“Aelfrie!”

“Ino, sir? What brings you here?”

“I brought today’s documents, but you weren’t upstairs, so I came down.”

“Ah, so it’s not Kyle today?”

“Correct. He’s tied up with something at the moment, so I came instead. It seems there’s an issue at headquarters.”

Upon hearing the term ‘headquarters,’ Aelfrie was reminded that Kyle was an employee of Ash Corporation. She was also aware that, unlike Ino and Nisha, he was more mobile.

Aelfrie grew curious about the Ash Corporation’s headquarters, where Kyle seemed to have more allegiance.

“How is the headquarters?”

“It’s no joke. First of all, its scale is entirely different from here. We even have our own docks in the imperial capital, with several ships. We have a separate warehouse zone. To be honest, our warehouse is even bigger than the capital of Denertum here… Ah, my apologies.”

“Don’t worry. I’m well aware that this is a rural kingdom. Please continue talking about headquarters.”

“Would you like to hear about it on our way?”

“On our way? Where are we going?”

“The imperial bank has just started its operations today. We have to create an account for you, Aelfrie.”

Upon hearing this, Nisha, who was listening nearby, quickly grabbed the mop from Aelfrie’s hand and gestured for her to go.

Feeling almost chased out, Aelfrie had to leave the corporation with Ino.

Outside, the tidying up was also nearing its completion.

As they walked towards the bank, Ino spoke about Ash Corporation’s headquarters. Naturally, the conversation also led to the imperial capital.

Ino mentioned that he had not spent much time in the capital as he was originally from a remote city in the empire.

However, when he talked about the capital and headquarters, his eyes lit up, as if he were speaking about his hometown.

Aelfrie felt the same way as she listened.

From Ino’s descriptions, it appeared that the imperial capital was far more vast and freer than she had thought.

‘Everything in the world converges here…’

She had already been surprised by the variety of grains, fruits, and other items she had seen at the Ash Corporation, but the empire had hundreds of times more amazing things gathered.

From commercial districts you couldn’t walk across in a single day to tales of a colossal imperial palace, Aelfrie hung on to Ino’s every word like a child listening to a hero’s tale.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the bank.

“Wouldn’t it be busy?”

“For now, they are planning to deal only with our corporation. Let’s go in.”

As Ino had said, the bank was quiet.

Soon after being led to the counter, a clerk asked Aelfrie to sign various forms. After some time had passed, a luxurious certificate with a long number was placed in Aelfrie’s hands.

“So, this is my account…”
The certificate also listed the current balance in Aelfrie’s account below.

This week’s salary of 250 Gilder.

Money would be spent on home repairs and groceries for the servants, but there would still be plenty left over.

Aelfrie thought of Elize’s words that her father planned to sell her for a thousand Gilder.

‘A thousand Gilder…’

I could possibly save that much now.

The moment she thought that, Aelfrie indulged in an absurd fantasy.

What if I save a thousand Gilder and ask someone to pretend to marry me?

The sudden daydream soon spread its wings.

The count and countess said they would sell me to anyone for a thousand Gilder. As if selling livestock at the market.

If the grand duke hadn’t urgently summoned Elize and the count and countess, I would have already been sold.

A thousand Gilder was exceedingly cheap for taking a woman listed in the nobility register.

Aelfrie calculated the money she would earn and spend going forward.

Earn a thousand Gilder a month. Even after deducting home repair costs and the servants’ monthly salaries, there were about four months left until the autumn season. If the count returns as expected, I could earn well over a thousand Gilder by then.

‘I could save about 2,000 Gilder.’

Then…

‘Could I find a fake husband?’

I’ll ask someone to marry me for money.

If he gives the count and countess a thousand Gilder, they’ll send me away that day.

If I say I’m going to the countryside, they’ll tell me to leave quickly, and after that, no further contact will be necessary.

They won’t expect any more money from someone who took their daughter for a thousand Gilder. In fact, they’ll probably be happier if I don’t contact them afterwards.

‘Then I’ll board a ship leaving Denerium with that fake husband…’

If I’m accompanied by a husband, I can board a ship going abroad.

I should take a ship going far away. Yes, the empire seemed like a good choice.

‘I could continue to work at the Ash Trading Company.’

I’ve only worked here for a week, but Nisha and Ino have repeatedly told Aelfrie that someone with her talents should go to the headquarters.

Nisha had tempted her by saying that her salary would skyrocket if she went to the headquarters after gaining experience here, and they even provide housing for foreigners until they settle in.