Chapter 52: The Counterattack

At that moment.

A black carriage came to a stop in front of the auction house.

“Damn it, I’m late.”

The marquis’s brow furrowed deeply as he sat inside the carriage.

He could already see knights barging into the teahouse.

He had come as quickly as possible, but it seemed the situation had already unfolded.

‘I’ve never seen that crest before.’

His eyes narrowed.

He had no idea whose black eagle emblem was engraved on the knights’ chests.

“We’re heading to the back entrance, now!”

“Yes, my lord!”

The carriage turned down the street, heading for the auction house’s rear gate.

Clack!

The carriage door swung open.

Fabian Marquis, clad in a green silk cape and a robe adorned with golden embroidery, stepped out.

He followed the secret passage used to move goods into the auction house, and in the waiting area, the merchants were still chatting and laughing, unaware of anything amiss.

His sharp gaze landed on his servants.

“Clear these items out. Immediately.”

“Eh? Who are y—”

“This is the master of the auction house! Do you intend to ignore his orders?!”

“Gasp!”

As the marquis’s attendant snapped, the merchants straightened up and quickly began lifting the goods.

“Wait.”

The marquis raised his hand.

“Get the Elfirians out first. Don’t leave a single trace behind.”

“Yes, yes! Understood!”

The merchants nodded and rushed into action.

“Where have all the guards gone?”

The marquis strode off, heading again for the back entrance.

“It seems someone intervened beforehand. I’ll go check right away!”

The attendant hurried off in a panic.

“Tsk, idiot. When this is over, I’ll toss him in the river.”

The marquis muttered irritably as he watched the attendant disappear.

Just then, as he was exiting through the back door—

“Throwing someone in the river, huh? Would that make it the perfect crime?”

“......”

A cold sensation pressed against his throat.

‘When did—’

A hooded figure stood before him.

Gulp.

The marquis swallowed hard.

If his opponent wished, his throat could be slit in an instant.

But the marquis spoke in a calm tone.

“Who are you?”

To his question, the hooded figure replied in a cold, decisive voice.

“Are you the owner of this auction house?”

At the same time, hurried noises came from behind the marquis.

“Uh, excuse us! We need to move these goods...”

It was the merchants trying to smuggle the Elfirians outside.

“Ha, ‘goods,’ is it.”

A smirk twitched beneath the hood.

And then—

“Urk!”

“Gah!”

The merchants’ dying screams rang out.

The marquis glanced back.

“......”

The merchants who had been dragging cages were all slumped unconscious against the corridor wall.

‘An incredible master.’

At this speed, escape was meaningless—they would be caught in no time.

The marquis made a swift judgment and spoke.

“What do you want?”

“Are there other children besides these?”

“...Children?”

The marquis’s brow twitched.

And soon, a subtle smile crept onto his lips.

“Elfirians, is it?”

“......”

“Judging by your hair color... you’re a Blood Elfirian, aren’t you? Your movements... now I understand.”

At those words, Retina hesitated for a moment.

‘I slipped up.’

She had tried hard not to reveal her identity while staying beside Rohan.

It seemed the marquis had deduced much from a tiny hint.

Fabian Marquis lifted both hands and spoke leisurely.

“Sorry, but I don’t know where the other Elfirians are or how many there might be. The merchants handle the goods, I merely provide the venue.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

Retina moved as if she would draw her sword at any moment.

“There’s no way you’d allow this kind of thing to happen without knowing a thing about it.”

“I’m telling the truth. If you’re so curious, why not wake those unconscious folks and ask them yourself?”

The marquis grinned, and Retina’s cheek twitched.

‘What makes him so bold?’

Now that he knew she was a Blood Elfirian, he had to realize that a single misstep meant death.

“You must be tired of living.”

Rage flared in Retina’s heart.

It was the marquis’s shameless attitude, despite his heinous deeds, that infuriated her.

‘Even if it means breaking a taboo...’

Should she just kill him?

Murderous intent rose within her.

“You bastard...”

As Retina readjusted her grip on her sword and began to lift it—

Crash!

Suddenly, something flew straight at Retina.

Tap!

But Retina dodged the attack in an instant.

“...This is...”

An arrow was stuck in the spot where Retina had just stood.

And then, again—

Whoosh!

A hail of fierce arrows flew toward Retina, who dodged them swiftly.

‘This isn’t normal speed or accuracy.’

Ordinary arrows, she could dodge with her eyes closed.

But these were different.

Retina looked toward the direction the arrows had come from.

There, something sparkled in the sunlight.

‘A bow.’

A silver bow was aimed straight at Retina.

The one holding the bow...

Whoosh!

Another arrow flew her way.

But in that brief moment, Retina focused and confirmed the bowman.

Clad in a black leather coat, face mostly hidden by a mask.

Red eyes gleamed through the mask’s slit, and a strange mark ran along their wrist.

“...!”

Retina’s eyes widened, and she felt a burning sensation in her left arm.

“Kh.”

She quickly clutched her arm and leaped high.

She climbed onto the roof to pursue the archer.

But the opponent had already vanished.

“Tch, tsk.”

By the time Retina turned her head, Fabian Marquis was gone as well.

“...No way.”

Retina’s lips pressed tight.

Her heart pounded—the archer seemed familiar.

“No, it can’t be. It mustn’t be.”

With practiced hands, she ripped her sleeve and bound her arm.

As much as she wanted to chase after those who had escaped, rescuing her imprisoned kin came first.

“Damn it.”

Retina leapt down toward the back exit lined with cages.


---


Meanwhile, chaos reigned inside the auction house.

“Th-the Crown Prince’s knights?!”

“What’s going on?!”

Startled nobles groaned in confusion.

Just then, someone appeared on the auction platform.

“Alright, everyone, quiet!”

The chattering nobles turned their heads.

“Who...?”

“Gasp!”

“Th-that’s...”

The one standing there was none other than Rohan.

“I received confidential reports of an illegal auction taking place here, so I came myself... but I never imagined things had gotten this out of hand.”

With a stern expression, Rohan began to speak.

“Even nobles who take part in an illegal auction will be strictly punished under imperial law. I’m sure you all know that much.”

When the knights had stormed in, it seemed impossible.

But for the Crown Prince himself to show up here!

“Wh-what should we do, Your Highness!”

Miranda clung to Isabel in panic, fearing arrest was inevitable.

Isabel slipped off her mask.

Then, she grinned broadly.

“The investigation of this illegal auction house is being led by Crown Prince Rohan Schubert, and I, Princess Isabel Schubert, declare myself a witness to today’s events.”

“Y-your Highness!”

Miranda’s face went pale, and the nobles erupted in panic.

Not just the Crown Prince—Princess Isabel herself was here!

With her as a witness, punishment was unavoidable.

“N-no, Your Highness! You’re mistaken! We were only invited here. You! You deceived me, saying it was a normal auction and brought me to an illegal one?”

“What? N-no, that’s not...!”

“She’s right! Someone else invited us! We’re victims too!”

At this, nobles began rising one by one, offering excuses.

Some protested, others pleaded their innocence.

But such excuses would never work.

“Martin.”

“State your name and status, and exit one at a time. Any resistance will result in forcible arrest.”

At Rohan’s order, Martin spoke coolly.

The knights moved in perfect formation, and some gave up, shuffling away dejectedly.

Isabel stepped back, silently watching the scene.

At her side, Miranda sank to her knees, face trembling with tears.

“Your Highness, please... just once... I didn’t want to come here. But you asked me to introduce you...”

“Miranda.”

Isabel looked at her firmly.

“I already know you incurred a huge debt because of this auction. And that you brought me here to try to clear it.”

“...!”

Miranda dropped her head, eyes wide in disbelief.

“I’m sorry.”

Isabel shrugged and raised her hand, and Miranda was promptly led away by a knight.

“...You did well.”

When the nobles had been dealt with, Isabel approached Rohan.

“When nothing happened in the middle, I wondered if something had gone wrong.”

Rohan took a breath and smiled briefly.

“Something unexpected did occur.”

He pointed to the cages behind him.

“Honestly... the more I dig, the more shocking it gets. When those cages were revealed earlier, I got chills. Are they insane?”

This wasn’t just a matter with the marquis—it could become a major diplomatic incident.

“If we’re not careful... it could lead to that terrible war again.”

Isabel whispered.

That terrible war—she meant none other than the ‘Hundred Years’ War.’

“I’ll take care of this part.”

“You? How?”

“I don’t think it’s entirely hopeless.”

Rohan gave a small smile and gestured to Martin.

“Good work, Martin. Take Isabel back to the palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Isabel. We’ll talk in detail when we get back. There’s still much to handle here.”

“Ugh... Fine. See you later, then.”

Isabel rolled her eyes and left the auction hall with Martin.

Once everyone had gone, only Rohan and the girl inside the cage remained.

“Uh, um...”

Rohan scratched his cheek and approached the cage.

Startled!

The Elfirian girl inside flinched.

“Sorry, did I scare you?”

“......”

“Retina told me. You used to work at the Silvaren embassy.”

“...! If you know Retina... do you know Sister Retina?”

The girl’s eyes changed instantly.

“Of course, she’s my friend.”

“Fri...end?”

Just then, someone appeared from the platform’s side.

It was Retina.

“Lyla!”

Lyla’s face lit up.

“Sister Retina...! It’s really you?”

The girl stood, and Retina broke the lock off the cage without hesitation.

Behind her, more Elfirians were approaching.

With haggard faces and tattered clothes—four Elfirians in all.

“I’m so glad... you’re safe.”

Retina stepped from the cage and embraced the tearful Lyla.

Just like that.

Rohan not only arrested the nobles involved in the illegal auction, but also succeeded in safely rescuing all five captured Elfirians.