Chapter 35

“Of course. What can I help you with?”

“I’m looking to buy a gift. Is there a shop you’d recommend?”

She hadn’t yet chosen a gift for Braden, and didn’t want to give just anything.

She’d browsed several shops but found nothing satisfactory. Since Tera was local, she’d surely know the best places.

“For a man?”

Tera asked, as if testing her. She seemed curious if the gift was for Braden.

Adela couldn’t help but smile at Tera’s feigned indifference.

She could have asked directly.

People always did that. When Adela and Braden were together, people stared and whispered, but never asked outright.

“Braden gave me a tough assignment. He asked me to pick a gift that suits him.”

“Braden said that?”

Tera’s eyes widened in surprise.

She called him by name.

The way she said his name seemed rather familiar.

‘Are they close?’

The thought of Braden being close with another woman made Adela feel strange. Her heart prickled, as if poked by a fine needle.

‘I’m crazy. What am I thinking about the Duchess?’

“Since Braden is the Duke’s gladiator slave, you must have seen him, too.”

“Of course.”

“What would make a good gift? I honestly have no idea. I never thought picking out a gift for a man would be so difficult.”

Adela sighed softly.

“Why worry so much? Just pick something expensive.”

“Expensive?”

“Isn’t the price itself meaningful enough?”

It was an unexpected answer. Adela smiled quietly.

“Haha, I see. I was overthinking it.”

“Wait, today’s the 15th, isn’t it? There’s a place where you can get a special gift. We’ll have to hurry to make it in time. Shall we go together?”

As if something occurred to her, Tera asked urgently.

Adela nodded for now.

***

Tera led her to an auction exhibition hall.

“There’s an auction once a month. Some sellers use agents, some sell because they need money, and sometimes rare items appear.”

Tera explained.

“So it’s not just expensive things.”

“It’s a tourist attraction, too. Sometimes you can snag something for less than market price.”

“It’s unusual to display the goods before the auction.”

Inside the exhibition hall, quite a few people were browsing the items.

“They do this so people don’t get tricked into buying stolen goods.”

Then Tera whispered in Adela’s ear, “There’s a separate place that handles stolen goods. It’s illegal, so I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Tera seemed familiar with the underworld, too. Adela could see where her flexibility came from.

“I prefer legal items.”

Adela smiled and browsed slowly. Then, something caught her eye.

It was a sword. The blade resembled Braden’s platinum hair, and the hilt was adorned with a bluish-green gem, much like his eyes. The color was slightly different from emerald.

“That’s a fine sword. It’s made of material that doesn’t break even against aura, and if a mage infuses it with magic, it can form a shield. That’s a very rare magic stone.”

Alexa, who had been standing guard, came over to comment.

“It’s a magic stone? Is it good?”

“It’s a long, heavy sword, so not just anyone can wield it. You need to be tall and strong. It’s perfect for that guy.”

At the mention of ‘that guy’, Tera glanced at Alexa.

“Sorry.”

Alexa thought Tera might dislike her guard’s interference, so she quickly stepped back.

“When does the auction start?”

Adela asked Tera.

“Have you decided on this one?”

“Yes. I like it. If I say it’s a sword that resembles him, that’s reason enough. And it’s the most expensive starting bid.”

“You’re quick to adapt.”

Tera laughed out loud, and Adela joined her.

Maybe it was because she liked people, but this unexpected outing was turning out to be enjoyable for Adela.

“They’re moving the items, so it’s almost time to start. Let’s head to the auction hall.”

The auction hall was bustling with excitement and anticipation.

When Adela entered with Tera, people’s gazes turned toward them, and whispers filled the air. Occasionally, words like ‘Princess Adela’ and ‘Braden’ popped up.

She was used to it.

When she first wandered Lasve with Braden, few recognized them.

But now, gossip magazines with illustrations circulated daily. Even children recognized Adela.

They even had dedicated reporters following them around. Adela spotted several familiar journalists in the auction hall.

It had felt awkward at first, but now she unconsciously greeted them. She thought, ‘I guess I’m giving them another story.’

If she bought the sword at auction, people would assume it was for Braden.

Come to think of it, he’d asked for a flashy gift. This was flashy enough.

Watching the auction was more fun than expected. The auctioneer’s clever patter to raise prices, and the heated competition, made for a lively scene.

Finally, the sword Adela had been eyeing came up for auction.

“Now, today’s highlight! The ‘Sword of Green Shade (綠陰의 검)’. A masterpiece crafted by a top artisan, combining all his expertise for both offense and defense!”

Blah blah blah.

With the highest starting price, the auctioneer’s flowery pitch went on forever.

“We start at one thousand gold. Bids go up by one hundred gold.”

At the mention of a thousand gold, people gasped here and there. No wonder—the highest winning bid so far hadn’t even reached five hundred gold.

“Wait until the bidding slows, then jump in,”

Tera advised Adela.

The price was already high, so few participated. With each hundred-gold increase, more dropped out.

“1,900!”

A middle-aged man shouted.

“Yes, 1,900 gold. Any more bids?”

The auctioneer picked up the gavel to finalize the sale.

It was Adela’s turn.

“2,500.”

She raised the bid by a whopping six hundred gold, causing a stir. All eyes turned to Adela.

“Yes, 2,500.”

The auctioneer was thrilled.

“2,600!”

The man, expecting to win, added another hundred in a shaky voice.

“Three thousand!”

Adela called out another leap in a calm voice.

The man’s face went pale, and he quickly shook his head and gave up.

“Yes, 3,000 gold. Any more bids?”

With one of the two main bidders out, it seemed over.

The price had reached three thousand gold. It was unlikely anyone would bid higher.

Then—

“3,100!”

A young woman’s voice rang out.

People turned to look at her. Her elegant attire suggested she was a wealthy noble lady.

“Are you crazy?”

Her friend, beside her, nudged her arm in shock.

“I’m buying that.”

“What do you need a sword for?”

“That woman’s buying it for Braden. I’m going to buy it and give it to Braden.”

She glared at Adela, stubbornly.

She was a die-hard fan of Braden from the Colosseum arena, and her resentment toward Adela, who had monopolized Braden, was strong.

She spoke loudly enough for everyone nearby, including Adela, to hear.

“Yes, 3,100 gold.”

The auctioneer looked pointedly at Adela, as if asking if she’d go higher. And it wasn’t just him—everyone was watching Adela.

With so much attention, she couldn’t back down.

“3,500!”

Adela’s calm voice made the young woman flinch. She was eager, but couldn’t afford to bid in hundred-gold leaps like Adela.

“3,600!”

The woman bid again, but her friend started to panic.

“Stop it. How will you pay for that?”

Adela glanced at the woman and smiled softly before bidding.

“Four thousand!”

Angered, the woman trembled. Now it was a battle of pride.

“4,100!”

She shouted bravely, but her eyes wavered.

People watched the two women with fascination.

“She’s fighting so hard when she can’t even afford it. Just stop. You’re only driving up the price for nothing. I’ll help you find a good sword elsewhere.”

Tera smiled mischievously.

Backing out was the best way to get back at the woman. Even if she won, paying the price would be tough.

“No, I’ll see it through.”

Normally, Adela would have bowed out gracefully. It was rational.

But she’d overheard the woman’s intention to buy the sword for Braden. So she couldn’t give up. She’d go to the end, whatever the cost.

“Five thousand!”

Adela bid.

She raised the price by nine hundred gold at once, prompting others to marvel, “As expected of the Princess.”

“Five thousand gold. Any more?”

The auctioneer asked the woman.

Even he could tell she couldn’t afford it. If Adela dropped out, the item might go unsold, so he hoped the woman would quit.

The woman, pride wounded, tried to speak, but her friend covered her mouth.

“No, we’re done.”

Her friend dragged her out of the auction hall, even as she struggled.

Through the closed door, they could hear, “Let go, that’s mine! I’m giving it to Braden!”

“With that, the ‘Sword of Green Shade’ is sold for five thousand gold.”

The auctioneer quickly swung his gavel.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound of the gavel signaled the sale, and people exclaimed and applauded. It was a rare, thrilling show.

A pride battle between two women over a sword for one man.

It would be talked about for a long time.

“Congratulations, Princess. Though I’m not sure it’s worth five thousand gold.”

It was a blunt remark. To Tera, a shrewd merchant, buying a sword worth three thousand gold for five thousand seemed foolish.

She’d seen it often—smart women blinded by men.

It was a shame. Adela was one of those women.

Spending time with Adela, Tera had thought she was a rather impressive Princess. That made it more disappointing.

“Its value can change. The ‘Sword of Green Shade’ will be made more valuable by Braden.”

Adela smiled.

Tera pictured Braden holding the Sword of Green Shade.

Braden, sword gleaming in the sunlight.

Just imagining it was impressive. The sword would gain fame just for being wielded by Braden.

In the arena, it would be a sword of endless victory, and in the monster hunting grounds, it would slice through beasts like cheese.

And the fact that it was a gift from Princess Adela was a bonus.

“My perspective was too narrow. Value is not only in the object itself, but also in how a person can elevate it.”

Her fondness for Adela grew even stronger.

Though younger than herself, Adela possessed both elegant composure and sharp intellect—she was exactly the kind of woman Tera had been searching for.

For the first time, Braden seemed lacking compared to a woman.

A smile appeared on Tera’s lips.