Chapter 15 – Auction (3)

Chapter 15 – Auction (3)

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 15 – Auction (3)

Sip.

I sat down and enjoyed the prepared wine.

— 120,000 Rupees! Any more bids?

120,000 Rupees.

Not too little, not too much, just the right amount.

Exactly what I had anticipated.

“Diana.”

“You called?”

The ring will be auctioned off for 120,000 Rupees.

There shouldn’t be anyone crazy enough to raise the price from there.

“Get ready.”

“Understood.”

She brushed off the dust from her clothes.

The gemstone must have been auctioned off already; there was no other business left here.

Just as I was about to get up from my seat...

— 220,000 Rupees! 220,000 Rupees bid!

“Insane.”

There was someone crazy enough to raise the price here.

“220,000?!”

The bidding price doubled in the blink of an eye.

No matter how finely crafted the gemstone was, this was way too much.

The one raising the price was someone sitting in the VIP section.

Although covered in a robe and not clearly visible, judging by the fabric of the robe and the unobscured physique, it was undoubtedly a noble lady.

A smile crept onto my lips.

Is this what they call inherited wealth?

I don’t know which family’s fool she is, but that blind fortune will undoubtedly find its way into my pocket.

And then...

— 250,000 Rupees!!

Someone else raised the bid by another 50,000 Rupees, and the auction resumed.

The astonished auctioneer’s gaze fell upon a certain lady.

“Oh.”

The one raising the price was none other than Luna Winfred, Kyle’s sister.

I blinked in surprise at the unexpected revelation.

Could it be that she participated in the auction solely for that ring?

But why? What significance does that ring hold for Luna?

At that moment, another burst of cheers erupted, as if to awaken me from my thoughts.

— 300,000!! 300,000 Rupees bid!!

An unidentified noble lady wearing a robe.

She added fuel to the dying embers once more.

‘Who on earth is she?’

To bet such a sum on a ring with nothing but a piece of a gem?

By now, it couldn’t simply be dismissed as mere ignorance of the world.

As such thoughts dawned on me, I couldn’t just stand by idly and watch.

“...”

The lady who raised the price seemed to be in conversation with a man presumed to be an association official.

At that moment, the robe enveloping the lady momentarily lost its form and slipped off.

“...Isabel?”

Damn it, why is she acting like that over there?

Most of all, where on earth did she get 300,000 Rupees from?

I sighed, pressing my temples.

Instinctive stress began to intensify rapidly.

— 300,000 Rupees!! Sold for the highest amount today!!

Ding—

With the cheerful sound of the auctioneer’s gavel, I quietly earned 300,000 Rupees.

I watched Isabel intently.

Having successfully won the bid, Isabel immediately began to fill out a document.

“Diana.”

“Yes.”

Diana’s sensory perception is extremely sensitive.

Even in the original game, Diana’s senses were portrayed to have surpassed their limits.

Detecting poison in food by tasting it.

Eavesdropping on conversations from afar.

Sensing subtle movements to avoid danger.

A twisted laugh burst out at Luna’s attitude, as if she were speaking those words.

“Luna Winfred.”

“Speak.”

“I don’t understand. Why are you helping with the annulment?”

“It’s simple. If you break off your engagement, Kyle, won’t you be tied to the Duke’s family?”

“Why? To isolate me in the Duke’s estate and continue your childish schemes as usual?”

Luna’s face twisted messily at my sarcasm.

As if she had heard something she never wanted to hear.

She managed to speak with a frustrated expression.

“...It’s a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?”

“At that time, I was also young, and there were reasons why I had no choice but to do what I did. Of course, I also made mistakes, but your origin, Kyle...”

A bitter laugh burst out.

Excuses, justifications, and blame.

That was all there was to the reasons that ruined Kyle’s life.

“Ha.”

Luna Winfred is not a villain.

She is a main character chosen by the world, and even a heroine candidate.

— I saw it. Kyle, he was wandering the corridor with the safe key in the early morning.

— Who’s your sister? Listen carefully. You seem to be mistaken about being a part of the Duke’s family, but you’re no different than a lowly servant.

— Are you really hungry? Why didn’t you touch the meal I prepared for?

The mistakes she made in her past are simply glorified as the mistake of an immature young girl.

At some point, the wounds she inflicted on Kyle are brushed aside as if they never happened.

Yeah.

That’s right...

“That’s convenient.”

“...What?”

“When you framed me with unfounded accusations, made a fool of me in front of knights under the pretext of training, or even when you threw rotten food at me and told me to eat it.”

“...”

“Because I was young. Because there were reasons for it.”

“That... ”

“And, because he is a bastard son.”

Luna’s mouth closed as if she were lying.

I looked at her with a cold, piercing gaze.

“But now what? Helping me? You?”

“...”

“Can you just be honest? You need someone to vent your frustration on. You need a trash can to dump your pent-up emotions on.”

It was harder to be patient today than usual.

I couldn’t manage my expression well, thinking about the stress I had experienced with Luna in the previous run.

That’s when it happened.

“...Fine, I admit it.”

Veins appeared on Luna’s temple.

“I messed up.”

She admitted her mistakes as if swallowing bitter pills.

But why?

I didn’t feel happy, frustrated, sad, or angry at all.

I responded firmly.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Damn system.

What a waste of time.

“I don’t need you to explain everything in detail.”

“...Kyle Winfred.”

“I told you last time. I don’t resent you.”

Cold mercy rippled through.

Soon, it engulfed Luna in front of me.

She poured out her emotions, and I endured.

When that simple proposition was violated, her face collapsed miserably.

The more I talked, the more I felt like my intelligence was decreasing.

I grabbed the documents on the table and got up from my seat.

I turned my back on her without any hesitation.

Later, I threw an irritated remark towards Luna, whose body was trembling.

“Little brother, what a load of bullshit.”

Bang—!

The door to the meeting room slammed shut loudly.

[Translator – Peptobismol]