It might be ridiculed by others that the Emperor, who effortlessly beheaded enemies, cherished nothing more than a simple teddy bear. However, it couldn’t be helped. Even storing it in the treasure chest was due to concerns—worries about exposure to too much sunlight, fear of its color fading, worries about dust accumulating, and anxiety about someone damaging it. Harman was the only one aware of these facts.

Sometimes, it served as a useful threat when Kai was about to engage in activities that might jeopardize his health.

Dash: Shall the entire nation know that the Emperor’s most treasured possession is a teddy bear?

Kai knew Harman would never reveal this, but for the sake of the elderly courtier’s mental well-being and small happiness, he always pretended to yield.

“Take all the allowance.”

As Kai casually played with the coins inside his pocket, he lightly exhaled. Then, he tossed the coins into the drawer containing documents imprinted with footprints.

Rolling.

From within the drawer containing only one document, the silver coins rolled and hit the drawer’s inner wall, lying flat.
Glancing at the drawer and about to close it, Kai suddenly stopped and slowly turned his head into the drawer.

Then, with a sparkle in his eye, he took the coins lying there and examined them closely.

“Why is this…”

Even Emperor Kai, who had only confirmed the existence of these coins in history books, was surprised. The coin had a genuine look, especially with the seven different fruits engraved on the back, symbolizing the Tree of Life.

These coins, created by the first emperor of the Kredeon Empire, Weimar Edelgard, under the orders of the Imperial Sorcerer Edat, were said to be imbued with magic, bringing immense luck and power to the possessor. Legends spoke of only a hundred of these coins, a combination of silver and gold, and the actual owners were rumored to have experienced unexpected fortune, regained health, or found love.

Of course, Kai didn’t believe these stories. Those who already had much could afford to acquire such coins, and their wealth and power were inherent, not due to the coin. However, people blindly believed in these far-fetched tales and spared no means to obtain more of these coins.
In the end, Emperor Weimar forcibly acquired the coins under the imperial decree and, to prevent any further turmoil, hid the one hundred coins in an undisclosed location.

Stella was nothing more than a princess sent as a hostage from a minor country. She was a princess sent away like a discarded child, not receiving support or love from her father.

Kai’s expression narrowed as he looked at the glimmering coins under the lamp.

The introduction of complexity, inconvenience, and events unfolding beyond his control disrupted the peaceful daily life, and the last piece, the one-hundredth fragment he had obtained, was undoubtedly wrong.

It was necessary to find out for sure.

Mila completed her report and returned to Verdura after midnight. It bothered her that she couldn’t greet the princess and went to sleep so late.

Mila, going to Princess Stella’s room earlier than usual, knocked several times, but there was no response inside. Mila waited briefly outside the quiet room and then cautiously opened the door.

“Princess, are you awake…”

Casually greeting, Mila entered, but the bed was empty. Bedding was scattered, as if someone had hurriedly left.

“Princess?”

Mila examined the room once again before going out to the balcony to look outside.

“Where could she have gone?”
Mila, who was examining every nook and cranny of the spacious garden, frowned slightly when she spotted someone. It was Bryn who was watering the garden.

“Why is Bryn here at this hour?”

Darren and Bryn had been going to the market early in the morning lately to sell carrots. Therefore, at this time, they should be setting up a stall in the market.

“No way!”

A shiver started from Mila’s spine and went up her neck.

Please, let it not be that. Mila descended as calmly as possible, thinking repeatedly that Princess Stella wouldn’t be so reckless.

On the way, she encountered Lianne but hurriedly greeted and quickly disappeared into the kitchen. It was ominous.

As they came out of the castle, the refreshing scent of early morning filled the air. After taking a deep breath, Mila approached Bryn, who was watering the field with a watering can not far away.

Bryn, who was humming a song, suddenly looked up at the chilling sensation.

“Mi, Mi, Mila-nim. Good morning.”

Awkwardly smiling, Bryn bowed politely.

“Where did the princess go?”

She didn’t bother with trivial questions like why he was here at this hour.

With a face frightened to the core, Bryn looked at Mila, who asked straightforwardly, and chewed on his lower lip before lowering his head.

“Well, the thing is…”

“Did she go to Conpagnyo?”

Bryn closed his eyes tightly, nodded his head.