The next morning—

BZZZZZZZZZ.

My eyes snapped open. "...Nyang nya nya-ang—"

Translation: ...What in the world—

BZZZZZZZZZ.

I sat up, fur messy, tail flicking, ears twitching aggressively.

"...Nyang nya nya-ang nya nya nyang nyang..."

Translation: ...Why does it sound like a swarm of mechanical bees is outside my room...

I dragged myself up, tail flicking irritably, and shoved the balcony doors open only for my eyes to widen.

Twenty drones were just casually hovering there.

"...Nyang." A yawn escaped me. "Nya-ang."

Translation: ...Ah. They’re early

I stepped forward, about to grab one then paused and looked down to see paws.

"...Nyang."

I stared at my paws then at the drones. I forgot I was a leopard again. "...Nyang nyang nya."

Translation: ...This is getting annoying.

With the grace of someone deeply inconvenienced, I turned around and walked back to my bed.

Step.

Step.

Step—

Oh look.

There’s a snake...

Sleeping.

On.

My.

Bed.

Again.

"..."

Without hesitation, I lifted my leg and kicked the lump on my bed straight off.

THUD.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" Gawain groaned from the floor, still in his oversized snake-beast form, tangled like a rejected scarf.

I ignored him, already holding the stone as my body shifted back into my semi-human form.

Poof!

"What did I say to you," I cracked my fingers then looked down at him, "when I catch you sleeping on my bed?"

"...mmmgh..." He responded with... snoring, he didn’t even open his eyes.

’Unbelievable.’

I stared at him, deadpan. "Wake up and help me get the boxes."

No response.

He was just snoring so loud with a little drool sliding in his face that made my eye twitched.

"Get up," I said flatly, "or you won’t be having your meal."

Silence.

Then—

Poof!

In less than a second, he transformed back into human form like a man resurrected by the concept of food itself.

"...How dare you bring food in this matter," he muttered under his breath.

"How else could I get you to follow my orders?"

He dragged himself up and followed me, muttering under his breath. "I swear my lady has the worst attitu—"

"You were saying something?" I cut in sweetly.

He instantly straightened, turned to me, and smiled so bright like the sun itself. "I said—what a GREAT mood to start the day!"

I stared at him. "...Good."

We stepped out onto the balcony together.

The drones immediately scanned my OmniSync.

Beep.

Beep.

[Delivery for Blanca Frostine. Identity confirmed.]

One by one, the drones descended like obedient mechanical pigeons with a corporate salary.

Boxes.

More boxes.

Even more boxes.

Gawain stood there catching each one like a warehouse worker who made several bad life choices.

"Why are there so many—"

THUD

"—boxes—"

THUD

"—MY LADY WHY DID YOU HAVE TO ORDER 500—"

Meanwhile, I stood there calmly, letting the drones scan my OmniSync like a dignified businesswoman who definitely wasn’t about to spiral into greed.

"Less talking. More catching."

"Left—left—LEFT—WHY IS THIS ONE HEAVIER—?!" he hissed as another crate nearly took his head off.

The moment the drones left, I pounced—gracefully—towards the boxes with the premium packaging and opened it.

Light practically burst out of it.

Inside were glorious, beautiful, high-grade energy stones, radiating pure money.

They sparkled and even whispered to me, "Profit."

My eyes lit up. "Ohohohoho..."

Gawain froze mid-lift. "Here she goes again..."

I picked one up, turning it under the light. "A little polish... a bit of carving... then BAM! Instant 1500...!"

I tilted my head.

"...Or should I sell it for 2000?"

"My Lady... please..." Gawain sounded like a man begging a villain to reconsider world domination.

I blinked and snapped out of it, looking at him. "What now?"

He sighed like his soul had aged ten years. "Can you not laugh like that? It’s so unlady-like! Please preserve your dignity! You have noble blood running in your veins, My Lady!"

I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my past life. "You erased our identities," I reminded him. "Technically, I’m an unemployed noble."

"That’s NOT how that works—"

Knock knock.

Agatha entered, stopped, and looked around.

Boxes.

More boxes.

Gawain suffering.

Me glowing like I just discovered capitalism.

"...I see," she said calmly, though her eyes clearly said ’I don’t see, please explain.’

"You’re just in time, Agatha!" I clapped. "Let’s move these boxes to my workroom!"

"My Lady," she said, already suspicious, "are you not going to rest?"

"I already slept," I said, casually inspecting another crate.

Gawain whipped his head toward me so fast I heard a crack.

"My Lady," he said slowly, like he was explaining something to a particularly stubborn child, "it was ONE in the morning when you decided to stop working."

I waved him off. "And it’s only 7 now. See? Efficient."

"That is SIX HOURS."

"That is ENOUGH."

"That’s NOT enough!"

"That is NOT—"

I waved him off.

"We still have to pack orders."

"No," Gawain said instantly.

I frowned. "What do you mean... no?"

"At least rest for a little more instead of working again," he said, crossing his arms like he had suddenly become my life supervisor.

Agatha nodded.

"He’s right, My Lady. I will move the boxes myself."

"But the orders—"

"No," Gawain repeated.

"I still need to increase my price—"

"No."

"Then can I at least follow Agatha to the workroom—"

"No."

"...I’ll breathe near the workroom?"

"No."

I stared at him. "...You’re getting bold."

"I’m getting concerned."

I gasped in offense. "This is oppression."

"This is healthcare."

"Fine! You win!" I huffed dramatically and marched back to the bed, sitting down like a defeated emperor.

Gawain, sensing victory for the first time in his chaotic life, straightened like a man about to deliver wisdom passed down through generations.

"My Lady, I know you’re stubborn, but please don’t forget to take care of yourself. One’s health is more important than making money. If you’re sick, how could you continue making money, right?"

"..."

I froze.

That line.

That exact line.

It hit me harder than the time he accidentally dropped a crate on his own foot.

’One’s health is more important than making money.’

And just like that—

My mother appeared in my mind like a dramatic commercial.

FLASH.

"Blanca~" she cooed, gently placing a necklace on me.

It was not just any necklace but the Hope Diamond, like it was a friendship bracelet.

"Stop worrying about money," she said, adjusting it on my neck. "Focus on love instead. When are you giving us grandchildren?"

I blinked. "...Mom, why are you putting a country’s GDP on my neck?"

"It suits you."

"That’s not the point—"

"The Hope Diamond suits you," she cut me off.

"Mother, marrying is a national-level responsibility..."

FLASH.

My dad appeared, lounging like a man who had never known financial struggle in his entire existence.

"Don’t listen to your mom," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "But don’t overwork yourself, we’re already rich. You can just do whatever you want. Carve, travel... even have multiple boyfriends—"

"DAD?!" I shrieked.

He laughed like this was peak comedy then he fed me a slice of Yubari King Melon like we were in some kind of luxury food commercial.

"I know you’re jealous of me and your mom’s love," he added smugly. "But don’t rush marriage. Even if you stay single forever, we’ll take care of you."

I puffed my cheeks. "But I also want someone who can take care of me other than my family... I also want a husband of my own!"

He smirked. "They can try... if they survive me."

"...Why do I feel like this is a boss fight?"

"Oh, it is," he said cheerfully. "The final boss will be your grandpa."

"...I don’t want to unlock that level."

FLASH.

And there he was.

The final boss.

Grandpa.

Sitting like a king on a throne.

"My lovely Blanca..." Grandpa sighed dramatically, handing me documents like they were snacks. "I regret making you CEO. Unworthy men are lining up outside just to ask for your hand."

I smiled sweetly, like asking for candy. "...Can I keep a few?"

"NO."

"...Two?"

"NO."

"...One?"

"ABSOLUTELY NO."

I slammed my hands on the table. "GRANDPA! YOU’RE JUST LIKE DAD!"

"They are all trash when they stand beside you," he said calmly.

"YOU RAISED ME LIKE THIS—WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?!"

END OF FLASHBACK.

I didn’t even realize I was crying until a drop landed on my hand. "...Tch. They were all insane yet I miss them."

Gawain froze the moment I sniffled, like a man who had just accidentally stepped on a landmine.

Agatha’s head snapped toward him like a predator locking onto prey. "What did you do?" she asked coldly.

"I didn’t do anything I swear!" he panicked, immediately sitting beside me and pulling me into a hug. "If I said anything that upset you then I’m sorry, My Lady."

Agatha’s glare could have killed. "...Explain."

"I don’t KNOW!" he whisper-yelled back. "She just—she just—did the thing!"

"The thing?" Agatha repeated, deadpan.

"The—face! The emotional one!"

I let out a shaky breath, pressing my face against Gawain’s shoulder. "...You talk too much."

"I KNOW, I’M SORRY—wait, that’s not the point—"

I sniffled again, clutching his sleeve. "This is your fault."

"HOW?!"

"You started it with your ’health is important’ speech!"

"I WAS BEING CONCERNED!"

"Well now I’m emotionally damaged!"

"That sounds like a pre-existing condition!"

Agatha stepped in smoothly. "My Lady," she said gently, "perhaps you should rest. You must still be tired due to lack of sleep."

I sniffled then nodded at her. "...Okay. Wake me up if anything happens."

"No," Gawain started again.

I glared at him. "...If anything important happens."

He thought about it. "...Define important."

"...Money."

"...Absolutely not."