Chapter 1 (Part 3)

The youngest Swordmaster of the empire and an incredibly skilled magician, a person capable of toppling an entire kingdom single-handedly.  

Among those who dream of becoming knights, Magic Swordsmen, or magicians, it was not uncommon to hear that their lifelong wish was to spar, or at least cross swords with Duke Felice.

And it was the same for Montague’s wish, who had admired Eden Felice since childhood. Just as he was seriously contemplating whether to give up his stubbornness about swordsmanship and continue the family business, how great would it be if he could spar with Duke Eden just once! If that happened, he felt he could completely let go of his lingering attachment to swordsmanship and focus on the merchant business.  

His appearance, pale and struggling to lift the paddle, seemed so pitiful that even an enemy would feel sorry for him. Worried that her brother might be in trouble, Sienna began to dissuade him.  

“Just give up and go to the restroom first. You have to live to see another day, right?”  

“Huff, ugh, no. Duke Felice, definitely, 53 million!”  

“Montague…!”  

Montague’s complexion eventually turned a shade of blue. The bid had just surpassed 60 million and was racing towards 70 million Er, but showed no sign of ending. Sienna’s expression also gradually hardened.  

If rumors spread that the heir of the Onyx Merchant Guild had an accident at the academy auction, it would be disastrous for the guild’s image. After a quick decision, she grabbed Montague’s shoulder and shook her head.  

“I’ll somehow win the bid, so you go quickly.”  

“Ugh… Please, Sienna. Whatever the cost, please just make sure to secure the bid!”  

With an earnest look, Montague looked at Sienna and awkwardly bent over as he stood up. He was in such a hurry that he disappeared like the wind without even putting down the paddle he was holding, and only then did Sienna breathe a sigh of relief.

“To think I have to win the bid for Duke Felice….”  

She wasn’t keen on participating in this bizarre auction, but there was no other choice. She raised her paddle marked with the number 17 and took a deep breath until her stomach swelled.  

The bid was now racing towards 80 million Er. Sienna exhaled the breath she had held in one go and shouted clearly. 

“200 million Er!”  

“……”  

In an instant, the room fell as silent as if a mouse had died. All eyes turned to the woman holding the paddle numbered 17. Even the eyes of Eden Felice, who was quietly grinding his teeth while handcuffed.  

“200, 200 million Er. Is there not 200 million and 100 thousand Er?”  

The auctioneer shouted, dabbing the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.  

200 million…! The fact that a fortnight with Duke Eden Felice was worth 200 million sent shivers down his spine, even though he wasn’t the one winning the bid. 

To think I am conducting this historic auction! 

The auctioneer’s back straightened slightly with the swelling pride.  

Just as he judged that no higher amount would come and was preparing to announce the winning bid with his gavel, it happened.  

“210 million.”  

With a prime voice, paddle number 39 was raised. The owner of that voice and Sienna’s gaze met in midair.  

The voice belonged to Alicia Franz, the youngest daughter of Marquis Franz. Perhaps she was in the middle of enjoying the festival, as the magical flowers adorning Alicia’s luscious braided blonde hair sparkled every time she moved her head. She stared intently at Sienna with a sly smile, as if daring her to try.

“210 million has been offered. From now on, bids will increase in increments of 10 million Er. Is there not 220 million?”  

As the amount soared this high, excitement was evident in the auctioneer’s voice. Even those who had given up bidding were buzzing with curiosity about how high Eden Felice’s price would go.  

Sienna let out a deep sigh, scratched her pointed nose with a look of annoyance, and raised her paddle again.  

“300 million.”  

The room fell silent once more. Alicia Franz bit her lip hard, glaring at Sienna. As her temper flared and she swung her arm, paddle number 39 flew, and simultaneously, the sound of the gavel announcing the winning bid echoed throughout the auction hall.  

“Number 17, 300 million! 300 million! Duke Eden Felice is sold for 300 million Er!”

“Whew….”  

Only then did Sienna lower her paddle and sigh, rubbing her temples. 

My goodness, 300 million. Montague is crazy. What on earth is the reason for wanting to meet Duke Felice for as much as 300 million? 

Shaking her head, she quickly shrugged and reverted to her previous unfocused gaze.  

“Well, it’s not my money.”  

Even if she hadn’t spent a single penny of the allowance she had received since childhood, it would be barely enough to pay 300 million Er. Whether he borrowed from his father or grandfather, Montague would handle it himself. Sienna, not wanting to care anymore, shook her head and put down paddle number 17.  

By the way, even though the auction was over, Montague showed no sign of returning. He must have been in a real hurry. Deciding she should at least inform the organizers, she grabbed her slightly stiffened waist from sitting too long and struggled to stand up.

* * *

“What? What did you say?”

Siena’s face turned pale as she spoke with the auction organizers. Since Montague seemed to be constructing a restroom himself, she came to inform them that the winning bidder was different, but words like a bolt from the blue struck her ears.

“For the Slave Mate, proxy bidding is not allowed. Therefore, the person who won the bid must personally receive the Duke.”

“That’s nonsense! Where is such a clause?”

“It’s by imperial decree.”

“……”

Defying an imperial decree is treason. Sienna, who didn’t want to be labeled a traitor for protesting about the academy’s proxy auction, quickly shut her mouth.

However, she couldn’t hide the look of injustice in her eyes. 

Why on earth is there an imperial decree at an academy auction? 

She grumbled internally and began to think quickly.

“Then, as long as I win the bid, it doesn’t matter how I use… accompany the Duke, right?”

Sienna’s dark green eyes gleamed. 

Can’t I just win the bid for the Duke and then transfer him to Montague? After that, Montague can pay the 300 million Er.

But as if anticipating such a loophole, the staff could only shake their head with a look of regret.

“How you use, ahem, accompany him is up to you as long as it’s in a proper manner. However, transferring ownership is not allowed, and when meeting others, it must be under the presence of the bidder. It’s an imperial decree.”

“What?!”

Isn’t this a situation where it’s confusing whether I’m the slave of Duke Felice or Duke Felice is my slave? Even the freedom of the bidder who spends 300 million Er is being restricted. And on top of that, transfers aren’t allowed!

Sienna glanced at the doorway and tore at her hair. Montague was nowhere to be seen in this situation, and she, who had unnecessarily acted as a proxy bidder, found herself stuck in a predicament. With tears welling in her eyes, she pleaded with the staff.

“Can’t I cancel? I’ll just give up! Now that I think about it, I seem to be short on money. Haha… What should I do?”

Sienna scratched her head, attempting an unconvincing performance. The staff member let out a deeper sigh and shook their head again.

“That’s not possible. Since His Grace, Duke Felice, is a person, he cannot be left unsold. Therefore, all costs are charged to the bidder, and if you can’t pay in a lump sum, we assist in getting a low-interest loan from a bank affiliated with the royal family.”

“This is ridiculous!”

Her dark green eyes were filled with despair. 

My 300 million…! My hard-earned 300 million…! I saved it without spending or using it! I was saving it penny by penny to create a magical botanical garden later…!

“Oh no…”

Nothing seems to go right today. 

Am I really forced to win a Duke I don’t even want? If I had known this would happen, I should have let Alicia Franz win the Duke earlier. No, I should have just stayed in the lab and conducted experiments instead of sighing over Mandrago.

300 million, 300 million…! Why did I call out such an absurdly high amount without knowing what was ahead?!

“Is there really no way? I’m a commoner, you know.”

Sienna, the daughter of the Onyx Trading Company, had plenty of money but was a commoner without a title. What bold commoner student in the world would dare to make a Duke their slave? It would be different if she were declaring herself the slave of the Duke.

The staff, perhaps feeling a bit of sympathy for Sienna’s plea, showed a slightly pitiful expression, but that was all.

“I roughly understand the situation and can see the unfortunate parts. However, it is still a fact that the person who won the bid for the Duke is you, Sienna. With the solemn imperial decree in place, there’s nothing we can do. Now, since it seems you’re ready to receive him, let’s proceed with the contract.”

The kind yet cold words of the staff pierced her heart like a dagger. Even as she silently screamed and tore at her hair in front of them, the staff only maintained a mechanical smile.