Kai, intending to politely decline, reluctantly accepted the basket and purple horn as Stella’s expression appeared too sad to resist.

Such food and the horn of a low-grade monster were trivial compared to the reward Kai had given today.

“This is my way of repaying you.”

Kai handed Stella a prepared box with a gloomy expression. Among the gift packages stacked like a mountain, he brought out the smallest box.

Kai didn’t check what was inside. It wasn’t something he needed.

Stella was about to refuse but changed her mind, accepting the box that Lois offered. She remembered Rudina, who, despite having no money, bought market items for her as a birthday gift.

Thinking that Lois might have roamed the market to prepare this gift, Stella’s momentarily uncomfortable feelings disappeared like melting snow.

Even though the contents of the box were trivial, Stella was pleased.

“Thank you.”

Stella handed Kai a small package, then silently watched Lois’s retreating figure.

As Kai walked away, carrying the basket and the purple horn, he belatedly realized that he hadn’t asked about Eunhwa.

“Sigh.”

However, he didn’t want to come back another day to inquire about Eunhwa. Helplessly, Kai redirected his steps back to Berdura Castle.

“Why did you come back? Changed your mind?”
Seeing Kai return, Stella asked with curiosity. Kai sighed lightly, looking at Stella’s eyes that had become even brighter than when he initially refused.

Kai came down from his horse and awkwardly inquired.

“The silver coins you gave me.”

“Oh! Those coins? Did you like them by any chance?”

He wondered if there might be a way to learn swordsmanship from Lois. His heart raced with anticipation. If Lois, not someone else, could teach him swordsmanship, he might learn at a much lower cost.

“Where did you get them?”

“Why?”

He thought Lois might ask for another favor or inquire about the source of the silver coins.

“Do you know that these are not ordinary silver coins?”

“Yeah, they’re very old.”

In response to Stella’s calm answer, Kai stared at her with a sharper gaze.

“Where did you get them? Did you bring them from Amalune?”

Uncertain about how to respond to Kai’s questioning tone, which resembled an interrogator probing a criminal, Stella hesitated.

The most natural answer would be to say that she brought them from Amalune. However, Stella thought to make good use of this opportunity.

“If you teach me swordsmanship, I’ll tell you where I got them. By the way, the silver coins I have are not all I have.”
As suspected, Princess Stella had more coins. Judging by her expression, it seemed she was not precisely aware of the power these coins held.

She could have someone immediately search through every corner of Verdura Castle. However, Kai did not want that.

This thought contradicted Kai’s nature of resolving things as quickly and reasonably as possible.

Before wondering why such thoughts occurred, an unexpected answer came out of Kai’s mouth.

“Once a week is the most I can manage.”

While answering, Kai cursed himself for even considering spending time teaching swordsmanship to a princess who came to him for guidance, disrupting the nature of the Emperor of the Credion Empire.

“Can it be twice a week? If I learn faster, I’ll find out about the source of the silver coins sooner.”

Lois also knew about the Earth Fairies, so she could tell the truth. The only concern was that if she revealed the truth, he might try to manipulate the Earth Fairies and take the rest of the coins.

However, she quickly thought that the Earth Fairies, who considered her their benefactor, wouldn’t allow such a thing.

Twice a week.

“Instead, let’s set a time limit. I can’t pour my time endlessly for someone who lacks talent in swordsmanship. I’ll give you exactly one month.”

A month seemed a bit short, but Stella had no other choice.
“Alright. Instead, if your skills improve to the point where you are amazed during that month, then extend the period by another month. Of course, by then, I will also tell you the source of the silver coins.”

The Earth Fairies watched the conversation between the two with great interest. Occasionally, whispers about who might win were heard, but Kai deliberately ignored them. He didn’t want to admit it, but he couldn’t shake the thought that he kept restraining Princess Stella.

“Alright. But if Princess gives up in the middle.”

“There’s no way I’ll give up. If I do, then I’ll give you all the silver coins I have.”

Of course, it was a lie. Kai didn’t know how many silver coins he had, so giving away just a few would probably be enough.

After a brief hesitation, Kai concluded that he wouldn’t incur losses. Of course, this conclusion was highly subjective.

Perhaps this woman, like Melissa, might have hidden talents.

However, the woman standing in front of him didn’t seem to match well with a sword, no matter how you looked at it. Handling a sword was a different realm from throwing daggers or javelins.

“Learning swordsmanship is never easy.”

Royce’s tone seemed to be looking down on her, making Stella’s pride hurt.