Chapter 20. Auction House (2)

“It’s amazing that you haven’t been caught all this time.”

Iella agreed with that sentiment. At first, she thought she hadn’t been caught because Vanessa was helping her from the inside, but after encountering Aster, she felt that wasn’t the whole story. Although it was close to the main palace, it technically belonged to the secondary palace grounds, yet the security there was unusually lax.

Besides, there were people in the harem whom Ailexia had bought at auctions. Considering that, the answer became clear.

Whether or not the Emperor meticulously monitored the harem, he must have at least investigated the identities of those residing there, to ensure Ailexia wasn’t bringing in people with ulterior motives.

Despite this, Ailexia’s outings had never been blocked, and the illegal auctions had never been exposed, leading to only one conclusion.

‘It seems even this is being condoned.’

The hypothesis she had thought of was entirely correct. She had vaguely suspected it, but now that it was confirmed, it felt unsettling. The new realization that the Emperor was allowing the illegal auctions added to that feeling.

But there was still something strange.

‘Knowing that sorcery is being used, they are allowing it?’

This added to her confusion. She couldn’t tell what the truth was.

Unconsciously, she muttered.

“Is it really that we haven’t been caught, or is it just being made to look that way?”

“……”

A shadow briefly passed over Aster’s face as he clearly heard her words. He turned his gaze forward without hiding the complex emotions swirling in his eyes.

At that moment, the auctioneer on stage announced that the auction was about to begin.

Iella discreetly prepared to leave her seat, glancing at him. He seemed lost in deep thought, not noticing her movements.

‘Now!’

Not knowing when he might pay attention to her again, this was her chance. By the time he realized she was gone, the auction would have already started.

However, to return, they needed the invitation just like when they came, so he would look for her as soon as the auction ended.

This meant she only had the time while the auction was in progress. She had to move quickly and use the time efficiently.

Just as Iella finished her calculations and was about to move, she confirmed that Aster still hadn’t reacted and turned her gaze, suddenly catching sight of someone.

Her heart pounded heavily as if it had dropped.

Iella forgot about heading outside and approached the railing.

One step, then another. The moment of closing the short distance felt like an eternity. Finally, she gripped the railing tightly like a lifeline. The breath she had unknowingly held in was exhaled forcefully.

‘This can’t be.’

Her deep pink eyes widened in disbelief, her mind spinning.

‘Why am I sitting there?!’

In the farthest seat from the stage, she saw herself sitting.

The real Iella Shua.

The moment she realized this, the woman in her body suddenly raised her head.

“……!”

As if by some cruel joke, their gazes met, her familiar light pink eyes staring back at her without the mask.

***

“Item number 11 has been sold! Next is item number 12!”

The auctioneer’s voice echoed loudly through the hall, amplified by magic. This time, a large iron cage was brought onto the stage, indicating that the item was a living being.

Before drawing the curtain, a roar like a wail erupted from inside, but it was quickly cut off by the sharp sound of a single whip. Only the desperate noise that had struck their ears remained echoing in the hall.

The surreal situation, incomprehensible by common sense, was lightly buried as if it were a daily occurrence.

But none of this reached Iella at the moment. She was experiencing the most unbelievable thing herself.

‘I thought I’d had enough of unheard-of experiences after entering this body.’

Who could have imagined she would experience facing her original body while in someone else’s? It was unimaginable. Her deep pink eyes, which had been fixed on one person, trembled slightly.

The hair, which had seemed bright like silver due to the reflected light, looked dark upon a second glance. The eyes that met hers were hidden under a dark purple mask, making them hard to see now. But Iella was certain.

Even if they first met with dark hair, she would have recognized it.

There isn’t a fool in the world who wouldn’t recognize their own body. That was definitely her body.

Because of this, her original plan was entirely scrapped. Creating a second alternative was also postponed. She couldn’t miss the body she so desperately wanted to return to, which was right in front of her.

‘Someone is indeed inside my body. If this is a soul exchange as found in the ancient texts….’

Then the one inside must be.

‘Ailexia.’

But why? Why didn’t she come to find me?

As the questions that built-up inside her were resolved and disappeared, new questions arose to take their place.

She understood the initial confusion. The sudden change in life would have brought indescribable anxiety, making it hard to adapt quickly.

But seeing her participate in an illegal auction with dyed hair made her think differently. She recalled how Ailexia often made bold outings using secret passages.

Ailexia could have easily used those passages in reverse to infiltrate the secondary palace, and she was not someone who wouldn’t think of such things.

While Iella was deep in thought, the auction was nearing its end.

“Item number 23! This is the main item of this auction. Let me introduce you to the gem with a long history and astronomical value, ‘Tear of Grace’!”

A covered item was brought onto the stage with a red cloth.

As the auctioneer introduced it and removed the cloth, a gem emitting a mysterious blue light shone brilliantly under the lights, filling the hall with its resplendent glow.

“Ohhh!”

People who hadn’t reacted much until now gasped in admiration, showing interest. When the auctioneer signaled to the staff behind the curtain, the angle of the light on the gem slowly changed.

Gradually, the light emitted by the gem changed. The scene of the mysterious blue light slowly turning into a golden hue presented a beauty that couldn’t be described in words.

“Many of you might know the phrase, ‘The last tear shed by the god who created the world breathed life into this land, so what else could it be but grace.’ It’s a phrase from the first chapter of the basic theology book of the empire.”

The auctioneer raised the atmosphere by adding a humorous explanation, drawing everyone’s attention to the gem.

“This gem, symbolizing that phrase, is the ‘Tear of Grace.’ It was kept in the temple for a long time, but a few hundred years ago, it was lost during transport as a gift to the imperial family to strengthen friendly relations. After a long search, we have finally found it!”

Ohhh, once again, exclamations of admiration echoed from all around. The ‘Tear of Grace’ was famous for its historical significance and beauty, both before and after it was lost. If it was genuine, there wouldn’t be anyone who wouldn’t covet it.

Since the ownership rights of the imperial family and the temple had long disappeared due to its loss hundreds of years ago, the person who succeeded in winning the auction here would become the new owner.

Many eyes behind masks were filled with immense greed.

“Starting the auction at 500,000 gold!”

As soon as the auctioneer’s words rang out, hands were raised all around. Despite the starting price being equivalent to the annual operating cost of a medium-sized territory, there was no hesitation in the bidding. The price quickly surpassed 1 million gold as if floating on water.

“3 million gold.”

A clear voice cut through the beast-like competitive noise at that moment. The heat of the competition cooled instantly as if cold water had been poured over it.

The voices that had been shouting bids like candles in the wind were extinguished by the sudden leap in price.

“3 million gold has been offered. Any higher bids?”

The auctioneer, recognizing the meaning of the silence, quickly spoke. As expected, there was no response to his question.

3 million gold was a sum that not even most high-ranking nobles could easily offer.

“If there are no more bids, I will call it three times and end it. 3 million gold, 3 million gold, 3 million….”

“3, 3.2 million gold!”

But just before the auctioneer could conclude, another clear voice rang out in the unusually quiet hall. Everyone’s gaze turned to the source of the voice.

To the VIP seat on the second floor, where Iella, wearing a red mask, sat.