"Young lady, we're almost there," a maid said respectfully.
Across from her sat a nine-year-old girl. Her golden hair shimmered as it flowed down her back, with two neat braids framing her face.
A crescent-shaped hairpin glimmered in her bangs on the right.
She radiated an aura of calm, elegance, and restraint. Yet what drew the most attention was not her hair or presence, but the silver mask that hid her face.
The mask had no mouth—only two openings for the eyes and two small holes for the nose.
"Thank you for telling me," the girl replied in a nonchalant tone.
The maid gave a small nod and quietly returned to her place.
Turning toward the small window at her side, the girl gazed at the scenery outside and whispered, "Droswen City, huh? I'm really curious…"
...
On the second floor of the jewelry store, Cashira continued accompanying Merlin as he looked through the various necklaces. Each one was exquisite and stunning.
They were all of high quality, with flawless carvings, and most importantly, each had its own history.
Naturally, that last detail made their value soar.
"This is the Twilight Tears necklace," Cashira said, presenting it to Merlin. "Among all the necklaces, this one is the most mysterious. Honestly, there's no story behind it, but it's said to be made from a rare blue ruby."
"Blue ruby?" Merlin raised his eyebrows slightly.
He examined the necklace closely and found it truly exquisite. Its color was a clear, icy blue, and the pendant was round and oval, like a teardrop.
Intricate ice-like carvings surrounded it, enhancing its beauty and elegance. For some reason, Merlin felt this necklace suited Catrine perfectly.
"How much is it?"
"It costs two thousand gold coins," Cashira replied with a slightly awkward smile.
Merlin: "…"
He glanced at his wallet and let out a long sigh. Fifty gold coins was already a considerable amount.
The average income in Droswen City was about three gold coins per month, with the highest being around ten to fifteen.
That meant his savings were worth nearly ten times the monthly income of an ordinary person. But compared to the price of these necklaces, fifty gold coins was practically nothing.
"Alright, I understand. In that case, I'll have to go and get the money first," he said.
Cashira simply gave a small nod without further comment.
***
Merlin stepped out of the jewelry store with slow, measured steps.
While rubbing Lyserra's head, he immediately called out to the system. "System, are you there?"
"[Ding! System is here, Master. How can I help you?]"
"Do you have a way to earn money quickly?"
"[Eh! Master, why ask me that? I certainly don't know,]" the system replied in an embarrassed tone. "[By the way, you're the son of the Clay family. Your family is very rich. Why not just ask your father? I'm sure he'd give you some money.]"
Merlin shook his head. "I could ask him, but I want the gift to come from my own money. Do you remember the mission to increase Catrine's affection? Well, I plan to give her a big surprise—and it has to come from my own earnings."
The system had previously said that raising affection to 90 points required an extraordinary and unforgettable moment. This was his chance.
If Catrine knew he was using his own money, she would definitely be amazed, and her affection was bound to surpass 90 points.
Sure, it might still be possible if he used his father's money, but Merlin was the kind of person who preferred definite results.
"[You're amazing, Master! I like you even more!]" The system praised.
"Don't say such disgusting things. I'm still normal," Merlin shot back, his face twisting in discomfort.
System: "…"
Just as Merlin was conversing with the system, a luxurious horse-drawn carriage suddenly appeared from the right.
Merlin was startled and quickly stepped aside, his eyes still fixed on the carriage.
"What a beautiful carriage," he whispered in awe.
Even his own carriage wasn't nearly as luxurious. Curiosity about who might be inside stirred in his chest.
By now, passersby had begun to gather, eager to see who would step out.
Knowing it would be difficult to push through the crowd, Merlin slipped away before things grew too crowded.
Moments after he disappeared, the carriage door opened. A young girl wearing a mask stepped out, followed closely by a beautiful maid.
"Who is she?" someone asked curiously.
"No idea," another replied. "But she looks like a princess from another kingdom—or maybe the daughter of a wealthy merchant."
The crowd buzzed with whispers, but the girl ignored them and walked straight into the jewelry store Merlin had just left.
"Welcome, young lady," a woman greeted her respectfully.
If Merlin had stayed, he would have been shocked—it was Cashira, the same woman who had served him earlier.
"Thank you," the girl replied calmly. "How is the store doing?"
"Everything is going well, young lady. Sales are strong, even better than in some larger cities," Cashira explained.
"Good." The girl gave a small nod. "Then let's go inside. I have something to discuss with you."
***
"System, I have an idea!" Merlin exclaimed excitedly.
"[An idea? What is it, Master?]"
Merlin smiled faintly as he opened the system shop. Scrolling through the potion category, he found a wide selection.
Healing potions ranged from S to D rank, each with its own price. S-rank potions cost 30,000 SP, while D-rank ones were only 200 SP.
Merlin's brow furrowed. "System, are S-rank healing potions really this expensive? I remember they used to be just 10,000 SP."
"[No, Master. That was the discounted price. What you see now is the original cost,]" the system explained.
Merlin thought for a moment, then tapped the "+" icon on an A-level potion and confirmed his purchase without hesitation.
Whoosh!
A blue light shimmered before him, and a bottle of A-level potion floated in the air.
He quickly grabbed it and examined it with satisfaction.
"Meow!" Lyserra meowed, eyes sparkling as if she wanted a taste.
Merlin tucked the bottle into his pocket and pinched her cheek. "This isn't for you."
Lyserra puffed up her cheeks in annoyance but didn't press further.
"Haa…" Merlin sighed, glancing at his remaining system points—now down to 15,000.
"[Master, why did you buy an A-level potion?]" The system asked in confusion.
Merlin didn't bother hiding it. "To sell, of course."
A faint grin curved across his lips.
System: "..."