A letter from Village Chief Deven arrived about a week after returning from Grayzone Village.

“All the people in our village have agreed to work for the Half-Demon Welfare Foundation. If Your Highness still desires it as before, we would appreciate it if you could take us in.

Village Chief of Grayzone, D.”

As I folded the letter again, Mina, as if she couldn’t endure it any longer, urgently asked,

“What does it say? Are they coming?”

With hopeful eyes, Mina asked me.

I, with a stern face, lifted my gaze for a moment and then changed my expression, nodding.

“Yes! They all want to work for the Welfare Foundation!”

“Really?!”

Mina joyfully clapped her hands as if celebrating her own victory.

“Now the servants of the Light Mansion won’t dare to grumble behind Her Highness’s back! How oppressed they must have felt, hearing the stories of Grayzone Village!”

With a satisfied expression, Mina swallowed and exhaled deeply, as if her chest was finally relieved.

Even while I was smiling at Mina, who looked so refreshed, it was only for a moment.

Glancing over other documents on the table, I pursed my lips.

It was administrative paperwork related to the establishment of the foundation.

“Well, if the servants of the Light Mansion change their minds, it’s fortunate, but…”

When I checked the foundation establishment cost written under the documents, a sigh automatically escaped me.

“The amount is much larger than I thought. Even if I sell all the special carriage gifts, there won’t be much left. What should I do about this?”

Struggling with my unyielding thoughts, Adrian entered the reception room at that moment.

“Your Highness, I heard you were looking for me.”

Since returning from our ancestral home in the Demon Realm, Adrian had become increasingly gaunt.

I pitifully looked at his face, which seemed to have not slept a wink overnight, and spoke.

“Adrian, is Father’s condition not good?”

Adrian nodded with a bitter expression.

“Everyone is preparing mentally. He has been lying in bed for a long time.”

After saying so, he lightly raised his head, as if trying to change the mood.

“Your Highness, what do you need?”

Only then did I belatedly recall the reason I had called him.

I handed him the documents I was holding.

“I called you because of this. The establishment of the foundation seems to be proceeding as planned.”

“Did the people from Grayzone Village finally convey their consent?”

“Yes, I just received a letter from Chief Deven. They all agreed to work for the Welfare Foundation.”

At my words, a wide smile bloomed on Adrian’s face.

“It’s truly a welcoming news in the middle of hearing. Congratulations, Your Highness.”

“Yeah, it’s good news, but…”

Adrian tilted his head slightly.

“Do you have any concerns?”

“Yes.”

As if waiting for it, I nodded and then immediately continued.

“After the foundation is established, it seems like my personal fortune won’t last long. Is there no good solution?”
“Even if you sell all the special carriages you have now, is that what you’re saying?”

“…Yeah.”

Adrian responded gloomily, wearing a thoughtful expression.

For a moment. As if concluding his contemplation, he opened his mouth again.

“If that’s your concern… How about trying reinvestment with whatever remaining amount you have?”

“Reinvestment?”

I blinked slowly.

‘Why didn’t I think of that? In the original story, investment discussions continued because of Henry!’

As far as I remember, in the next investment scene, the item Henry bought performed quite well.

But in that scene, there was a truly explosive item, and a different person chose it.

‘Anton Baker.’

He was a figure who would later be hailed as a genius in investment in this world.

It was his first appearance on the stage.

I had to explode the jackpot in that market instead of Anton.

‘But when was that time?’

As I fumbled through my memories, Adrian handed me an envelope.

“I was actually coming to deliver this. The official invitation from the Imperial Palace has arrived.”

“From the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes, it’s an invitation to the Emperor’s birthday celebration.”

The Emperor’s birthday celebration…

As I contemplated Adrian’s words, a momentary flash of the original content passed through my mind.

The time when Anton Baker exploded the jackpot.

At that time, it was when Henry headed to the capital to attend the Emperor’s birthday celebration.

‘Found it!’

In the moment when a faint smile spread on my lips, Mina, who had gone to deliver something, returned to the reception room.

In her arms was a box filled with something.

“Your Highness, please take a look at this!”

Mina’s face was filled with joy.

“What’s all this?”

When I asked with a puzzled expression, Mina, smiling brightly, put down the load on the table all at once.

“These are all gifts sent by the servants of the Light Mansion!”

At her words, Adrian and I exchanged puzzled glances.

“The servants of the Light Mansion…?”

Adrian asked with a guarded expression.