Lehart’s sarcastic tone irritated Etienne. How could he joke at such a moment?

“Why do you keep saying irrelevant things?”

“I’m not. Aren’t you going to check if you’re the owner?”

“Feeling unjust, are you? Feeling unjust that I’m about to touch it, hoping it’ll recoil and hurt me? Whereas you wouldn’t let Fernando even try. Isn’t it hurtful that you don’t show the same concern for me? And instead of worrying, you’re stalling.”

Lehart stared at Etienne as if challenging her to respond. But everyone, including Etienne, was too shocked to take their eyes off him.

“Crown Prince.”

Etienne, still in shock, pointed at his hand.

“Your Highness, you’re touching the pottery right now?”

“What?”

Following her gesture, Lehart looked at his hand. Realizing his touch hadn’t triggered any reaction, he murmured in surprise.

“So it seems.”

The pottery’s golden glow enveloped his hand. Lehart lifted his hand slowly, but the gold remained wrapped around it.

“How does it feel to have a golden hand?”

“Curious.”

Responding to Etienne’s question, Lehart looked bewildered.

“Congratulations, Your Highness. You are the owner of this object. Could you help sort out this situation?”

Etienne, pleased, distanced herself from Fernando. The matter was now beyond her control. The Crown Prince, having realized her intentions, would surely handle it.

“Now you’re using me like this?”
Lehart looked at Etienne with a bemused expression, as if to say, “Are you really dumping all this on me?” But for Etienne, things were falling into place.

“Etienne, let’s have a deep conversation…”

“Congratulations on becoming the owner.”

Interrupted by Pigumen Count’s congratulatory remark, Lehart couldn’t finish his sentence. He sighed, still glancing at Etienne, then spoke to the Count.

“I didn’t expect to end up like this, but what can I do? I have to accept it.”

Lehart casually fiddled with the pottery and then pointed at Rahwin, who had been standing like a shadow in a corner.

“All this is thanks to you and this boy, so I’ll reward you both.”

“A reward, Your Highness?”

“Yes. The greatest credit obviously goes to Pigumen Count for bringing us together with this extraordinary object. I’ll give you a fitting reward and wish to continue our good relationship. And you… would you serve me?”

At Lehart’s question, Rahwin, initially stunned, soon knelt down.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

For Rahwin, being spared from punishment for a serious crime and getting the opportunity to serve the Crown Prince was an extraordinary honor.

However, Rahwin’s face still bore a shadow. Noticing this, Lani gently grabbed his shoulder.

“Lady Etienne gave us money for father’s treatment. Don’t worry, Rahwin.”

“Thank you.”

Rahwin’s voice trembled with gratitude.

“Pigumen Count is not here.”

The sudden arrival of Ludvi, the Second Prince, caused a stir in the Count’s house. In the Count’s absence, his heir received Ludvi.

“My father has gone to catch a thief.”

“A thief?”

After the heir recounted the recent events, Ludvi scoffed.

“How naive must the Count be for a child to break in and cause trouble?”

“The thief’s father worked in the mansion, so they let their guard down.”

The heir, his face reddening, tried to justify the situation, but Ludvi was not convinced.

“To steal such a large item and not notice…”

Ludvi shook his head in disbelief. Then the heir spotted someone and quickly called out.

“Father.”

It was Pigumen Count, returning with a smile on his face. He hurried over upon seeing his son and the Second Prince together.

“Your Highness.”

“Ah, forget the formalities. Did you catch the thief?”

“Well, about that… the owner of the pottery appeared…”

“The owner?”

Pigumen Count hesitated briefly before giving a straightforward answer.

“The Crown Prince has become the owner.”

“What?”

Ludvi frowned, displeased. Even a trivial item in the Crown Prince’s possession irked him.

But when he asked again, he received the same answer.

“Ah, Pigumen Count. What did you call it? Just a vase?”

While technically more of a precious ornament than a vase, Ludvi bluntly belittled the object. Pigumen Count cautiously responded.

“In fact, the pottery itself is not valuable. I don’t fully understand, but I heard it contains an egg.”

In truth, Pigumen Count had not shared everything with the Second Prince. But now, he revealed what he knew—that inside lay an egg, its hatching time unknown.