For a moment, my breath caught. It might have been my imagination, but the child’s eyes suddenly seemed sad.

“I want to find the person who wrote that letter.”

Hands clasped neatly.

Back straight and chin lifted.

What story could this child, who seemed well-versed in etiquette, have?

‘This might not be something that can be solved with money…’

I glanced around discreetly. Judging by the atmosphere, it was definitely a letter left by their mother.

It’s not that I’ve never received requests to find people, but I had never tried to find someone whose identity wasn’t clear.

If they only knew about the letter’s existence without knowing the writer’s name or other information, it might be beyond my capabilities.

“Do you know who wrote this letter?”

If only they knew the name, or at least what the person looked like.

“I’m sorry. I only know that they left it while I was sleeping.”

Ah. A request I’d have to decline.

“I’m afraid that with just this note, it’s impossible to find who wrote it. It would take a lot of time and money, which might be too much for a young master like you to handle.”

“I have a lot of money.”

The child smiled brightly and pulled out a pink diamond from their bosom. The diamond, about the size of an adult man’s thumbnail, was expensive enough that even I would have to think twice before buying it.

“Don’t tell me… you came here alone?”

The child nodded with a bright smile.

You’re walking around the bustling streets alone with such a terrifying jewel?

What on earth are your parents doing!

“Why? Is it not allowed because I’m alone?”

I pressed my throbbing forehead with my hand.

“I have more jewels like this at home. Or would you like to come and see for yourself?”

What should I do with this reckless little one?

Did they think they knew who I was, readily offering to take me to a house full of jewels?

I couldn’t just leave it be. Even if I didn’t accept the request, they shouldn’t go around showing that jewel elsewhere.

“Kid, let me give you some advice as someone who’s lived much longer than you.”

The child looked at me quizzically, noticing my sudden change in tone.

“Take that jewel, keep it safe, and go straight home. And if you don’t want to die, stop wandering around busy streets with requests or whatever.”

“Why would I die?”

Ah, this young master with a head full of flowers.

“The world is full of people who think nothing of taking a life for money. If a young child like you is seen carrying such an expensive jewel, you’ll die the moment you’re noticed. If you’re unlucky, you might not even die but be sold as a slave.”

“……”

Did they finally understand what I was saying? The child’s face hardened. Then, they cautiously opened their mouth.

“Then, can’t you keep this for me?”

“…I’m not an auntie.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Call me unnie.”

“You look much older than me for that, though?”

Wow, this kid hits while smiling.

“Anyway, if you keep this for me, I’ll come back for it later.”

“No. If you want to deposit a jewel, go to a bank.”

“But you said not to walk around with this.”

How does this kid not lose a single argument?

We really don’t get along.

“Can’t you go to the bank with me, auntie?”

“……”

“I’m still too young to open a bank account, so can you keep it in your name for now?”

“…Kid.”

“Yes, auntie?”

“If you stop calling me auntie, I’ll go with you.”

“Okay! Unnie!”

Look at this kid. Already showing signs of being a sly one, this one.

After going to the bank with the mysterious young master and depositing the pink diamond under Black Swan’s name,

I wrote up a request form stating that Black Swan would keep the deposit certificate, as it seemed a bit risky to leave it with the child.

‘How did I end up with such a troublesome situation?’

I should be heading home after work, but here I am, what am I even doing?

Anyway, after reluctantly sending the child off alone, who stubbornly refused my offer to take them home, I returned to the office and tidied up the spot where the child had sat.

Then I found a small note placed on the cushion that still looked new.

“What’s this?”

Inside the note was a single word: “Pass.”

‘Did that kid write this?’

The way that young one, barely old enough to be registered, spoke so articulately seemed quite precocious.

‘I hope you bring an adult quickly to retrieve the jewel, kid.’

Please, let’s not get entangled any further. You and I.

Returning to the mansion after a later-than-usual departure from work, I received a letter from a servant of the gambling house while Anna had gone to prepare my bath water.

‘Sigh……’

It contained the horrifying news that my father, Baron Deli, was playing his last game at the gambling house with his fingers at stake, and by the time I received this letter, all ten of his fingers would likely be cut off.

“Young lady, are you going?”

Anna, who had finished preparing the bath water, approached cautiously and asked. I let out a deep sigh and answered.

“I have to go, before my only father loses all his fingers.”

At my words, Anna spoke, holding back her surge of emotion.

“The Baron always does this. And you work so hard to earn money……”

“I know. If he knew how hard it was, he wouldn’t be throwing it away like this.”

I can’t even say it’s okay, even as a lie. The money my father has poured into gambling houses could probably buy two large mansions in the capital.

“How should I prepare your appearance? Like last time?”

“Yes, but the makeup was a bit light last time. Today, let’s draw the eye lines higher and thicker.”

My reflection appeared in the mirror, brought to life by Anna’s hands following my instructions.

My pink hair, rare even in the Empire, was similar to the color of diamonds.

But that was a description that only worked when I was young. Now it was a color that had lost its vitality, entangled in my father’s gambling debts and worn down by life.

‘My hair was once the color of pink diamonds.’

I recalled the diamond that the mysterious child had brought earlier in the day. It would make a truly beautiful ornament if crafted.

Custom-made jewelry. That’s all in the past now. How many years has it been since I’ve only bought ready-made pieces?

Ugh, enough with the self-pity. I need to go catch my father.

Sharply raised eye lines.

Hair gathered and pulled up high.

Riding clothes that showed signs of frequent wear, with a cape casually draped over.

‘Good. Perfect.’

I checked my appearance once more before entering the gambling house. Whoever was clinging to my father this time, I needed to leave a formidable impression.

‘I don’t want to throw away the honor of the baronial family like this.’

Since I couldn’t drag my father out like luggage, I brought along a few mercenaries from Black Swan. They gathered at the gambling house as if accustomed to my request, even though I hadn’t told them where to meet.

“Open it.”

At my words, the gambling house doorkeeper smiled broadly and replied.

“Have a good time!”

I glared at the doorkeeper who said that while knowing why I was here, then strode in.

The acrid smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol.

And women wearing strong perfume were enjoying gambling at tables with noble men.

This place never gets any easier to handle, no matter how many times I see it.

“Where is my father?”

I caught a waiter who was moving through the crowd serving drinks and asked. Recognizing me as Baron Deli’s daughter, he beckoned with his hand for me to follow.

Following him, I arrived at a room in the back of the gambling house. It was a place where VIPs gathered, and you could only leave after declaring all-in or making someone else do so.

“Oh? Schmidt! My daughter!”

My father, thoroughly soaked in alcohol, was looking at me, barely able to control his body.

The men sitting on either side and across from him nodded slightly in greeting, as if they had expected me to appear.

“So this is the Deli young lady that Baron Deli brags about so much.”

The most unctuous-looking of the three men offered me a handshake with the hand that had been stroking his beard. Of course, I just flashed a quick eye smile and cleanly rejected the handshake.

I don’t want to know men who roll around in places like this with my father.

“Father, get up.”

I suppressed my rising irritation with superhuman strength and helped my father to his feet.

As expected, he could barely stand on his own.

I signaled to the mercenaries standing nearby. They expertly rolled up their sleeves and surrounded Baron Deli.

“I apologize for the disturbance.”

I nodded slightly and gave a small bow. I knew from quite a bit of experience that it would only be to my detriment to ruffle their feathers unnecessarily.

Just as I thought the situation was being resolved smoothly.

“Wait.”

Someone called out to stop me. It was one of the men who had been sitting at the same table, enjoying the gambling.

With a pitch-black mask and equally black hair, he spoke with gleaming golden eyes, as if finding this interesting.

“Baron Deli still owes three fingers… If you leave like this, whose fingers should we cut off?”

I lifted my chin and crossed my arms.

“How much?”

“3 million tiga.”

“……I’ll pay and leave.”

I stopped a passing waiter. Then I took out three 1 million tiga checks that I had brought from the mansion as emergency funds.

“Give these to that man.”

The waiter seemed puzzled by my order to hand them to someone right in front of me, but carried out the command without comment.

“Can I go now?”

“Hope to see you again, young lady.”

I ignored the man’s greeting and turned away.

‘I really hate this place.’

I bit my lip hard as I watched my father’s back being carried away by the mercenaries.

How long do I have to live like this?