Chapter 97
The auction house was filled with humans wearing all kinds of gorgeous and colorful masks gathered together.
There were so many people that I felt like I might lose Arcian if we were even slightly separated.
Ashil clung tightly to Arshian’s side and put on the mask he had given her.
It was a cute white rabbit mask that covered her entire face.
Meanwhile, Arcian wore a dark crimson bird mask that came down to the tip of his nose.
Then they headed to the VIP seats where they could overlook the entire auction hall.
“Does Daddy come to places like this a lot?”
“Hmm, a little? Well, it’s part of the job.”
He meant scouting in the human world.
While Asil was inwardly exclaiming ‘Wow, Daddy is so cool,’ the auction began.
Marvelous items poured out one after another: a fire that never goes out, ice that never melts, a book said to contain the entire history of the world, and more.
However, Arcian didn’t spare them a single glance.
‘Why isn’t he buying anything? There are so many amazing things.’
He had said it was okay to buy whatever she wanted, but since Arcian stayed perfectly still, she couldn’t help glancing at him.
Then, the moment she saw a gem that shone with seven-colored rainbow light when struck by sunlight, Asil’s eyes sparkled.
Seeing that, Arcian offered her some advice.
“Ninety-nine percent of the things sold here are fakes. Keep that in mind when you buy, alright?”
“Is that gem a fake too?”
“Probably?”
“Then why do people buy?”
“To fish out that 1% that isn’t fake? Or some come to obtain items whose circulation is prohibited, like us.”
“Hmm… Even so, Asil wants to buy it.”
Even if it was fake, it was an extremely pretty gem. She would take it to the forest and show it off to her brother.
But while listening to Arcian’s explanation, the seven-colored shining gem ended up going to someone else.
It was a person wearing a golden fox mask sitting in the general seats; they were small in stature and seemed still young.
“Heeng.”
Aiil drooped her bidding paddle powerlessly and became sulky. How could this happen. If only she had raised it a little earlier.
Yet for some reason the back of that person’s head felt strangely familiar.
‘Why does it feel so familiar?’
Feeling as though she had seen that figure many times before, Asil stared piercingly at the fox mask.
Sensing the gaze, the fox mask looked around.
However, they didn’t notice Asil who was seated above, and soon turned their head back toward the stage as the auction continued.
“The next item is the best medicinal herb for those who are ill. It is none other than the silver helmet flower!”
The fox mask flinched.
Asil instinctively realized he was about to raise his paddle.
“That human is going to buy it too, I think.”
A little worried, she tugged hard at Arcian’s collar.
We absolutely have to buy it to help the fox friend and little brother, but what if we can’t because of that person?
“Don’t worry, my daughter.”
Arcian, who had jewels modestly lined up only on his cravat and buttons, declared confidently.
“Daddy only has money to his name.”
* * *
It was exactly as Arcian said.
Asil succeeded in purchasing both silver helmet flowers that appeared at the auction.
Of course, the process required bleeding a tremendous 20 million gold.
“What on earth is that guy?”
Arcian glared fiercely at the fox mask, having suffered a far greater loss than expected.
Normally, silver helmet flowers traded around 2 million gold per stalk. No matter how expensive, they never exceeded 3 million gold.
Yet here he spent 20 million gold.
Even considering there were two stalks, it was still five times the average market price.
No matter how much money overflowed, it still hurt inside.
Throughout the remaining auction, Arcian continued glaring at the golden back of the fox mask’s head as though it were his mortal enemy.
Regardless, Asil was grinning from ear to ear with joy at having obtained the silver helmet flowers, and the moment the auction ended, she dashed off to collect the winning items.
“My daughter, you have to go with Daddy!”
“Asil will go first!”
The place to receive the winning bids was just nearby.
Asil weaved quickly through the crowds and ran there.
And she came face to face with the fox mask who was receiving the seven-colored gem from the auction staff.
The fox mask paused upon seeing Ash
il, then spoke.
“…Um.”
Even though the face was hidden, she could tell immediately just from the voice.
It was Edenber.
“If it’s alright, I’d really appreciate it if you could sell me at least one stalk of the silver helmet flowers you won. There’s someone sick around me.”
He slightly bowed his head as he said that. Asil blinked, wondering if any sick person her husband knew existed.
In any case, the rule here was to pretend not to know someone even if you recognized them.
Asil put both hands on her hips and spoke primly, pretending not to recognize Edenber.
“No way. Asil also has a sick person.”
“…!”
She had deliberately rolled her tongue saying “Asil,” yet Edenber—who had instantly recognized her just the same—flinched.
After hesitating as if thinking about something, he openly called her name.
“Lady Erzebet.”
“…Ah, Asil is Asil, not Lady Erzebet!”
“I heard rumors you were returning to the countryside because you were ill. Is it true?”
“Asil doesn’t really know, but according to the rumors, yes.”
“What exactly is wrong and how bad is it?”
Anxiety flickered in his eyes.
He had come to buy silver helmet flowers after hearing that Lady Erzebet was sick, but seeing her personally coming to buy them herself, he absolutely couldn’t pretend not to know.
With a trembling voice he stammered,
“How sick must you be to buy two whole silver helmet flowers?”
“…???”
Several question marks appeared above Asil’s head. What did being sick have to do with silver helmet flowers?
While tilting her head, she recalled Daddy’s explanation that humans consider silver helmet flowers a panacea, and finally understood Edenber’s reaction.
Ah, so Husband thinks Asil is the one who’s sick.
Not wanting her husband to worry about her, she leaned close to his ear and whispered softly.
“Asil is a super close friend of Lady Erzebet, and actually that girl isn’t sick at all. So Duke doesn’t have to worry.”
“Then the story about returning to the countryside for recuperation was just a baseless rumor?”
“No, she is going to the countryside.”
“What? If it’s not for recuperation, why go all the way to such a far place… No, it’s the lady’s decision. I’m sorry for saying this. Then how long will she stay there before returning?”
“Hmm…”
Asil thought about it very seriously.
According to what Daddy said, she thought she could return once she became a potato, but how exactly do you become a potato?
She planned to look for a way to become a potato as soon as she returned, but right now she couldn’t say exactly when she would come back.
Because she didn’t know how long it would take.
‘Husband mustn’t wait for Asil.’
It would be too sad for him to keep waiting for an Asil who might or might not return.
So, to prevent Edenber from holding any hope, she gave him the worst-case scenario.
“She’s going to live there for life.”
“…What?”
At the unimaginable answer, Edenber froze solid.
Seeing his expression as if the sky had collapsed, Asil also flinched.
Oops… Did Asil think wrong? Should she have said she would return once she became a potato?
Right at that moment, piercing through the noisy crowd, Arcian’s desperate voice calling for Ashil rang out.
“Where’s my daughter!”
“Daddyyy!”
Asil is here!
Asil raised both arms and jumped up and down. Confirming her location, Arcian approached.
Just from the atmosphere, he immediately recognized who the fox mask talking with his daughter was.
‘It’s Duke Monlepe.’
Could he really have come to buy silver helmet flowers after hearing rumors that my daughter was sick?
Thanks to that, Ar ian—who had only lost a ton of money—looked at Edenber with displeasure.
But for some reason, after whatever conversation he had with Asil, all color had drained from Edenber’s face.
His legs were shaking weakly; he looked like he would collapse if poked.
Wondering what on earth was wrong, Arcian frowned and whispered to Asil.
“My daughter, what did you talk about with Duke Monlepe?”
“Mm, I told him I’d be returning home soon. And that I’d live there forever.”
“Hm, that’s certainly shocking news.”
Of course it would be, hearing the person you love is leaving forever.
‘His first love is shattered.’
Tsk tsk tsk.
No matter how much of a bad guy he was for flirting with my daughter, Arcian still felt a little pity.
After sending a brief sympathetic glance, he took care of Asil and left the auction house.
Even until then, Edenber couldn’t move from the spot, as if nailed in place.
He was tightly clutching the rainbow-colored gem he had intended to give to Asil.
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