“Take this with you.”

“…What is this?”

“It’s a magical tool that binds slaves. Use it when he doesn’t listen or when you’re bored.”

The rod that the slave trader handed over had a simple design without any decorations, but a dark red stone was embedded in the top.

It didn’t look expensive, presumably from its turbid light, but it seemed to be a magic stone linked to the jewel in the choker Adrian was wearing around his neck.

“If you wave it like this-”

The slave trader slammed the rod from top to bottom while pressing down on the jewel, saying that he’d personally demonstrate to me.

“Ugh!”

As if affected by the magic tool, Adrian wrapped his hand around the black choke and began wriggling in pain.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

Embarrassed at Adrian’s pain, who couldn’t even breathe properly, I hurriedly stretched out my arms.

“Okay! I know how to use it, so give me that!”

I took the magic tool from the slave trader with a fierce glare.

“Yes. Be careful with it.”

The man sold his useless slave at a high price and disappeared into the store, humming happily.

‘…What now?’

Sitting in the dark back alley where I found Adrian earlier, I sighed, glancing at him who was fluttering like a fish out of water.

It was good to leave the store after signing the papers by proudly selling Lirina’s name, but I had no place to take Adrian.

‘I can’t beg with the crown prince, my situation would only become more difficult.’

KRING KRING

I wiped my embarrassed face with one hand, but before I knew it, Adrian crawled toward me like a dog.

“Why…?”

He began to bang his head on my leg, making a constant groan.

“Hey, do you want me to touch you?”

His behavior was no different than that of a dog. I carefully raised my hand and stroked Adrian’s head. The frizzy gray hair scattered helplessly in my hands, and Adrian closed his eyes as if satisfied with my touch.

Swoop, swoop.

As I brushed his untidy hair, the crown prince moved his forehead along my palm.

‘Homeless people sometimes bring dogs with them…’

However, I can’t treat His Highness like a real puppy because he behaved like one. I had no choice but to revise today’s schedule.

‘I was going to just sleep with a newspaper on the floor tonight, but it can’t be helped…’

As a former young lady and a current beggar, I could be homeless, but having the crown prince sleep on the street was a bit of a stretch.

* * *

“Stay here for a moment.”

I found a pawnshop near the entertainment district and tied the string connected to Adrian’s choker in front of a streetlight at the store front.

WHINE…

When I turned to enter the store, I could hear Adrian whining as he looked at my back moving away.

“Why are you crying?”

I went back to Adrian, whose thick tears were falling to the floor.

“Urr… throw away, urr… throw away.”

“I’m not throwing you away. Just leaving you alone for a moment.”

I stroked Adrian’s hair as he looked afraid to be left alone in the streets, and searched my pockets.

“Eat this,” I said as I handed him my chocolate, “I’ll be right back.”

He tilted his head at the chocolate. Oh, but you can’t give chocolates to dogs. My brows furrowed as I pulled my hands away for a moment.

Wait, he’s not a real dog!

“It’s chocolate. Now, ah!”

“Oh.”

I popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth, which opened up as he mimicked me. As the sweetness burst into his mouth, his anxious face became a little relieved.

“Good boy. Wait a minute here, okay?”

I gave Adrian the rest of the chocolate and rushed into the store.

“I’d like to pawn  some things to you.”

“Yes. What is it?”

I rummaged through my item pocket and then pulled out a flashy dress.

“This dress. There are a lot of jewels on it, so how much can I get?”

It was the emergency fund dress that I stole from Ares’ mansion. The clerk’s eyes almost fell out of its sockets as he checked the diamonds hanging from the sleeve and shoulders of the dress.

“The frills are also a high-end lace, and this gem is also a high-end diamond. I can give you a thousand resos for a dress like this.”

At the clerk’s offer, I raised my chin arrogantly just as when I dealt with the slave trader earlier. Maybe because I’ve tried it before, acting as an aristocratic lady didn’t feel that difficult anymore.