Zora let out a long sigh.
Money. Everything came back to money.
Without silver, even the best plans were nothing but dreams on paper.
And unfortunately, the image that popped into her mind when she thought of "money"… was that shameless, beautiful prince with rogue-level charm.
"If only that guy had just paid one hundred gold coins like a normal human being," she thought bitterly, "I wouldn't be begging the heavens right now."
After stopping by a blacksmith to commission a set of silver needles, spending the little she had left, she was officially dirt-poor. With no mood to stroll anymore, she turned toward the general's manor.
But halfway home, her steps slowed.
Her brows drew together in realization.
Someone was following her.
She didn't turn around. Instead, she gradually increased her pace, letting her steps drift toward a narrow alley. If someone wanted to stalk her, she would at least see who dared.
She turned a corner and vanished from sight.
"Eh? Where did she go?"
"I swear she walked in here. The girl, His Highness has his eye on, how did we lose her?"
Hidden atop the roof tiles, Zora gazed down at the two panicking men below. Her lips curled into a quiet, cold smile.
"Gilbert and Edmund." She murmured.
Philip Moonstone's dogs.
Once, they mocked her daily, sneering whenever she passed.
Today, they dared to follow her like she was prey.
Her eyes sharpened.
And then she jumped down.
Thump Thump
Two solid blows and both men collapsed instantly, knocked out cold.
She dusted her hands off casually. "Following me when I'm poor?" she muttered. "That's the same as delivering money to my door."
Her smile grew wicked as she reached into their robes and pulled out their money pouches. Her eyes lit up when she felt the weight.
They were heavy. Very heavy.
Even the running dogs of the prince were richer than her. That was the saddest part. But still… at the very least, she had something enough to fill her stomach.
With their money bags clinking in her hands, she slipped back into the general's estate as quietly as she had left.
Once inside her small courtyard, she began rummaging through cabinets and boxes. After some digging, she found several pieces of jewelry. They were not much. Only a few delicate earrings and a bracelet were left, but at least they had value.
After all, she was still a young lady of the General's House. Even if the household treated her harshly, they wouldn't strip her completely bare.
Placing the jewelry on the table, she rested her chin on her hand, sighing deeply. "Even if I sell all these… it still won't be enough."
If she wanted to catch up to Luna and climb higher, she needed far more resources than this.
"Is there any way… to make money faster?" she murmured.
Selling pills and potions would be ideal. If she refined even one high-level pill, she could earn a fortune.
But she didn't have the ingredients or a top-quality cauldron.
Then suddenly, her eyes lit up.
"A medical clinic," she breathed.
She was confident in her medical skills.
If she opened a clinic, business would come pouring in.
Money would no longer be a problem.
Her smile widened with excitement.
*
Inside the Prince's Manor
Behind the curtain of green leaves, a pale golden figure sat at a stone table.
Gone was the playful, flirtatious expression from earlier.
Kael Moonstone's face had returned to calm, elegant, sharp, intelligent, and untouchably noble.
"Alder," he said quietly, "did you find out who she is?"
His dark eyes held a faint glimmer of amusement. It had been a long time since someone made him laugh.
Alder, the guard standing nearby, looked complicated. "Young Lord… the girl's identity is a bit special."
Kael Moonstone lifted a brow. "How special?"
"She is the daughter of the General's House, Zora."
The name rolled off his tongue softly. "Zora… Zora… So that Zora? I knew it when she said she belonged to House Phoenix..."
A slow smile curved his lips as a thought crept into his head. "No wonder the Crown Prince looked like he'd swallowed a fly when he saw her."
"And the people Philip sent to follow her?" the prince asked, sipping tea.
Alder coughed lightly. "Zora knocked out Gilbert and Edmund, took their money… and, uh… wrote something behind them."
A rare laugh slipped from Alder's lips as he remembered the scene.
Kael Moonstone leaned forward in curiosity. "Oh, what did she write?"
Alder straightened, but his lips twitched uncontrollably as he replied, "Prince Damien's backside is extremely white. His wife's backside is even whiter."
Pffff
The tea Kael was drinking almost sprayed out. He covered his mouth while his shoulders shook in surprise.
Saying Damien's wife's backside is even whiter is the same as saying that her body was exposed to someone… That is a grave insult to any husband.
What an… extraordinary woman.
"She really is a treasure," he muttered, letting out a chuckle.
Alder regained composure and asked seriously, "Young Lord, Prince Damien has always been hostile toward you. Today, he even crossed the line. Should we take action?"
"No." Kael shook his head.
Alder's face darkened at the refusal. The young lord he served was noble, brilliant, born to command, and was now forced to endure humiliation from a petty prince.
"Young Lord, how can you let a mere prince suppress you like this?" Alder clenched his fists. "We can take him out quietly. No one will ever know."
But Kael Moonstone shook his head again. "You can't act rashly." His calm, deep voice held the steady strength of someone who had fought many wars, whether physically or mentally. Kael then calmly said, "Not right now. Any sudden movement will expose us."
Alder frowned. "But letting them insult you like this, every now and then..."
"This body… this identity is nothing to me, Alder." Kael interrupted lightly with a wave of his hand. "If Philip Moonstone or Damien dies today, another will stand up tomorrow. It is meaningless."
His gaze drifted downward to his own legs, hidden beneath the golden robes. Letting out a sigh, he then asked, "Anyway, any news from Baldwin?"
Alder shook his head. "Not yet, Young Lord."
Frustration tightened his throat. If not for that sudden incident, if not for the young lord's legs failing and his rank being forcefully suppressed, they would never be forced into hiding like this.
But Kael Moonstone remained calm, almost serene, as if he was unbothered by his state.
"Everything has its time," he said softly.
He endured far more than someone his age should. Yet he never complained, never wavered, never let pain turn into bitterness.
But one day, his enemies would repay everything.
*
The Next Morning, Imperial City;
An unbelievable rumor exploded across the entire imperial city overnight.
The prince's own followers, Gilbert and Edmund, had dared to write insulting comments on their masters' backsides.
"Prince Damien's wife's backside is so whiter than the prince's."
"Is it only an insult?"
"Did the Prince's wife commit adultery?"
These bold words spread like wildfire.
People laughed until they cried. On the other hand, Prince Damien was filled with fury. He was ready to catch the bastard who dared to write such words on the backs of his brother's followers.