“Yes.”
Ian let out a hollow laugh.
“”She’s truly despicable. It wasn’t enough for her to ruin someone’s life—now she’s falsely accusing them too.”
“Only a fool would believe that excuse, don’t you think?”
“There was a witness.”
“A witness?”
“Yes. I heard that many children saw it being given as a gift during the Flower Banquet.”
“So, she’s saying she received the ring as a gift and didn’t know it would emit black mana?”
“That’s right.”
Ian shook his head in disbelief.
“If the Empire crumbles because of black mages, no one should complain about it being unfair.”
“Rubbish.”
Ian’s tone grew serious.
“Even when you catch them, you let them go as innocent. Do you think they’d fear the Empire?”
“Tsk.”
Edelmar clicked his tongue but offered no rebuttal.
“Uncle! Look at this, look at this!”
“Alright, I’m coming.”
Ian ran over to Rose.
She said she was going to try a new snack, but it wasn’t particularly new.
It was just the usual chocolate stick with some sprinkles added on top.
“How many are you going to eat?”
“Uh…”
“I’ll have two!”
Hearing Fenrex’s words, Rose also shouted,
“Me too! I’ll eat two!”
Ian bought four chocolate sticks and handed them to the two children.
“Make sure to chew thoroughly and don’t forget to brush your teeth when you get home.”
“Yes!”
“Got it!”
The two kids responded absentmindedly before quickly putting the chocolate sticks in their mouths.
“Mmm, delicious.”
“It’s really good.”
Ian smiled warmly at Rose but froze when he noticed Fenrex’s tail in his line of sight.
‘Wolves are canines, and dogs can die from eating chocolate. Is it safe for him to eat this?’
Feeling uneasy, Ian looked troubled, as though he had just handed Fenrex poison with his own hands.
“Why, is there a problem?”
“Grand Duke.”
“Yes?”
“Wolves belong to the canine family, correct?”
Edelmar nodded with a puzzled look, as if questioning Ian’s train of thought.
“And dogs can die from eating chocolate. Is it safe for wolves?”
“…You.”
“Yes?”
“Have you never considered that Fenrex might be a beastman?”
“Even if he’s a beastman, isn’t he still a wolf?”
Edelmar was dumbfounded.
The Duke was undoubtedly intelligent in his actions, but oddly lacked basic common sense.
“…It’s better to just think of him as a person with ears and a tail.”
“I see.”
Though he didn’t quite understand, Ian gave a tone suggesting he would accept it as Edelmar explained. Edelmar chuckled lightly at his reaction.
“I thought you didn’t like him, yet you’re worried about him.”
“No, I definitely don’t like him.”
“Then why are you worried?”
“Wouldn’t it be unsettling if he died after eating chocolate I bought him?”
Ian replied curtly and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe Rose’s face.
“Are you eating it with your mouth or with your face?”
“I ate it with my mouth!”
“Then why is it smeared all over your face?”
Rose shook her head as if she didn’t know the answer.
Ian laughed softly and took Rose’s hand.
“Let’s go to the bank now.”
“Huh? Aren’t we eating more?”
“We’ll eat the next snack after visiting the bank.”
“Okay!”
***
The bank, made of white bricks, looked pristine.
It was hard to believe that the area had once looked desolate during its opening. Now, the front of the bank was bustling with people.
Among the crowd were local residents and merchants from other territories there for business.
“My lord, we’ll manage the people here.”
At Claude’s suggestion, Ian waved him off.
“No need. There’s no need to cause a fuss. Rose, since it’s crowded here, I’ll carry you.”
Worried that the child might get swept away in the crowd, Ian picked Rose up in his arms.
“Grand Duke, please take care of Fenrex for me.”
“What? No, I refuse.”
Both Edelmar and Fenrex frowned.
Despite their blatant refusal, Ian remained firm.
“If rumors spread that a child was lost at the bank, it would be a disaster. Especially since this is the headquarters. Nothing can go wrong here. If you don’t want to carry him, head back to the Duke’s residence.”
Edelmar sighed and reluctantly picked up Fenrex.
Neither the one carrying nor the one being carried seemed happy about it.
Ignoring the two of them, Ian entered the bank.
Unlike the chaotic atmosphere outside, the inside was much quieter.
‘Seeing this scene here feels oddly refreshing.’
The bank was designed exactly like the ones Ian had seen back on Earth.
Though Ian was skilled with his hands, he lacked creativity.
Creating something entirely new required creativity, and since he didn’t have it, he opted to replicate what already existed.
“It turned out better than expected.”
“I think so too.”
Ian observed how the staff interacted with customers and managed their tasks, nodding in approval.
Some time had passed since the bank opened, and the initial tension had started to ease.
Ian had worried that the staff might be slacking off now that the tension had eased, but it seemed to be an unnecessary concern.
“Uncle, what is this place?”
Rose, knowing they were at a bank but not understanding its purpose, asked curiously.
“A bank is a place where you deposit money.”
“Why do people deposit money?”
“Hmm, let me explain. Rose, suppose Uncle Edel gave you five candies. But then he said, ‘Since it’s evening and you shouldn’t eat candies now, if you give them to me, I’ll return six candies tomorrow.’ Would you give him your candies or not?”
“I’d give them to him!”
“Exactly. A bank works the same way. People deposit their money, and in return, they receive something called interest. That’s why people use banks.”
“Ohhh.”
Although Ian simplified the explanation, Rose quickly understood, her intelligence impressing him. Ian patted her head.
“Would you like to have your own account, Rose?”
“An account?”
“Yes.”
Ian placed Rose on the ground and took a silver coin out of his pocket.
“What are you planning now?”
As Ian put Rose down, Edelmar also dropped Fenrex unceremoniously, noticing the silver coin and asking.
“Oh, I’m planning to open an account for Rose.”
“That’s an excellent way to educate her.”
Ian nodded in agreement.
Although Rose would never lack money, she needed to learn how to save and spend wisely.
“I want one too!”
Fenrex, overhearing the conversation, held out his hand.
Clicking his tongue, Ian retrieved another silver coin.
He handed a coin to each child and instructed,
“Go over there and give them this coin. Say, ‘I’d like to open an account, please.'”
Fortunately, there were available staff.
The two children ran to the counter, handed over their coins, and shouted in unison,
“I’d like to open an account, please!”
The echo of their voices filled the bank, causing the staff to burst into laughter.
“Alright, I’ll help you open an account.”
The bank teller collected the coins and began asking for the children’s details.
Though they flinched upon hearing the family name, the teller remained professional and assisted with setting up the accounts.
“The staff are quite capable.”
“I didn’t expect them to be this efficient either.”
Fred, who used to be the former crown prince’s secretary, handled the tasks meticulously.
“Uncle!”
“Duke!”
The two children came running back to Ian, waving their passbooks excitedly.
“Uncle, I have an account now! I can deposit money into it! Look, it even says I deposited 1 silver coin!”
“Duke, I have my allowance from Father at the townhouse. Can’t I bring that over?”
Amused by their enthusiastic chatter, Ian knelt down on one knee and smiled.
“Yes, you can deposit money into it. From now on, I’ll give you an allowance, and you can put that into your account.”
“Okay!”
“Prince Fenrex, I’ll ask the diplomat to bring the money from the townhouse. Does that work for you?”
“Yes!”
After responding to both children, Ian picked Rose up again.
“Let’s head out now. Grand Duke.”
Edelmar, although less grumpy this time, still carried Fenrex without much enthusiasm.
Fenrex, on the other hand, seemed quite happy, smiling brightly while being carried by Edelmar.
“Are we going to check out the academy building now?”
“Yes.”
As they left the crowded bank, neither child stayed quietly in their guardian’s arms.
When the two children insisted on being put down, Ian set them on the ground. Hand in hand, they began exploring the shops nearby.
“How much of the academy is complete?”
“Probably, it will be ready to open in about two months.”
“And the subjects?”
“We plan to teach all the basic subjects offered in academies.”
“Magic too?”
Ian nodded.
“Won’t it be hard to find mages?”
“Why would we need to recruit mages?”
Ian pointed at himself.
“I’m a magician, aren’t I?”
“You’re planning to teach it yourself?”
“Magic is something that, as long as you have the talent, you can study on your own. I only plan to teach the theory and help children with areas they find difficult.”
Edelmar let out a dry laugh.
“Unbelievable.”
“Why? Is there a problem with a Duke teaching magic himself?”
“So you’re aware.”
Ian smiled.
“Grand Duke, what’s the difference between you teaching knights and me teaching young mages?”
“That’s…”
Edelmar was at a loss for words.
Knights were respected, but before they received their titles, they were commoners.
The knights Edelmar was currently training were still commoners without titles, no different from the young mages Ian planned to teach.
“I see.”
Edelmar nodded in understanding.
“Do you understand now?”
“Yes, I do.”
Ian smiled brightly and continued.
“Grand Duke, you might not realize this, but everyone starts as a commoner. Whether it’s the Empire, a kingdom, or the duchy I’ll establish, none of them can survive without commoners.”
Ian gestured towards the people around them.
“And how we teach and govern them will shape the future. The duchy I’ll establish will be a place where no commoner thirsts for education. A place where everyone has the opportunity to learn and rise.”
As Ian spoke, his eyes sparkled, as if envisioning the future.
Edelmar looked at the cheerful commoners around them and reflected on Ian’s words.
“How we teach and govern them will shape the future.”
It reminded Edelmar of something his father, the late Emperor, used to say.
“Commoners are not ants to be crushed at will. We exist because of them, and how we govern them determines the future of the Empire. Remember this: the position you stand in was created for the sake of the common people.”
‘If my father had met the Duke, they would have had great conversations.’
Hearing words so similar to his father’s from the Duke made Edelmar chuckle. He stared at the back of Ian’s head as he walked ahead.
‘What on earth is in that head of his?’
Ian’s innovative ideas and actions, which no other noble would even consider, fascinated Edelmar.
He was truly someone who revealed new sides the more one got to know him.
