chapter 4
“Aigoo, my little kitty!”
The elder of the Deiamor family, Ardorez Deiamor, lifted Nivellia high into the air.
Her view suddenly rose, and she burst into laughter.
The stern old man’s heavy expression melted completely in front of his granddaughter.
“Grandpa! Where were you?”
“I went to the forest. What about you, Nini?”
“……”
“Oh dear? Why do you look so down?”
“She went bankrupt.”
Kaleo tattled on his daughter like it was someone else’s business.
“Oh my.”
Ardorez set Nivellia back down and made a serious expression. His golden eyes gleamed.
“What about the document I gave you? Did you try using it?”
“The guarantee paper? That joint… thing?”
“Yes.”
“Father…” Kaleo muttered resentfully from behind.
“No one would be my guarantor. I guess I’ve lived life wrong.”
“That’s what a guarantor is. Even you shouldn’t ask others lightly. Got it?”
“Then will you do it for me?”
“Not even for you.”
Nivellia puffed her cheeks in annoyance and stomped away.
Her next destination was right beside him—her grandmother.
Snow-white hair, blue eyes.
Despite her age, her beauty was still enough to turn heads.
Nivellia had inherited her looks from her grandmother.
“My Nini, were you well while I was gone?”
“Yep!”
“Good. Not lying is admirable.”
“Hehe!”
Nivellia smiled brightly.
She had adored Muniel since birth—she had even called her “Mom” as a baby.
“Grandma, did you eat the poisonous mushroom?”
“No. That would be dangerous.”
“Brother said it’s a pretty mushroom.”
“That pretty poisonous mushroom is right here.”
Celetina pointed to a silver tray covered with a glass lid.
“Wow…”
Nivellia stared at it.
A large pink mushroom shaped like deer antlers gleamed. It was thick and heavy-looking.
“What do you think? Pretty, right?”
Celetina smiled.
But Nivellia suddenly said—
“It’s not pretty!”
“Oh?”
“Wolf’s eyes are prettier.”
She held out her stuffed wolf, its ruby eyes shining.
“And that’s poisonous, so you shouldn’t eat it. It’s a bad color! Spit it out! Ptoo!”
She mimicked spitting.
“Father, what will you do with the mushroom?”
Solace asked, stopping her.
“We’ll sell it.”
Muniel beckoned.
“There are two places we can sell it. What do you think?”
Solace thought for a moment.
“Since it’s large, we can split it in half and sell it to both sides. But keep it secret.”
“Why?”
“So each thinks there’s only one, and they’ll bid higher.”
The adults smiled proudly.
“That’s a good idea.”
“What about you, Nini?”
But Nivellia had already lost interest.
“Cookies!”
She ran off and came back with two cookie packs.
* * *
The Deiamor family had existed since the founding of the empire.
Despite their name meaning “God’s Love,” they had never produced clergy or political figures.
They were often mocked.
But 40 years ago, they rose to become one of the most powerful noble families—especially economically.
And that was thanks to Celetina.
“Honestly…”
Celetina smiled as her family saw her off to work.
“You don’t have to do this every time.”
“Nonsense.”
Muniel hugged her.
“You deserve it.”
Celetina had built the family’s wealth through business.
“I could give up Kaleo, but not you.”
“I agree,” Kaleo said.
They all sent her off warmly.
Meanwhile—
“I need to pee…!”
Nivellia was rushed to the bathroom in Dether’s arms.
With Celetina gone, the household began its day.
“Do you work too, Dether?”
“My job is taking care of you.”
“I can take care of myself.”
Dether burst out laughing.
“That was your funniest joke yet.”
“I wasn’t joking.”
In Muniel’s room—
“Come here, Nini.”
“Does Grandma not work today?”
“Taking care of you is my work.”
“Because of brother?”
“…That’s a secret.”
Nivellia turned to Solace.
“Listen to Grandma.”
“Ha!”
Muniel handed Solace two letters.
“Deliver these to the information guild and the Mage Tower.”
Solace was thrilled.
“Also, try selling the mushroom yourself.”
“Me?!”
“Experience matters.”
He hesitated—until—
“Brother.”
Nivellia patted him.
“You have to fail to succeed.”
“…Nini.”
“Look at me. I went bankrupt but I’m paying my debt.”
That gave him courage.
“Even if I fail, it’s okay.”
“Yes. I fail all the time!”
And so, the siblings set off together.
Their first destination—
The Mage Tower.
A massive structure rising into the sky beyond a quiet forest.
Nivellia lay flat on the ground to look up.
“Can you see the top?”
“No!”
“My lady, don’t lie on the dirt.”
Dether lifted her up.
