“Why is Peter in Hispoth Town?”
Dad looked puzzled by my words.
Peter was a man from Bonwell Village who loved playing cards.
He was forty years old this year—short and skinny, always wearing a flat beret.
“I’m not totally sure, but you know that hat Mr. Peter always wears? I saw someone walk by wearing the same one! They disappeared quickly, and I lost them… maybe I should’ve called out?”
“No. It’s dangerous to call out to strangers. And if it was Peter, he’d have come say hello first.”
“True. Mr. Peter’s outgoing and not afraid of nobles. Even if there were knights around earlier, he’d have squeezed through to greet us!”
“If Peter had heard what you just said, he’d be laughing. He’s actually afraid of knights.”
Dad said this as he gently smoothed out my messy hair.
“Really? Why?”
“He’s afraid of getting caught.”
I was still too distracted, wondering what Mr. Victor was up to, to notice something important—
That Dad’s lips had curled into a faint smile.
***
“Hm~ Hmmm~”
A cheerful hum escaped Yossel’s lips as he sat in the boss’s office.
It was already late at night, but he had no desire to go home.
“I wonder how they’re doing~”
No matter how many times he looked, he wanted to look again.
Yossel slid off his chair and crouched in front of a large metal safe beneath his massive walnut desk.
“Now then…”
Click. Clack.
With practiced hands, Yossel expertly turned the dials of the safe.
Click! The door opened.
‘Two billion!’
The safe was stuffed full of cash.
Yossel dropped to his knees in front of it, overcome with emotion, covering his mouth with both hands.
“Khrrph…”
It felt different from when he received a one-billion Kona check from Hevant.
This was two billion Kona in cash. And all thanks to his own lucky streak.
The wave of emotion was overwhelming.
“All this time… All this time…”
How bitter it had been all this time. Thanks to Reytan, the Stone House was never demoted to just an annex, but Yossel was always third in line.
Hevant and Marian always looked at him with disdain.
His mother occasionally pitied him.
And his father didn’t even spare him a glance.
“Ew. A child model? No way.”
“I don’t want to either.”
“Marty, Harty. We’re helping Father with his new business.”
“A new business? If we do it, can we move to the Diamond House?”
“Nope~ We’re staying in the Emerald House forever.”
Recently, even his angelic children had stopped respecting him as the head of the family—but not anymore.
Yossel’s eyes gleamed.
From now on, people would line up to invest in him, just like they did with Hevant or Marian.
Money begets money.
“………”
Yossel swallowed hard as he stared at the pile of cash.
He picked up one bundle of bills and tucked it into his coat, double-checking several times that the safe was securely locked before leaving the dressing room.
The gray coat that had been on the mannequin fit him perfectly.
Hispoth Town was a bustling city.
Even near midnight, carriages were still roaming the streets, looking for passengers.
Normally, Yossel would’ve chosen the flashiest carriage.
But this time, he walked an extra block and flagged down a modest black one.
“Where to, sir?”
“No. 28, Rad Street.”
The driver, familiar with the address, confidently steered the carriage.
They crossed a bridge and exited the shopping district, entering a well-lit alley.
Yossel stepped off there and knocked on an unmarked wooden door.
A small rectangular wooden panel at the top slid aside. After peering through, the doorman burst into hearty laughter.
“Well, look who it is!”
“It’s been a while. Got a seat?”
“For you? We’ll make room even if we don’t have any. It’s been years since you’ve graced us, Master Yossel.”
“Shh, shh—quiet!”
“Oh, the Count doesn’t know yet… Anyway, perfect timing.”
The doorman eagerly rubbed his hands together to please Yossel—a high-rolling regular who hadn’t visited in years.
They walked down a dim hallway lit only by a few candles.
When the inner door opened, a burst of noise greeted them from a brightly lit room.
Inside were multiple gambling tables and a bar where people could order drinks.
But instead of heading into the main area, the doorman guided Yossel down a hallway to the right—toward a private room.
“Poker tonight?”
“That’s right. Got players?”
“We’ve got people—and a bumpkin.”
“A bumpkin?”
“He’s been losing everything since early evening. You’re going to have some fun.”
“Well, well…”
Looks like it’s my turn to shine.
Yossel grinned slyly.
***
“Young Miss Berry…”
The riding instructor looked at me with a troubled expression.
“Your height’s just a bit too short for riding a big horse. It would be dangerous. You should just observe the other young masters and ladies until next year.”
Boom.
It was my first riding lesson, and I had been so excited for it.
And now this? Being told I didn’t meet the height requirement?
Even the riding outfit Dad got tailored for me—useless.
I was even wearing the matching hat.
“What about a pony…?”
“Count’s orders—no ponies either. Actually, you’re not allowed to ride any horse.”
“…Did you just say ‘Count’?”
“No, no I didn’t.”
He totally did.
Looks like Grandpa had forbidden it, thinking horseback riding was too dangerous.
‘He must think I inherited Grandma Julia’s illness…’
Even now, he checks constantly if I’m carrying my stone.
Because of that, Aqum stays asleep whenever I visit Grandpa or go to the training center.
I understood his concern, but I couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
When Zikal let me ride last time, it had been exhilarating. I was really looking forward to these lessons.
“Then what if I wear a taller hat?”
“That’s, um—”
The instructor was visibly struggling with how to respond to my persistence.
Then I heard laughter behind me. Predictable. Calypso.
“What’s the point of stretching your torso if your legs are short? Are you dumb?”
“It’s not short legs—it’s just that I’m small.”
“Nah, it’s definitely short legs.”
He walked into the arena, climbed the steps, and got on his horse with ease.
Ciel was already riding around the track.
But of course, Calypso made a point of guiding his horse over to the fence, right next to where I was.
Looking down at me, he smirked.
“Hey, watch and learn. I am a riding prodigy, after all.”
“Su~ure…”
I didn’t even feel like responding.
I just waved my hand and muttered something vague.
Calypso, grinning with excitement, grabbed the reins and galloped off.
He’d been complaining about how Aunt Marian was overloading him with studies—
But now his face looked carefree.
‘I’m jealous…’
He is a good rider.
I was watching Calypso and Ciel with envy when I heard some hushed voices nearby.
“Harty, we need to stop Father.”
“Yeah. Mom said if he fails this time, it’ll be a disaster.”
It was the twins, waiting nearby for a chance to talk.
‘Fail? What are they talking about?’
‘Uncle Yossel? They need to stop him?’
The twins had been on their best behavior ever since we wrote that ‘subordinate contract.’
Because of that, life had been pretty peaceful and bully-free.
But today, something about them felt off.
‘I want to know more…’
I casually inched backward to close the distance between us.
“Marty, how much do we have saved in the bank? Should we just invest instead of him?”
“Not a lot. Just ten million Kona.”
…‘Not a lot’—and they have ten million Kona?!
Even if I scraped together all my gold coins, I wouldn’t come close to that.
Hearing that from two nine-year-olds with a rich grandfather made me realize again just how different our worlds were.
I wanted to keep listening, but just then.
“Miss Harty, Master Marty—please come inside.”
Their horses had been brought out to the riding arena.
‘Darn, too bad.’
I turned back to watch my cousins ride with envy.
Then I noticed Ciel, on the opposite side of the arena, trotting slowly.
Her gaze was fixed on someone.
Even just from the silhouette—it was unmistakable.
That handsome boy was definitely—
“Huh? Theon?”
