Chapter 50: The Hidden Auction

“Your Highness! We’ve been waiting for you.”

“Hello, it’s been a while.”

“We were so surprised to hear you’d be visiting on such short notice.”

Miranda Haynes, the youngest daughter of House Haynes, greeted Isabel with an outpouring of flattery.

“I’ve never heard of you meeting anyone in private before…”

“That’s true. But I’m thinking of trying it more from now on. I feel stiff and achy just staying in the palace all the time.”

“Hohoho… I see!”

Isabel glanced through the list and set her sights on Miranda as her prey.

Her family was a neutral house that had managed to secure their position thanks to a stroke of luck in business.

It wasn’t easy to leap from a baronet to a viscount in one go, but it had all been thanks to money.

As with most upstarts, the Haynes family loved to spend.

Miranda, the youngest daughter, was famous for her obsession with collecting jewelry and dresses, caring only for outward appearances.

A childhood of deprivation had left her deeply scarred, or so they said.

‘Still, dabbling in illegal auctions? She’s got some nerve.’

Isabel already knew that Miranda was secretly racking up debts behind her family’s back.

For all these reasons, Miranda was a perfect target for Isabel’s plan.

“I couldn’t just come empty-handed. I brought you a little present.”

“A—a present?”

Miranda’s eyes sparkled at Isabel’s words.

Srrrk.

A small jewelry box was handed over, and soon its lid was opened.

“This. What do you think?”

“Oh my goodness…!”

Miranda covered her mouth with both hands.

“Are you really giving this to me?”

“I have so many of these things, I practically trip over them.”

“As expected, Your Highness is on a different level.”

With a flushed face, she carefully took the necklace from the jewelry box.

“Wow… I’ve never seen a necklace with so many marine sapphires on it. How dazzling.”

Miranda’s eyes were already half glazed over.

Isabel smiled sweetly.

“I’m starting to get tired of things like this. Isn’t there something special out there? At this point, I want something truly unique, something no one else can have.”

As Isabel subtly hinted, Miranda licked her dry lips.

“I—I suppose that must be true for you, Your Highness.”

She tucked the necklace back into the box with great care and hesitated a moment.

Then, finally, she spoke.

“If you want something special… what kind do you mean? Jewelry? Or rare ornaments…?”

“Anything is fine. I don’t care about the price, as long as it looks special to me. Why? Do you know a place?”

Isabel’s eyes gleamed as she asked.

“Hmm, I do know one place.”

Miranda hesitated.

‘They said I’d get at least thirty gold crowns per person. But if it’s someone as big as Her Highness, I might get even more…’

She owed a staggering one hundred and twenty gold crowns already.

She had borrowed money at the auction house using her family’s credit, and the amount had snowballed.

“Your Highness.”

All she could think about was repaying her secret debts without her parents finding out.

“There is an auction I could introduce you to… The entry process is a bit tricky, but it’s quite a good one. Would you be interested?”


---


A cool early winter breeze blew across the training grounds.

“One!”

“Two!”

“Uaaah!”

The shouts of the knights rang out through the air.

“You’re doing well.”

Since the founding of the Boronia Palace Knight Order.

Martin had been personally training the knights every day.

Hans, the vice-captain, also showed his utmost effort under Martin’s command.

‘Even someone like me, who doesn’t know much, can see it clearly.’

Martin’s physique had changed a lot.

He’d trained hard, even on his own, after receiving guidance from Retina.

“I wonder how much of a monster he’ll become.”

When he’d become captain of the imperial guards in the future.

Even then, Martin had been a monster.

“Your Highness!”

As Rohan watched the training grounds with satisfaction, Zenon ran up to him.

“Her Highness has made contact!”

“Really?”

It was welcome news.

“What about the merchant group?”

“Miss Lucretia and I have made thorough preparations. No one will know it’s a merchant group prepared by Your Highness’s side.”

“Good.”

Since he was already running a secret organization, Lucretia was well-versed in illicit channels.

“What’s the date?”

“One week from now, on Sunday.”

“Not much time left.”

There were things to be done before then.

“The location…?”

“It’s the southern part of the Fabian territory, Crochen.”

“…Huh? How did you know?”

Zenon, who was about to share the location, stared in surprise.

“Fabian Marquessate’s territory, close to the capital, and a resort where many nobles gather without raising suspicion. What else could it be but Crochen?”

He already knew, but anyone who knew the keyword ‘illegal auction’ would suspect that place first.

At Rohan’s words, Zenon scratched his head.

“Well… When you put it that way, it makes sense. As expected, Your Highness is amazing!”

He grinned and bowed his head.

“Then, I’ll head back now, Your Highness!”

Rohan just smiled in response, and Zenon dashed away again toward the archives.

“That one’s really dedicated.”

Suddenly, William appeared from behind.

“He’s nothing like most young nobles these days. He puts his heart into everything.”

“He looks like a typical young noble who’s never gotten his hands dirty, though.”

“He’s the eldest son of House Lorance, isn’t he?”

At Rohan’s words, William nodded.

“The Count of Lorance… His character is well known.”

“That’s why he’s so beloved by the people.”

If you had to pick the most popular noble, the Count of Lorance’s name would always come up.

He was famous for his integrity and lack of elitism.

He didn’t even cut his eldest son any slack.

That was why Zenon was running around on the bottom rungs of the capital.

“Count Nidro said it’s about time you start working on the conservatives behind the scenes.”

Yes, it was time for that.

Rohan turned.

“Let’s get ready.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“I need to visit the main palace and pay my respects to Father.”

“Suddenly…?”

William tilted his head in confusion, and Rohan grinned.

“Looks like I’ll need to take a little vacation.”


---


South of the Fabian Territory, Crochen.

Here, every weekend, splendid carriages formed a procession.

Being close to the capital and a well-appointed luxury resort, it was the most frequented spot for nobles.

“Welcome to Crochen.”

Because of the high cost of living, only laborers among the commoners could be found here.

So, everyone who visited was presumed to be noble, and was treated with utmost courtesy regardless of status.

Strolling down the well-maintained street, Isabel smiled sweetly.

“It’s been ages since I came here, not since I was a little girl.”

She wore a black veil that concealed her face.

Just in case anyone might recognize her.

Amusingly, members of the royal family rarely visited this place.

They had their own exclusive resorts on the western coast.

If they came to places crowded with nobles, they’d never get proper leisure and would spend the whole day being pestered, so it was inevitable.

“As for me, this is my first time here.”

At Rohan’s reply, Isabel nodded, “I figured,” but then paused.

“But Rohan, did you have to come looking like that?”

“What’s wrong with how I look?”

“I know you’re pretending to be my attendant, but… Pfft, it’s just too funny.”

“Really? I think I look pretty dashing.”

Rohan fiddled with his bowler hat.

A monocle perched on his nose, and long sideburns stuck on—he’d borrowed Lucretia’s hand to make a decent disguise.

And behind the pair, Retina and two knights followed, swords at their waists.

“Well… I guess no one would ever suspect you’re Rohan.”

At her words, Rohan shrugged and smiled.

Then he looked around.

“It really is… quite a resort.”

With only nobles here, the money flowing through was astronomical.

And the taxes from it went straight into Marquis Fabian’s coffers.

You had to admit he was a clever man.

“It’s a bit rude to ask, but… Where do the commoners go for vacations?”

At Isabel’s sudden question, Rohan smirked.

No matter how free of prejudice she was, Isabel had grown up in the royal palace since birth.

There was no way someone like her could understand the life of commoners.

“Commoners don’t have the concept of ‘vacation’.”

“What?”

“Vacations require money and leisure time. If someone could afford to enjoy a resort, they’d have earned at least a baronet’s title by now. There are exceptions, but…”

“…”

Isabel looked visibly shocked.

For her, vacations were one of life’s greatest joys.

Even the vast palace felt suffocating, so she regularly visited resorts to enjoy relaxation and freedom.

But to learn that commoners had no concept of vacation at all—how sad was that!

“Not being able to visit a resort doesn’t mean they aren’t happy.”

“Well, that’s a relief, but…”

Feeling like she’d made a blunder, Isabel bit her lip.

As they chatted, walking through Crochen’s center,

“Ah, there it is.”

Isabel produced an elegant invitation.

The sign above a refined tea house read ‘Bellamune’.

“I’ll wait outside with the knights. You go on in.”

With a nod from Rohan, the two knights chosen by Martin closely shadowed Isabel.

“I’m sorry, but only guests with reservations may enter at this time.”

The doorman politely blocked the way, but Isabel produced the crimson invitation.

“Here.”

“Ah, please come in.”

However, the knights were stopped.

“These are my escorts. They’ll come in with me.”

“Understood.”

The doorman bowed and let them all through.

“Very well.”

Isabel entered the tea house with her knights.

“Your Highness! Over here!”

From a private room partitioned by curtains at the back, Miranda called out in a hushed voice, welcoming her eagerly.

“Oh my, you’ve already put on a veil? That’s too bad, I brought these for you.”

Two ornate masks sat on the table.

“They’re lovely. I’ll wear one, then.”

Isabel smiled playfully and picked one up.

“But is it safe to hold an auction in such a public place? I thought it was supposed to be secret.”

“Don’t worry! This place is by reservation only. At this hour, everyone here is a participant in the auction.”

“Aha.”

So that was how they maintained security.

The knights, having been briefed, quietly took positions outside the private room.

Miranda exchanged a few pleasantries, then got to the point.

“I heard Your Highness was interested in something special, so… I’ve prepared something carefully.”

She took a small pearl-colored envelope from under the table.

Inside was a black entry ticket stamped in gold.

“There’s nothing written on the envelope, but among those who participate, it’s as good as an ID.”

“Oh, is that so? I’m really looking forward to this.”

Isabel inspected the envelope, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“By the way… may I ask what kind of item Your Highness is looking for?”

Miranda asked cautiously.

She planned to slip that information to the auction house’s intermediary and reap the benefits.

The more money Isabel spent, the more Miranda’s debts would be reduced.

But Isabel just gazed into the air with a gentle smile.

“I don’t know yet. I’ll buy whatever catches my eye.”

Miranda’s eyes flashed with frustration, but she didn’t press further.

A little later, someone emerged from the back of the tea house.

“The event is about to begin. Please make your way inside!”

At that, each private room began to bustle.

So did Isabel and Miranda.

The two women donned their masks for anonymity, and so did everyone else.

People of all kinds, hidden behind masks.

Isabel watched them all carefully from behind her own.

‘It’s finally starting!’

Her heart thudded with excitement she hadn’t felt in ages.

“Let’s go.”

Isabel stepped toward the secret passage.

The long-awaited illegal auction was about to begin.