Chapter 41

✢✢✢✢✢

Then, he asked him leisurely.

― Lysian, do you intend to live as a Verchester, just like what you have done so far? Or are you thinking of regaining your status?

― ……

― It doesn’t matter what choice you want to make. I’m going to help you either way.

Silence stretched between the two of them. After a long silence, Lysian finally replied and broke the silence.

― Gerard, from the very beginning, I did not intend on being your brother or regaining my status. 

― What a pity.

Gerrad’s voice sank. But Lysian did not ask him why his voice turned solemn and sad. He thought that it did not matter to him right now. 

― I’ll leave Verchester Duchy in a year.

Gerard respected Lysian’s choice.

― Alright. I allow it. But until then, stay here.

Everything was organized just like that. So, Lysian should no longer be involved with what would happen to the Verchester Duchy in the future. 

‘But this still bothers me.’

Strangely enough, the neutral mana stone ring that he always wore felt heavy on his hands.

✢✢✢✢✢

The next day.

Lestia received a paper from Joel. 

“Lestia, take this.” 

‘Ah! Maybe it’s a reply from Lysian-nim!’ 

Lestia picked the paper up excitedly. She had kept on waiting for Lysian’s reply but she did not hear from him at all so she was feeling frustrated. So, she expected that Lysian might have asked Joel to deliver the letter.

“Thi… This…?” 

But the paper that Joel handed over was not a letter.

The paper only had the Verchester Family’s family crest drawn on the white paper. 

“Brother Joel, what is this paper?” 

Lestia tried to hide her disappointment as she asked Joel this question. Joel looked at her and smiled gracefully. 

“This, Lestia, is what you need to learn how to spend money.” 

“Yes? This paper?” 

It seemed like Joel was going to teach her ‘how to spend money’ today. 

Lestia squinted her eyes and looked at the paper again in curiosity. But the paper remained blank. She tried to look at the front and the back of the paper but there were no instructions or information on ‘how to spend money’ written on it.

“Brother Joel, there’s nothing written on this paper?”

“Haha! That’s a blank check. If you write down whatever amount you want in the blank over there, you will have the equivalent monetary value.”

“Eeeeeeeeh?”

Lestia’s voice unknowingly rose.

“Uhm. Then, don’t tell me…”

“That’s right, Lestia. I’m thinking of giving you this. Buy as many things as you want today.”

Joel placed a pen on Lestia’s hands.

“Well then, write down the amount that you need here. Then, you can come back after spending all of it today. It’s easy, right?”

It’s not easy at all.

Lestia’s hand that was holding the pen trembled. 

‘I don’t know how much money I need.’

Lestia never had the money to buy something on her own before. All of her money had been taken away by her uncle. Especially after coming to Verchester Duchy. She never had the chance to earn money since other people had already prepared all of her clothes and food for her. 

‘Ah. Is this why brother Gerard told me to learn how to spend money first?’

Her face turned red. She felt ashamed that she was already thinking about how to make a lot of money by selling mana stones but she did not even know how to spend it. 

“I… I think this is enough.”

Lestia carefully wrote 1 gold on the check. She thought that she could buy a lot of bread with this and share it with everyone.

“Ahem.”

But Joel looked like he did not like it.

“Are you sure that this is alright?”

“Yes. I think 1 gold is already enough.”

“But Lestia.”

Joel took the pen from Lestia’s hand and added three more zeroes right after the 1. 

“Verchester Duchy’s checks can only be used for amounts more than 1,000 gold.”

“Yes? This much?”

Lestia gasped before gulping her saliva dryly but Joel just smiled at her. 

“That’s right. You have to spend it all before coming back. Can you promise me this?”

“But… this is too much money.”

“Lestia. Our eldest brother gave this task to you. You understand?”

“….I’ll try my best.”

And just like that, Lestia was sent out on a shopping errand in the busy street outside of Verchester Castle. 

“My lady, the carriage is ready!”

Dora and the escort knights had finished their preparations to accompany her outside. 

“What’s this?! I want to go shopping with Liti too! I want to go too!”

Mathias immediately ran out of the castle when he heard the news that Lestia was going out. But Joel quickly grabbed Mathias. 

“What the hxll! Joel, why did you grab me?!”

“Mathias. Aren’t you curious about the things that Lestia will buy?”

“Huh?”

When he thought about it, he realized that he was curious about it. 

This was the first time that Lestia would go shopping on her own. So, what would his little sister buy? And Lestia had never told them what she wanted. Mathias had even almost forced her to buy things when they went out shopping before. 

“I’m also curious about that.”

“Right? So, let’s wait and see.”

Mathias nodded his head in understanding. However, he still made sure to wave his arm and send Lestia off. 

“Liti! Have a safe trip! Make sure to come back early! Alright?”

Lestia leaned out of the carriage’s window and replied to him. 

“Yes! I will be back soon!”

Not long after, the carriage carrying Lestia arrived downtown. Lestia grabbed her handbag containing the check tightly as she looked around. 

“My lady, where do you want to go first?”

Lestia was lost in thought after hearing Dora’s question. 

She had to use 1,000 gold coins today. 

This was an enormous amount of money that would be difficult for the old Lestia to reach in her entire life. 

‘If I have to use everything then… I want to buy a lot of nice gifts for my precious people.’

Lestia looked determined as she spoke to Dora.

“First off, I want to buy gifts for my brothers!”

“Oh my! You’re so kind. I’m sure everyone will like it. Would you like us to get off so you can take your time looking around?”

Lestia nodded her head as she got off the carriage. Then, she looked around slowly. The signboards of shops selling various items caught her eyes. 

‘First, I need to buy a gift for brother Gerard.’

The first thing that Lestia bought was a box of luxury tea leaves, a present for Gerard. The tea leaves had the effect of relieving fatigue. She bought this after recalling Katrina saying ‘Oh my, this tea is Gerard’s favorite tea.’ during tea time the other day. 

‘Brother Joel seemed to like sweets as much as I do.’

Then, she chose Joel’s gift. The gift that she chose was candy. Lestia picked a glass bottle that was as big as her face and filled it with colorful and pretty egg candies. 

‘And brother Mathias said that he’s going back to the academy, right? Then, that means that he needs a bag, right?’

She bought a bag for Mathias. The bag had a neat and decent design and was made out of cowhide leather. 

‘Lastly, for Lysian-nim…’

Lestia suddenly was in trouble. She found it difficult to find what gift to give to Lysian. So, she turned to Fraker, her escort knight, and asked him for his help. 

“Yes? For Lysian-nim? Ahem. That’s a bit difficult. He’s someone who lives and sleeps like a monk. Ah. how about accessories that can be hung on a sword?”

“An accessory that can be hung on a sword?”

✢✢✢✢✢