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Chapter 3
Without knowing that Aileen had awakened, Adrian was walking through the busy streets. His eyes, as he looked around, were filled with determination.
‘I have to help my sister.’
He knew that an enormous debt had been passed on to Aileen. He also knew that she was pushing herself because of it.
Aileen always said she was fine, perhaps because she was worried Adrian would become anxious, but Adrian already knew that she was not actually fine.
Especially one week ago, when Damon had barged in. That was when he truly realized it.
That there was nowhere left to retreat.
‘I have to earn money too, just like my sister.’
However, Adrian did not know how to make magic stones like Aileen did.
So the method he chose was to find work.
“Sorry, but you’re still too young…”
“There’s nothing a kid like you can do.”
“You’ll only get in the way, so go somewhere else.”
However, every place Adrian visited that needed workers rejected him. He was simply too young to work.
In the end, Adrian could not hide his disappointment as he trudged down the street.
“I can do it too…”
At that moment, something sparkling caught his eye.
Adrian turned his head. Inside the display window beside him were various decorative magic tools. Even at a glance, they were clearly high-quality items.
Looking at them, Adrian thought:
‘If only I had those, I could pay off the debt quickly…’
His wish began to mix with desperation. And that desperation slowly became stained in a dark direction.
Just then, an elderly couple approached from the opposite side. The moment they grabbed the shop’s door handle, Adrian hesitated.
Then, in the end, he stood behind the elderly couple and entered the shop with them.
“Welcome. This is Aster.”
The employee’s gaze briefly turned toward Adrian, who had entered with the elderly couple. Adrian smiled brightly at him.
The employee looked back and forth between him and the elderly couple, then soon looked away. It seemed he assumed Adrian was their grandson.
Adrian secretly let out a sigh of relief and looked around the shop.
Everywhere he looked, magic tools were displayed.
Adrian swallowed nervously.
If I sold all of these, I could pay off the debt quickly, right?
But he could not become greedy.
If he stole several items at once, he would be caught immediately.
Just one.
He would steal exactly one.
Pretending to browse, Adrian carefully scanned the displayed magic tools with a determined expression.
Then one item caught his eye.
It was an extravagant pair of earrings.
Red magic stones were embedded all over a cross-shaped decoration, following the shape of the ornament. The large magic stone placed at the center of the cross was especially impressive.
Light shimmered inside the crystal, and even Adrian, who knew little about magic stones, could tell it was probably a top-grade item.
Adrian swallowed.
If he had just this one thing, it would surely help greatly in paying off the debt.
He carefully moved closer to the display case and looked around cautiously.
The man who appeared to be the owner of the shop was dealing with the elderly couple who had entered with Adrian. The other employees also seemed too busy handling many customers to pay attention.
This was his chance.
Adrian reached his hand into the display case.
He grabbed both earrings in an instant and quickly headed toward the door.
Done.
Now, if I can just escape safely like this…!
Just as Adrian was about to open the door, before he could even grab the handle, the door opened and a tall man entered.
Adrian froze.
A feeling of anxiety washed over him.
Had he been caught?
The bell rang as the door closed, and the man’s eyes landed on Adrian.
More precisely, they landed on the earrings Adrian was holding in both hands.
The man smiled slightly and asked:
“Did you come with your parents, little gentleman?”
At the word “gentleman,” Adrian’s face turned bright red.
Adrian had always dreamed of becoming a cool gentleman who could protect Aileen.
But what he had done now was far from gentlemanly.
No.
Rather, it was something a gentleman should never do.
“D-Duke! What brings you here…?”
At that moment, the magic tool shop owner hurried over.
The title he used for the man caused Adrian’s eyes to widen.
Duke?
The duke of the empire, who stood just below the royal family in status?
Adrian’s body began trembling.
And in the next moment, the strength left his hands.
The earrings dropped from his fingers.
Clang—
The metal earrings fell onto the marble floor with a loud sound.
Everyone inside the shop turned their attention toward them, and Adrian stood there pale-faced and frozen.
The man, who had been looking at Adrian indifferently, was just about to sigh when—
“Adrian!”
The bell rang loudly, and Aileen opened the door and rushed inside.
When Adrian saw her, tears immediately filled his eyes.
“Big sister…”
“What were you thinking, disappearing by yourself, Adrian? I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”
Adrian burst into tears in her arms.
Aileen sighed and comforted her crying younger brother.
“Lady…”
Then a familiar voice reached her ears.
No, it was the very voice she had desperately been searching for.
Aileen raised her head.
The man standing before them with wide eyes was her guide.
“You…!”
Aileen was about to stand up in surprise when the angry shop owner approached her and demanded:
“Excuse me. Are you this child’s guardian?”
“Yes… I am.”
Aileen frowned as she answered, still unaware of what had happened.
The shop owner gave a hollow laugh and pointed at the earrings lying on the floor.
“That child not only tried to steal an expensive item, but he also damaged it. How do you intend to take responsibility?”
“What? What do you mean…?”
Aileen widened her eyes and looked at Adrian, who was hiding behind her.
Adrian mumbled an excuse through his tears.
“I-I wanted to help you, big sister…”
“Haah… Adrian…”
Only then did Aileen understand the situation.
She covered her face with one hand.
But she could not get angry.
He had done it because he wanted to help her.
How could she possibly be angry at that?
Aileen first bowed her head toward the shop owner.
“I’m sorry. I’ll somehow compensate you for the earrings.”
“Do you think compensation is enough? That child attempted theft. I must hand him over to the guards immediately—!”
At the mention of the guards, Adrian’s body trembled.
Just as Aileen was about to apologize again—
“Leave it.”
Her guide, who had been quietly standing behind them, spoke to the shop owner.
The shop owner’s eyes widened, and he became flustered.
“B-But Duke, this is clearly a crime.”
‘Duke?’
At that word, Aileen’s face also filled with the same shock Adrian had shown earlier.
The man called the Duke glanced at Adrian.
“The little gentleman merely made a mistake without thinking. Let it go.”
“B-But at least the compensation…”
“Forget that as well. Besides…”
The Duke glanced sideways at Aileen before continuing.
“It doesn’t seem like you have the ability to pay anyway.”
Aileen’s lips tightened in irritation.
Meanwhile, the shop owner looked displeased but accepted it reluctantly.
“If that is what the Duke wishes…”
“More importantly, I came here today because I wanted to ask you something. Do you happen to know a place where I can obtain magic stones?”
“Since you are asking, Duke, I assume you need the highest quality. I have worked in this business for a long time, but such a place… Ah, we shouldn’t discuss this here. Let us go inside and talk.”
The owner guided the Duke deeper into the shop.
The Duke nodded and passed by Aileen.
At that moment, Aileen clenched her fists and shouted.
“I can pay!”
The Duke stopped walking.
He turned around, and Aileen looked directly at him and emphasized again.
“I can pay for the earrings.”
“How?”
The Duke asked.
It did not sound like mockery.
He seemed genuinely curious.
Without saying anything, Aileen took out a magic stone from her possession and held it out to him.
It was the top-grade magic stone she had created when she met the Duke last time.
The Duke’s eyebrows moved slightly in surprise when he saw it.
The shop owner standing beside him also looked stunned.
Aileen spoke to them.
“I am a magic stone maker.”
Interest flashed in the Duke’s eyes.
But he had not yet seen the most surprising part.
“I am also a top-grade magic stone maker.”
At her calm statement, the Duke’s eyes widened.
The shop owner’s mouth fell open.
“You need a place to obtain top-grade magic stones.”
Aileen walked toward the Duke.
Standing before him, she looked straight into his eyes and said:
“I will help you.”
Aileen held out the magic stone toward him.
Seeing the purple magical energy shimmering before his eyes, the Duke’s pupils shook.
“I can help you.”
