Chapter 57

While Asel stared blankly at Angel, caught off guard by the unexpected logic—

A royal knight, who had been secretly guarding the area around Laura’s mansion, entered at just the right moment.

In fact, the real reason people avoided the area near Laura’s mansion wasn’t due to rumors about the Luweiz family, but because Asel was protecting it.

Asel asked,
“Nothing unusual, right?”

“Yes, everything seemed normal… Oh, except—there was a carriage from the Machetta Trading Company that entered the property.”

Asel furrowed his brow.

“…Why is that guy snooping around? Didn’t he already come by earlier today?”

The knight scratched his head awkwardly.

“I’m not sure. But before going in, I did hear him mutter something about ‘going to become the kid’s dad’… But I didn’t think it was that serious…”

“…What? And you’re only telling me that now?”

Asel jumped up, and Angel immediately followed.

“Your Highness? Your Highness!”

The knight left behind blinked in confusion.

What’s the big deal about that line?

* * *

By the time Asel and Angel arrived at the Luweiz mansion, even the sunset had faded, and the sky was dusky.

Usually, the front garden was kept perfectly neat, according to the deceased Marquess of Luweiz’s tastes…

“What is all this?”

But today was far from usual.

Laura, stunned, stood at the center of the chaos.

“It’s just a little gesture of goodwill,” said Dindin, smiling.

Surrounding Laura was a mountain of gold bars, gold coins, and silver coins, enough to attract every servant out front.

With that massive mountain of wealth behind him, Dindin spread his arms wide like an actor on stage.

“People say you can’t buy happiness with money. Sure, you can’t buy the feeling of happiness directly. But what is happiness? Isn’t it just a state of peace, of having nothing to worry about?”

He lovingly stroked the gold and then placed one shiny bar in Laura’s hand.

“And this gold can solve most worries. Which means—you can buy something close to happiness!”

Even someone as uninterested in wealth as Laura had trouble letting go. Under the moonlight, the pure gold shimmered with a soft glow.

“…Mom?”

Just then, a small shadow walked out from the mansion entrance.

Seraphina.

Looking nervously at the crowd and the massive piles of gold, Seraphina came to Laura’s side and held her hand.

Then, she asked—

“Is Mom being sold?”

“…Huh?”

Tears welled up in her blue eyes, and her nose wrinkled.

“I read it in a book! Anyone who gives you something for no reason is shady. It’s a suspicious deal!”

For something a child said, it was surprisingly logical.

Asel unknowingly nodded.

Dindin was showering money for a reason. The problem was, his intentions were so obvious even a kid could tell.

Dindin looked down at the little girl who didn’t even reach his waist and laughed.

“Well, it’s not like there’s no reason. If I had to say… I’m kinda trying to buy your mom.”

Then, the child suddenly wrapped her arms around Laura protectively and shouted—

“Human trafficker!”

“…What?”

“You’re a trafficker! You’re trying to buy Mom with money and do something bad! You villain!”

“…Wait, what kind of books are you even reading—AH!”

Suddenly, Dindin screamed.

Seraphina’s fist had struck him hard on the thigh. Her body was small, but with all her weight behind it, the hit made a heavy sound.

“What kind of kid punches like this?! Wait—do you secretly remember your past life—OW, OW! Damn it! OW!!”

As she kept hitting him over and over again, Dindin turned and ran.

‘Wow, she’s really something.’

Asel was impressed by the child who might be his daughter.

Meanwhile, Angel rubbed his eyes.

He thought he just saw the child sneak two gold coins into her pocket…

‘No way, I must’ve seen it wrong.’

How could a child so young manage to pick out and pocket coins from the legendary ‘101 Collection’—ones collectors drooled over?

No, that couldn’t be possible.