“So, no one can move the gold coins because they either suddenly expand or become incredibly heavy when touched?”

I asked incredulously after hearing the whole story.

“I’ve been too busy with Rose’s situation to revisit this place until now. Although I haven’t experienced it myself, according to my subordinate’s reports, that seems to be the case. Perhaps it’s because these treasures were guarded by the Wind Spirit King.”

‘Come on, Lucion. You didn’t believe me when I said I summoned spirits, looking at me with pity like I had some delusions of grandeur.’

It was my first visit to the willow forest since the night I fainted with Rose.

The gold coins that had filled the space created by the Spirit King now densely covered the forest floor.

“Sir Ramin, try picking up a gold coin.”

Following Lucion’s command, a man named Sir Ramin picked up a coin, which immediately ‘popped’ and multiplied. Ramin grimaced and dropped the coin. It was clearly impossible to move.

“I apologize.”

“Just as reported…”

Darius and Lucion looked serious.

“This is a problem.”

“Duke.”

I whispered softly in Darius’s ear.

“Would you like to try picking it up?”

“Me?”

“Just give it a try.”

Darius skeptically picked up the coin Ramin had just dropped in disgust.

“Hmm?”

As expected.

“Is it heavy? Is it different from a normal gold coin?”

I gestured for silence to Lucion, who stared wide-eyed.

“Indeed, the Duke and Duchess have extraordinary abilities…”

“Quiet, please. Lucion, try touching a gold coin too.”

Lucion hesitantly picked up a coin, which remained calm in his touch, as if it wasn’t a magical coin at all.

I sighed.

“Just as I thought.”

I whispered the secret of the gold coins to Darius and Lucion.

“These coins are enchanted. If one tries to take them for selfish gains, they can’t be moved.”

I had experienced it myself when I accidentally drooled on the coins in front of Sylphid, almost getting trapped.

“Being able to touch these coins means you both are truly unselfish.”

Indeed, a hero and his trusted knight. I was right to trust Lucion.

“So, the soldiers couldn’t move the coins because…”

It meant everyone had harbored some selfish thought upon seeing them.

“Seeing such an amount, it’s natural for people to be tempted. Even if they don’t act on it, a little fantasy might cross their minds.”

Not that I was tempted or anything.

Lucion’s eyes blazed with anger towards Sir Ramin in the background. Understandably so, a knight should have a sense of responsibility. I am the Duchess, after all.

“This is wisdom passed down from our ancestors. We need to thoroughly vet the knights and soldiers involved in the excavation…”

“Don’t rashly replace people, Lucion.”

Darius unexpectedly intervened to calm Lucion down.

He remained composed even in the face of corrupt soldiers.

“Soldiers swayed by gold, I can’t have such men under my command.”

“Being overly righteous is your flaw, Lucion. A commander must play the hand he’s dealt in the battlefield.”

“Duke’s words mean…”

“Let all the soldiers and knights in the forest touch the gold coins.”

“What?”

“Brilliant, Your Grace.”
I smiled slyly at Darius’s words. As if to prove we were a couple, we both had the same idea.

A long line had formed in front of the willow forest.

“Next person.”

“Yes! Soldier Zavet, reporting as called!”

In front of a heap of gold coins, some kind of test was being conducted.

“Lucion, what do you think? We must have counted all the excavated gold coins by now.”

“These are the same type of coins that Lady Annette found in the castle last time.”

“The same type, you say? The ancient coins that collectors value at twice the market rate?”

“Precisely, my lady.”

“Goodness, that means…”

In front of Darius, Annette, and Lucion lay a heap of gold coins.

Their conversation was somewhat awkward, and their tone theatrical, but the befuddled Zavet was none the wiser.

‘What are they trying to do? Everyone who entered the tent at the lord’s call came out shaking their heads. How difficult can the task be?’

Standing in front of the Duke of the North and the beautiful new lady, Zavet’s hands trembled as he clutched his spear.

He didn’t even glance at the plentiful gold coins. After all, they weren’t his.

“Was it Zavet?”

The beautiful lady, Annette, smiled at Zavet.

“Just move these gold coins over there. It’s not hard.”

“Yes, yes? The gold coins…?”

Weren’t the forest’s gold coins enchanted and impossible to touch?

“Me?”

“Just give it a try. Who knows? Maybe if you move the gold coins well, you’ll be rewarded with them.”

Zavet, still dazed, reached for the pile of coins. He didn’t expect anything to happen.

“Huh…?”

“Hmm, you’re someone who can touch the gold without any issues.”

Darius observed Zavet closely and nodded. Lucion also took note of Zavet’s name separately.

Zavet had seen firsthand someone getting crushed by multiplying gold coins when they touched them in the forest. But now, nothing happened.

“Looks like Lucion lost the bet again.”