For the time being, the excited king was annoying, so Ben and I left for the first room we were given.
"Can I leave the official contract to you?"
"Yeah, leave it to me."
Ben nods with a serious expression.
"This case will be treated especially."
Banks invest the money they're given and make a profit.
There's no difference if that money is received from A-san or anyone else.
However, this time it's different.
This time, my money was treated as an investment rather than a deposit.
It's something like making an investment into a subsidiary.
Invest my money the as instructed by me.
If they fail, only my money is lost.
There is no damage to other depositors.
In essence, this isn't even a relationship between a person and their bank.
Well, since only I gave out my money, there's also the opinion that it would have been better if I didn't hand it to the bank as an intermediary.
About that, I can only say that it was a natural flow of events.
After a while, Yufilia entered the room while sighing.
"If you really don't want to do it, you can still turn back soon."
"That's not it, I'm just tired from convincing my dad."
Apparently Richard has been difficult.
I'm not sure if we are able to sign this without the king being convinced.
As long as he isn't convinced, we can't make the contract.
"But still, you said some bold things."
Ben speaks, praising her.
"The result hasn't changed, all we've done is bought some time."
At this time, Yufilia was embarrassed.
"What was with that greeting before?"
"Well, I'm becoming your collateral, so I did it."
I feel like there's something wrong with my recognition of collateral.
"What do think collateral is?"
"Something like a hostage. Sort of like how Scottyard has taken hostages from small countries to the east."
Scottyard has made the eastern countries around it into its subordinate countries.
As a proof of subordination, they take one of their princes.
However, in this case, both Yufilia and I will live in Rhodan.
"Hou, and where is the hostaged princess planning on going?"
"It's not your house?"
"Wai."
That's in many ways, a problem.
I usually transfer back to the Dark Temple.
This is obvious, but I can't just take her to the Dark Temple.
I am technically renting out an apartment in this city.
In the documents I submitted to the apartment, that was listed as my address.
I also have furniture and household goods prepared there.
Since I haven't used them at all, there's no feeling of life there though.
"ｙめうむくぁｚのｍｓｍふぉ、ぉんｂこどろｇｍもんｊぁヴぃｒせん(Translation: That's not something a daughter should do before she gets married.)"
I seemed to be more upset than I thought, and the meaning of my words were lost.
"Ah, this person gets like this when he gets upset, and you stop being able to understand him."
Seeing Ben tilt his head, Yufilia explains that to him.
While going *kusukusu* and laughing.
"It's surprising that you could speak in front of a crowd like that calmly, yet with that level of conversation you got like this."
Ben was astonished.
At that time, the room was knocked.
"It's Adela right? You can enter."
When Yufilia said that, one maid entered the room.
"Princess, I've finished the preparations."
"What did you prepare for?"
I got a bad feeling, and asked.
"Preparations for a sleepover."
I listened to Adela's answer, and held my head in my arm.
"Just wait a bit."
"What?"
"Because a collateral is insurance, it's different from a hostage."
"Hostages are also a form of insurance."
Yufilia rebuts my words, and I'm at a loss for words.
"The price of breaking the promise……"
I stop in the middle of my sentence.
Hostages are like that too. If they betray you, they immediately get executed.
"A,anyways, Yufilia, you can still live in the royal castle just as usual."
"Eh, is that okay?"
Yufilia was surprised, and widened her eyes.
"Leaving aside land, people can move freely. Isn't that a problem for a hostage, and as collateral?"
"The world is big. If it's someone as powerful as Yufilia-denka, they could escape whenever they want. You can use transfer magic after all."
Ben voices his approval.
"Yeah, that's why hostages would normally have this attached to them."
Adela takes out a magic item.
It's a collar.
"This is the same one as used on slaves. It has a function to tell you the wearer's location. Of course, this collar has a fine design with rubies on it. It couldn't look off even for royalty to wear it."
A slave collar.
In case of a slave being rebellious, it shocks them.
If they try to attack their master, it explodes.
It's a convenient item with many functions like that.
Of course, it can't be removed by the wearer.
"Ah, there's also a seedy leather collar that's used for normal slaves."
"Why do have that item?"
I question her with my eyes half open, but Adela answered calmly.
"I thought an opportunity like this might appear."
What kind of opportunities are you hypothesizing about?
"Ah! I'm going to be treated me like a slave right?"
Yufilia anguishes.
"Please endure it. This is also for the sake of the country."
Adela *harahara* lets her tears fall.
"You're really bad at playing a tragic heroine, but anyways can we proceed with the discussion?"
I wonder if they like to act or something?
Maybe because of the situation, they got upset.
Or maybe, are they to divert my attention like this?
Anyways, there is no selection to put on the slave collar.
There isn't, right?
If she wears another expensive dress like today, that slave collar would feel really out of place.
Normally though, it wouldn't be paid that much attention to.
Since she'll be living in the royal castle from now on, the safe choice is this one.
"I guess this is fine."
I point at the elegant collar.
"Alright, then please put this on your arm please. With that, the slave contract will be complete."
No, she's not a slave though.
I retort in my heart, and receive the collar.
A click sounds, and the collar perfectly sticks to Yufilia's silky skin.
"Please take care of me from now on, master."
Like this, Yufilia and my relationship turned into something I don't really understand.