#Daily Life 1.2

“Yes, His Royal Highness Jarvis’ treasure, ⟨500 Shades of Viscount Jeveneau⟩ has been sold for 200 gold!”

My jaw dropped as the auctioneer called out the price three times it’s original price and slammed his gavel down.

‘Who would pay 200 gold for something like that?!’

When Jarvis first revealed that ridiculous item, I had asked how he could publicly display such an embarrassing book. Such secret books were read alone at night by people who… anyway, even Leticia sitting next to me couldn’t lift her head in embarrassment. To think that it was sold for 200 gold. I was curious about who was the person who had nothing but money to spend on something like that.

I wondered if there’s an inflation. Or if everyone was under group hypnosis due to the excitement of the auction. At that moment, Jarvis stepped back and turned to me with a smug smile on his face.

“See that? You’re the only one who ignores me. I’m very popular. You need to value me more.”

“Ah, yes.”

I turned away from him with a disgusted face. To make matters worse, the next item was mine. If I got a lower bid than Jarvis here, I would have to keep seeing his arrogant behavior. If only Diart had put up his treasure for auction, there would have been a pretty high bid.

“You should have put up something too.”

I whispered to Diart in regret.

“Even a handkerchief you made a few days ago.”

Although his embroidery skills were still not improving despite all the time he spent, Diart’s handmade items would have been competitive if he had put them up for auction.

“I only put in effort for you.”

Diart whispered to me. If others heard it, they might feel sweet affection, but in my room drawer, there were many handmade handkerchiefs with embroidery that I couldn’t tell if they looked like sparrows or pigeons, and it was difficult to distinguish them. As someone who now wished he would stop doing that, I couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable.

“Now we will begin the bidding for Duchess Wheaton’s treasure, a hand mirror.”

As expected, there was a lukewarm reaction in the room. Only a few noble ladies and Leticia showed interest in my treasure. As the bid was slowly rising, someone called out an absurd number.

“500 gold.”

Gasps were heard throughout the room. I turned my head towards the man who called out that ridiculous number.

“Are you crazy?”

“Did I bid too low?”

I almost jumped out of my seat at his ridiculous response. It’s not just about bidding 500 gold for a mere hand mirror.

“Why are you buying my item?”

With my bewildered expression, Diart casually replied,

“I don’t like it when another person touches something you’ve touched.”

It was clear that Jarvis, who had just shouted 100 gold, was the other person who made him feel bad. I put my hand on my forehead. Jarvis chuckled with a face that said this was fun and shouted 510 gold, and Diart immediately called out 600 gold.

After several rounds of bidding, the hand mirror was eventually won by Diart, and since then, he showed a habit of buying my treasures whenever they were put up for auction.

“The Duke and Duchess of Wheaton… their affection remains the same.”

Leticia muttered.

“Thanks to Duke Wheaton, the amount of donation to the orphanage will increase.”

Jarvis, who clearly provoked Diart on purpose, laughed joyfully. Diart looked dumbfounded as he passed by his smug face. Soon, there would be another rumor that Duke Wheaton was bankrupt. This man seems to have no sense of shame.

Well, I shouldn’t try to understand the thoughts of the male protagonist. Let’s just accept that he will use that large sum of money for something good.

What’s more important is achieving the purpose of attending today’s bazaar. I shook my throbbing head and turned my gaze to the stage.

And finally, Edgar’s treasure that I had been eagerly waiting for was brought up on stage.

“This teacup was purchased directly from the craftsman by Prince Edgar when he went to study in Pedon–.”

Clearly, compared to Jarvis, Edgar’s presence was weaker, so there were fewer bidders. To me, it was actually a good thing. There was a high chance that this cute teacup resembling its owner would be mine.

“30 gold.”

I glanced at Diart and I lowered the sign I was holding.

“You know I like milk tea.”

It was at the moment when I was about to call out 50 gold in response to the 35 gold bid that I shouted 100 gold. Someone unexpected raised the sign and bid.

“100 gold.”

A completely unexpected person raised the sign and bid.

‘No, not you again!’

I asked in frustration, staring at Diart’s smirking face.

“I’ve also taken an interest in tea lately.”

He replied, with that familiar mischievous expression and a smirk on his lips. It was only then that I realized the reason why this man, who had no interest in such things, was following me.

‘You were trying to interfere from the beginning!’

This quick-witted man had already figured out that I was after Edgar’s treasures. Damn it.

I pretended to laugh it off and called out 110 gold, but in the end, I had to give Edgar’s teacup to Diart.

‘Well, it’s just one item. Let’s not let the next one get stolen.’

Despite my promise, all of Edgar’s treasures continued to be won by Diart one after another. As my favorite treasures continued to slip through my fingers, I became increasingly frustrated and anxious. At that moment, Edgar’s item appeared on the stage once again.

“This music box is the last item.”

Leticia, who was watching me with pity as Diart snatched away item after item, whispered to me. It was already the last item. I couldn’t miss it this time. As soon as the auctioneer started the bidding, I shouted out,

“300 gold!”

Although it was ten times the starting price, Diart calmly responded with an unaffected face.

“400.”

“500!”

“600.”

“700!”

Within the hall, only mine and Diart’s voices echoed. No one dared to interfere between us; the atmosphere was tense.

Before we knew it, the bidding had surpassed 1000 gold, and the people who had been alternating their gazes between us bought the music box with puzzled expressions, wondering if it was really worth that much.

While Jarvis found it amusing, Edgar looked conflicted as he witnessed the competitive bidding between Diart and me. Diart’s expression grew colder, and it was clear that he didn’t like how I was so fixated on Edgar’s belongings, even blushing in the process.

I loved Diart, but my fan devotion towards my favorite’s items was a separate matter. Besides, now that I’ve come this far, I couldn’t back down. I couldn’t let the last merchandise be taken away. Excited, I suddenly stood up from my seat.

“3000 gold!”

I called out an amount that would leave me with just enough to open a small shop after purchasing the old music box. I stared at Diart with determination. At this point, he should have given in at least once. However, Diart declared the end with a chilling voice, as if he would kill anyone who challenged him.

“Ten thousand gold.”

“!”

What kind of madness was this? Calling out ten thousand gold for a single music box?!

No matter how high I bid, I couldn’t match Diart’s wealth. Disheartened, I slumped back into my seat. Ten thousand gold was worth a building I had bought in the past. Damn it, if only I hadn’t failed in that investment…

Leticia smacked Jarvis on the back as if applauding his performance. I glared at him with intense resentment. I had lost all of my favorite’s items in the end, and it felt so regrettable and unfair. In response to my resentful gaze, Diart twisted his lips in a sly manner.

“I didn’t know you wanted that music box so badly.”

Only now did I feel a chill down my spine as something that had been draped over me, driven by the determination to obtain my favorite merchandise, was stripped away. Reflexively, I stepped back, but Diart grabbed my hand and pulled me closer, giving me a sly smile.

“I’ll buy you more than you can hold with both hands.”

…I’m certain that there’s no one scarier than him when he smiles like that.

It was much later when I learned about the rumors that spread, claiming that the Wheaton couple were Prince Edgar’s terrifying fans.

* * *

As always, whenever his jealousy arose, Diart never released me from his grasp, but he finally left the room long after the afternoon had passed.

In the meantime, the items he had won at the auction yesterday had arrived at Wheaton Manor. Diart carefully selected only Roeni’s cherished possessions and things that she had shown genuine interest in. Nonetheless, he still eyed the pile of useless items.

He couldn’t let another man’s belongings come into contact with Roeni’s touch. It was not permissible for her to think of another man when she looked at those items.

Without a trace of hesitation, Diart turned his back and instructed Gordon, who asked what to do with the items.

“Get rid of them all.”