Chapter 61:
* * *
Then, this magical tool is!
Merat stopped introducing the auction item when he saw a woman entering and taking a seat from the entrance.
Hmm?
It was the same woman from earlier. The sucker who half-heartedly gave him a silver coin upon entry.
It seemed like she left earlier, but shes back?
Although Merat was slightly annoyed, he continued with the auction without hesitation.
After all, she hadnt won any bids before. She looked young and probably didnt have enough money. She mustve just come to watch.
Now, the bidding for this sacred relic will start at 70 gold
Here!
As soon as the auction began, the woman eagerly raised her hand and shouted.
Ill buy that!
Is she really an idiot?
Merat sneered inwardly.
Pardon me, lady, this item starts from 70 gold
However, the woman genuinely paid the price.
Swoosh.
Is this enough?
She instantly revealed a handful of gold coins from her bag.
Huh, of course, lady!
The item the woman won was a colorful glass cup decorated with gem-like crystals. It looked beautiful, but wasnt very practical.
If it wasnt a sacred relic, it wasnt worth the price she paid.
Wow, its beautiful
So naive. Doesnt she realize its a fake?
Of course, it was actually a counterfeit, not a genuine sacred relic. However, she didnt seem to notice the cup was fake and admired it innocently.
Now, the next item is a sacred relic from 3 centuries ago.
Crash!
Just as he was about to proceed with the auction, the sound of something breaking was heard.
Are you alright, miss? You should have been careful.
Uh
The same woman from before had broken the glass.
She wouldnt ask for a refund just because she broke it, would she?
Merat quickly approached, pretending to console her, but muttered under his breath.
Heh, fools are always the easiest to deceive.
Hmm?
Oh, nothing. Did you hurt yourself?
Uh.
Fortunately, she wasnt that nave. She didnt ask for a refund.
Juliet won several sacred relics. Merat began to think that this sucker was a god-sent angel.
I had such a good dream last night!
If I may present this ivory porcelain
Ill buy that too!
Sold!
Merat, who was in high spirits, was momentarily taken aback.
Unlike before, Juliet didnt wait at her seat for the item to be delivered but directly came onto the stage.
Wa-wait a minute!
Hmm?
His chin trembled. If they revealed that too, it was game over.
Merat quickly ran to Juliets feet, kneeled, and whispered.
Miss, you are right Ill refund everything youve paid until now
Thats not the point.
Excuse me?
Juliet suddenly stretched out her hand.
You took the entrance fee from me earlier, didnt you? Give it back.
What in the world?
While flustered, Merat hurriedly placed the silver coins he had taken earlier onto her palm.
Yes, yes! Ill refund everything. Just please, dont reveal those items.
Why?
Excuse me?
Juliet spoke with a bright smile.
You said earlier, Fools are always the easiest to deceive, right?
Merats eyes rolled back.
This, this!
Such a wicked woman!
* * *
In fact, Juliets plan was quite simple.
Pay for a fake, steal the real item before the other side gets suspicious, then expose them, get the money back, and secure the real relic.
You, let go! Dont you know whos behind me? Hey!
Merat was taken away red-handed.
Perhaps it was for the best.
If he hadnt been dragged out, he might have been beaten to death by the angry people inside the auction hall.
These reckless scoundrels!
But as he was dragged away, Merat shouted something strange.
I am trusted by Marquis Guinness! I wont let this go!
Marquis Guinness?
Whos that?
The name was unfamiliar to Teo.
However, Juliets face turned pale.
Marquis Guinness was a noble from the south. His son, Marquise Casper, was engaged to Princess Priscilla, the Emperors niece, and was also a leading figure in an old noble alliance that opposed Duke Carlyle.
And-
In her previous life, he was Juliets fifth husband.
It was because her uncle, Baron Gaspal, had sold Juliet to him.
What happened? Why did you go pale? Whos this Guinness?
Teo asked, but Juliet couldnt find the words to reply.
No, its nothing.
Of course, the situations from then and now were different. In this life, Juliet had nothing to do with him.
However, every time she saw Marquis Guinness acting decently in public, she often felt disgusted, remembering how he had abused her up until her death in her previous life.
But Marquis Guinness was a noble of the south. Carcassonne was in the east, the territory of the Aquitas family, so why did a southern noble have influence in the east?
As Juliet was recalling how it had been in her previous life, Teo whispered:
Hey, about that last porcelain you broke.
The ivory porcelain?
Yeah. Isnt that a bit wasteful? Its one of the more expensive relics
Suddenly, Juliet pulled out a white porcelain from a box stacked behind and hugged it close to Teo, smiling playfully.
The one I broke was fake.