Episode 6
“If you take out that ‘something’ from the spring for me, then I’ll obediently return to the mansion and focus solely on recovering my health.”
“Hm.”
In my words, Father’s eyes narrowed into thin slits, the calculating gaze of a merchant weighing profit and loss.
You’re not getting out of this one. I smiled sweetly and hammered in the nail.
“And I’ll take all my life-sustaining treatments without a word of complaint. Even if you happen to get yourself into debt again.”
“Is that true?”
As expected, the moment those words left my mouth, his thread-thin eyes snapped wide open.
I took a deep breath and nodded slowly.
There’s no one else in the world who would light up at the idea of going into debt except my dad. Everyone else struggles to save every penny.
“I still don’t fully understand, but at least this isn’t a proposal that would harm me. Very well!”
He was just about to accept gladly—
“Oh, but in return.”
I cut him off, as if I’d been waiting for this moment.
“If something does come out of there, then…”
“Then?”
“From now on, no matter what happens to the Sidus family, just let it go.”
The bit earlier was just bait this was the real condition.
Things like this might happen again, or even stranger things might occur in the future.
If I had to convince him every single time, my already short lifespan would be cut even shorter.
“No matter what happens to the Sidus family…”
Father repeated my words, frowning slightly. I continued in a voice brimming with confidence.
“I will never do anything that harms the family.”
“…”
“And I’m not trying to overwork myself either. I promised to spend the rest of my time with the family, remember?”
I’m doing this to save the family, you know? Just trust me!
“…Fine.”
I sent him my ultimate sparkling-eyed attack, and finally, he nodded quietly.
Honestly, it wasn’t something that required such long consideration. Whether I was lying or not, it was a proposal with no real downside.
“To be honest part of me wishes there is a treasure chest, but another part hopes there isn’t.”
Father dipped his foot carefully into the spring, speaking like a man confessing his worries.
“I can’t go back on my word now that we’ve made a promise… but still.”
“…”
“I just… wish you hadn’t given up yet.”
He turned his head to look at me with deep affection, then sighed.
“You’re still too young.”
I stared back without answering. There wasn’t anything I could say.
I couldn’t give him the answer he wanted. I knew my condition better than anyone else.
My body was far beyond the point where hope or surrender could even be discussed. All that remained was waiting for the end.
“…Yes, I suppose it’s torture for you to endure as well.”
As if he understood, Father turned away and stepped deeper into the spring.
I don’t know how much time passed.
“Mia… it seems like there’s nothing here…”
He was walking slowly along the edge of the spring, about to declare his surrender, when he suddenly stopped, frozen in place.
That honest reaction made the corners of my mouth curl up into a wide grin.
Found it! My treasure! My money!
“No way… seriously…?”
He bent down, feeling under the water. His expression was a mix of disbelief and astonishment.
“Is there something, Master?”
Tina was pacing around him, looking doubtful.
I rubbed a finger under my nose as I watched their faces.
Of course, they’re shocked.
Who would expect something to be hidden in that filthy spring? That’s exactly why Mr. Lorraine hid the treasure chest there.
He set the starting point and ending point as the same place, making us return here after all the trials, to realize the principle of cycles.
And to teach the lesson that the value of treasure isn’t affected by its environment.
Not just treasure — the same applies to someone’s talents or skills.
Ability doesn’t discriminate.
Father eventually pulled the chest out of the water, and I gave a small nod.
“Go ahead, open it, Father.”
It should be enough to pay off the debt in full. The person who hid it was extremely wealthy, after all.
He fumbled with the lock, hands trembling. There was no need for a key — entering the spring had been the last obstacle.
The wet chest creaked open—
“…My god, heavens above.”
He muttered in shock, then slammed it shut.
After a few deep breaths, he slowly opened it again.
“My god… heavens above.”
And slammed it shut again.
Creak, slam! Creak, slam! This repeated several times.
“How… how is this possible…”
He sounded not just shocked now, but almost hollow.
I seized the moment.
“As you can see, I actually can smell money.”
You can be a little proud of me, you know.
Wow! The earl’s daughter has everything except good health!
“I was originally going to keep it a secret because of my bad health, but when I saw you going into debt because of me, I couldn’t just sit and watch—”
“Miena.”
He called my name in a flat, absent voice before I could finish.
Was he going to ask why I’d kept such an ability hidden? Well… the truth is I just made it up right now.
I glanced at him cautiously and hurried to explain.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Father. But I’ll pay back every coin you lost because of me.”
Once the treasure map’s code is deciphered, the value of the abandoned Thales mine will skyrocket.
Of course, the treasure will already be safely in our possession.
“This chest may feel light, but it’s enchanted with a weight-reduction spell. That’s why I didn’t bring any guards — we can transport it without anyone noticing. The coachman will just think it’s an old box.”
“No, that’s not what I—”
“And when people flock to the Thales mine later, it’ll be too late to block them. So we should put up a tall fence soon to mark it as private property, and when people come to negotiate—”
“Miena, wait!”
I stopped mid-speech and blinked at him.
He sighed.
“I’m not blaming you. Just… listen to me for a moment.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
Guess I got carried away again.
I closed my mouth and waited expectantly.
He looked at me, then Tina, then the chest… and hugged the chest with a grave expression.
“This money should go toward your treatment—”
“No.”
I shook my head instantly.
It’s not like I have a gambling addiction that needs urgent treatment.
Or maybe you’d call it… treatment addiction?
As expected, the gold coins and jewels inside were more than enough to pay off all of Father’s debts.
We decided to use one-third to settle the debt. The problem was the remaining two-thirds.
Mia, you said you gave up on treatment only because we had no money. But now we have all this…
The moment he realized the amount, Father’s eyes lit up, and he started thinking of other wasteful ways to spend it.
I managed to block him with excuses like not wanting to sleep under the open sky, and wishing Mother would return from abroad… but still.
I can’t relax. If I let my guard down, he’ll squander it all.
As long as I’m alive, I won’t see that happen. Better to die first.
[Well, I’m already sick.]
And soon I’ll be dead anyway.
I tossed aside the biographical dictionary I’d been reading, and it floated up to its place on the bookshelf.
This is why I love dreams. I sprawled backward and let out a long sigh.
Today was exhausting. Finding the treasure was fine, but arguing with Father drained all my strength…
[Still, I have work to do.]
I got up from the planetarium seat.
That tycoon’s son’s name was Patrick Johnson. Congratulations you’re today’s special visitor!
I’d searched newspapers, eavesdropped on conversations, even walked through dreams, compiling my very own Miena Sidus Biographical Dictionary just to find that name.
Rather than waiting forever for the code to be cracked, it’s faster to step into his dream and give him a little hint myself.
I folded a paper airplane and sent it flying. It wobbled at first, then straightened its path — a guide leading to Patrick Johnson’s dream.
[Let’s see if anything’s updated.]
Following the paper airplane, I glanced at the glowing doors and their nameplates. Then, in the distance, I spotted a familiar one.
Standing slightly apart from the others, pouring out a dazzling light, with no name at all.
[Ah.]
Oh, right there was that one.
