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(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 3/4 🎉)

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“You know, Louis.”

“Yes, Aer.”

“Have I ever told you about my plan?”

“No.”

Louis’s voice was lower than usual as he tried to suppress his burning anger. The Duke of Raymond, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, was still arrogant and strong.

He felt ashamed for not being able to help Aer at all and wanted to hide. Even though he wasn’t a commoner, he had become one, and he felt like he was holding her back. He couldn’t look her straight in the eye.

“What’s wrong?”

When Aer, who immediately noticed this subtle difference, asked, Louis adjusted his glasses unnecessarily and replied.

“It’s nothing.”

“…You know. I plan to make a lot of money.”

Aer had a sudden realization after seeing Duke Raymond.

If someone with such absolute power were to bring down her family, she, as the child, would be unable to leave the sinking ship along with her father.

Moreover, she glimpsed the Duke’s deep hatred.

“So much money that the stores I create will be known not only in the Empire, but also in the Kingdom of Floss, the Kingdom of Moncha, and even across the sea.”

Aer was the child of a noble family and even a Marquis’s daughter, but she never properly enjoyed that power.

Until one becomes an adult, parents are the power, and what rights could a child who didn’t even meet their parents’ expectations enjoy?

Rather, because she grew up being ignored, and because she remembered her past life, she could think this way.

“The nobles don’t know. The world is bound to change, and with it, the class system will change too.”

The two started moving their feet, which had been rooted to the spot.

Aer walked first, and Louis followed. Still holding hands, they headed towards their hideout.

“But there’s something that doesn’t change. Even if the world turns upside down, people won’t let go of wealth. I firmly believe that a world will come where those with money can also grasp power.”

Louis stared intently at her as she spoke with determination.

Aer looked up at the sky instead of at Louis. Imagining being able to fly in the high blue sky, she said:

“Well, it’s not much different now.”

No matter how high-ranking a noble is, it’s useless without financial backing.

Power doesn’t come from rank alone. If so, she would exploit that weakness.

She would never be disrespected again by those under the wrong impression.

Listening to her words, Louis thought of Astin. Although he couldn’t help her openly, he could help her secretly.

From now on, Ruse the information broker would actively help Aer.

“Aer.”

“Yes?”

Louis said as he sat her down on a bench.

“Everything will go as you wish.”

He couldn’t help her directly right away, but he intended to make her wishes come true. To do that, he would have to sort out his own surroundings first.

“…Will it really?”

It’s truly a happy thing to have someone who listens to your thoughts. That’s why you can gain courage, and also indulge like this.

Louis sat down beside her and took off his glasses. He needed to find a way to get rid of these cumbersome glasses.

Or else…

He would make her wishes come true, even if it meant brainwashing the entire world.

“Of course.”

He was no longer afraid of the fact that he could brainwash others.

Aer gained strength from seeing Louis smiling kindly. Suddenly, she felt regretful that they wouldn’t be able to meet during the vacation.

***

Louis bit his lower lip as he saw the Imperial Palace through the carriage window. He couldn’t believe that this hellish place was his home.

Just six months ago, before entering the academy, he didn’t have much complaint about this place.

Since his mother passed away, he had always been alone, so there was nothing to compare to.

Whether he was unhappy or happy.

But after meeting Aer, he became well aware of his circumstances. Moreover, his desire to live quietly had changed.

The carriage stopped at a more secluded place, not where the imperial family usually used. It was a place leading to an abandoned palace, hidden by huge trees, away from the main palace, empress’s palace, and crown prince’s palace.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

The coachman didn’t even help move his luggage and hastily left after a perfunctory greeting. He probably received orders from someone.

Was it the Empress who felt satisfied by inflicting even such small humiliations on him? Or perhaps, unexpectedly, it might be his father, the Emperor.

Louis picked up his luggage bag with an indifferent expression. Following the familiar path, he soon came upon the abandoned palace.

Creeak-

An unpleasant sound echoed as he opened the door. Entering the visibly dusty lobby, Louis let out a small sigh.

Of course, it wouldn’t be cleaned.

Who would want to associate with a prince who had fallen out of the Emperor’s favor, with no particular abilities and no backing from his maternal family?

He headed to his room, familiar with the way.

Creeak. As he opened the door, a figure inside greeted Louis.

“You’ve arrived, my lord!”

“Astin.”

“Ah, these are still missing. How dare they neglect my lord’s quarters like this!”

Louis had seen the corridor full of dust just moments ago. However, his room was spotlessly clean.

He must have hurried here to clean. Even though he’s busy with his work as an information broker.

“Thank you.”

Astin looked at Louis with a blank face at his words.

“Wh-what… Pardon?”

“Is it that surprising to hear words of gratitude?”

In fact, Louis knew. How unkind he had been all this time.

After his mother passed away, Astin was the only one who came to this abandoned palace that no one else visited.

He liked Louis’s mother because they were from the same hometown, and he liked Louis as well.

Louis himself doesn’t even know where his mother’s hometown is. He only heard from his mother that it was a place where moonlight was mysterious.

“It’s surprising coming from you, my lord! Am I about to die? Such good fortune usually precedes something bad…”

“Don’t say such things, even as a joke. What would I do if you died too?”

Astin closed his mouth, which had been wide open at Louis’s words. After briefly showing a regretful expression, he said while placing the basket he brought on the table.

“You must be hungry? Please, sit down.”

Louis took off his outer clothes and arranged them himself before sitting in the chair and asking Astin.

“I guess the western wall was quiet today too.”

“Indeed. The Imperial Palace’s knights, for all their worth, can’t help but be careless. Well, they probably don’t know that someone disassembled and reassembled the palace wall, which has an awakened one’s barrier ability, to create a small hole. Fools!”

His red eyes flashed between his curved eyes full of mischief.

“Ah, my lord. Your fiancée is quite skillful.”

Louis, who had just put bread in his mouth, raised his downcast eyes at Astin’s words.

He liked the word ‘fiancée’ that flowed from Astin’s mouth.