Published: January 4, 2026
When I returned home, I called Don into the living room.
Don still hadn’t fully healed from his injuries. As soon as he entered the room, he knelt down and bowed deeply to me with a solemn expression.
“Hm? What’s this all of a sudden?”
Born a prince for twelve years, I was used to being served, but this was something unusual coming from Don.
“I’m prepared.”
“Prepared?”
“Yes. I suppose I will be accused of the crime of betrayal and informing. I won’t offer any defense. At least, grant me a swift execution by beheading—”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
I interrupted Don’s trembling, hurried words.
“Huh?”
“Who said I’m going to punish you?”
“B-but...”
“People are treasures; I won’t kill you without reason. Moreover, imperial law states that those who report a rebellion are pardoned. There might be some punishment if you report other offenses, but rebellion is different.”
“...”
Don opened his mouth in astonishment and was left speechless.
He didn’t know that?
“So, I called you here for several reasons. First, Gilbert was executed. Since he was convicted of rebellion, his faction has completely collapsed. So you no longer need to change your name or leave the capital. That’s one thing.”
“Y-yeah...”
“Second, reporting a rebellion carries a maximum reward of 1000 Liens, but that’s not enough, so I’m adding an extra zero to the end. It’s my money, so don’t hesitate to accept it.”
“W-why such a large sum?”
Don trembled.
He probably still couldn’t believe he was going to be saved. Even the assumption that he would be executed was premature.
“He’s the one who saved Father’s life. What more reason do you need?”
“Ah...”
“Third, I said before that I’d hand you over to the magistrate, but now I can reinstate you to the Imperial Household Ministry as one of my household members. Tell me what you want.”
“...”
“What’s wrong? You don’t want that either?”
“N-no!”
Don suddenly raised his head, shook it vigorously, and then knelt again, pressing his forehead to the floor.
“You are truly a master worthy of my lifelong service. I will follow you wherever you go.”
After saying that, the look in Don’s eyes was that of someone wholeheartedly devoted and enamored.
☆
The next day, I went out to the city with the maid Jiji to relax.
Should I visit Alice’s place, go treasure hunting on Cobalt Street, or try exploring something new?
I decided to enjoy the whole day and walked with the maid instead of taking a carriage.
“Master, there’s something interesting going on,” Jiji said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Jiji was still young and had only recently become a maid. Unlike Zoe or Evelyn, who was currently assigned to the magistrate, she hadn’t completely lost her childlike wonder.
Thinking it was nice to see that once in a while, I looked toward where Jiji was pointing.
A crowd had formed around a woman in the center.
The woman was swinging a sword—I thought “sword dance” came to mind.
A street performer of some kind?
It looked interesting, so I led Jiji toward the crowd.
Peering through the people, the woman stopped dancing and said challengingly to the spectators:
“The condition is to fight me and win. The entry fee is 3 Liens.”
“What do we get if we win?” a bystander asked loudly.
Judging by his tone, he seemed used to heckling.
“Myself. Wife, concubine, or servant—whatever the winner commands.”
Instantly, the crowd murmured.
If you paid the entry fee and won the fight, you could get her.
“What does that mean?” Jiji tilted her head in wonder next to me.
“It’s a kind of auction.”
“Auction?”
“I mean a bidding. Usually, auctions are just about money, but this is one where other conditions can be attached. It originally started as a kind of black market auction.”
“Wow... Master, you really know a lot!”
Jiji looked at me admiringly.
I observed the auction woman.
She was a bit too strong-willed but objectively quite beautiful.
The idea of getting her for just 3 Liens was very appealing.