Chapter 38.1

i tilted my head to the merchant, holding the necklace in my hand as adrian stared at me.

“why don’t you give me a discount? it looks like an industrial product, but it’s too expensive.”

“what do you mean industrial goods, miss?!”

when i tried to bargain for the price a bit, the man waved his hand in disgust.

“hey, i took it myself from the mine!”

“are you saying you’ve been mining minerals?”

“sure! the mine was speechless to see how i could find such a rare thing.”

the merchant reached out his hand as he tried to retrieve the necklace from me.

“just give it back. if you think that it’s not worth the amount i price, then it’s your loss, really.”

‘fuck, what kind of mine doesn’t speak up? there’s no way…’

the merchant’s narrative was questionable.

“rian, do you really want this necklace?”

when i looked back at rian and asked, he grunted and made a tearful face.

“hiiing, hiiing.”

the merchant glanced at adrian who was nodding loudly, and then smiled with satisfaction.

“the slave clearly has a good eye. this necklace is a real thing. do you feel magical energy?”

i waved my hand and nodded toward him.

“whoa. alright. that’s explained, just give me the necklace, please.”

“yes. i received a hundred reso. take care then!”

the merchant received the money i handed and quickly wrapped the necklace and handed it over, worried that i might change my mind, and then closed the store immediately.

watching the stall being swept away in front of me, i held out the necklace wrapped with a rustling craft paper and handed it to adrian.

“well, here you are.”

he crouched down on the floor and tilted his head as he looked at the necklace. i clicked my tongue because i was a bit annoyed that he seemingly didn’t like something again.

“why? do you want it on your neck?”

adrian had a thin neck for a man, so the necklace would suit him, but he’s wearing a choker that looked better than the necklace. a silver bell that hung from the black leather choker made a clear sound whenever he shook his head.

‘i don’t think it’d be visible with the choker on him.’

but if he wanted me to do it, then i had to. i stroked the back of adrian’s neck and hung the necklace on him.

“hiiing!”

then adrian, slipping out of my arms, took out the necklace from his neck and handed it back to me.

“huh? why are you giving it back?”

“eddie, edith.”

i was a bit moved that he recalled my name. my eyes widened as i looked down at my soft, white palms, but he hesitantly stood up and wrapped his arm around my neck.

“edith, the necklace.”

before i knew it, i looked up, clasping the necklace that hung around my neck. the silver chain wrapped around the neck wasn’t bad.

“do you want me to have it?”

it was touching that he remembered my name, but even the gift…

i was so proud of him that i pouted with tears in my eyes.

“you shouldn’t have said it from the beginning.”

was this how it felt to have your child receive his first paycheck and buy you underwear?

a part of my heart tightened. envisioning him wearing a tie to work, and bringing home a snack to eat with his owner.

“i thought rian wanted this. i misunderstood.”

hearing me say it, adrian’s eyes curled with a pretty smile on his face. rubbing my fingers on his white cheek, which hadn’t even burned despite the scorching sun.

‘i bought it with my own money, but why am i so touched?”

it seemed to be because of the way he looked at me.

“thank you, rian.”

i hugged rian, who seemed to be feeling better, and then touched my skirt.

“we’ll be hungry soon, so let’s go buy something to eat.”

however, as soon as i said that, i couldn’t feel my money bag that was on my skirt belt. stuttering and rummaging under my skirt like a pervert in the middle of the road, i turned white and looked back at rian.

“where’s my money bag?!”

as soon as i screamed in surprise, the sound of someone rushing away from the alley echoed.

“pickpocket! pickpocket!”

i freaked out and chased after the person who was getting farther and farther away from us. as if he noticed my urgency, adrian ran towards the shadow, going on all fours.