CHAPTER 2 – Part 4

When we arrived at the auction house, many eyes followed us. The organizers didn’t hide their welcoming expressions, while some of the participants in the auction openly displayed their caution. Considering the money my mother had poured into auctions over the years, it was only natural. My mother enjoyed those gazes and confidently walked into the room.

As soon as my mother sat down, she took out an auction pamphlet. She quickly flipped through the front pages until her hand stopped at the page with the Masterpieces.

There were two Masterpieces featured in this auction. It was a rare occurrence.

Even rarer was the fact that Masterpieces, as rare as they were, actually sold. There were many reasons why artists were hesitant to sell the Masterpieces they created. However, a more significant reason was that many Masterpieces inherently had a nature that made them unsellable.

First of all, not all masterpieces appearing in intangible art could be sold. Just because a dancer’s dance becomes a masterpiece doesn’t mean you can sell that dancer.

Even though it was tangible art, it was not necessarily in a form that could be sold either. If the Masterpiece’s ability is a one-time use, by the time you find out that it is a Masterpiece, the ability has already been used up.

Lastly, there were cases where the existence of a Masterpiece wasn’t revealed. This was a new case I had created. An example falling under this category was William’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

The play he’s writing is a Masterpiece with the power to shape people’s lives, but no one will realize it’s a Masterpiece when it’s finished. Except me.

My mother had apparently finished deciding what to buy, and she handed me the pamphlet. Although I wasn’t particularly interested, doing something was better than doing nothing to pass the time. I flipped through the pamphlet, page by page.

A jewel from the queen’s crown. How on earth do you get something like this? A mummy’s arm from 700 years ago. What on earth is the person who wins the bid for something like this thinking? The last pill made by a legendary pharmacist who died 100 years ago. Does that mean they’re expired?

As I flipped through the pamphlets, I realized that there was nothing in this auction house that I understood. Including the people who had come to buy it.

As I scanned the pamphlet half-heartedly, I found myself turning the pages faster and faster. This was not a good way to pass the time. My hands, which were quickly turning the pages, stopped at some point. Just like my mother, it was on the page where the Masterpiece was.

My eyes were glued to the description of one of the Masterpieces. I read the description over and over again, and finally acknowledged a possibility.

This masterpiece might be the key to breaking the spell on William and Romeo.

* * *

[I wish it wasn’t you, Juliet, that Romeo likes].

* * *

“Mother, will you be bidding on both Masterpieces that are up for auction this time?”

I asked in an expectant voice. This was the first time I felt so fortunate for my mother’s love for my masterpiece. She never passed up a Masterpiece that caught her eye, so I was sure she would buy both this time.

“Uh, no. We just had a ball recently, so I need to restrain myself for a while. I’m thinking of purchasing only one this time. Besides, I’m not particularly interested in the other one.”

But my mother’s answer was unexpected. This was not good. I asked again with an uneasy feeling.

“So which one are you thinking of buying?”

“Of course, it’s the ‘Beloved Person.'”

Of course. If it weren’t for the William and Romeo problem, I would have picked the ‘Beloved Person’ as well. As her mother had said, the choice was a completely natural one.

“Just in time.”

As I flipped through the pamphlets to kill time, the auction was reaching its climax. A man dressed a little more formally than before pushed a portable table out. Something was placed on the table, covered with expensive silk. Probably, the silk or the decoration on the table was meant to surpass the price of the previous auction items.

“You’ve waited a long time. Finally, today’s main stage. The masterpiece, ‘Beloved Person!'”

The auctioneer dramatically unveiled the silk. Underneath, a small perfume bottle was revealed.

“‘Beloved Person’ is the 100,000th creation of a perfumer who has devoted his life to making perfumes. His efforts have finally borne fruit in the form of a masterpiece. The magic infused in both the scent and the name is incredibly lovely. When you spray the perfume, for the duration of its fragrance, you will appear to everyone as the most beloved person to them.”

The venue buzzed with excitement. It was certainly a lovely ability for a noblewoman to have. Personally, I thought it was perfect for bringing discord to a household, but no one shared my sentiment.

“In this setting, you might not fully grasp its effects. Would you like to experience it firsthand?” 

The auctioneer sprayed the perfume on his wrist. Those participating in the auction blushed or murmured someone’s name.

“Mr. Capulet….”

My mother murmured my father’s name. Luckily, we weren’t the house where the family feud was going to happen.

I turned my head to look at the auctioneer. He had somehow transformed into the likeness of Romeo. It was only natural, considering the enchantment of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. It somehow felt tiresome, and I let out a sigh.

Then Romeo’s face began to blur. Like mist creeping in, the area around his face became hazy, and suddenly, nothing could be seen.

I glanced around in confusion, but everyone else maintained their unwavering attention on the auctioneer’s face. Apparently, I was the only one who couldn’t see his face.

I turned my gaze back to the auctioneer once more. Through the mist where nothing was visible, the silhouette of someone began to emerge. Who could it be?

I concentrated to see the face beyond the mist, but before I could see anything, the duration of the enchantment ended, the perfume’s duration ended without me seeing anything. The silhouette in the mist disappeared without a trace, leaving only the auctioneer’s face. It felt empty.

“Now, because we’re at a distance, the duration is short, but when up close, it’s a different story. The effect lasts as long as the other person can smell the fragrance. Now, let’s start the bidding!”

The bidding soared endlessly. I watched the scene without much suspense. My mother had declared that she would bid on ‘Beloved Person’. So, no matter how high the bidding went, it would be my mother who would be the last to bid.

“Yes, bidder number 27, you’re the winner!”

Without further ado, the auctioneer called my mom’s number. The auctioneer walked over and handed my mother the transfer medal.

“Now, would you like to see the next auction item? This, too, is a Masterpiece.”

As the auctioneer signaled, two people pushed a cart with a large picture frame. Once again, it was covered in silk. It was the item I desired.

“This time, it’s the opposite of the previous item. It is enchanted with a very violent magic.”

The auctioneer spoke in an ominous voice. I tensed up. If my mother didn’t win, I would have to. Even if I wasn’t sure I could afford the Masterpiece  with just my allowance, I had to try. Fortunately, it wasn’t enchanted in a way that would make it highly desirable. I had to take a chance on it.

“The Masterpiece hidden beneath the silk is ‘Family Vendetta.’ Isn’t the name terrifying enough?”

I glanced briefly  at my mother. She still appeared disinterested..

“Those who view this painting together will become enemies. It’s truly an ability that lives up to its name. Now, would you like to experience the magic of this masterpiece together?”

The room gasped again as the auctioneer reached for the silk that covered the painting.Some people even closed their eyes. No one among the affluent households attending the auction seemed eager to challenge each other.

“Oh, my, it would be a disaster if we all looked at this painting as a group and became enemies!”

The auctioneer deftly waved away the hand that was about to remove the silk.

“But don’t worry. The effect of this painting only manifests when viewed by two people alone. So, all of you here can enjoy the masterpiece without any concerns.”

With an eerie finish to his words, he unveiled the silk covering the painting. The sound of people inhaling sharply echoed in the hall.