He pointedly mentioned the cost of the original horse, minus what he was going to pay. Surely, this person could make a good business partner, regardless of whether he liked me or not.

“Yes.”

“I didn’t expect you to be concerned about such matters. Wouldn’t it have been better to buy it for one silver coin then?”

“As I mentioned, valuable things should be treated with value. If you buy something valuable by deceiving its worth, its value diminishes.”

This was something I realized in my previous life. Everything must pay its worth to be of value. Whether it’s an object, a person, or an animal. Think about it.

When I tell the stable master to take good care of the horse, saying, ‘I bought this for one silver coin, but it’s a great horse, so take care of it,’ versus ‘This is a hundred gold coin horse, so take good care of it,’ which one do you think the stable master will value more?

Valuable things deserve valuable treatment. That includes the pricing.

“That’s interesting.”

The Duke unfolded his arm from his chin.

“Your mango juice and strawberry milk, along with tri-color macarons, ganache cake, and soufflé pancakes are ready. We plan to serve the order for those outside in a bit.”

Right on cue, our ordered menu arrived. We waited for the server to set everything up and leave before picking up our forks.

“Eat and listen.”

Normally, such words would make anyone tense up and put their fork back down. But taking his words at face value, I took a sip of my mango juice and cut a small piece of pancake.
“The ninety-five gold coins were an unexpected expense, but that’s not for you to worry about.”

I couldn’t help but be concerned about the fact that it was nineteen times the expected amount. Even if it wasn’t a huge burden for the Duke financially.

“As I mentioned to the horse trader, it’s also a matter of royal dignity. A Duke can’t haggle over prices, right? I said I’d buy you a horse, not that I’d buy a five-gold-coin horse. It’s undignified to ask for change just because the budget turned out to be more than I expected.”

“So, you’re saying that you won’t count it as a difference?”

The Duke sipped his strawberry milk, shrugging.

“That’s right. It’s not something for you. Even if it hadn’t been for you, if I had gone to buy a horse and liked one that cost that much, I would have bought it anyway.”

Usually, if it’s for oneself, it’s okay, but if it’s for others, it’s considered a debt, right? But the Duke thought otherwise; he would have done the same for himself, so it’s not a debt for others. Quite a unique way of calculating debts.

But this raised another question for me.

“Then why did we come here?”

I thought we came to settle the debt, but if he never intended to hold a debt, why bother coming to a place like this, that’s not even suitable for our age group, to drink mango juice and strawberry milk?

I thought it was a valid question, but the Duke’s expression contorted strangely, as if regretting he was having this conversation with such a fool.

“I told you, shopping ended too early.”

My expression probably mirrored his. If shopping ended early, we could have just gone back early… What did the end of shopping have to do with coming to this place?

Realizing he wasn’t making sense, the Duke exclaimed as if he had an epiphany.

“Ah, why do we have to spend time here? Didn’t I tell you, the Empress specifically asked me to look after you?”

Asked to look after me? I tried to recall. Yes, he did say that she made a special request. But wasn’t that to choose a good horse for me? I was sure I heard the explanation, but my confusion only grew as I bit my lip.

Seeing my puzzled face, the Duke’s expression twisted again. Now, it seemed like he thought of me as exasperating rather than foolish.