Something that could change life. There truly existed something like the jackpot that could instantly change a person’s life. Aaron’s life had been like that as well.

“What could change Your Highness’s life?”

Her life. It could change everyone’s life. If we have to compare it, we could say it’s like a jackpot.

“Well, we can call it a jackpot¹it actually said 로또 (lotto/lottery) but I think jackpot is more fitting.”

“A jackpot?”

Amelia simply smiled at the Master’s perplexed reaction. There were no other words to express it except for ‘jackpot.’ The opportunity for a life-changing windfall. It’s buried in that mine.

“Aren’t we now blood brothers.”

When he mentioned blood brothers, Amelia was taken aback. Of course, it wasn’t entirely incorrect, but it was a conversation that could be easily misunderstood.

“Now, please tell me.”

What’s in it?

Did Aaron mention the existence of the treasure to the Master from the beginning? It seemed like he had hidden it until its discovery… looking at the Master in front of her, he didn’t seem like a person who would fall for a scam. The Master Aaron had seen was completely hidden. But now the Master revealed his face to her.

“The founding myth treasure lies dormant.”

In the Khalid Empire, numerous founding myths came down. Among them, the most popular one was the treasure of the first emperor. A brooch that brings success to its owner. They say that the first emperor never took off that brooch from his body.

“If it’s the founding myth treasure….”

“Yes, that brooch.”

Usually, there were multiple founding myth treasures, but there was a separate one that people gathered to talk about. The Emperor’s brooch. The first emperor tried to take that brooch even to his death. But that dream was not fulfilled by his descendants.

The whereabouts of the brooch had long been mysterious to the people who desired it. Now, it had become a legend, just a tale passed down from generation to generation. And the brooch was not even a physical object and was not officially registered as a formal treasure in the imperial palace.

“Do you mean to say that the brooch lies dormant in the mine?”

“Yeah. Although I don’t know why it’s there.”

Why would the emperor’s brooch be in Marquis Cloud’s mine instead of the imperial palace? The reason was unknown, but Aaron knew that fact and obtained the brooch.

“Are you thinking of dedicating the brooch to the imperial palace?”

Anyone who hears that would think so. Dedicating the brooch to the emperor in exchange for power or money. Even the woman who was reading the book had expected that. Aaron, the powerless third prince, offering a treasure to the emperor to gain his trust. But Aaron was different.

He used that brooch to create his initial capital. Even if Aaron dedicated the brooch to his father, the emperor, he would not have become the crown prince. It was not a position he could obtain by merely presenting a single brooch from a fairy tale.

“No, I will make it a competition.”

Aaron did not give the brooch to the emperor.

***

The Master seemed puzzled by her words. It was understandable. To think of competing with the imperial treasure was an unimaginable act unless someone had exceptional courage. But Aaron was not an ordinary person.

The power claimed to be contained in the brooch was undoubtedly a lie. After all, the previous owner of the brooch had met a very unfortunate death.

“Your Highness?”

Amelia’s eyebrows furrowed at that uncomfortable thought. The owner of the brooch ended up being Leonel. It might sound strange, but Aaron did not sell the brooch to the imperial palace.

“The first emperor’s brooch was a golden diamond.”

“No way…”

When it comes to a golden color in the empire, there are two families that come to mind: the imperial family and the Grand Duchy of Siegfried. Aaron boldly handed over the brooch, which was considered an imperial treasure, to the Siegfried family.

“The color gold signifies not only the imperial family but also the grand ducal family, doesn’t it?”

She knew that her words surprised the Master, but Amelia didn’t stop. Leonel spent a huge sum of money to buy the brooch. When he received the information that the brooch would be auctioned, he won the bid for an unimaginable amount. At that time, Leonel lacked foresight. Despite being a member of the Siegfried family, he couldn’t wield the power of the Siegfrieds.

To fill that void, he needed a brooch that was considered a treasure of the imperial family. In truth, Leonel was close to desperation. Even if he had the brooch, it didn’t mean he would be recognized.

“Are you saying you will hand over the imperial family’s treasure to the grand duchy?”

“It’s already in my hands.”

The mine belonged to her. The Master, who seemed calm all this time, was surprised, and she couldn’t help but laugh at his startled expression. Her statement seemed quite shocking.

“I will put it up for auction.”

Up to this point, she did the same as Aaron did. Aaron had sold the brooch on the black market. The initial goal was not Leonel. He simply wanted to set the price and earn money instead of offering it to the emperor. Leonel got involved in that.

It was a plan that took advantage of Leonel’s desperate desire.

“It’s the imperial family’s item. It’s dangerous.”

“I know.”

It was an unofficial imperial family treasure, one that was told in history. If the brooch of the first emperor was auctioned, it would attract everyone’s attention. It would truly be an extraordinary piece. But if you think about it, it was an item that everyone coveted but no one could possess.

It was the imperial family’s treasure, and no prominent family could obtain it. In the end, it would only return to the imperial family. Besides, daring to put the imperial family’s possessions up for auction could lead to punishment rather than receiving the right price.

“There might be fearless fools anywhere, but it will be hard to get the desired price.”

However, there was one family that could own the imperial family’s treasure without a problem. Aaron had his eye on Leonel, who had just become head of the family. He devised a plan for Leonel to fill his lack of dignity with the brooch. The two, who seemed completely different, knew each other very well. It was in Aaron’s plan to expect Leonel to participate in the auction.

“Your Highness?”

“Don’t worry about that part. There are people who will buy it.”

The brooch hasn’t been found yet. There was no need to tell the Master about every plan. Even if I were to tell him, he wouldn’t understand it anyway.

“There are two reasons why the brooch was not detected by the gem detector.”

I wondered if Aaron might already know that the brooch was hidden in the mine. Even if he knows, it’s fine.

“One reason is that it was buried deeply in the mind, and it’s also because it’s not a registered gem.”

“It’s not a gem?”

“Technically, the Emperor’s brooch is not a gem.”

No one knew this fact. It wasn’t until Aaron discovered the brooch that he realized it wasn’t a gem.

“I’ll gather a team of reliable individuals.”

“You’re the Master, so I’ll trust you with you.”

It probably won’t be easy to unearth the brooch. Even though Aaron knew the brooch was in the mine, he was frustrated that it didn’t come out.

“Oh, and it’s difficult to find because it’s in a much deeper place.”

But it wouldn’t be a difficult task for the man standing in front of him. The Chester Merchantry would obtain whatever they desired, even if they had to create it themselves. The reason for this statement was probably because of the Master.

“You’re not going to tell me the overall plan this time either.”

“Didn’t I tell you I was going to auction off the brooch?”

It’s strange why he had so many questions for her. He never asked Aaron or Leonel about their goals. The Master in the book was always taciturn.

“It seems like your real purpose is not that.”

Amelia intentionally looked around at the desserts. Maybe the master she knew and the one in front of her were different.

“But, there’s something I wanted to say.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

Although he knew she was trying to change the subject, his willingness to go along with it somehow seemed amusing. It felt like he knew everything but was willing to look the other way.

“Is this free?”

“Yes?”

“I was wondering if it’s included in the commission fee.”

Maybe because the Master is here. The desserts on the table were more elaborate than usual. It must have been brought from the variety of desserts sold by the Chester Merchantry.

“…No.”

In fact, I had a different question, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask as it would be impolite. The Master was someone who tightly hid his true identity. He would not entertain personal questions.

“My child really likes desserts.”

“….”

Somehow the cake reminded me of Leonel. I should keep my promise to buy something delicious…

“It seems that you really like… your child.”

“I couldn’t have endured it without Leonel.”

I’m sure that if Raphael, that human, had been the only one there, I wouldn’t have been able to endure all this time. He always complained that she smelled out of nowhere. He was naturally talented at getting under people’s skin.

“I thought you were in love with the Grand Duke?”