Chapter 19

Not long after, on a sunny afternoon, I brought Shirley to Cobalt Street.

"Th-this is..."

In the heart of the bustling city, Cobalt Street, known for its antique shops, was a place where the wealthy and nobles gathered. Shirley, who had just come from a village without even a doctor, was taken aback by the vibrant and colorful scene, standing there in amazement.

"Don't just stand there, follow me."

"Y-yes!"

I jumped off the carriage at the entrance of Cobalt Street and entered with Shirley, who had just become a knight. I wandered around, looking for treasures. There were many things that caught my eye, but none of them were particularly impressive.

I came here to find a gift for my brother Henry. Even though it was by the Emperor's order, he had suppressed Almeria in my place. I had to show my gratitude somehow.

So I was searching for a treasure for that purpose...

"Hmm, that place over there..."

"What is it, Your Highness?"

"We're going into that shop."

"Yes."

Shirley followed me, puzzled. I led her into a certain shop, one I had visited before with my brother Oscar.

"Oh, Prince Thirteen, welcome! It's an honor to have you here."

"Alan Bardsley, right?"

"Yes. Please, this way."

As soon as we entered, the shop owner Alan, who bowed deeply, led us to the back of the shop.

The room we were taken to was for VIPs. I was seated in the place of honor, and shortly after, a servant brought us drinks. The tea, which I could tell by its aroma, was made from high-quality leaves.

Shirley stood behind me, hands clasped behind her back. Knights don't get seats when they're with their lords. Alan, who did business with nobles, naturally knew this and treated Shirley as if she were invisible.

"Is there something you're looking for today?"

"I want to give my brother a gift to show my gratitude. Do you have anything good?"

"Prince Eight, perhaps?"

"No, my brother Henry."

"Prince Four, then! I just received a few items recently. Please wait a moment."

I nodded, and Alan left the room. A few minutes later, he returned with several servants.

Each servant held something: a jewelry box, a framed painting, or a large item on a cart.

I suspect they brought out all the treasures the shop had to offer.

Among them, my eyes were drawn to something on a cart, covered with a cloth.

Curious, I pointed to it and asked Alan.

"What is that? It seems different from the others."

"Oh, Prince Thirteen, you have a keen eye."

Alan's face showed a mix of surprise, both genuine and for show. He signaled a servant to remove the cloth.

A transparent statue of a goddess appeared.

"Is this... glass?"

"Yes, it is."

"A glass statue of a goddess? Can such a thing be made?"

"Your surprise is understandable. This is the work of the master craftsman Lindsay. Only Lindsay could create a glass statue, and the technique is now lost."

I stared at the statue.

Indeed, it had a certain presence.

It felt similar to the magic book I had seen before. That's why I pointed it out first.

"Lindsay's works are rare, and it's said that only two glass goddess statues remain in the world."

"I see. I'll take this one."

"It will be ten thousand Reen..."

"Here."

I took a leather bag from my pocket and handed it to Alan.

"It has more than ten thousand. The extra is a reward for bringing me a gift for my brother."

"Thank you!"

Alan's face lit up with a broad smile as he took the leather bag.

"Shall I have the statue delivered to your residence—"

"Is that you, Noah?"

Just as he was speaking, a man entered from outside. It was my eighth brother, Prince Oscar, known for his gentle smile.

"Brother."

I stood up and gave a light bow to Oscar.

"I heard Noah was here when I entered the shop. Did you find a good treasure—"

Oscar stopped speaking when he saw the glass statue of the goddess. His expression was one of disbelief.

"What is it, brother?"

"This is Lindsay's goddess statue. Is it genuine?"

"Yes, probably."

My answer seemed insufficient, so Oscar looked at Alan. Alan, confused, nodded.

"Yes, I would never offer a fake to a prince... Did I do something wrong?"

"Hmm."

Oscar sighed and sat down in a nearby chair.

"This is troublesome. If this is one of the two, then both have appeared."

"Do you know the other one?"

"I have it."

Oscar chuckled.

"Since it's a Lindsay glass statue, I knew only two were made, but I thought the one I had was the last in the world. I never imagined another one existed."

"I see."

I understood Oscar's frustration. The value of a treasure increases with its rarity. When there's only one, its value is immeasurable.

If each of the two statues was worth one, the value of the last one would be ten times more.

That's the nature of treasures and antiques.

"Brother."

"Yes, what is it?"

I approached the glass statue silently, picked it up, and smashed it on the ground.

"Hmm?"

"Wh-what!?"

"Y-Your Highness!?"

I took another bag from my pocket, this one containing about a hundred Reen, and handed it to the flustered Alan.

"Don't worry, I'll still pay for the original. This is for your trouble."

"For my trouble?"

"The second statue has appeared, but it's broken. I want you to spread the rumor within Cobalt Street."

"..."

Oscar nodded, impressed.

"Amazing, Noah. By breaking it and spreading the news, you've increased the value of the statue I have."

"Treasures are a matter of who gets them first. If the value of the one you have increases, that's fine."

"I'm surprised you knew this method and even more surprised you actually did it. You're impressive. I only reached this level after I took over my fiefdom as an adult."

Oscar stood up and glanced at the broken statue.

"I'll thank you later. Farewell."

With that, Oscar left the shop.

After instructing Alan to clean up and send the next best treasure to my residence, I left the shop with Shirley.

☆

"A-are you, Your Highness?"

After leaving the shop, on the bustling Cobalt Street, Shirley called out to me hesitantly.

"What is it?"

"W-why did you do that?"

I looked around. No one we knew was nearby, so there was no risk of being overheard.

"That was just an object."

"But it was an extremely valuable treasure!"

"True treasures aren't like that."

"Huh?"

Shirley was puzzled. I glanced at my status, which always appeared in the corner of my vision.

Behind my normal status, there was a "+" sign, indicating my unique status.

I had this.

"True treasures aren't objects, they are people."

"People?"

"People who swear loyalty to me. Like you."

"M-me!?"

"Yes."

I nodded. Yes, to me, true treasures are people. Breaking a glass statue to gain favor with my brother Henry was a small price to pay.

"..."

"What is it, Shirley?"

"I'm moved! You're saying the same things as the great rulers in stories."

"Is that so?"

"That's amazing, Your Highness... I'll follow you for life!"

"Yes."

I broke the statue to gain favor with Oscar, but it also increased Shirley's affection for me.

I left the cluttered Cobalt Street with Shirley, recalling Oscar's words.

Becoming an adult and taking over a fiefdom.

One day, I too would go to Almeria. In the empire, it usually happens when a royal reaches adulthood.

Until then, I wanted to gather more treasures. My goal was now clear.