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Chapter 20
People in the Empire believe Adrielle is just a commoner.
But I, who read the novel, know the truth.
Adrielle is actually the heir of a prestigious ducal family from the Northern Continent, the Sienia Empire.
Even though his family was wiped out by a sudden attack from demons.
That’s why I had a question.
Oberon was also killed by demons.
Was it really just a coincidence that Adrielle’s grandparents—who were also killed by demons—knew Oberon?
Or could Adrielle’s family have some kind of connection with Oberon?
“I’ve told you everything I know.”
“Ah… yes.”
“Then it is your turn, young lady, to answer my question.”
Me?
What is he going to ask?
If it’s about the necklace, I already said I don’t know anything about it.
“What did you mean by what you said earlier?”
“What do you mean?”
What did I even say earlier?
“You said something quite insulting to me just now.”
Something insulting…?
Ah. Don’t tell me he means that I said he was unpleasant?
“No, that’s…”
It’s just that I found it absurd that he assumed I would naturally like him…
Adrielle’s left eyebrow rose slightly.
“Is there a reason it is difficult to answer?”
“No, that’s not it…”
Should I just say it again?
After thinking for a moment, I nodded inwardly.
Yes. I’ll say it one last time.
“To be honest, I think you’re misunderstanding something big.”
“What misunderstanding?”
“That I like you, sir.”
Before I even finished speaking, Adrielle’s brow furrowed sharply.
“So you’re saying that’s not true?”
See? I knew this would happen.
I clenched my fist.
Today, I really wanted Adrielle to accept that I don’t like him anymore.
I placed both hands on the table and emphasized again.
“Sir, I already told you before. I don’t like you anymore.”
Adrielle’s eyes narrowed as if trying to confirm whether I was lying.
“Really.”
“……”
“I swear to God.”
Of course, I don’t believe in God.
Stay calm. Don’t get emotional. Just state the facts clearly.
I think this is the first time in my life I’ve looked at someone with such sincere eyes.
After a while—
Finally, he opened his mouth.
“I see… you are sincere.”
He finally admitted it.
“That’s right.”
A refreshing feeling, as if something stuck in my chest had cleared away, made me smile.
But Adrielle’s expression became strange.
If I said I no longer liked him, why did he look like that instead of being relieved?
“Master! Wit brought tomatoes!”
Just then, Wit returned.
As I watched Adrielle, who looked strangely dazed, I stood up first.
So, according to Adrielle, Oberon is the king of the fairies.
Then that blue diamond necklace must be something created by Oberon, the king of the fairies.
After all, it’s called Oberon’s Necklace.
“Master, am I good? Will you pat my head? Kikik.”
I stroked Wit’s blonde hair while continuing my thoughts.
When Wit and Taro touched the blue diamond necklace, they suffered and revealed their true forms.
The war with demons… and demons pretending to be fairies…
Maybe Oberon used that necklace during the war to detect demons hiding among the fairies?
“Wit, can you help me prepare the cooking?”
“Okay, Master!”
Right. I’ve roughly figured out Oberon and the necklace.
Now the question is why something like this was at the Count of Periel’s estate…
“Master, is it tasty?”
“……”
“Can Wit try some too?”
“……”
“After the meal, let’s plant tomatoes together, Master. Kikik.”
“Wit.”
“Yes, Master!”
“Let’s just eat.”
“Uung…”
Wit shut his mouth.
Only the sound of curtains fluttering in the spring wind remained.
Adrielle had been looking dazed for a while now, and I was busy thinking about the Rosmary family.
Where can I get information?
In novels like this, there is usually an information broker. Should I go find one?
But where would I even find an information broker? How much would it cost?
Everything about this world was difficult for me.
But a few days later—
My worries were interrupted when an unexpected opportunity came.
The trigger was Eko visiting the Red Thread Guild.
“Teacher… I bought ‘Sunset of Lott’ a week ago…”
“That’s the painting by the artist you said you liked, right?”
“Yes… you remembered…”
Eko smiled brightly, looking happy.
I recently learned that Eko had a strong eye for art.
At such a young age, having that kind of talent felt almost like she was born with it.
“Did Lord Berto provide the money?”
Eko nodded slightly.
“My brother said I just have to pay him back later…”
Rich people really are something else.
I clicked my tongue internally, and Eko whispered.
“I’m going to sell all of this later…”
“Pardon? Sell all of it?”
So it wasn’t for collecting?
Eko nodded as if agreeing with me.
“I will follow the teacher’s advice…”
“Um, sorry, but what exactly did I say?”
What did I even tell this kid?
I broke into a cold sweat when Eko suddenly looked determined.
“You said you have to protect what belongs to you…”
No way…
“And that the most important thing for that is money… only money…”
I remembered it.
I had said that without thinking, telling her to remember it when she became independent.
“Good lesson for a child.”
Adrielle’s nagging voice from earlier echoed in my ears.
“Th-then you’re collecting these to make money?”
“Yes, teacher!”
Eko looked at me with sparkling eyes.
No, that’s not what I meant. Not this early…
But Eko kept staring at me innocently, as if nothing was wrong.
“Ha ha…”
No matter what I said now, it wouldn’t help.
While I smiled awkwardly, Eko’s cheeks turned peach-colored.
“So next week I’m going to an auction…”
“An auction? Alone?”
“No… I’m going with Violet unni…”
Violet?
Her sister?
“Your sister?”
“She said you need someone who understands art to go to auctions…”
Did Violet even know about art?
Well, in the novel, she was mostly shown as a cute clueless noble girl who gets adored by her family and the male lead.
“Should I come with you too?”
“You too, teacher?”
Eko’s eyes widened in surprise, then lit up with joy.
But she quickly lowered her gaze as if she shouldn’t be selfish.
“No… you must be busy…”
“I’m not busy. I don’t have many customers these days.”
Honestly, the shop was almost empty.
I might have to have an emergency meeting with my slave—no, Wit.
“Really?”
Eko tried to hide her happiness.
“Of course, I can’t really walk around like this, but I can sit behind you and pretend I’m just another guest.”
I thought she might feel disappointed, but instead she looked excited, as if we were sharing a secret.
“This auction will be interesting for you too, teacher…”
“Something special?”
“Yes… the Periel Count family’s heirloom is going to be auctioned…”
The Periel family’s heirloom?
“I heard the Periel family is in financial trouble…”
“Why?”
“The Periel young lady ran away… and her fiancé demanded massive compensation and repayment of investments…”
Eko looked genuinely sympathetic.
I swallowed hard.
Eko… the runaway noble lady she’s talking about… is me.
And…
This auction is going to be very interesting.
With that thought—
The auction house was located in the center of the capital.
It was already a densely populated area, but now it was even more crowded because of the auction.
“Wow…”
A massive building towered in the distance above the crowd.
A building large enough to hold all these people and still have room left.
The Walls Auction House.
“Ki-kik. Master, you like big buildings?”
I looked down from my daze.
A small servant-sized Wit stood there.
“I’ll make a lot of money and build you something even bigger than that!”
“…Really?”
“Yes! Because Master is my woman! Kikik!”
“……”
That’s… very kind of you.
“Master?”
“…Never mind. Let’s go.”
I walked toward the entrance again.
My mind was a mess.
I wasn’t even sure I could find Eko in all this crowd.
As I was looking around—
“Did you hear? The Periel Count family is bringing something amazing today.”
A voice in the crowd caught my attention.
“The Periel young lord has been bragging about it everywhere… I came just to see what kind of thing it is.”
