WHCP 18

Chapter 18.

‘Even the pebble—the one that was actually valuable—was practically thrown in as a freebie, with hardly any proper introduction.’

While examining the key, Mio tried to recall the product description she had heard at the auction as vividly as possible.

‘This safe recognizes its owner! It is ready to become a faithful servant to the master of the house. If organizing is a hassle for you, be sure to bring this loyal safe home! It will even pick up a single button dropped on the floor! Ah, what about this stone, you ask? This is called the Stone of Wishes… hmm, if you display it in your home, good fortune will come in! Ah, what the heck! I’m feeling generous! Anyone who buys the safe will get this ornament for free! A mysterious household goods set when combined together! Cheap, cheap! Starting at just 1 gold!’

For reference, Aletheia had opened with a bid of one thousand gold. Mio’s confident shout of her entire fortune—ten gold—was completely buried the very next moment thanks to Aletheia casually calling out a thousand gold.

She had said she had “lost” in the bidding competition with him before, but to be honest, it hardly even qualified as a competition. The bitter memory that suddenly surfaced made Mio’s expression sour without her realizing it.

“Hmph. So having lots of money means everything, huh.”

After sneering sarcastically, Mio fiddled with the key again. Where had the safe itself gone, leaving just this lone key behind?

“That bastard Aletheia. Did he win the auction by crushing me and then throw the auction item straight into the fireplace as soon as he got home?”

On the off chance, she groped around inside the fireplace, but she could find neither the Stone of Wishes she had wanted so badly nor the body of the safe. The only thing left was the key. Mio brushed the soot off her hands.

“A safe that recognizes its owner…”

How much of that crude auctioneer’s spiel had actually been true was anyone’s guess. There had been next to no explanation about the Stone of Wishes, whose true nature she knew, and that alone made the whole thing hard to trust.

“A safe that even picks up a single button dropped on the floor…”

Yet for some reason, the words from the auction kept circling in her head.

As Mio remembered it, the safe itself hadn’t been very large. Just about big enough to collect trivial little items, like the description about picking up dropped buttons suggested.

But what if that line didn’t simply refer to the size of the safe?

‘What if there’s something more to the safe itself, not just the Stone of Wishes? Like some undiscovered function?’

Even if it was a freebie, the Stone of Wishes and the safe had been auctioned together as a set. That meant the two items shared the same origin.

After thinking deeply for a moment, Mio lightly tossed the key into the air and caught it again.

“If I want to know for sure, I’ll need to run an experiment.”

As she said that, Mio quietly lowered her gaze to the sheet of paper she was holding in her other hand.

The next day.

“Mio. Where have you been running around so busily lately?”

Caleb blocked Mio’s path. Mio casually sidestepped him and replied,

“As if I could be busier than you. Isn’t it almost mealtime? You should hurry and go report your daily activities to the Grand Duke and Duchess.”

“Well… the madam is looking for you.”

Yikes. It seemed the Duchess hadn’t given up on the adoption matter yet. Feeling her hair stand on end, Mio quickened her pace.

“Sorry. I already have plans today.”

“What plans could you possibly have? Mio, you don’t need to make up some flimsy excuse with me.”

Caleb scampered over and stubbornly blocked the door. Mio let out a shallow sigh and answered,

“It’s true. I have an appointment.”

Even if it was an appointment with herself alone, what did it matter? No one would dare try to confirm it with Aletheia anyway. But even after hearing her answer, Caleb refused to budge, interrogating her like a detective.

“What were you doing yesterday that you came back in such a mess? I saw it all. Your clothes were filthy, like you’d been cleaning a chimney.”

“Well, that’s…”

She had ended up that way while digging through the fireplace, so saying she’d cleaned a chimney wasn’t entirely wrong. Mio paused and dodged the question. Seeing that, Caleb’s eyes gleamed as if she’d found a crucial clue.

“I knew it! You were plotting something again just to mess with me!”

“Hah—no, I wasn’t.”

“That’s the only explanation. Mio, please. Just stop harassing me already.”

Mio frowned as she listened. She had a bad feeling—like the villainess pattern was about to activate. Her tone grew impatient without her noticing.

“Enough chatter. Move, Caleb. I don’t want to waste time on you.”

“If you’re honest with me, I’ll move.”

“I told you. I have plans.”

“With who, exactly, would anyone make plans with you…?”

There was no need to listen any further. Giving up on arguing with Caleb, Mio reached out to open the door.

“Ow!”

At that moment, with barely more than a brush of her hand, Caleb recoiled and cried out. Mio pulled her hand back, wearing an awkward expression.

“Hey, I didn’t even touch you.”

She was just about to say that this was clearly Caleb making a scene on her own—when, as if on cue, the door flew open. At the same time, Caleb started sobbing loudly.

“Mio… you didn’t have to be so violent.”

Caleb even collapsed onto the floor as if putting on a performance for an audience. Seeing this, Mio felt her ominous premonition come true. Standing behind the open door was Wyden, his eyes blazing like fire.

Wyden strode inside and helped the fallen Caleb to her feet.

“I heard a commotion and, of course, it’s you again? Mio Northam!”

Wyden’s thunderous voice boomed through the hall. Feeling as if her skull were rattling, Mio clutched her head.

“Haaah…”

She had hoped otherwise, but of course. The villainess pattern had activated. At least Wyden had arrived immediately—misfortune within fortune. Mio’s misdeeds had just been revealed, so it was almost as if the pattern had been deactivated the moment it triggered.

“Mio Northam. You dare sigh right now? Who do you think has the right to sigh here!”

But whether it was deactivated or not, stopping a fully enraged Wyden was another matter entirely. He snorted like an angry bull.

“You—just how far are you planning to go? I’ll say this again, my patience has limits!”

“I didn’t do anything. Caleb, you tell him. Did I hit you? You tripped on your own.”

Caleb, who had been hiding behind Wyden, flinched in surprise at being suddenly addressed. Seeing that, sparks flew again in Wyden’s eyes.

“Don’t talk to Caleb—talk to me! And stop bullying innocent people!”

“Hah, this is really suffocating. That’s not what—!”

“Mio Northam!”

Wyden raised his hand to stop Mio as she tried to push past him. Ignoring him and attempting to shove the obstacle aside, Mio suddenly froze when someone abruptly stepped in.

A familiar voice came from above her head.

“What do you think you’re doing right now?”

It was Aletheia.

Aletheia, in the Celt Ducal Estate. Mio couldn’t believe her eyes.

‘How on earth did Aletheia end up here?!’

It was as sudden and absurd as finding the key inside the fireplace. Wyden seemed just as shocked, stammering uncharacteristically.

“G-Grand Duke Moro…?”

Without replying, Aletheia lowered Wyden’s raised hand and patted his shoulder a couple of times, as if tidying things up. Flustered, Wyden creaked like a broken music box.

“Wh-what brings Your Grace here…?”

“I never imagined that the woman I am to marry was living while being treated like this by a mere junior duke.”

Aletheia rebuked him in a low voice. Mio’s heart sank with a thud. That cold, sneering expression reminded her vividly of the Aletheia from when he used to spout madness. Cold sweat broke out as suspicion flashed through her mind.

‘Don’t tell me his memories…’

They hadn’t come back, had they?!

She hadn’t even checked the experiment she’d conducted yesterday, and more importantly—the pledge document! She hadn’t found anything like it yet!

Mio hurriedly darted her eyes around, trying to assess Aletheia’s state. His gaze, which seemed to be directed at Wyden, was subtly off. Then he raised his voice, as if making sure someone else could hear.

“I think it would be best to consider the adoption null and void, Duchess.”