Chapter 51

These four silver coins were the pocket money that Chesier had saved up, receiving one every week.

It had been four days since he came to this house.

Chesier recalled the day he first received pocket money.

* * *

“Dad, pocket money! Now that Chesier lives with us, you have to give him pocket money too!”

Lilith, unlike other noble girls, received pocket money from her father.

Chesier couldn't understand this at first...

But later, he learned that it was a habit she had from when they lived in a rural village.

“Yeah, pocket money. I should give you pocket money. But, princess, in the old days, I was poor and couldn't even buy you a birthday present. I could only give you one silver coin a week.”

Enoch was clearly reluctant.

“Now that we have money, you don't need pocket money. If you need something, just tell me, and if you need to spend money urgently, you can talk to the butler. Chesier, you too.”

“No way. Give me pocket money. I want to keep receiving pocket money from Dad.”

“Why?”

“Dad, think about it. I'm still young, and if I get everything I want and spend money freely, I'll develop bad habits, right? Isn't that true?”

“What are you talking about? Didn't you come to the capital to live like a princess, getting everything you want and spending money freely?”

“No, no. I'll develop bad habits.”

“No, princess? I'll take care of your habits...”

“Haah, Mr. James, I just want pocket money. Give me pocket money! Pocket money!”

Enoch couldn't understand Lilith's tantrum, but they eventually agreed to give her one silver coin a week.

As Lilith left Enoch's room with one silver coin, Chesier realized something.

‘It’s because of me.’

Lilith's intentions were always transparent.

Chesier was just living in this house. How could he ask for money?

Of course, Enoch said he could ask if he needed something, but...

It was embarrassing to ask. He couldn't really ask for money.

“Hmm, one silver coin a week should be enough, right?”

From then on, Lilith would always drag Chesier to Enoch's room on pocket money day.

These four silver coins.

40,000 ter.

* * *

Chesier put the four silver coins back into the bundle and pondered.

40,000 ter.

It was enough to buy dolls that Lilith would like from a general store.

But.

‘She has so many dolls already.’

Thinking of the dolls that filled Lilith's room—bed, table, and vanity—Chesier shook his head.

It was her birthday, a special day, and he wanted to give her something she really wanted.

‘Princess Lala...’

The Princess Lala collection was a nationwide craze, and it was quite expensive.

The dress and tiara were prepared by the twins, and the shoes were already in Lilith's possession, given to her by Enoch during a festival.

What was left was...

‘...the magic wand? What, didn't she have one?’

Chesier, frowning, recalled the image of Princess Lala from a fairy tale and sighed.

After a while, he got up.

“Let’s go out first.”

* * *

He couldn’t even think about the commercial district where nobles shopped.

After walking to the commoner residential area,

After visiting twenty general stores, Chesier held in his hand...

“Haah.”

A pink coin purse with a rabbit head, which cost 10,000 ter.

“What’s so expensive? The gems are all fake.”

The Princess Lala magic wand cost at least seven silver coins, even at the cheapest general store.

The rabbit coin purse he eventually settled for looked rather shabby.

“The twins had the dress and tiara studded with gems, and the shoes were already encrusted with 200 diamonds and 5 rubies.”

Thinking of the lavish gifts the twins had prepared, he felt a bit down.

A coin purse worth one silver coin was embarrassing to give as a birthday gift to a noble girl.

‘Maybe I can earn some money. There must be some places that pay for work.’

As he looked around, Chesier saw a small stall.

It was a stall run outside a general store.

On the stall, the Princess Lala magic wand and the sword of the hero Louis (the male protagonist in the fairy tale "Princess Lala's Adventure") were displayed.

Below them were stacks of egg-shaped lottery toys, clearly aimed at children.

The chances of getting the Princess Lala magic wand from so many lottery eggs were slim.

Of course, half of them would be duds, and the other half would be cheap, useless toys...

‘But who knows?’

He had three silver coins left.

30,000 ter.

Enough to try at least 60 times.

“Want to try the lottery?”

The store owner asked.

“Yes.”

Chesier placed a silver coin on the stall with a determined look.

* * *

After Enoch's return.

Axion Libre, who had returned to his position as deputy commander of the knights, was patrolling the commoner residential area.

The festival was over, and the child traffickers who had caused a stir in the capital had been caught, but he still couldn't feel at ease.

Axion found Chesier in front of a general store.

‘Is this the child Enoch brought with him?’

He had first seen Chesier during the festival.

Later, he learned from Enoch that there was some story behind it, and he had decided to take him in...

Raising a daughter alone was already a challenge, and this seemed like an unnecessary burden.

But Enoch's incomprehensible actions were nothing new.

Axion watched Chesier from a distance.

“Oh, another dud?”

“...”

“Kid, you only have one left.”

The store owner smiled sadly.

Chesier nodded and squeezed the egg-shaped lottery toy.

After reading the small piece of paper that came out of the split egg, he placed it on the stall.

“Another dud. What are you going to do, kid?”

Chesier turned to leave without hesitation.

Then he paused.

His eyes widened when he noticed Axion standing behind him.

“...Hello.”

“Huh, Holy Knight! What brings you to such a humble place?! May the glory and grace of Primera be upon you!”

The store owner panicked.

Axion asked,

“What are you doing here? It’s still dangerous for a child to wander around alone.”

“I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“Wait.”

Axion grabbed Chesier’s arm as he tried to leave.

They looked at each other.

‘Why did I stop him?’

Even Axion didn’t know. He was puzzled.

But...

He thought he understood.

Axion nodded at the toys on the stall.

“Do you want one of those? Enoch didn’t buy it for you?”

“No. That’s not it.”

“It’s not? Well, you might feel embarrassed to ask for something you want.”

Axion nodded.

What a clueless father. Buying a toy for his daughter and not thinking to get one for Chesier too.

“Come here.”

“Huh?”

Axion dragged Chesier back to the stall.

A toy sword that looked like something boys would like was visible.

“You want this one, right? The hero Louis... what?”

“It’s the ‘Sword of Hero Louis,’ Holy Knight!”

“Is that right? Is this the one?”

When asked, Chesier shook his head.

“Then what do you want? Why did you... try so many times?”

Axion pointed at the pile of discarded egg shells on the ground.

Chesier, a bit embarrassed, hesitated before answering.

“...The Princess Lala magic wand.”

“...?”

Axion was taken aback and looked at the “Princess Lala magic wand.”

A pink stick with fake gems hanging from it, a flashy toy.

‘This kid’s taste...?’

For some reason, it didn’t seem like a typical boy’s preference.

“Not the sword, but the magic wand? You must really want it. You’ve already spent 30,000 ter here.”

The flustered owner smiled apologetically.

“I’m sorry, kid. You only got duds.”

“It’s okay. I’ll go now.”

“Wait.”

Axion grabbed the back of Chesier’s neck.

He took a gold coin from his pocket and placed it on the stall.

“E, eh?”

The owner’s eyes widened.

Chesier was also surprised.

“Until it comes out.”

Axion threw a lottery egg to Chesier.

“Open it.”