Chapter 79

Chapter 79

“….”

I couldn’t help but panic.

It was two different things for her to be lovely and for my relationship with her to continue. To be honest, I had a plain interest in her as she was a great money medium, although I didn’t want to get closer.

‘I’m not even a philanthropist, so why would I be friends with someone who will become my husband’s next wife? I’m not cool, and my front and back are no joke, so that American-style relationship isn’t my style.’

[ T/N: she means she’s not a hypocrite and she is as she looks. And those ‘open-minded’ relationships don’t suit her. ]

I wanted to use her only as much as I could and not get entangled as much as possible.

‘Besides… even to say ‘nice to see you,’ it’s a bit harsh…’

Obviously, in the original story, it was Seymour the object of Elanie’s words, saying she was glad to see him after recognizing him in the crowd.

Princess Elani’es short gaze moved away, and I jumped up in a hurry and glanced down.

Over there in the East General class seats…

“Ah…”

As in the original story, Seymour was among the people. He, too, must have come to check Elanie’s accessories.

‘Though originally, Elanie should make eye contact with Seymour over there and say hello briefly—’

—Then, after he felt a strange rush of emotions after seeing Elanie shining like sunshine from the seat below, his ambition only grew…!

Although he was looking up to her, she above and others below, he made a firm resolve that he would never stay in this position.

‘…I stole Seymour and Elanie’s first meeting.’

Now that the two didn’t know each other, there was no reason to be glad about it. I was the one who helped her fishing and the one who received the Ruby necklace.

‘The possessed one isn’t supposed to take the heroine role originally…?’

I sighed out of guilt once more.

‘Sorry… But, what can I do?’

At that time, Seymour’s and my eyes met. He was staring up at me, where the Duke of Icard sat with people in the special class.

‘The two people who need to look into each other’s eyes were only looking at me without even glancing at each other.’

However, Elanie and Seymour still had countless opportunities.

‘Both of them are still young, and the full-fledged love begins in a few years.’

“Why?”

It was Evan, who was sitting next to me, who cut off my thoughts.

“Why did you get up and…”

Saying so, he glanced at me and asked in a somewhat subdued voice before continuing, “…Looking over there?”

“Ah.”

I slowly sat again.

“No, just… I think I know someone.”

Evan slowly raised his hand and wrapped it around my shoulder.

“Evan?”

“I just want to look a little closer to you. We’re a married couple, and we’re in a special class, so we’re easily visible to others.”

“Ngh. That’s right.”

I nodded without thinking much.

Everyone whispered about us having a political marriage at a very young age. If we showed a friendly side at this point, Evan’s social life would be easier and Duke Icard would not be misunderstood. Anyway, we slept in the same bed anyway. This was not a big deal.

After that, a boring foundation festival ceremony followed. Except for the time when Duke Icard went upfront to receive a medal, there was nothing remarkably impressive.

Even when the Emperor delivered the medal himself, the Duke’s expression was odd. Even Olivia, who would typically say something like, ‘this is thanks to you, our lucky charm,’ only let out mixed sighs.

She couldn’t feel good since what happened in the morning. I have to interrogate Rosaline as soon as I get back from the festival…

“Now, the last event of the founding festival, the auction sponsored by the Imperial Family!”

The host’s voice rang out.

“All proceeds from the auction are used to help the poor.”

Seymour and Elanie’s Foundation Day episode wasn’t over yet. In the end, there was an auction of royal items, and he won something. Of course, it was an item that could make a lot of money, though in the end, it was a medium that connected him with her.

‘It’s okay, let’s not be greedy now.’

However, it was a bit shocking to make eye contact with Elanie earlier, so I made up my mind.

‘I shouldn’t get involved in the romance between the female and male leads anymore. And, I don’t want to get involved with Princess Elanie any further.’

That should let Seymour win the bid.

“The first is a music box estimated to be about three hundred years old.”

So, I leaned on Evan and stayed still.

“Prince Ronald gave it to me, and I’ll start with five hundred gold.”

‘Five hundred gold… wow, the starting is quite superior.’

However, it was an item of the imperial family after all, so the prices started rising here and there.

“Six hundred gold.”

“Six hundred and ten gold.”

“Six hundred and thirty gold.”

Prices continued to rise among the nobles. Seymour would make the final bid anyway. He and Elanie’s eyes met again when a low noble raised the price to take the music box.

‘He’ll buy this. There’s information in advance.’

Initially, this music box was not three hundred years old, but an ancient item that was three thousand years old, and its value was not comparable to five hundred gold.

Since Seymour was tracking ancient magic items, he recognized that the music box was much older. Even now, he didn’t know yet, but inside this music box was one of the three ancient magic items hidden on the continent.

Ancient magic items were treasures with divine power, resistance magic power, and magical power, respectively.

One was the ring Marcel currently had, another was the doll in that music box, and the last one was a scroll book in the magic tower.

Seymour was busy chasing ancient magic items with the mindset of ‘making money.’ The scroll book in the magic tower couldn’t be helped, although the ring and doll had been hidden for a long time so he was trying to get it to re-sell them at a higher price.

He just bought the music box thinking that it was older than he thought, but later finds out that the ancient doll he was looking for was inside.

‘So, he learns the lesson that important things are always nearby… However, the way the lesson is delivered is quite snobbish.’

Not only that, but this music box also played a part in Seymour and Elanie’s reunion. This was because she asked to get it back several years later at a price that was several times higher. At that time, he showed Elanie the great innocence of Saint and didn’t accept money.

“Six hundred and fifty gold.”

“Six hundred and sixty gold.”

As the final winning bid approached, Seymour made no move. I leaned against Evan and kept biting my nails, waiting for Seymour to act.

By the way…

‘What, what’s that?’

Seymour glanced at me and then turned around.

‘You should buy this! Where are you going?!’

Looking at his back disappearing among the people, I was momentarily nervous.

“Six hundred and eighty gold.”

At that moment, Duke Orlando shouted. Seymour’s winning bid was six hundred and ninety gold.

“Is that the last?”

Even at the words of the host who was conducting the auction, he didn’t intend to turn around.

“If there are no more bids, it’s Duke Orlando’s…”

So, I carefully raise my hand.

“…Six hundred and ninety gold.”

I hesitated for a moment because of the urge to call six hundred and eighty-one gold. Nevertheless, sitting in a special seat, raising it by one gold unit, was too little, so I just endured it.

“…Laria?”

Evan blinked.

“Why didn’t you tell me if you wanted it? I would have participated in the auction in the first place.”

“Then, you would have sung one thousand gold from the beginning.”

“But that… why that music box?”

“Just because.”

Even though I tried not to take Seymour’s role any longer, I couldn’t help it.

“Six hundred and ninety gold, does anyone have more than that?”

Afterward, Elanie would pay several times more for it, though it wouldn’t be good if it ended with Duke Orlando out of everyone else.

‘Moreover, even if no one knows it yet, it contains ancient magic items. I don’t know what kind of repercussions would come after it got into his hands. Rather than handing it over to the enemy, I would prefer to end up making money while feeling a little uncomfortable.’

“…I hate it. Revenge.”

When I muttered, Olivia sighed next to me.

“Our kind squirrel’s revenge is so trivial and cute. Taking things away at an auction.”

“Ha, ha…”

“It’s still better than us, who didn’t even think about doing it.”

Olivia opened her fan and clicked her tongue. Instead of the tiger fan she gave me, it was an image of a leopard.

“You open it, too.”

“…What?”

“Everyone is looking at you. I have to let them know that you are my disciple, so they don’t look down on you.”

At that, I hurriedly opened the tiger fan.

It seemed a bit funny to see a middle-aged woman with gray hair and heavy makeup and a small girl spreading a beast fan together.

“Do you have any money?”

“What? Hmm, I got something from the horse racing, and Father gave me pocket money…”

While I and Olivia were whispering, the host shouted, “This music box has been sold to Laria Rose Icard!”

Thus, I ended up playing the role of the male lead in the founding episode to the fullest.

“And, this is a ‘flower of heart’ given to commemorate your participation in the donation.”

The host handed me a shining flower along with the music box.

“Tonight, express your feelings to the person you are grateful for.”

‘Oh, this is a bit dangerous…’

When I turned around with the flower, I could see my family looking at the flower like wild beasts.

Who-who should I give this to—?!’

A cold sweat ran down my back.