If word got out that not only did she come from Calesta, but her daughter was also a former Calesta official, everyone would certainly look at the Plache family differently. The achievements her parents had made, risking their lives fighting monsters, couldn’t just vanish.

“You consider your parents most important, and I know you’ve been acting indifferent about meeting them, so if I can lessen your burden…”

Hayden shrugged his shoulders and leaned back on the sofa.

“So, the burden has lessened a bit, right?”

“Yes.”

When she met her parents in Plache, she had resolved to put on a face of steel. Now, she felt that steel could be a bit thinner. Her heart felt lighter as she had set up an achievement.

“Any discomfort in the palace?”

“None.”

Rustica nodded.

Yesterday, the Plache family, who had come up to Shalea for governance, had finally received visiting approval and quickly met her.

Although the meeting time itself was short due to various risks, it was still a happy time. There had been no days as comfortable and leisurely as of late.

“Did you come all the way here to ask that?”

“I always put effort into treating guests well.”

It was natural to check if there were any discomforts, and if the burden had lightened enough to think about other people.

“Ah, yes……”

“I learned it from a lady where I live. She even gave me a bed and sold a bear I caught to take good care of me.”

“Don’t mention that money; I left it in the Calesta office. It upsets me.”

“Oh, well. I raised the skill, but you swiftly took the money, so it ends up that way.”

Grimacing, Rustica covered her eyes with her hand.

“How much was it?”

“I also have the wealth I earned in Calesta in my luggage at the office, all converted to gold.”

Hayden’s expression turned serious in an instant.

“You didn’t bring all your wealth, did you?”

“No. If I’d converted all my wealth to gold, I couldn’t have brought it here. I earned a lot.”

“I’m sure, compared to the achievements you made risking your life in front of the barrier, the salary they gave is inadequate.”

Rustica lowered her hand, covering her eyes, and looked at Hayden.

“……That’s true.”

“So, where’s the rest of your wealth?”

A faint smile appeared on her lips. Dimples formed near the corners of her mouth, rising slightly.

“Why, will you find it for me?”

“Of course. I’ll convert it to Pertheta Empire currency for you, considering the highest exchange rate.”

“……It’s near the cabin in the woods.”
Immediately, Hayden stood up from his seat.

“Get up. It would be good to wear a hat and put on your coat properly.”

“Are we leaving now?”

“Do you have something to do?”

“No, don’t you have a lot to do, Your Majesty?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

It might not matter to the Emperor, but it did to his subject. And Rune, who was to become his subject, immediately shook his head.

“No, no, Your Majesty. You have a lot to do; we can’t go to Momentum’s edge right now.”

If Court Simon Kainberg heard this, he would surely scream. Your Majesty! Why there again? Can’t you see the pile of documents stacked on your office desk?

“Is it okay if someone else takes that property?”

“I’ve given up. Well… I’m still young; I’ll have to work hard to earn it again.”
And her father was an earl, her mother a countess, and even her brother a baronet. Would they starve? The household of the earl didn’t look destitute, so after sticking close to her parents, she pondered what to do next.

“Do you have any tasks for me? I’m confident I can do a good job, especially if it helps Carlos’ cause.”

Upon seeing Rue, who was able-bodied and had received some higher education, actively promoting herself, Hayden finally sighed.

“My lady, be honest. You’re not very interested in money, are you?”

“No, I am! Very much so!”

Rue immediately pointed in the southwestern direction.

“Thinking about the gold bars I left at Momentum makes me so upset I can’t sleep! You know how much I love money! Remember the two bears you hunted? I sold everything from their organs to bones and skins very frugally. I love money. Very, very much.”

She affirmed her love for money twice, a strong affirmation. But it didn’t make a dent on Hayden.

“If you really loved money, you’d have looked into how much the annual budget allocated to the imperial palace is. Get up, young lady who only has half as much greed for money as others.”

He took Rue’s hand and helped her up.

“Are we really going?”

“Yes. If I don’t retrieve all that money, I won’t be able to sleep tonight either.”

Determined, Hayden took Rue inside. Her newly invigorated ankles lightly advanced forward.

Dressed warmly enough to satisfy the Emperor, she disappeared from Grea Palace in a blink of an eye.

On the westernmost end of Momentum, bordering the Caletta Empire, with no direct road leading to Perseus, was the most western part of this fiefdom. Here, amidst the pitch-black forest, stood a cabin that was nearly in ruins.

“……It’s not surprising.”

The door and windows that she had locked before leaving were now open, and the household tools inside were in a mess.

No, in fact, what remained was just broken fragments. It was obvious that someone had ripped everything out and overturned the house.

The underbrush near the cabin had been trampled. It appeared as if thieves had come, but both Rue and Hayden knew instantly that wasn’t the case. Rather, individuals more akin to soldiers had meticulously searched the place.

“So, the Caletta Empire has reached out this far.”

“The news must’ve spread in the village. The kids must’ve been scared.”

How frightened the children must’ve been when the sister who used to give them candies and teach them reading and math disappeared, and intimidating people intruded. Rue murmured while glancing toward the village.

“You seem fine even though the house you’ve lived in for years is in this condition.”

“I took all the important things when I left, so it’s okay. I expected that at some point animals or drifters would enter.”

Hayden quietly stared at the cabin.

He was probably checking for hidden magic.

“Looks like they made sure there’s nothing valuable. There’s nothing here.”

“Yes, there’s nothing here. Come this way.”

Rue left the cabin without a second thought and entered the deeper forest. She always wore a hooded cloak that covered her face in this area. Those were the days when she felt helpless, not knowing anything.

Hayden, following her, saw her count the order of the trees and glance around to check directions before standing under a uniquely-patterned birch tree.

“This is it.”

Rue, who was dressed in a noblewoman’s outing dress but had no qualms about squatting down and sweeping away the fallen leaves under the tree, extended her hand.

“Your Majesty, give me the shovel.”

“You intend to dig right now?”

She lifted her head. Hayden, who had his arms crossed, looked at her as if she were crazy. Wait, why is he empty-handed?

“Where did you put the shovel?”

Hayden had taken it after Rue had made sure to bring it.

“I left it because it wasn’t needed.”
“It’s buried really deep here.”

“That spot? Are you sure?”

Hayden approached and bent down to dust off her hem as he asked the question.

“Yes.”

“Step back. We have a long way to go.”

Shaking his head, he looked down at the spot Riga had pointed out. Suddenly, the soil started to sink inward.

The solid earth flowed away like sand. It didn’t stop flowing until the exact moment when the pouch Riga had buried was exposed. Then it halted. A hand in a black glove pulled out the heavy pouch.

“Wow.”

Hayden looked at Riga, who was reaching out with both hands, as if it was absurd.

You don’t usually smile, even though you’re called the most handsome man of the century, but you smile at gold bars? I could send you dozens of carts full of those.

It was unbelievable. But his hand was already passing the pouch to her. And yes, he was already smiling.