IDGS 07

Chapter 7

“How boring. Don’t you have anything more valuable?”

This was a question I’d already thrown out several times.

Since this was the last auction house, I prayed a meaningful answer would come back.

As if responding to my desperation, the clerk bowed slightly.

“Actually…… a rather fine item came in yesterday.”

And then, in a whisper lest anyone hear, he added:

“It’s none other than a work by Eloy Krantz.”

Cressida’s body flinched for an instant.

She didn’t show it outwardly, but I could tell because our bodies were slightly touching.

‘This is it.’

I tapped her knee with my finger. It was a signal that I would take over the conversation from here.

“……If it’s an Eloy Krantz piece, collectors would be scrambling for it with fire in their eyes. Why isn’t it in the catalog? The appraisal was done properly, I trust?”

“How could it not be? The appraisal process is conducted very transparently according to internal standards. The only reason it isn’t in the catalog is because of the seller’s request.”

“What kind of request could that be?”

“……I’m not at liberty to say.”

Right. You can’t very well admit you’re conspiring to sell the item for double the commission instead, can you?

Still, the fact that he’d let it slip meant he was angling for the chance to earn an even bigger commission.

“Anyway, you’re saying it’s definitely an Eloy Krantz piece?”

“Of course, sir.”

“Let’s go.”

As soon as we left the auction house and reached a quiet, deserted spot, Cressida shook off my hand.

“Why did you do that?”

She was the one who’d grabbed my hand first earlier.

To be so different going in and coming out—a noble young lady’s heart is like a reed in the wind.

I lightly dusted off my hand.

“Why what?”

“That’s definitely my necklace. If I show the certificate of ownership, I could get it back before the auction even starts, so why……”

“Then we’ll never catch the culprit, Cressida. He needs to pay for his crimes.”

“Derren—I just need to confront him with the entry records.”

“How wonderful would it be if that alone proved it? He’s got his usual reputation built up too—you really think people will believe it so easily?”

“……”

“Bring the certificate of ownership to the auction. If you win the bid, file an objection and demand they verify how the item was consigned. You can get the item back then.”

“Don’t tell me…… you’re asking me to participate in the auction?”

“You’ve got plenty of money, don’t you?”

Don’t look at me like that’s absurd. It’s all for your sake.

What choice is there? Without catching him in the act, there’s no evidence to pin Derren Molden as the culprit.

“……Why would Derren do such a thing? Could it be he harbored a grudge because I didn’t accept his feelings?”

“I told you. He did it to show off.”

“Show off……?”

“Suppose you knew nothing, and he came back having found the item. Can you imagine how moved you’d be?”

“Ah…….”

“Make you all soft and gooey, then confess—wouldn’t you have accepted him? I can just see the future where the news of you two dating spreads all over the new semester.”

“Y-you think I’d give my heart away that easily?!”

“Yeah.”

Totally. You did, actually.

I’ve already seen you date that trash six times.

Besides, denying it with a face that red—who’s going to believe that?

“Anyway, bring lots of money. Molden will have factored in the commission and buying it back himself. I don’t know for sure, but probably……”

“So even you don’t know everything, Maze.”

“Huh?”

Cressida pulled out her emerald card.

“I’ve never lost to anyone when it comes to money.”

At those words, I recalled a fact I’d forgotten.

The Cressida Ducal House is a family of such immense wealth that most nobles can’t even show their business cards in comparison.

The day of the auction.

As soon as I left the academy, I threw on my robe and headed out.

Just in case, I’d brewed a few potions too. I hope I won’t need them.

“Is this the place?”

As befitting a place Cressida had chosen, the meeting spot was a very large, luxurious restaurant.

Are you going to feed me something delicious? Good thing I skipped lunch before coming out. Ah, I’m drooling.

“Are you not coming in? What are you doing?”

I was standing still waiting at the entrance when Cressida opened the door and came out.

“Oh, we were supposed to meet inside? I didn’t know.”

“Why would I leave you standing outside on a hot day like this?”

Cressida grabbed me and dragged me straight inside. She cooled me off with magic as she continued.

“By the way, isn’t that robe the one you bought last time?”

“That’s right. Why didn’t you wear yours? Walking around with your face out?”

“I can’t exactly send it to the laundry…… It’s a dreadfully suspicious-looking outfit, after all. If something like that were seen in my room, word would definitely get around.”

“So fussy. I just didn’t wash it and wore it aga—whoa, what’s with that look? Don’t distance yourself.”

“……Fine, let’s go in and eat first. I have a great deal to tell you.”

Cressida led me down an inner corridor.

The room was quite far from the hall, so no matter what we discussed here, it seemed nothing would leak outside.

While I was looking around, Cressida finished ordering with familiarity.

“Bring the food all at once, the usual. And bring two robes as well.”

But the order’s a bit strange?

“Restaurants sell robes too?”

“They’ll buy them, I’m sure.”

Do regular restaurants really do that kind of thing?

The world of the rich is beyond me.

“But why did you order two?”

“It’s a gift…… Won’t you accept it?”

“What kind of gift is something someone else bought? Next time, pick it out yourself and bring it.”

“You’re the first person to ever tell me to pick something out for them……”

Why is she suddenly spouting lines like the male lead of *Spring Blooming on the Campus*?

I gave her a sideways look and let the comment slide.

The food came out quickly. Laying out such expensive dishes all at once like this.

The staff briefly explained how to eat it, then left saying they wouldn’t come back until called.

Clink.

I was busy piling food onto my plate with my eyes spinning over the meat dishes when Cressida spoke up.

“Oh, right—I checked Derren Molden’s entry and exit records. You were right.”

Ugh, talking about this while I’m eating ruins my appetite.

“Did you find out what he did while he was out?”

“He was spotted on the outskirts of the capital, but the details of his movements……”

The outskirts of the capital.

‘It must have been a sparsely populated place.’

“Looks like he handed the item over there. Did you put a tail on him?”

“Yes. He’s been busily running all over the place. His dedication seemed remarkable.”

“Enough to fool you completely if you didn’t know?”

“That’s……”

“You must be incredibly grateful to me, huh?”

Cressida’s eyes trembled faintly.

“……Once this is finished properly, I’ll reward you generously enough that you won’t feel shortchanged.”

“Of course you should.”

Getting stabbed in the back while helping enthusiastically once was more than enough.

I rummaged through and pulled out the things I’d brought.

“What’s this……?”

“What do you mean, what is it? A memorandum, a quill, and ink—prepared in advance.”

“You……”

Cressida’s eyes studied me carefully. The trembling in her eyes had stopped before I knew it.

“You don’t trust me.”

Why is she making that face? Weren’t we practically strangers to each other anyway……?

“You didn’t trust me either.”

You suspected I stole the necklace the moment I came to you.

“Th-that’s because it was when I knew nothing about you!”

“So you’re saying you trust me now?”

“……For this matter at least, I consider you trustworthy.”

“That means you trust the information I brought, not my character, right?”

“I trust your money too. So don’t feel hurt, Cressida. It’s only natural we can’t trust each other when all we know about each other is that much.”

I said it casually and quickly finished signing.

Actually, there isn’t much to this. This is just a bare-minimum safety measure.

To sum it up: just don’t stab me in the back, grant at least one of my requests before graduation, and if you want to cut ties, tell me in advance—that was all it said.

“Here, here—don’t be like that, read it over and then let’s talk again.”