AOL 28

Chapter 28

Dale Moslian was a tycoon whose wealth alone placed him among the top ten richest people in the Empire.

He was the owner of the Moslian Merchant Guild, which spanned the entire continent, as well as the proprietor of the Orsian Auction House.

He was walking through the hall of the auction house, which had not yet opened to the public.

While gazing up at the ornate chandelier hanging from the ceiling, he asked the attendant beside him,

“Everything is ready, I assume?”

“Yes. Here is the list of items to be auctioned today.”

Dale took the parchment and slowly scanned through the list.

“Hmm…”

“Is there something concerning you?”

“There’s no work from that sculptor today.”

The attendant immediately understood who he was referring to. He was talking about the sculptor known as El, said to be blessed by the goddess Enix.

The Orsian Auction House had always been famous, but its popularity had recently reached an unprecedented peak.

The main reason the venue had been filled to capacity every week was undoubtedly El’s sculptures.

Seeing Dale’s puzzled expression, the attendant explained,

“The piece has already been received yesterday. It is scheduled for auction next week.”

In fact, the auction house had already spread rumors that El’s new work would appear in next week’s auction.

And as expected, many nobles had already reserved seats upon hearing the news.

Just as Dale stroked his neatly trimmed mustache and was about to head down to the basement, a commotion erupted at the entrance.

Frowning, Dale gestured for the attendant to check what was happening.

But before the attendant could even nod, five or six people stormed into the auction house.

Ordinary visitors should have been blocked by the guards at the entrance.

Dale and the attendant looked at them in shock.

They were all wearing black robes from head to toe, and without hesitation, walked straight toward Dale.

The leader of the group asked,

“Are you the owner of this auction house?”

Contrary to Dale’s expectation, the voice that came from beneath the hood belonged to a woman.

Still stunned, Dale nodded reflexively.

“That would be me…”

“We heard that you are in possession of sculptor El’s work.”

At the mention of El, Dale’s expression immediately hardened. But the woman continued without giving him a chance to respond.

“May we see the sculpture?”

Dale let out a scoff.

He was deeply offended that such rude intruders had entered his sacred auction house. While already deciding to fire all the guards on duty, he replied,

“I don’t know what gives you the confidence to act so brazenly, but no one may view the piece before the auction.”

Without stepping back even once, Dale signaled the attendant to call the guards.

The attendant quickly ran off.

The woman who had been silently observing him spoke again.

“No one…?”

Her rising tone carried undeniable pressure.

Dale stiffened.

At that moment, something caught his eye through the slightly parted robe—the glimpse of white fabric underneath.

Wait… that clothing…

Then the woman pulled back her hood.

Chestnut-brown hair cascaded down.

Around her neck hung a necklace bearing the platinum insignia of the goddess Enix.

It symbolized only one thing.

Looking at the stunned Dale, she asked again,

“Even from the Pope?”

Inside a soft velvet box lay a pearl necklace emitting a mysterious blue glow.

The blue pearls, said to be found only on the southern coasts of the Rosca Empire, were so rare they were priceless.

Leo Blishia, the winner of the hunting competition, knew exactly to whom he was supposed to give the necklace.

Suppressing his guilty conscience, he approached Iselle with the box.

Iselle congratulated him,

“Congratulations on your victory, brother.”

She smiled, but her eyes kept drifting toward the cart filled with animals.

Her clear gaze was clouded with complicated emotions.

So the owner of that cart had been Leo…

She had occasionally heard him talk about the hunting competition, but he had never once mentioned winning or bringing back so many animals.

Iselle couldn’t help but feel sorry for the animals that had lost their lives, even though she knew it was unavoidable.

Seeing her troubled expression, Leo panicked.

“Iselle, this is…”

I didn’t catch them.

The words reached his throat but didn’t come out. He could feel someone’s piercing gaze from behind—Duke Karnox was staring at him.

“Brother?”

“I mean… that is…”

Leo opened and closed his mouth helplessly, unable to lie or tell the truth.

He cursed himself for being so easily swayed and making a deal with his conscience.

He hadn’t expected to receive such a look from Iselle.

What have I gotten myself into…

It was all that ruthless Duke Karnox’s fault.

Suppressing his anger, Leo sighed.

“…I’m sorry, Iselle.”

At his exhausted voice, Iselle shook her head.

“It’s not something you need to apologize for. That’s what this competition is for, right?”

“Well… yes.”

Leo’s face remained gloomy.

Iselle, feeling slightly guilty, accepted the pearl necklace without refusing it. Otherwise, her brother might actually cry.

That evening, the banquet marking the end of the hunting competition was held.

A lavish dinner was prepared using the hunted game.

A long mahogany table covered with a clean satin cloth stretched across the hall, while servants continuously served dishes on silver trays.

The meal progressed slowly. Nobles engaged in discussions about neighboring countries and political affairs.

At the head table sat the Emperor, Duke Karnox, Count Blishia, and Duke Lesian.

Iselle was seated between Lady Rossa and Leo.

Leo diligently served her food, saying, “Try this, try that.”

But Lady Rossa seemed strangely different.

She had been smiling warmly toward Iselle earlier in the day, but now she wouldn’t even look at her.

She barely participated in conversations and responded half-heartedly when spoken to.

Her eyes drooped with a gloomy expression, as if deeply hurt.

Yet she still occasionally glanced at Leo.

“Still, you must have been lonely during the competition, Iselle…”

“No, Lady Rossa talked to me, so it was fine. Right, my lady?”

“Y-yes?”

Startled, Rossa looked between Iselle and Leo.

Iselle smiled gently, drawing her into the conversation.

Leo looked slightly surprised.

Lady Rossa was a proud noblewoman.

Realizing her jealousy had made her act childish, she couldn’t even meet Iselle’s eyes.

At afternoon tea, she had pretended nothing was wrong, but now she wanted to hide in a hole.

Yet Iselle had brought her into the conversation.

She didn’t know how to respond.

Before she could, Leo spoke first.

“Thank you for looking after my sister.”

It was a polite expression of gratitude.

Rossa widened her eyes, stunned.

Iselle was being considerate toward her, while she herself had been consumed by jealousy.

Her face flushed red.

“Try this salad as well.”

“T-thank you…”

At Iselle’s warm smile, Rossa gradually opened up.

Soon, she was chatting comfortably with both Iselle and Leo, her earlier gloom disappearing.

While speaking with Rossa, Iselle’s eyes suddenly met someone’s gaze across the table.

It was Cesare Lesian, who had been watching her for some time.

He slowly cut his steak while staring at her.

His gaze was sharp, dangerous.

Iselle quickly looked away.

Even that brief eye contact made her feel uneasy, as if she had stepped into mud.

The food she had found appetizing moments ago now felt unpleasant.

“Iselle? What’s wrong?”

Leo whispered urgently.

“It’s nothing,” she forced a smile.

Even though she said that, both Leo and Rossa looked worried.

“Are you feeling unwell? Shall we go get some air?”

“I’ll go with her.”

“No, I’ll take her.”

They began arguing over who would accompany her.

Iselle sighed.

More and more people were becoming overly protective of her.

“I’ll go with Sir Alex. Please stay and finish your meal.”

She stood up firmly before they could object.

“Until I return, don’t argue. Be nice to each other.”

The two looked at her like children being told to stay home alone.

It made her smile faintly.