Money, after all, is something you can never have too much of.
While I was enjoying my pleasant daydream, Bonita filled a bag the size of a person's entire head and stepped back without showing any sign of strain.
“Isn't it heavy?”
Bonita whispered softly with a sly smile.
“No, there is a weight loss spell on it.”
“...You are well prepared.”
As expected from Bonita.
Satisfied, I nodded and turned around
The president of the trading company, who had the honor of hosting such a distinguished guest, expressed his desire to serve tea before I left, but I politely excused myself.
As an introvert with many tasks to accomplish while I'm out and about, I knew my schedule would be busy for the rest of the day.
“I have never dealt with such a large sum before.”
As we walked out with the Pascal Trading Company employees, Bonita mumbled in a garbled voice.
"…Me too."
Seeing an amount that I had previously only encountered in documents, now in my hands, was surreal
All that remains is to board the car and head to the next destination…
As I was about to take a step forward, an ominous feeling came over me.
“Huh?”
“Beware of pickpockets near banks and ATMs.”
Why did this idea suddenly occur to me?
A sudden wave of anxiety came over me, and my gaze instinctively moved to the bag of money Bonita was carrying.
“Hey, Bonita, wait a minute—”
I straightened up and extended my hand, but it was already too late.
Click, click, click!
A dark shadow rushed like lightning, snatched the bag, and disappeared
“Oh my God!”
The scene of Bonita helplessly stomping the ground with empty hands, watching the bag disappear, was shown in slow motion
What just happened?
“2...”
“Theft!?”
It took me a moment to process the situation
Have I been too sheltered in the security of the Grand Duke's residence for too long?
I was completely shocked because I didn't even think that something like this could happen to two unaccompanied women.
"pickpocket!"
I shouted towards the shadow disappearing on the horizon, but none of the spectators moved
Looking devastated, Bonita clung to her long skirt and took a few hasty steps forward, but there was no way she could catch up.
“This was my hard-earned money!”
Should I run after them myself?
While I was hesitating in making a decision, suddenly a person appeared from the crowd that had gathered because of the commotion.
"Are you well?"
flutter.
A gust of wind lifted the man's hood, revealing his face
His pale gray hair sparkled in the sun, and his golden eyes shone clearly and calmly.
huh? His face looks...
I didn't have enough time to feel terrible.
The moment I could see his face clearly, my eyes widened.
Grand Duke?
...No, wait, it's someone else.
Although their hair and eye colors are different, they are similar enough to be confused
For a brief moment, I was shocked by how much he looked like the Grand Duke. But before I could think about it, the man took off running.
I was still standing there stunned, when I heard a voice crying.
“Oh, ma'am... I'm so sorry. I was so distracted...”
Unable to even move forward, Bonita looked devastated, blaming herself for what had happened.
“No, it's okay.”
But there was no reason to scold her. It was my responsibility to expect something like this
We were standing in the middle of the street, in front of a business that was practically a bank, carrying a bag that was clearly full of money.
Honestly, getting robbed was the least of our worries – what if we were targeted by thieves instead?
“Let's go find the city guards.”
“But what if the money is lost forever? I'm really sorry, ma'am...”
Bonita's eyes sparkled with tears, and her face filled with worry.
In fact, I wasn't very optimistic about the guards' ability to catch the thief.
I tried hard to stay calm for Bonita's sake, but deep down...
I'm in trouble. I'm in big trouble.
I took out a whole bag of gold, leaving only a small amount in the safe.
It wasn't worthless, but given the labor costs and other expenses, it probably wasn't enough.
“…Huh.”
While I was deep in thought—
Knock!
A heavy object fell to the ground with a loud crash
I instinctively raised my head and saw it – the same bag that had been stolen from me moments before, lying right in front of me.
“Gasp!”
Bonita also gasped when she saw him.
“It took longer than expected. I had to hand the pickpocket over to the guards.”
“You… helped us?”
The man, whose appearance I assumed to be the Grand Duke, stood before us, completely unharmed
For someone who had supposedly caught a thief, he didn't even have a speck of dust on him.
"This is your stolen property. Make sure everything is there."
“Ah, yes.”
Still in shock, I peeked inside the bag. Everything was intact. I quickly bowed in gratitude
“Thank you...”
I never expected a complete stranger to help us. I was really impressed
There are still good people in this world!
“To meet someone of such high stature in a place like this...”
After years of being treated like a slave and betrayed in the Salt Kingdom, my faith in people has hit rock bottom.
That's why I was even more grateful that he not only caught the thief, but also returned the bag without taking a single coin from it.
How do I return the favor to him?
“Is there anything you would like in return…?”
“Hmm.”
Oh, were I too hasty?
Mentioning a specific amount might make things awkward, but he sure saw the inside of it
“You can set the price you want. I want to express my gratitude appropriately...”
“I didn't do it for a reward.”
“Huh?”
“I'll accept your thanks. That's all.”
Completely surprised, I stared at him
And so, he turned to leave.
I am waiting.
Wait a minute.
It would be a shame to let him go like that!
I had to recruit him somehow!
Did Liam's exhausted spirit possess me for a brief moment?
Out of a desire to attract talent, I instinctively grabbed his sleeve.
“Would you consider working as my bodyguard?”
Right now, since I almost assume the noble character of being a distant branch of Grand Duke Blair, hiring a bodyguard wouldn't be too strange.
I waited impatiently for his response, watching his lips intently.