TRST 03

Chapter 3

Thanks to the steady maintenance even while I was living at the ducal residence, the mansion was so clean that someone could move in and live there immediately. Holding onto a sense of nostalgia, I stepped inside.

“Welcome, my lady.”

The servants and maids I had personally interviewed and hired in advance while I was still at the Graham Ducal House greeted me.

“Mm, it’s good to see you. I’ll be counting on you.”

After a brief greeting, I headed straight to my room.

“Go to the Replen Auction House and find out when the next auction is scheduled. Also check what items will be up for auction.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“If a Tiaría flower appears among the auction items, make sure to inform me immediately. And if any mana stones are listed, I’ll be participating no matter what, so check that as well.”

“Yes.”

The servant bowed deeply and left to carry out my instructions.

The very first thing I needed to do after leaving the Graham Ducal House was to obtain a Tiaría flower.

The illness I suffered from—Trintz disease—was one where the mana within my body gradually lost its activity, causing my body to slowly stiffen.

I had only discovered the illness about six months ago. It had been a perfectly ordinary morning, but my body strangely wouldn’t respond, and I fell down the stairs. That had been the first symptom.

The key to curing this disease was the Tiaría flower. It only bloomed on nights when moonlight poured down, and consuming it activated the mana within the body.

Among hunters, it was said to be found only on rare occasions, and it served as the main ingredient in the cure for Trintz disease.

However, patients with Trintz disease weren’t the only ones who sought the flower.

For those who used magic and swordsmanship, it was extremely beneficial for enhancing their abilities, so many people were desperate to obtain it.

In the six months since I fell ill, the Tiaría flower had appeared at auction only once. But the competition had been so fierce—and the price so high—that I had no choice but to give up.

Even as the Duchess of Graham, I had been forced to abandon the auction because the allowance I received for maintaining my status was insufficient to cover the cost.

With lingering regret, I had asked Ains to increase my allowance, but he refused without even listening to me.

That became the biggest reason I decided to divorce him.

But now, even if the Tiaría flower were to appear at auction again, I had received more than enough alimony to afford it.

…The real question was whether the flower would appear again at all.

Still, the situation wasn’t entirely hopeless. Even if I couldn’t obtain the Tiaría flower for a long time, I could use mana stones as a temporary measure.

Fortunately, I had already secured enough mana stones to last me for a while.

* * *

“Welcome, Baroness Marbes. Welcome to the Replen Auction House.”

After checking my identification plaque and auction invitation, the staff member at the entrance greeted me politely.

“Would you like a mask?”

“No, I’ll be fine without one.”

“Then please, this way.”

I followed his guidance inside.

The Replen Auction House was one of the top three auction houses in the imperial capital, Grante.

I had visited a few times before to purchase mana stones. Today, too, I had come for that very reason.

This time, the auction house had received one top-grade mana stone and twelve high-grade ones.

Low- and mid-grade mana stones could usually be purchased from mage towers without going through auctions. But high-grade and above were rare—only a handful of people could produce them, and even fewer circulated outside—so auctions were inevitable.

“Your seat is number 137. Would you like wine or tea?”

“Bring me Chef tea. And for sweets, madeleines.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare them right away.”

The auction seating was arranged as private booths with doors, separated by partitions on both sides.

Even so, since the layout was circular around the stage, it wasn’t completely hidden from view.

I sat down first. As expected of seating prepared for distinguished guests, the chair was soft and comfortable.

On the table were a bell for participating in the auction, a number pad for entering bids, and a pamphlet listing the auction items.

Just as I reached out to pick up the pamphlet, there was a knock.

“Baroness Marbes, your tea has arrived.”

“Come in.”

The staff member entered, placed the refreshments on the table, and left.

I lifted the teacup and took in its aroma. The slightly bitter scent of Chef tea had a refreshing effect on the mind.

After taking a sip, I set the cup down and looked around.

On the stage, a singer was performing to ease the audience’s boredom while they waited, and to one side, a famous orchestra was playing.

I smiled faintly at the enchanting, luxurious sound before shifting my gaze. As expected of a renowned auction house, the seats were filled with people.

Among them were those who wore elaborate masks to conceal their identities.

I had thought there was no need for one—but it seemed I had been mistaken. Even if they tried to hide it, I could feel the glances directed at me.

I knew why they were looking.

Just a week ago, after divorcing Ains Graham, rumors had begun to circulate about me.

A woman who abandoned wealth, power, and honor—all in her grasp.

Who was at fault for the divorce? The duke, or Baroness Marbes?

What better prey could there be for idle gossipers?

But no one would dare mock Ains Graham—the young and capable duke, owner of one of the empire’s two greatest merchant guilds.

So instead, they chose to mock Cecilia Marbes—me—who, aside from youth, had nothing. It was the safer choice.

That meant I didn’t even need to hear the rumors spreading through auction houses or salons to guess their content.

Fortunately, everyone was in private booths, so they couldn’t openly gossip about me.

Still… had I known people would stare this blatantly, I might have asked for a mask.

Well, regretting it now was pointless.

Besides, divorcing Ains wasn’t a crime. I had no reason to hide.

It would be a lie to say the gossip didn’t bother me—but I refused to be shaken by it.

Even under the piercing gazes directed at me, I calmly leaned back against the sofa and took another sip of tea.

[“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Welcome to the Replen Auction House. I am Chapman Ganik, your auctioneer for today.”]

Thankfully, the auction began before long. Naturally, people’s attention shifted toward the stage.

Though some still stole glances at me, I had no reason to concern myself with them.

As the auctioneer went over the preliminary guidelines, I half-listened and picked up the pamphlet.

The items this time were no different than usual: a sapphire accessory set crafted by a famous jeweler, elegant porcelain imported from the East, and similar goods.

Even though I already knew the Tiaría flower wasn’t included this time, I couldn’t hide my disappointment.

When would it appear again?

It was possible that whoever found the flower might sell it directly to a mage tower before it ever reached an auction.

I had previously asked someone at the Graham merchant guild to keep an eye out—but now that I was divorced, it was unreasonable to expect them to secure one for me.

And it wasn’t as if I could climb mountains myself to search for it.

The Tiaría flower bloomed rarely, in dangerous cliffs deep in rugged mountains—and only under moonlight at midnight. There was no way I could find it on my own.

Which meant all I could do was wait for it to appear at auction.

[“Then we shall begin! The first item is Dior Truger’s painting, Rainy Night Street.”]

Lost in thought, the auction had already begun.

Others actively bid on items of interest, but I simply waited for the mana stones.

Finally, after eight items had passed, the moment I had been waiting for arrived.

[“The ninth item is a high-grade mana stone set. Twelve stones in total. Bidding will start at 10 gold.”]

A low starting price—but I knew it would rise quickly.

On average, a single high-grade mana stone cost around 20 gold. With twelve stones, 240 gold was a reasonable price.

It would likely settle somewhere between 200 and 300 gold. I decided to wait until it reached around 200 before joining in.

[“Bid from seat 83: 229 gold. Any further bids?”]

Before long, the price shot up to 229 gold.

I entered 240 gold on the number pad.

[“Seat 137 bids 240 gold. Any further bids?”]

Right at market price. Even if I paid a little more, it wouldn’t be a loss.

It wouldn’t be strange for someone else to continue bidding.

[“Another bid—seat 204, 260 gold. Any further bids?”]

From here on, only those truly intent on buying would continue.

I placed my hand on the pad and entered 280 gold.

The moment the auctioneer called it out, seat 204 raised the bid again—another 20 gold.

Back and forth it went several times, until the price had climbed past 380 gold.

[“Any bids above 380 gold? If there are none within five seconds, the item goes to seat 204. Five.”]

380 gold—far above average.

[“Four.”]

At that price, it would be a loss.

Unless someone was desperate like me, it would be better to wait for another opportunity.

[“Three.”]

I rested my hand on the pad, ready to input a new bid before time ran out, and glanced toward seat 204—curious who wanted the mana stones this badly.

[“Two.”]

And I froze in place.

[“One.”]

Sitting in seat 204… was Ains.