CHAPTER 21
“Is this cat ten gold as well?”
“It’s one hundred gold.”
What? You just said ten gold!
“Hehe, white cats are always rarer, you know.”
Then what are these black patches on its back?
Do you think I can’t see properly? Or is it you who actually can’t see?
Still, when I looked into Melin’s eyes, I gave up.
‘That’s the look of someone completely in love.’
Her violet eyes clung to the white cat like honey was dripping from them.
With no other choice, I gestured to the maid, Lisa, to take out the money.
“…Here.”
Haggling over a living creature in front of a child didn’t feel right, so I handed over the full hundred gold without hesitation.
“Hehe, thank you kindly.”
The merchant, bowing repeatedly, snatched up the money quickly.
‘Letting emotions get the better of me and not even trying to negotiate… tsk tsk.’
If Duke Dinero had seen this, he’d definitely click his tongue and say that.
Then, I looked at the cat in Melin’s arms—it didn’t even try to run and was oddly docile.
“That’s strange. Is it used to humans?”
Normally, cats would be wary of strangers and try to escape.
But this one didn’t even flinch.
Suddenly, a memory from the original story flashed in my mind.
‘Wait. I remember Melin having a cat in the original too, right?’
But actually, it wasn’t a cat—it was a divine beast. Not even a feline divine beast, but a white tiger.
‘And the name of that white tiger divine beast was…’
It was on the tip of my tongue.
At that moment, Agathe spoke to Melin.
“Have you thought of a name yet?”
“Yeah! Mion!”
That’s it—Mion.
Recalling Mion’s pitiful look toward Melin just now, I quickly snatched Mion away as he tried to leap into her arms.
Because a certain one-line description of Mion in the original story suddenly came back to me.
“Hold on, Melin. Maybe you should pick a different one.”
“Myaow!”
“I like this one!”
I rubbed my forehead as I looked at Mion, crying pitifully, and Melin, stomping her feet in frustration.
‘That fox! Pretending to be a cat in front of Melin while secretly waiting for a chance to become her familiar!’
Knowing that was its eventual motive, I couldn’t let it stay by Melin’s side.
“Hissss!”
Mion, now in my arms, finally started hissing and throwing a fit. That’s when I was sure.
‘Yep, this one’s definitely the white tiger.’
In the original story too, Mion never let anyone but Melin touch him.
And there was another reason I couldn’t take him.
Divine beasts were officially under the jurisdiction of the Penelope Duchy. If we got caught with one, things would get extremely complicated.
‘Wait a second…’
Thinking about the divine beasts’ unique powers, an idea flashed through my mind and made me stop in my tracks.
‘As long as we don’t get caught… it might be fine.’
Looking at Mion still hissing at me, I gave him a bright smile.
“What’s with the cat? You don’t seem like the type to raise pets. Unexpected.”
Duke Dinero narrowed his eyes as he sipped his tea in the drawing room and looked at me.
But… I left Mion in the carriage?
“How did you know?”
Don’t tell me he had me followed? Trying to uncover my transport business secrets?
I backed away slightly with suspicion, and Duke Dinero scoffed in disbelief.
“That fur on your sleeve gave it away.”
Ah.
I noticed the white fur stuck to my sleeve too late.
“Melin wanted it.”
“Such a loving sister.”
There was a trace of nostalgia in the duke’s navy-blue eyes.
“Family bonds are a good thing. Heh.”
The reason for that look was likely his own younger sister, the only family he had as a child.
Duke Dinero had cherished his sister greatly. They had been close, but she died young from malnutrition.
‘That’s probably when his obsession with money started.’
With his business acumen, Duke Dinero caught the eye of the previous duke and eventually became the heir.
Still, he could never forget his sister, who remained like a phantom pain in his heart.
“So, are you still intent on that transport business?”
“I don’t really have a choice since you won’t approve the inheritance, Your Grace.”
“Hmm…”
The duke looked thoughtful.
‘Wait… could it be?’
Is today the day?
I looked at him with hopeful eyes, waiting for the green light on succession.
“It’s still too early for succession.”
At his words, I let out an exaggerated sigh and made no effort to hide my disappointment.
“But I’ll grant you joint business rights.”
Jackpot!
My eyes sparkled.
Honestly, I knew he had no intention of giving me succession rights. So my real goal had always been the joint business partnership.
‘For some reason, Duke Dinero has no intention of approving the succession.’
If that ever seemed likely to change, I wouldn’t even dream of continuing this Claim Transport venture.
There’s a very important reason behind that.
“…Pardon?”
But outwardly, I feigned surprise.
“I mean I’ll personally act as your guarantor. So you’re not some puppet figurehead who could be reported at any time.”
I sipped my tea and adjusted my expression, cheering inwardly.
That part had worried me too.
‘Technically, what I’m doing is illegal.’
I’m the one actually running the business, but because minors can’t legally hold business rights, I had Agathe listed as the official proprietor. That was a crime, of course.
‘All part of my plan to drag Duke Dinero into this.’
Looking back, it had been a risky move.
“So you’re saying… we’ll run the business together?”
“Yes.”
Duke Dinero spoke in a very matter-of-fact tone.
“Or you can spend the next three years sucking your thumb.”
“I’m making plenty of money already, thank you.”
I played hard to get just a little.
If I accepted too easily, this fickle old man might get suspicious and back out.
“Are you really satisfied with that kind of money? From what I’ve seen, you run things like a greedy little fox.”
“…”
At this point, I was sure of one thing:
Only a money fiend can recognize another money fiend.
“I don’t know how much money you’re aiming for, but do you really think you can get there without this deal? Heh.”
“…I never said I was refusing.”
At that, Duke Dinero burst into hearty laughter.
‘If the major shareholder of Tara Transport becomes my guarantor, I can co-manage the business.’
That would grant me access to a lot of powers I currently lack.
Like international trade.
Or military procurement and war reparations.
In any case, I’d gain access to ventures tied to the royal family.
‘The scale of revenue would be entirely different.’
That mattered, but more than anything, I needed Duke Dinero’s unique authority.
But an inevitable question remained.
‘Why give me this but still refuse succession?’
Still, I grinned and said,
“Then shall we draw up the contract?”
Meanwhile, enjoying her rare outing, Melin didn’t want to return home just yet. After much begging, her sister let her stay out for two more hours.
Of course, only under the condition that Agathe and Lisa accompanied her—but hey, that was still something!
In high spirits, Melin wandered about, but soon found herself lost in the middle of the capital.
“Heehee!”
Still, her expression was far too cheerful for a lost child.
[Are you okay, Melin?]
A worried whisper from a spirit drifted to her ears, but Melin just muttered inwardly,
‘Hmph! Agathe and Lisa never let me play properly anyway!’
So, with help from the wind spirit Sylph, she had secretly run away.
Now, she was thrilled at the chance to play freely.
“Lalalalala~”
Hopping along merrily through the streets, Melin suddenly came upon a scene.
A boy with hair darker than night and vivid green eyes, surrounded by men in black masks.
It looked clearly dangerous.
‘What’s going on?’
Melin instinctively hid behind a wall and watched.
“Who are you people?”
The black-haired boy, calm beyond his years, stared down the masked men with a chilly gaze.
“That’s not your concern. Just come quietly.”
“…”
Without a word, Lenox pulled a dagger from his coat.
“Come at me.”
“This brat’s asking for it.”
The men began drawing their own weapons—concealed blades.
[Should I help that child?]
A soft female voice whispered in Melin’s ear.
It was Sylph, the wind spirit.
‘Wh-What should I do?!’
As Melin hesitated, stomping her feet nervously, the battle began.
