Pardon the Abduction, Holy Knight - It's an Emergency - Chapter 3.6

“With your sister?”

“Sister said I should go to auctions with someone who knows art well….”

Did Violet have a talent for art? I’m not sure. In the novel, I only remember scenes where Violet shows off her ignorance in that field and receives lots of affection from her family and the male lead.

“Should I go with you?”

“You too, Teacher…?”

Echo’s eyes widened. Undisguised joy overflowed in those eyes. But soon, as if thinking this wasn’t right, she lowered her gaze.

“No… Teacher, you’re busy….”

“I’m not busy. I don’t have any customers these days, so I’m free.”

“Really…?”

Echo looked at me with an expression of undisguised happiness.

“Ah, of course, given my appearance, it might be difficult to walk around together. I’ll sit behind the customer, so let’s just exchange secret eye greetings.”

I was worried she might be disappointed that we couldn’t go together. But Echo was rather excited as if we now had a secret just between us.

“You’ll find this auction interesting too, Teacher….”

“Oh? Is there something special?”

“Yes… A family heirloom from the Ferial Count’s family is going up for auction….”

A family heirloom from the Ferial Count’s family?

“I heard the Ferial Count’s family is facing financial difficulties….”

“…Why?”

“Because the Ferial Count’s daughter ran away… Her fiancé is demanding a large sum in damages and the return on his investment….”

Echo’s expression softened with sympathy, her eyes reflecting a sense of pity for the situation. I swallowed hard. Echo. That runaway count’s daughter is me. And…. This auction is going to be quite interesting, isn’t it?

With that thought in mind.

***

The auction house was located in the center of the capital. It was already a densely populated area, but with the auction being held, it was even more crowded with people.

“It’s amazing….”

The massive building, looming over the crowd, was visible even from afar. Its sheer size suggested it could accommodate this throng of people with room to spare. This imposing structure was none other than the Walls Auction House.

“Kekeke. Master, do you like big buildings?”

I lowered my gaze from where I had been staring with my mouth agape. There I saw Wit, transformed into a servant shorter than me.

“Kekeke. Master, do you like big buildings?”

I lowered my gaze from where I had been staring with my mouth agape. There I saw Wit, transformed into a servant shorter than me.

“Wit will earn lots of money and gift you an even bigger building!”

“…Really?”

“Yes! Because Master is my woman! Kekeke!”

“……”

Well, that’s very kind of you.

“Master?”

“…It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

I started walking towards the auction house entrance again. I’m completely overwhelmed. I wonder if I’ll be able to find Echo among all these people.

It was while I was turning my head this way and that.

“I heard the Ferial Count’s family is putting up an incredible item today?”

Among the numerous noises around, one voice caught my attention.

“The young Count Ferial has been making such a fuss about it. As if it’s something to be happy about… Anyway, I came to see just how amazing this item is.”

“You too? Actually, I came here for the same reason. As you know, there’s nothing more interesting these days than news about the Ferial Count’s family.”

“That family is truly unfortunate. I wonder where their former prestige has gone.”

“Indeed. Have you heard that news too? They say the Ferial Count’s daughter ran away with a nobleman from the Kingdom of Aiber, causing the Ferial Count to pay a huge sum in damages?”

“Ah, yes. I heard about that too. Wasn’t the marriage arranged in exchange for investment from Count Robert?”

“That’s right. Now they have to pay back the investment and damages, so I heard the Ferial Count collapsed from stress. That’s why the young Count Ferial is participating in this auction instead of the Count himself. Tsk tsk. How great must his sense of betrayal be, with his daughter running away overnight like that.”

A nobleman from the Kingdom of Aiber, they say. Truly, rumors are not to be trusted. I slowed my pace and focused on the continuing conversation.

“There’s another story going around. They say the Ferial Count’s daughter kidnapped a high-ranking Holy Knight.”

“A high-ranking Holy Knight?”

“You know, that Holy Knight who secured the vice-captain position at such a young age.”

“Ah, I know who you mean. You’re talking about the Holy Knight, Adriel, right?”

“They say that a Holy Knight also suddenly disappeared. Coincidentally, on the same day, the Ferial Count’s daughter vanished.”

“Hmm…. But isn’t Adriel a commoner? I wouldn’t think that vain woman would look twice at a commoner.”

“That may be true, but is that Holy Knight just any commoner? Isn’t he the one who captured the hearts of the Imperial people with his outstanding looks and extraordinary skills? That’s why there are stories that the Ferial Count’s daughter has been passionately admiring that Holy Knight for a while now.”

Ouch. For a moment, I almost tripped.

“Master, be careful!”

Fortunately, Wit quickly caught me from the side, allowing me to avoid the crisis. After regaining my balance, I quietly stared at them. You guys know too much, don’t you…?

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I felt a chill somewhere….”

The men who had been whispering turned to look at me and shuddered. They seemed to get goosebumps seeing an unidentified figure in a robe silently staring at them.

“Master, what’s wrong? Don’t you like those humans? Should Wit kill them?”

“Shh, be quiet!”

I hurriedly covered Wit’s mouth. But the men’s expressions had already soured, having apparently heard Wit’s words.

Oh, no. Sensing the increasingly hostile atmosphere, I quickly hid with Wit among the crowd. Only after reaching the auction house entrance and confirming that no one was chasing us could I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Huff, huff….”

“Kekeke. Fun. It’s fun. Running with Master is fun.”

You’re the only one having fun here… I sighed and looked around.

“There are… really a lot of people.”

In the auction house, I occasionally saw people like me wearing robes or masks covering half their faces. The Walls Auction House was a place where not only nobles but also commoners could freely enter if they had money. Because of this, some nobles hid their appearance, saying it was embarrassing to visit the same place as commoners.

“What are we going to do now, Master? Kekeke.”

“I’m going to wait for Echo for a moment.”

Of course, even if I met Echo, I was planning to just exchange a quick eye greeting. I was worried about Violet, who would be next to Echo, to greet her openly. Well, there are quite a few people here dressed like me, so they probably won’t recognize me easily. It doesn’t hurt to be careful.

I was about to move to a secluded spot as there were too many people coming and going in front of the auction house door.

“Rosemary, I haven’t the faintest clue where that good-for-nothing has gone!”

…Is it about me again?

At the side of the building.

Someone’s angry voice resonated loudly, reaching where I was.

But what could have made them so angry?

It didn’t seem like the kind of people who were gossiping about me like those from earlier.

Moreover, for some reason, it felt like someone who knew me, which piqued my curiosity a bit.

I carefully peeked around the side of the building.

“…!”