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Chapter 4
“[Yes, Lot 204 has won 12 high-grade mana stones for 380 gold.]”
The auctioneer’s voice rang out to announce the winning bid. But more than that, I was frozen in place, unable to believe that Ains was here.
Why is Ains here of all places?
No… it wasn’t strange for him to attend an auction.
The Reflen Auction House was one of the most famous in Grante, after all. If he needed something, it made sense that he would come.
But what I couldn’t understand was why he would come all the way here to buy high-grade mana stones.
The Graham Merchant Guild, which Ains ran, had ties with the Mage Tower. If he wanted high-grade mana stones, he could simply propose a deal there instead of coming to an auction.
It wasn’t common for the Mage Tower to distribute high-grade or higher mana stones—but it wasn’t unheard of either. And for the Graham Guild, which had supplied goods to the Tower for years, they would have willingly provided them.
In fact, before I divorced Ains, I had visited the Mage Tower several times just to stay alive.
At that time, as the wife of Ains—the head of the Graham Guild—the Tower’s master, Cesare, had personally provided me with high-grade mana stones.
But that was only because I had been his wife—because of my position as the Duchess of Graham.
Now that I had divorced him and returned to being Count Marbes, I could no longer request mana stones from the Mage Tower. That was why I had come here after confirming they would be listed at auction.
And yet… the person who had just won the high-grade mana stones—
—was Ains.
Considering the relationship between the Mage Tower and the Graham Guild, it was extremely unnatural for him to bid on them here.
A suspicion began to creep into my mind.
Could it be… he bought them because of me?
But it was only a suspicion. There was no way to know the truth.
I sat back down and looked toward the next item.
“[The tenth item is a mana stone like the one previously shown. However, this one is of the highest grade. The starting bid is 100 gold.]”
The auction began.
Since I had missed the high-grade stones, obtaining this top-grade mana stone was absolutely crucial.
There were still some mana stones left at the estate—ones I had brought with me when leaving the Graham duchy—but it was best to gather as many as possible. Especially ones of such superior quality.
“[Bidder 137 offers 890 gold. Any further bids?]”
The price steadily climbed to 890 gold.
I prayed desperately that no one else would bid.
“[Any further bids at 890 gold? If there are none before I count to five, it will go to bidder 137. Five… four…]”
I had never felt a countdown drag on this long before.
Just as the auctioneer was about to say “one”—
“[Bidder 204 offers 900 gold. Any further bids?]”
Ains had intervened again.
Hesitantly, I placed my hand on the number pad and entered 910 gold.
“[Bidder 137, 910 gold.]”
But before the auctioneer could finish speaking—
“[Bidder 204 offers 1,000 gold.]”
At that moment, I was certain.
Ains was deliberately bidding against me—raising the price just to outdo me.
There was no way I could beat him. All I had was the one million gold I received as alimony, plus the 130,000 gold I had saved before the divorce.
I had too many things I needed that money for—managing the Marbes estate, paying for treatment… and above all, obtaining the Tieria flower, which alone cost around 300,000 gold.
Until then, I had no choice but to spend carefully. I didn’t even know when it would appear at auction.
Meanwhile, for Ains—who ran a vast business—this was nothing more than pocket change.
That was why he could casually interfere like this… buying mana stones he didn’t even need.
In the end, I withdrew my hand from the number pad.
“[The top-grade mana stone has also been won by bidder 204.]”
The auctioneer completed the count and declared the winner.
I sank into my chair, staring blankly at the stage before covering my face with both hands. I couldn’t suppress the emotions rising within me.
Why is he going this far just to take the items from me?
It was late, but I had given him the divorce he wanted.
Ains had said he was unhappy in our marriage—but because of that marriage, he had inherited the Graham Guild and the ducal title from his grandfather at a young age.
He had ambition, and his grandfather had recognized it.
That was why the condition for passing down everything to him… had been marrying me.
He had gained something from that marriage too.
It hadn’t been something I forced on him alone.
Then why… is he doing this to me now?
My head burned, yet my fingertips felt cold.
After taking a small breath, I stood up.
It seemed best to confront him directly.
As I stepped out from seat 137, a staff member waiting nearby approached me.
“Shall I call a carriage for you?”
“No… instead, could you guide me to seat 204?”
“Of course.”
As I followed the staff member, my thoughts tangled. What was I even supposed to say to him?
A faint resentment began to surface.
It didn’t take long before we arrived at seat 204.
The staff member stepped aside, telling me to call if needed.
I raised my hand and knocked.
“Come in.”
His familiar voice came from beyond the door.
After swallowing nervously, I turned the handle and entered.
Ains sat there calmly, sipping wine.
“I expected you’d come.”
He turned his chair to face me, smiling faintly—more irritating than ever.
“Why are you doing this?”
“The mana stones?”
“Yes. If you’re the Duke, you could obtain them through the Mage Tower.”
Ains took a sip of wine before slowly setting the glass down.
“I was just curious what you were planning to buy with all that alimony.”
“……”
Just as I had thought.
Out of mere curiosity, he had pushed me into this situation.
The realization choked me.
“We’re already divorced. Why be curious about me now? If you were going to take interest, you should have done it earlier.”
“It’s not exactly interest… but it seems I caused a misunderstanding. I’ll apologize for that.”
“……”
With his arms crossed, he looked up at me.
I had so much I wanted to say—yet I couldn’t say anything at all. I stood there, rooted in place.
When I remained silent, Ains shrugged.
“Well, I did win them out of curiosity… but I don’t need mana stones. I’ll give them to you. I’ll pay for them, so you can just take them. I’ll inform the staff.”
“……”
At his tone—as if he were giving charity—something flared inside me.
I wanted to refuse. Truly, I did.
But I needed the mana stones too badly.
According to the physician, even after treatment with the Tieria medicine, I would need to use mana stones consistently for one to two years.
I clenched my fists tightly. My hands trembled with humiliation.
“…Don’t go back on your word later.”
“Of course not. I don’t need them anyway.”
Hearing his relaxed voice, I couldn’t bear to stay any longer.
I turned and left immediately. If I was going to collect the mana stones, I needed to find a staff member.
Just as I let out a quiet sigh and took a step—
The door opened behind me.
“Cecilia.”
It was Ains.
I slowly turned back.
He was looking at me with a slight frown, as if something displeased him.
“What is it? Do you still have business with me, Your Grace? Or did you change your mind the moment I turned away?”
At my question, Ains tilted his head and crossed his arms.
“I didn’t call you to argue ownership of the mana stones.”
“Then?”
“It just doesn’t make sense.”
Ains began walking slowly toward me.
