People held their breaths at the sight of the brooch placed on the pedestal. It was completely different from the excitement they had shown when good items appeared. The brooch was overwhelming. It emitted a light as though it were alive, leaving people speechless.
It might be said that to focus on a mere brooch was noble. There was no doubt that it was the real brooch of the first emperor. It was something beyond human evaluation.
But even though Amelia knew that everything was fake, she felt numb when the brooch appeared. No one would think it was fake after seeing it. She believed it immediately as well.
Well, technically, it was real. It just doesn’t work as it should.
“The first emperor’s brooch! It’s said to bring success to its owner.”
The auctioneer’s voice was full of excitement since it was the highlight of the auction. The cheering of the crowd echoed through the auction hall. If she had been unaware of the truth about the brooch, she would have been equally excited.
That brooch was a well-made counterfeit. It looked intact on the surface, but the magic inside had been shattered. Merely saying that it had been used by the first emperor wouldn’t captivate people. The reason everyone desired that brooch was its mysterious power to bring success to its owner.
“Since it’s a brooch worthy of its reputation, the auction price must also be exceptional. The bidding starts at 100,000 gold!”
100,000 gold? The price that Leonel had secured for the future was 400,000 gold, and the auction price Amelia had set for today was 500,000 gold. Yet it started at 100,000 gold?
Amelia was surprised and immediately looked at the Master. He still had an inscrutable smile on his face. She knew that it wasn’t a genuine smile.
“The auction price is high.”
“120,000 gold, 150,000 gold, 170,000 gold.”
The auction price rose steeply, to the point where she didn’t have to intervene. Amelia was speechless at the reactions of those competing, raising the price in competition. It was even more intense than what she had read in books.
“Mother?”
“200,000 gold! Room 7 bid 200,000 gold.”
I’m going to raise the price as much as I can.
“Room 8 immediately put in 250,000 gold.”
When the auction price exceeded 200,000 gold, people started to thin out. The auction price, which had been increasing by 10,000 gold little by little, suddenly reached 350,000 gold.
“350,000 gold! Is there no more?”
If it goes up by another 50,000 gold, it will be the same price Leonel won it. In fact, it was already a large sum of money.
“Room 7, 380,000 gold.”
The situation was different from back then. She doesn’t care if she raised the money recklessly. It would be unlikely, but if she won the bid, she could just cancel the auction for the brooch. But the emperor would regret losing an item once it got out of his hand.
So hurry up and rush in before that.
“Room 8, 400,000 gold.”
As expected, the emperor was not giving up and was following closely. The adjacent room was as quiet as a mouse. She could sense the emperor’s impatience to acquire the brooch. He must be eager to win the bid now.
400,000 gold. It was a sufficiently high amount.
“Room 7, 430,000 gold.”
Don’t think about being satisfied here, we haven’t even begun. Amelia entered the price with the remote control. She didn’t even care about Leonel, who was gasping in surprise next to her.
“Room 8, 450,000 gold.”
Whenever she raised the price, the emperor quickly followed with his bid. It seemed like he was saying that he wouldn’t let her take away this item as fast as the previous sword that was taken from him. It looked like he felt a bit resentful for losing the sword earlier.
The Master was truly clever. You could say he understood people’s psychology well. It seemed like she understood why Chester stood at the top of the empire’s most famous giant companies.
“Room 7, 480,000 gold, no, Room 1, 550,000 gold.”
550,000 gold? As the price rose, the auction became a fight between her and the emperor alone. But someone suddenly appeared and bet such a huge sum of 550,000 gold? And it was 50,000 gold more than the price she set.
“Do you have an extra 550,000 gold? If you don’t…”
Just as she was about to outbid Room 1, a light broke out in Room 8.
“Room 8, 580,000 gold.”
What should she do here? Should she participate in this competition and go for a three-way fight? Or should she give up?
“Wait, no… James. Who is in Room 1?”
“Room 1?”
Who could it be that intervened so grandly in the fight between the grand duchy and the imperial family? Some people were unable to participate further because they were afraid not only of the money but also of competing with her and the Emperor. But the person in Room 1 boldly jumped into the auction. They even raised the price higher than herself and the Emperor.
“Room 1, 650,000 gold.”
It happened again this time. As Amelia and the Emperor exchanged glances and raised the bid, Room 1 boldly increased the amount. She felt their determination to have that brooch.
“Who on earth is calling for such a large amount?”
“I will find out.”
Leonel, who noticed her unease, reached out and grabbed her hand. She shouldn’t have shown her agitation in front of the child, but……
“Mother… I have assets in front of me.”
“Huh?”
“If Mother really wants that brooch… I’m okay with it.”
Is he saying that he will lend her money now? Amelia found relief at the sight of Leonel clenching his fists and speaking as if he were very serious.
Yes, there’s no need to be so flustered. The brooch was already hers, and she was the one leading the game.
“It’s alright. But Leonel, you can’t go around offering to lend money to anyone like this.”
“But Mother, you’re not just anyone.”
My lovely child. I couldn’t bear to see my lovely child doing something reckless.
“Room number 8, 700,000 gold.”
There was not enough time to hesitate about participating in the auction. The Emperor bid a large amount. It seemed like he wanted to win the bid this time. 700,000 gold was already far beyond the price she expected. And it would be best if the Emperor got the brooch.
“Room 1, 750,000 gold.”
But her expectation was once again in vain. She didn’t know who was in Room 1, but it seemed like they really wanted that brooch. The people noticed that the Emperor and the Grand Duke were in Rooms 8 and 7, respectively.
It was impossible not to know as the auction progressed and only two people remained. In the end, some gave up on bidding because of their lack of money, but also because they were afraid of the aftermath. But who on earth was in Room 1 that they weren’t scared at all?
“Anything more? Then the brooch…”
After five seconds, just as the auctioneer was about to strike the gavel, a scream was heard from the adjacent room.
“Room 8, 800,000 gold.”
It was the Emperor’s last show of defiance, unable to let go of the brooch.
“Room 8 bid for 800,000 gold.”
***
The three-way battle was a situation even the Emperor couldn’t predict. She, who had planned everything, didn’t even pay attention to the existence of Room 1. There were many twists and turns, but the brooch returned to the Emperor’s hands according to plan. And at a price twice as high as Leonel’s winning bid.
“It’s a pity. Your Highness, you couldn’t obtain it…”
“It was never meant to be mine.”
“Mother…”
Leonel really thought she wanted the brooch. It was okay to have a brooch like that, but it was also okay to not have one. Not that. She was uncomfortable at how that item seemed to have Leonel into his death.
“I’m fine. Leonel, you should go home first.”
“What?”
“I’ve called the carriage and the coachman. Mom has to briefly visit the merchantry. I have to get the sword.”
She didn’t mean to, but it was a good thing that she won the sword auction. She had a more plausible excuse than she expected.
“I’ll go back right away.”
Amelia lightly kissed the anxious child’s cheek. She wanted to take Leonel with her, but all she could think of were topics that Leonel shouldn’t hear. After sending the reluctant child away, Amelia turned to James, no, Master.
He had an enigmatic smile. He was still looking at her with a smile on his face. Even though he was clearly looking at her, something about him was blurry, as though he was disappearing.
“You must feel good.”
“……”
800,000 gold. She received nearly twice the amount she wanted. She had to celebrate this undeniable success.
“Your Highness?”
But there were not just a few suspicious corners. She was not an ignorant child. 800,000 gold. If the Emperor had not lost his mind, it would have been a price he could never afford. Initially, the price she unreasonably wanted was 500,000 gold, which was 100,000 gold more than 400,000 gold.
“Room 1, it’s the Master, right?”
It was the best-case scenario that would be absolutely impossible without someone’s intervention.
- ianthe
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