“Hello? You must be Lady Cielte. You’re very pretty. Our boutique has quite a few items that would suit you well. What do you say, want to go take a look together?”

“Ah, I… I’ve seen you in portraits. Lady Belita! You’re my idol.”

It felt like she had finally met someone at Roberg who matched her perfectly.

Ibnis, entranced, followed Belita and boarded her carriage.

***

Marit.

Her real name was Mariposa.

She was one of the elite members of the Roberg Knights and a mercenary from the western country of Lorencia who had been taken in by Classid.

Persecuted in her homeland for being a half-elf, she had gone to the battlefield solely to earn money.

However, combat was not easy.

After a defeat, Classid saved the lives of several stragglers, including her, gave them new identities, and brought them into the Roberg family.

Since then, Marit had been serving Classid with unwavering loyalty, just like the other knights in the order.

With her composed expression and characteristically rigid posture.

Marit, who was endlessly gentle and soft as Liria’s nanny, maintained a disciplined appearance before Classid.

With his gaze fixed on documents, Classid asked Marit.

“…How was it?”

“I delivered them well, my lord. The young miss was extremely pleased. She particularly loved the teddy bear. I think we can stop making teddy bears for the young miss now.”

Inside her gloves, all ten of her fingers bore countless needle pricks from becoming accustomed to sewing.

For her, sewing teddy bears was twice as difficult as stitching up wounds.

Classid quietly responded to Marit’s words.

“There’s no need to exert yourself on unfamiliar tasks. Treat those hands first.”

“…I’m fine, really.”

Classid looked at Marit with a hint of exasperation and tossed something to her.

It was an ointment made from Pukari herbs, effective for external wounds.

“There will be many watching eyes this evening. Make sure Liria doesn’t stand out too much, keep her among the other children.”

“Understood. However, the young miss knows all too well how to give me the slip.”

“…That’s something you should reflect upon.”

Classid wished that his daughter’s talents wouldn’t shine so brightly.

That she wouldn’t attract attention like he did.

Even if she were below average, her chances of surviving safely would be higher.

***

Liria followed her grandfather’s back like a little chick, trotting along as he walked ahead.

After proceeding in silence for quite some time, Grandfather stopped walking.

“You looked like you had something to say… what is it?”

“Yes, grandfather. I came to keep my promise. I said I would show you my magic achievements within a month, remember?”

Liria spoke confidently, gathering her courage, but the response wasn’t what she expected. The Duke rubbed his chin and said.

“That doesn’t seem to be what you really wanted to say. Show your magic achievements tomorrow.”

“…To-tomorrow?”

Liria’s mind went blank at this unexpected command.

She had planned to use her magic achievements as a pretext to get pocket money as a reward…

Liria’s small shoulders quickly drooped, and she considered using the aegyo she had practiced on her grandfather but gave up.

If she simply asked for pocket money from her tiger-eyed grandfather, she might get struck by his icy glare and be chased away.

‘How dare you covet my blood-like wealth?!’

He might say something like that.

Though incredibly wealthy, her grandfather disliked wasteful spending, according to his autobiography.

The reason Roberg had become such a wealthy family was because he knew the value of money, saving when necessary and spending when appropriate.

Then, she thought of a way to appeal to her grandfather.

The Roberg Magic Bank, belonged to her grandfather who loved money more than anything in the world.

Recently, there had been achievements at the Magic Bank, too.

She had heard that the bank’s security had been enhanced thanks to the password system she had proposed.

She could highlight that and ask for a performance bonus.

‘Isn’t this a perfect plan?’

As Liria grinned while formulating her plan, her grandfather glanced at her with strange eyes.

“…Why are you smiling?”

“Eek, ah… was I smiling? Oh, right, grandfather. I have something else to tell you.”

Liria straightened her chest, her eyes shining as she spoke.

“I heard that if I needed anything, I should request it, so I remembered something.”

“Is that all you have to say? You could have relayed that through your maids or the head maid.”

Despite his gruff voice, Liria spoke clearly without backing down.

“I wanted to tell you directly, Grandfather. I heard that since the Roberg Magic Bank switched to the password system I proposed, security has improved. A bank should be a place where people can trust and deposit their money, right? Since it’s practically the same as protecting enormous funds, I’d like to receive compensation for my achievement!”

Liria’s eyes sparkled with confidence as she demanded fair payment for her contribution.

As Liria said, until now, the bank had been vulnerable due to the absence of passwords.

By widely promoting this, people would trust and use the Roberg Bank more, so the single idea of passwords had created unimaginable value.

“Hmm… indeed. I heard about that from Emmett as well. The bank manager also praised whoever came up with the idea.”

With a faint smile on his lips, the Duke regarded the child with interest in his red eyes.

He had already been thinking of acknowledging Liria’s contribution and giving her a reward for this matter.

He just hadn’t expected her to propose, asking for compensation first.

‘Not only clever but quick with calculations too. Having the ability to accurately claim what’s rightfully hers is a talent in itself. And such eloquence at an age when most children just whimper and cry…’

He was secretly impressed by his youngest granddaughter’s words, which bordered between impudence and cuteness.

“I was planning to give you pocket money as a reward.”

Liria’s face brightened at the Duke’s words.

“Thank you so much, Grandfather. I’m going to put that money in the Roberg Magic Bank and save it up carefully. They say if you treat money preciously, you’ll become rich!”

“…Ha. Who told you that?”

The principles of money that even grown adults don’t understand.

‘This soft little thing has realized it?’

「Money follows those who value it highly.

Money trailing money gradually accumulates like snow, making one wealthy.」

Those were words Vladimir had written in his diary after amassing his fortune.

“I saw it in a book in the library! The one with grandfather’s portrait…”

Apart from the genealogy, the only book with his portrait would be his autobiography.

Instead of praising her admirable behavior, the Duke spoke.

“Then I’ll remove the age restriction on your magic account access. Normally, one can only receive it upon turning twelve.”

As the Duke gave his approval, Liria rolled her eyes.

‘He really permitted it. He was already thinking of giving me pocket money as a reward. I’m glad I spoke up.’

“Thank you so much for allowing it. I’ll go create an account right away.”

But an unexpected statement followed:

“Your account has already been created.”

“What?!”

This was completely news to her.

‘Why would grandfather have created an account for me?’

As she rolled her eyes and tilted her head in confusion, the Duke said.

“Wait a moment.”

Shortly after, the Duke called Emmett through a communication orb and handed her a blue box that Emmett had brought.

It was a ring with a luminous transparent gem embedded in it. It sparkled so brilliantly that she couldn’t take her eyes off it.

“This is the magic seal that proves you are the owner of your Magic Bank account.”

‘How beautiful.’

Liria marveled inwardly.

She was almost dazed that such a precious item was now hers.

“What are you doing? Take it.”

“Ah, yes!”

At her grandfather’s stern command, Liria quickly accepted the magic seal and examined it carefully.

No matter how she looked at it, it was dazzling.