“Oh, kitty!”

You shouldn’t be running like that with an injured leg!

I hurriedly chased after the cat. Despite it being a kitten, it was so swift that I lost it in the maze-like alleyways.

Oh no, this can’t be.

Just because I tied a handkerchief doesn’t mean its injured leg is healed. Running would only worsen the wound.

Unable to just leave it, I searched for the runaway cat.

“Little one, where did you go? Little one!”

As I checked inside trash cans and stray bags while wandering the deserted alley, I accidentally spotted two men in priest robes having a conversation in a secluded area.

‘Huh? That person is…’

One of them was the platinum-haired priest with the beautiful appearance and bright smile from earlier.

The other man bowed deeply in apology to the platinum-haired one.

“I’m sorry… I couldn’t… as you said.”

The words were scattered, perhaps because of the distance.

The platinum-haired priest looked down at him with an unexpectedly cold face, making the smile from earlier seem like a lie.

“The work is unsatisfactory… You must have disappointed…”

“I’m truly ashamed… as a member of the clergy.”

“Enough. I’ll handle the aftermath… You may leave.”

The man repeatedly bowed and disappeared down a side path.

The platinum-haired priest, now alone, sighed deeply and ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

‘Is there a problem within the temple?’

I wasn’t sure what they were discussing, but since both were priests, it was likely something related to the temple.

‘Hmm, if I go and ask about the kitten now, it might seem tactless…’

But it might be a chance to talk to the handsome platinum-haired priest and find out about the kitten’s whereabouts.

While contemplating, I absentmindedly leaned against what I thought was a wall.

However, it was actually a stack of wooden boxes placed in front of the wall.

Crash.

The pile of boxes lost balance and toppled over onto me.

“Ah!”

Instinctively, I crouched down and covered my head.

Fortunately, a board that had been standing with the boxes tilted over me, blocking the avalanche of boxes.

The problem was that I was now trapped under this pile of boxes.

“Hey! Help!”

I shouted at the top of my lungs.

It was essentially a call for help directed at the platinum-haired priest who was closest.

Footsteps approached, thankfully having heard my voice.

Even if he wasn’t the blond one, as a priest, he should help me.

I peeked through the gaps between the stacked boxes. The gap was larger than expected, allowing a clear view.

My face, at least from one eyebrow to my nose, should be visible from outside.

“Ah…!”

The platinum-haired priest finally appeared at the alley entrance where I was trapped.

His face was shadowed by the backlight, but his purple eyes shone brightly.

The moment our eyes met.

“……?!”

He turned around and walked away.

…What?

Is he just leaving?

‘He’s really leaving like this? Is this for real?’

The reaction was completely opposite to what I had expected, leaving me dumbfounded.

Too shocked, I belatedly pounded on the boxes and called out to the priest, but he didn’t return.

What a terrible person.

In the end, I tried to escape on my own.

“There’s someone here! Please help—!”

The boxes wouldn’t budge, and no one came to help.

Exhausted, I desperately called out to the one person on my mind under the dark pile of boxes.

“Carl!”

“What.”

A miraculously indifferent voice responded.

Suddenly, the boxes around me were whisked away, letting light in.

Soon, the face I longed to see appeared. Carl, who had rolled up his sleeves and cleared the boxes, extended his hand to me.

“Caaaaarl!”

I cheerfully called out to him and grabbed his hand to stand up. I felt like crying tears of joy.

“Careful.”

Since I had been crouched down, my legs were numb, and I stumbled. Carl quickly supported me.

His muscular chest touched my cheek.

Wow, it’s like a rock.

As I admired it in this situation, Carl helped me stand straight, frowning.

“Master, I told you to stay put, didn’t I?”

“Huh…?”

“I was looking for you.”

“Ah, sorry. It just happened…”

I awkwardly apologized and watched his reaction. Carl sighed, pressing his forehead.

“Even when I leave you to rest, there’s a problem. From now on, stay close to me.”

“Okay.”

“And here, your earring.”

He pulled out a blue butterfly earring from his pocket and handed it to me.

I accepted it, surprised and delighted.

“Wow, you really found it! Where did you find it?”

“It was dropped near the entrance of the stock exchange. The clasp was a bit loose, so get it fixed.”

“Got it, thanks. I knew I could count on my bondservant!”

I gave him a bright smile and a thumbs-up, genuinely grateful.

“…Ahem. Let’s go.”

Carl cleared his throat and nodded, seemingly not displeased by my words.

Afterward, while shopping with him, I kept an eye out for the injured kitten.

But I never saw that cheese-colored kitty again.

Nor did I find any injured blond man near the plaza.

Darn, my hint!

In the end, with no significant gains, I bought a few items for Carl and returned to the Duke’s residence.

Thanks to my minimalist bondservant, it didn’t cost much.

* * *

In a shadowy alley even during the day, a man appeared.

He wore a high-quality black robe and quietly watched Shailyn’s retreating figure.

Under the robe, glimpses of ash-blond hair and mysterious teal eyes could be seen.

‘There was no need to help.’

In truth, he had come upon hearing Shailyn’s cries for help.

Just as he was about to assist her, a man who seemed like a guard appeared.

Thanks to that, he avoided getting involved in a bothersome situation, but…

‘I couldn’t repay the favor.’

The man gazed silently at the blood-stained handkerchief in his hand before slowly turning away.

His presence faded back into the alley’s shadows, disappearing naturally.

* * *

From the next day, I eagerly waited for my stocks to rise.

On the third day of purchase…

My stocks achieved a 20% return.

This was a success, but the problem was…

“Wow, even with this, it’s not 100,000 gold.”

Principal 80,000 gold, profit 16,000 gold. A total of 96,000 gold.

The seed money was too small, so the amount was just a speck.

The saying ‘many a little makes a mickle’ is a lie. A speck is just a speck, no matter how much you gather…

‘When will I ever save up money at this rate?’

Suddenly feeling overwhelmed, I slumped onto the sofa when someone knocked on the window.

Turning my head with difficulty, I saw Carl standing on the balcony.

“What is it, why are you like that?”

“I suddenly feel like a beggar, so I’m in despair.”

“That’s really sudden.”

Carl walked over and picked up a newspaper.

Reading the article about the rise of Clarke Magical Tool Company’s stock, he raised an eyebrow.

“The stock you bought went up.”

“Yeah. But even so, it doesn’t make money, money. Ha…”

Since I didn’t have the leisure to slowly grow money in this world, I sighed in frustration.

Hugging a cushion and slumping weakly, Carl flinched.

“Can you leave me to wallow in the sorrow of having no money…?”

He hovered around me, seemingly unsure what to do, then quietly closed the door and left.

He entered through the window, but exited through the front door.

What an unusual bondservant.

* * *

After leaving Shailyn’s room, Carl walked down the hallway with a troubled expression.

He felt like an incompetent bondservant unable to help his master, who was troubled by money issues.

Scratching the back of his head for no reason, he saw Paul approaching from the opposite direction.

“Carl, what are you doing here? Slacking off again?”

“No, I just came from seeing the master. She told me to just leave.”

“What? Did you make some mistake with Miss?”

Carl frowned and shook his head. It seemed the housekeeper thought of him as a ruffian.

He was a bondservant who served his master properly, after all.

“It’s not my fault. She seemed sad because she lacked funds to invest in stocks.”

“Miss is interested in investing?”

“Yes, she made a profit. But since the investment wasn’t even 100,000 gold, she didn’t earn much.”

“I see…”

Hearing unexpected news, Paul nodded with a serious expression.

‘The saying “blood is thicker than water” isn’t just for show.’

The Duke of Diart was the most financially powerful family in the empire.

Their bloodline was said to be born with talent for commerce, and even though she was from a collateral line, Shailyn seemed to have inherited the Duke’s talent.

After some thought, Paul reported this to Bartholomew.

Bartholomew was stirred by the latest news about his granddaughter.