7. Cheat Banknotes

I looked around the room, took paper and a pen.

I tore a rectangle, wrote 「1000」 on it, and held it out to Princess Iris.

「What is this.」

「Could you put a crest on it. Like the fan. With magic.」

「…Meaning.」

「It was issued by royalty. We use it as money.」

Paper money. That was the point.

「…?」

「Only royalty can grant the crest. Put it on with intent and it stays long after the person is gone.」

「Hmm.」

「So nobody can fake it. Not worth the risk.」

「I see.」

「You are out of line!」

The knight who had announced Iris yelled from the wall.

「Items with the royal crest are gifts. That is how the throne has held authority since the founding. You do not scatter it as coin! You received one from Her Highness Helene. You should know the weight of it!」

The fan.

I was glad Helene had given it to me. I did not think the crest itself was the same thing.

I looked at him.

Stiff. Serious. Angry, not looking for a fight. Just stubborn.

Worse, in a way.

I started thinking how to move him.

「That is fine.」

Iris spoke first.

「Your Highness?」

「Kakeru taught me something useful. Why did I not think of this.」

「Are you certain? You cannot. It would disgrace the house—」

「The country will be stable.」

Flat.

「You can see the value of a note no one can fake.」

「B-but…」

「Coin stays stable. Spare silver and copper become metal again. And.」

She laughed.

Not the one I had been waiting for. Excited.

Pretty.

「Business gets easier. One sheet is a thousand copper. Peddlers especially. Until now they hauled weight, or used house paper that only a merchant house backs. This has the country behind it. Trade with a straight back.」

「…」

The knight went quiet.

Sincere, not stupid.

He saw the size of it at once.

It still broke the old rule.

In my world every country fights fake notes. That is why they pack them with tricks.

Better tech, more trust, steadier paper.

「That magic is only for royalty?」

「Direct line only.」

「Then it cannot be faked.」

「Not at all.」

Iris said it like a fact. A rule break on purpose.

Uncounterfeitable paper is a cheat.

Next to that, my idea — leftover from the last world — looked small.

「Thank you, Kakeru.」

Then she smiled.

「—!」

That one.

Not fu. Not ha.

Soft. It pulled.

「You taught me well. I will thank you for this.」

She said it again with that smile.

⸻

Home.

I sat in the living room and stared at nothing.

Iris’s smile.

I turned it over. Turned it over again.

Good mood. Too good.

Kaka. Kaka. Kaka.

Knocker.

「Excuse me. Is anyone in?」

A boy’s voice through the door. Quiet. Without the extra hearing I would have missed it.

I opened it. Modest clothes.

「Yuuki Kakeru-sama?」

「Ah.」

「The master sent word. He found the maid. Come to the shop when you can.」

「Master. Maid… Salamus?」

「Yes!」

「Got it. Thanks.」

At the Salamus Trading Company he met me with the same gut.

「Welcome. Good to see you.」

Same look. Better mood than before, maybe.

Smile stuck on a bit thick.

「Something good happen.」

「No, no. I heard you already closed the case. The copper shortage was hurting us too.」

「That.」

「I thought you had some mission, with Her Highness’s fan. I did not think the rumor would move this fast. That is Yuuki-sama for you.」

He piled it on.

Felt good. A little off.

「More important. You found the maid.」

「Yes. I managed to put eyes on one.」

「Eyes?」

「You wanted a slave maid who can work. I did not know what else, so I brought three.」

「Three.」

「All of them can work. All slaves. You choose.」

「I see.」

A choice is better than being handed one.

「I will send them in one at a time.」

「OK.」

He clapped.

The door opened. First.

Late twenties. Calm. Settled.

Head maid at her last house. Replaced, so she left.

Fine. Looks like she can work.

Second. About twenty. Cute. Talked easy.

Never held a post. Cooks. Housework. Taught properly.

Not bad.

Third.

The door opened. She walked in.

「This one!」

I was on my feet.

「Yuuki-sama?」

「I want this one. Her.」

One look. Done.

Cute. Beautiful.

And above that.

「I am a beastman. Are you sure you want…」

That decided it.