---
"Mother… could you please give me some money?"
The words left my mouth carefully, almost cautiously.
Across the long dining table, the Empress slowly paused in the middle of lifting her teacup. The delicate porcelain cup hovered for a moment before she gently placed it back onto the saucer.
Her eyes moved toward me.
Not angry.
Not suspicious.
Just curious.
"Oh?" she said softly.
"My dear Alex… money?"
She leaned slightly back in her chair, studying my face as if trying to determine whether I was serious or joking.
"What exactly do you need money for?"
I cleared my throat slightly.
"Well… Mother… I was thinking of going to the market today."
The Empress blinked in surprise.
"The market?"
"Yes."
"It has been a long time since I went outside the palace. I thought it might be nice to walk around the capital and purchase a few things."
Her gaze softened a little.
"That is not a bad idea," she murmured thoughtfully. "You have indeed spent most of your life inside these walls."
Then she folded her hands neatly on the table.
"So how much money do you need?"
I thought about it for a moment.
Then I answered calmly.
"Well… if possible… I would like to take all of my savings."
The room suddenly became silent.
Across the table, my little sister almost choked on her juice.
"A-All of it?!" she burst out laughing.
The Empress slowly narrowed her eyes at me.
"…Alex."
"Yes, Mother?"
"Why would you need all of your savings?"
Now if you are wondering why a prince like me had to ask his mother for money…
Then we must go back a few hours earlier that morning.
---
Earlier that morning…
I was pacing around my room like a restless cat.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
"Where do I get money…"
"Where do I get money…"
I rubbed my forehead in frustration.
If I wanted to recruit Selene Virelia and her family, I would need gold coins.
Actual currency.
System coins were useless in the real world.
Unfortunately…
My financial situation was extremely tragic.
I had exactly zero coins.
The system suddenly spoke inside my head.
"Host."
"Yes?"
"What exactly are you doing?"
"I'm thinking," I replied tiredly.
"About money."
"I need a lot of money."
The system remained silent for a moment.
Then it said slowly…
"Host."
"Yes?"
"You are a prince."
"…And?"
"Princes usually receive monthly allowances."
I stopped walking.
"…Oh."
Right.
Why hadn't I thought of that?
I immediately clapped my hands.
"Anna!"
The door opened quickly and a maid entered.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
She bowed respectfully.
"How much is my monthly allowance?"
Anna answered without hesitation.
"Your Highness receives one hundred gold coins every month."
I blinked.
"One hundred?"
"That seems… quite a lot."
Anna smiled slightly.
"It is indeed a generous allowance."
"For comparison, a normal household in the capital can live comfortably for an entire month using about ten gold coins."
"My own salary as a palace maid is ten gold coins per month."
I scratched my chin thoughtfully.
So my allowance alone was enough to support ten families for a month.
Interesting.
But even that amount was not enough for what I needed.
"Where is this money kept?" I asked.
Anna replied politely.
"The Head Butler manages the royal household finances."
"If Your Highness wishes to withdraw your allowance, you must speak with him."
"Alright."
I immediately left the room.
---
After asking several servants in the palace corridors, I finally located the head butler.
Unfortunately…
He was currently inside the emperor's office.
"…Well," I sighed.
"This might get awkward."
I knocked on the door.
Knock. Knock.
A calm voice responded.
"Enter."
I pushed the door open.
The emperor's office was magnificent.
Tall windows allowed sunlight to spill across the room. Bookshelves lined the walls, and stacks of documents covered the enormous wooden desk.
Behind that desk sat the ruler of the Ether Empire.
Emperor Alric von Voldigord.
Beside him stood the head butler.
Both of them looked up at the same time.
"…Alex?" the emperor asked.
"What do you need?"
I walked inside calmly.
"Well, Father… I'm actually here to see the butler."
The emperor slowly turned his head toward the butler.
The temperature in the room suddenly dropped.
The butler immediately began sweating.
Seeing this…
I couldn't help chuckling slightly.
"Well," I added quickly, "I suppose I also came to talk with you, Father."
The emperor sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"What do you need from the butler?"
"My monthly allowance."
"…Your allowance?"
"Yes."
"I was thinking of visiting the market today."
"Oh."
The emperor's expression softened.
"That's good."
"You've spent far too much time inside the palace."
He turned to the butler.
"Give him the money."
The butler coughed awkwardly.
"Your Majesty… you are aware that the royal household funds are handled by the Empress."
The emperor froze.
"…Ah."
For several seconds he remained silent.
Then he sighed deeply.
"How could I forget…"
"That woman controls the treasury."
He rubbed his temples.
"Even I receive limited money from her."
For a moment…
Both of us looked at each other with identical expressions.
A father and son united by financial suffering.
Finally the emperor waved his hand.
"Go ask your mother."
"If you need extra money…"
"Tell her to take it from my share."
"Yes, Father."
As I left the room, I heard him muttering behind me.
"…Do you think she'll give him money?"
The butler replied quietly.
"Well, Your Majesty… he is her son."
"…You're right."
---
And that is how I ended up here.
Back at the dining table.
"So you want all of your savings?" the Empress repeated slowly.
"Yes, Mother."
She answered immediately.
"Denied."
"…What?"
"I said no."
She folded her arms.
"You cannot simply demand such a large amount of money without explaining why."
Before I could respond—
My little sister started giggling again.
"Oh this is funny."
I slowly turned toward her.
You're laughing, huh?
Very well.
"Mother," I said calmly, "my sister asked me to buy her a dress."
The Empress turned her head slowly.
"…Elena?"
My sister froze.
"You just received a new dress last week," the Empress said.
"Why do you need another one?"
My sister immediately jumped up.
"That's a lie!"
"Alex is lying!"
She glared at me furiously.
I looked back at her meaningfully.
Then maybe you shouldn't laugh at me.
The Empress sighed deeply.
"You two…"
Finally she waved her hand.
"Fine."
"I will give you 1,500 gold coins."
"But you are not allowed to ask for more money for one week."
My face immediately brightened.
"Thank you, Mother."
---
Later, as I walked toward the palace gate, I heard someone call my name.
"Alex."
I turned around.
The Crown Prince was standing there.
"Brother?"
He walked closer and casually tossed a pouch toward me.
"Catch."
I caught it.
"…What is this?"
"Five hundred gold coins."
I blinked.
"You're giving me money?"
He shrugged.
"You're going to the market."
"You might need more."
Then he leaned closer and whispered.
"And between us… Mother can be a little stingy."
I burst out laughing.
"Thanks."
Just as I was about to enter the carriage—
"Brother!"
My sister Elena ran toward me.
She climbed into the carriage first.
After we started moving, she quietly handed me another pouch.
"…What's this?"
"Six hundred gold coins," she said awkwardly.
"I saved them."
"You might need them."
I stared at her.
"You're giving me all your savings?"
She looked away.
"You don't have to buy me a dress."
"…Just buy me a handkerchief."
I smiled.
"…You're adorable."
She kicked my leg.
"Don't say weird things!"
A moment later the carriage stopped at the main gate.
The head butler approached quietly.
He handed me another pouch.
"One thousand gold coins."
"Who sent this?"
"The emperor."
"He believes the Empress did not give you enough."
"These are… secret funds."
The butler quickly walked away.
I climbed back into the carriage.
The system spoke.
"Host… did you become emotional?"
I looked out the window as the capital city appeared in the distance.
"…Maybe."
"In my previous life…"
"I was an orphan."
"I never had a family like this."
The system spoke softly.
"You should be grateful."
"…Yeah."
Then I smiled slightly.
Because somewhere in the capital…
A girl destined to become the queen of the black market was waiting.
And today—
Her fate was about to change.