I Became a Swordsman in the Middle Ages.

Early morning.

Over a white blouse and skirt, Sisilia donned a loose-fit cardigan.

The key point is maintaining the appearance of the cardigan, which is just about to slip off one shoulder.

One side of her hair is boldly braided, while the other is left long, naturally covering part of her face.

Finally, after pinning a lily-shaped hairpin, she equips a simple design short sword to complete the look.

This was Sisilia’s going-out outfit.

“Hmm. Not bad.”

Sisilia evaluated herself while staring intently at the mirror.

While she generally lived frugally, she never skimped on her appearance.

Even the outfit she was wearing now, including the hairpin, cost 30 gold.

In Korean won, it would be worth about 30 million won.

…Most of it was expensive because she had to custom order items that didn’t match her taste.

“Money, how much do I have?”

Sisilia opened her money pouch and carefully examined it.

1 gold 2 shillings.

It was a pitiful amount for a sword maiden belonging to the kingdom’s finest knight order.

She couldn’t accept this reality.

“Someone must have stolen it.”

Currently, Sisilia’s income, including allowance, is 50 gold per month.

Even though she spent 30 gold last week buying these clothes, she was too poor.

“…This is bad.”

Today was the day an ‘item’ Sisilia had been waiting for would be up for auction.

Originally, she had planned to farm it leisurely herself, but the situation had changed.

She needed to get it, even if it meant spending a fortune.

By Sisilia’s estimate, she would need 500 gold.

Not even close to what she had.

Of course, being an auction, she only needed to pay within a certain period, but the problem was the down payment.

Once the bid was won, 30% of the price had to be paid on the spot.

‘…I need to find money. But first, let’s get out of the mansion.’

**

Sisilia tiptoed through the corridor, checking her surroundings carefully.

“My lady! Where are you going? Ah, you look so cute in today’s outfit!”

“…Where’s the Commander?”

She preferred to avoid Cairon if possible.

It was obvious he would start nagging as soon as they met.

“If you mean the master, he went to greet Duke Biaten?”

“Thanks.”

‘I need to leave quickly now.’

Sisilia hurried toward the main entrance.

As she was descending the stairs somewhat quickly, she heard footsteps.

She quickly hid behind a pillar.

“I’m honored to receive such a welcome.”

“…Greeting the kingdom’s greatest magician is only proper procedure.”

Sisilia muttered internally.

‘Don’t catch me. Don’t catch me. Don’t catch me.’

However, making Sisilia’s wishes futile, Cairon spoke calmly.

“Sisilia. You’re too old for such games.”

“……”

‘Caught.’

Sisilia sheepishly revealed herself.

“Oh ho, so this is the rumored Lady Sisilia. Indeed, as they say, you are the epitome of beauty befitting your title as the sword maiden.”

“Hello. Thank you.”

Cairon’s face stiffened slightly.

“Duke Biaten. Would you please wait in the guest room for a moment? I have something to discuss with this child.”

“Haha, of course. Take your time.”

Once Duke Biaten disappeared, Cairon began his lecture as if he’d been waiting for this moment.

“What’s with that half-worn robe? If you’re going to wear clothes, wear them properly or take them off.”

“This is how the outfit is supposed to be.”

“The skirt is too short. Maintain the dignity of the Windsor Knights.”

“The uniform is even shorter.”

“That hairpin… suits you well.”

“I think so too.”

Cairon let out a small sigh.

While Sisilia could be somewhat bizarre, she was generally obedient.

Since childhood, she had usually listened well to Cairon’s words.

But strangely, when it came to this fashion, she wouldn’t compromise at all.

He wished she would dress more modestly…

Thanks to this, the dresses he had given Sisilia as gifts were piled up in a corner of the storage room.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to buy supplies for tomorrow’s duty. I think I’ll need various things.”

The Windsor Knights had started 24-hour duty under emergency protocols.

Sisilia’s shift started tomorrow, so she was free today.

In other words, Sisilia’s excuse was perfect.

“…So, could you perhaps give me some allowance?”

Cairon briefly closed his eyes and opened them again.

“That outfit, how much was it again?”

“3 gold.”

Sisilia lied without batting an eye.

Cairon placed his hand on his forehead as if he had a headache.

“I saw the receipt. It was 30 gold. Such overspending. Unacceptable for a knight who should be frugal. No allowance until you learn the value of money.”

“…!!”

***

Well, truthfully, she hadn’t expected much.

‘Once Cairon makes up his mind, he rarely changes it.’

Still, she tried asking just in case, but it seemed impossible.

But Sisilia didn’t lose heart. There were still many ways to earn money.

“Oh? If it isn’t the youngest.”

“Hello.”

She spotted today’s target, Jerry.

Unlike during the meeting, he looked quite normal now.

“What brings you here? I wouldn’t go anywhere near the patrol area if I were you.”

“I stopped by on my way to go shopping. You must be working hard since retirement is coming soon.”

“Sob~ You’re all I have, youngest. You’re the only one in this knight order who understands my situation.”

“Then, could you lend me some mo…”

Suddenly, Jerry had urgent business.

“Damn, something must have happened. Sisilia, I’ll go ahead. Happy shopping!”

“Astel Champagne, 52 years.”

“……!”

Jerry’s hurried escape came to a halt.

He turned his head like a wooden puppet with a creaking sound.

Then he rushed back and put his hands on Sisilia’s shoulders.

“H-h-h-how did you know about that?”

“I saw you drink the champagne from the office shelf and fill it with water. I was on duty then.”

Jerry’s face was filled with despair.

Staggering, he leaned against the wall and collapsed.

He mumbled pessimistically.

“If the Commander finds out, I’m dead. No, I might already be dead since you know about it.”

“Drinking while on duty is…”

“I get it! I’ll give it to you, okay! How much do you want?”

The huffing Jerry pulled out his money pouch.

“All of it.”

“…You’re not just merciless toward demons.”

Jerry handed over his entire money pouch nervously.

Sisilia accepted it with a slight bow.

“B-but this stays absolutely secret from the Commander, right?”

“Yeeees.”

Seeing Jerry’s dejected expression was a bit pitiful.

In memorial, she would make sure to use this money well.

***

On her way to shopping, she checked inside the pouch.

As expected of an adult knight, was it?

The amount was enough to surprise even Sisilia.

‘There are 20 platinum coins.’

One platinum coin was worth 10 gold coins.

That meant Jerry was carrying around 200 gold in his pouch.

Come to think of it, she remembered that Jerry was the son of a famous merchant from the South.

Even so, this was…

‘Hmm. This is more than I expected. I should use half and return the rest.’

The poor Sisilia was intimidated by the overwhelming amount!

Suddenly, the pouch felt 20 times heavier.

Since it was precious, she decided to keep it close to her chest.

“Welcome to the Ervine Auction House, Lady Sisilia Windsor. Which mask would you like?”

“…A rabbit.”

Having safely arrived at the auction house, Sisilia received her mask and entered.

The auction house had an elegant structure with marble pillars and a red carpet in the center of the hall, surrounded by seating.

The second and third floors had VIP seats, and the first floor had general seating. Sisilia sat demurely in a general seat.

‘I’m a bit late.’

The auction house was filled with a mix of tension and anticipation. The auctioneer stood on the red carpet and announced while striking his gavel.

“Sold! Congratulations! This ‘Tears of Seria’ belongs to the gentleman in the lion mask over there!”

The item Sisilia was waiting for was the main auction piece. The main items usually came near the end of the auction, so she had to wait a while.

“Now then, let’s move on to the next item!”

The auction continued.

Occasionally there were items that caught Sisilia’s eye. Still, she firmly suppressed her desire to buy them for the sake of ‘that item’ coming later.

‘That earlier one would have been really helpful for a newbie… I need to earn a lot of money.’

While just window shopping like that for a while – the moment she had been waiting for arrived.

“The next item is the ‘Pendant of Ellasia’!”

A blue jewel hanging from a silver chain sparkled like a living star.

The intricate craftsmanship and mysterious light within the jewel were simply breathtaking.

‘Found it.’

That was undoubtedly the item Sisilia had been looking for.

“Starting bid… 500 gold!”

Under her rabbit mask, Sisilia slightly furrowed her brow.

‘Why is the starting price like this? It’s certainly pretty, but…’

A few people around started raising their hands.

“500 gold!”

“550!”

“600!”

The auction house became increasingly heated. The auctioneer’s voice grew louder as the bidding calls came from each floor.

Sisilia was somewhat perplexed. It had already far exceeded her expected price.

Just a pretty accessory. She hadn’t expected the price to go this high for something that wasn’t even a significant artifact.

‘…Not yet. I shouldn’t jump in now.’

Still, she couldn’t give up on this item. Sisilia watched carefully for the right time to join in.

“600! 600 gold! Any more bids?”

In the moment of silence that followed, Sisilia’s hand shot up.

“700.”

The surroundings stirred. Though her familiar appearance was hidden, her small frame and resolute voice couldn’t escape attention.

“700 gold! Ah, today’s highest bid so far! Will anyone dare to exceed this incredible amount!”

‘…Surely no one would spend more than that?’

Just as Sisilia’s heart was pounding-

The auctioneer shouted in an ecstatic voice.

“800 gold!”

“…!”

A man wearing a snake mask on the second floor had his hand raised.

‘I’m done for.’

Even 700 had been pushing it. At 800 gold, the immediate payment would be 250 gold.

Over her limit.

“Amazing! Is there anyone else who would surpass this amount?”

The auctioneer was clearly delighted. While the starting price had already been somewhat pushed, he hadn’t expected it to heat up this much.

“Well-! Then, we’ll conclude…”

However, a leisurely gesture was seen from the second floor.

“T-thousand gold!”

A gasp rippled through the hall.

It was the man wearing the lion mask.

Two women with good figures were throwing tantrums around him.

‘Who is that…?’

The snake mask who had been competing until now shrugged his shoulders while holding a wine glass as if in disbelief.

‘Just how rich is he. No matter how much money that person had, they couldn’t win.’

Sisilia stared at the floor dejectedly and remained still.

Though she stayed in her seat just in case there might be an alternative-

Until the end of the auction that day, the item Sisilia wanted didn’t appear again.

***

Sisilia walked with her spirits completely dampened.

‘If I just had that, I could know exactly when the ‘official opening’ would be.’

While she suspected the official opening would be in a year, a suspicion was just a suspicion.

She needed certainty.

But now that she’d missed this chance, there was no hope…

“Hey, rabbit.”

She turned her head at the voice from behind.

“Who.”

Tap.

She caught something flying quickly toward her.

While keeping her eyes on the man in the lion mask standing at an angle, she glanced slightly at what she held in her hand.

It was the ‘Pendant of Ellasia’.

“I thought it would be you.”

The man in the lion mask slowly removed his mask.

“Leorik?”

He showed his teeth in a grin.

Sisilia was dumbfounded.

“How did you know it was me?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t recognize you just because you wore a mask?”

“…This.”

“When I bought that pendant, I thought something interesting might happen. It’s my first time seeing you want something this badly.”

“I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t worry about something like this.”

Then he waved his hand coolly and turned away.

Sisilia couldn’t move for a while, even after Leorik disappeared.

‘What kind of interesting things? Should I do a stand-up routine?’

She’d have to buy a clown mask tomorrow.