Chapter 51 - The Mansion of Coins

As we continued walking down the bustling street, I turned to the group. 

"Ah—before we head to the orphanage, let's stop by the Hero's Mansion. I should grab a few pouches."

"Alright," Princess Maya replied without question, walking slightly ahead of us.

Miss Sera, keeping pace beside me, leaned in slightly and whispered, "Do you know the orphanage she was talking about?"

I shook my head. "No. I've never heard of any orphanage near Central Street. Nothing in the official records either."

That's what made it so strange. She said she's been supporting it for nearly a year—that's either around the time I arrived in this kingdom… or maybe even before. But if something like this existed, there should've been _some_ documentation. And yet—nothing.

When we reached the Hero's Mansion, the guards at the front gate were visibly stunned.

It probably had something to do with the Grand Marshal in simple clothes… and a hooded girl clearly trying _not_ to look like the princess of the kingdom.

"Just… don't ask," I said, giving them a flat look. "It's complicated."

The guards quickly straightened up. "Very well, Sir Alve. Welcome back."

"We'll just be a minute," I added as we stepped through the gates. "I'm here to pick up something."

We opened the large wooden front doors of the mansion—and I heard audible gasps behind me.

Miss Sera and Princess Maya stopped in their tracks, eyes wide.

Stacked near the entrance hall, right by the large table just inside the doorway, were dozens of pouches—_full_ of gold coins. They shimmered in the faint light like a treasure hoard.

"What in the world…?" Miss Sera breathed. "Why are there _this_ many gold coins piled up here?"

"I've just been tossing them there every month," I said casually, reaching for a few. "I don't really have much to spend them on, so… they just kinda stack up."

I grabbed three pouches and handed one to each of them.

"Take one. That'll be our donation."

Princess Maya looked at the pouch in her hands, clearly overwhelmed by the weight and value. 

"Are you sure it's okay to donate this much, Sir Alve?"

"It's fine," I said. "It's not like I'm using it anyway."

Miss Sera, meanwhile, had wandered over to the edge of the table. Her eyes had caught on something else.

A coat—still folded neatly, clearly untouched—lay beside the gold.

She muttered softly, almost to herself, "Wait… are you even _using_ the mansion?"

"Hmm? Did you say something?" I asked, glancing at her.

She snapped out of it quickly. "No. Nothing. Let's get going."

But as we left, I noticed her falling into silent thought, trailing slightly behind us.

> _Didn't he say, "Let's visit the Hero's Mansion"? So… he doesn't even consider this place home? And all the gold is just by the entrance, like he never even goes inside…_

> _Just how has he been living all this time? For an entire year…?_