novelburst
Chapter 55
Chapter 55
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 55
Look at that.
For a mere maid, he seems unusually afraid of her.
He carefully wrapped the box and let out a sigh.
"This auction is bound to stir up quite a commotion. Would it be alright if I let a few rumors slip about this item?"
"To attract more buyers?"
"Yes. If those who want it are well-prepared and gather in advance, it will benefit both your side and ours."
"Go ahead."
As long as they didn't know we had it, it didn't matter if the item itself was known.
"And I was thinking of putting these up for auction as well."
The items I took out didn’t have any particularly grand backstory.
"Oh?!"
But the old gentleman’s face lit up in surprise.
"My word… A gemstone of this size…."
A sly grin spread across his lips.
"It seems you've brought me a stroke of great fortune, young master. Thanks to you, I'll be making quite the profit."
"If you understand that, then handle it well."
"I will do my utmost to ensure you have no regrets."
This was the continent’s top auction house—one that only those with fame and connections could even dream of entering.
However, no auction house would turn away someone bringing in top-tier goods.
After consigning the precious metals Luna had given us, along with the Queen’s Twilight,
I finalized the contract and left the premises.
The auction would take place in about one to two weeks.
The timing was ideal, as the Mielephon family was about to hold a major event, which meant a large gathering of nobles.
They were determined not to miss this opportunity.
"The value of the items is even greater than I expected, but I doubt there will be any major issues."
"If someone tries to run off with them, we’ll just catch them."
They didn’t know, but I had embedded a bit of magic into the items.
The enchantment would be released naturally once the auction ended.
However, if someone tried to steal or switch them, things would get very interesting for them.
* * *
The next few days were quiet.
Since I wasn’t actually engaged, the Mielephon family had no particular demands of me.
This meant I spent my time at the nearly deserted annex, circulating my aura to strengthen my body, playing chess with Luna, or writing letters to Melissa.
Of course, I also took the opportunity to explore Mielephon’s territory.
In that time, I hadn't seen the Elder since the first day, as he was busy with external affairs.
Likewise, I hadn't met the head of the Mielephon family, as they hadn’t sought me out.
Instead, I heard through Misha that Black Friday's associates were spreading rumors about the Queen’s Twilight.
At first, people had been skeptical, but given Black Friday's prestigious reputation, interest in the item had skyrocketed.
"As a result, far more people are gathering than we originally expected. Nobles and wealthy figures from not only the Empire but also foreign nations are flocking in, to the point where the guards at the entrance are struggling to keep things under control."
Misha, the head maid, had been attending to me throughout my stay.
Since she was a familiar presence, I had no complaints.
Despite her strict demeanor, she was a surprisingly decent person, and over the past few days, both Luna and I had grown quite comfortable around her.
"One of Black Friday's representatives visited today. They’ve verified the authenticity of the items, and they've decided to make them the main attractions of the auction."
"That’s good news."
As I spoke, I flicked Luna’s hand away from subtly trying to reposition a piece and sealed her fate with a checkmate.
"Pathetic."
"One more round."
"I don’t play with weaklings."
Luna, annoyed by my taunting, started kicking my leg, but her strength was lacking.
"Young Master."
As we bickered, Misha called me again.
"Is there something you need to say?"
"There will be a party at Mielephon tonight."
At her signal, a group of maids entered the room carrying boxes.
"I already said I wouldn’t attend."
Wasn’t avoiding attention the whole reason I was staying in this annex?
In response to my confusion, she replied calmly.
"It is the family head’s order. In exchange for Black Friday's assistance, they have requested that you attend."
"What do they mean by that?"
"They believe that, given the sheer number of attendees, it won’t be an issue."
She pulled a small letter from her pocket and handed it to me.
It was a message from Catsey Mielephon, the head of the family.
Skimming through it, I gathered that our presence in the annex had been discovered faster than expected.
She wanted me to attend the party and play the role of a noble heir who was merely visiting, rather than someone suspiciously hiding away.
Hadn't I just attended a royal banquet in the Bata Kingdom?
And now, another gathering?
"Hmm… Completely avoiding notice isn’t easy."
"I apologize for the inconvenience."
"You don’t need to apologize, Misha."
What choice did I have?
When the homeowner calls, you answer.
"What’s it about?"
Luna asked.
"The master of the house wants me there."
"Didn’t we agree staying out of sight was best?"
She had a point—there was little benefit in drawing attention.
However, since I had already handed over the items, the risk was significantly lower.
"As long as I don’t cause a scene, it won’t be a problem."
A grand ballroom filled with countless guests.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Instead of being a mysterious boy secretly residing in Mielephon’s annex, I would simply be seen as a young noble attending out of personal connections.
Depending on how one looked at it, this was a manageable situation.
When I agreed to attend, Misha’s expression eased slightly.
It was the first time I had seen even the slightest change in her usually emotionless face.
"Then I will help you prepare."
"Leon, am I going too?"
"Where do you think you're going? You're staying here."
"Why?"
Luna pouted and looked up at me in protest.
“Misha, head maid.”
“Yes, young master.”
“If she appears there in a dress, will she attract attention or not?”
“This is not a situation I should judge carelessly, but…”
After a brief silence, she quietly answered.
“Logically speaking, she will attract every gaze possible. But disguising her is not an option, is it?”
Did you hear that?
I tilted my head toward Luna, and she pouted slightly, expressing her dissatisfaction.
“Very dissatisfied, extremely dissatisfied.”
Yet, she didn’t push the issue further.
“When this is over and we return to Cascadia, I’ll let you try a new strawberry ice cream prototype.”
“That is satisfying.”
“Lady Luna, I will inform the maids in the banquet hall to bring some delicious desserts here for you.”
“That is also satisfying. Misha, the head maid, is very flexible.”
Seeing her childlike delight, Misha’s stern expression softened for just a brief moment.
So, even she shows her emotions after spending so much time with us.
* * *
The formal suit that Misha had prepared was elegant yet subtle, exuding nobility without drawing excessive attention.
Something that wouldn’t invite ridicule yet wouldn’t stand out too much.
A truly difficult balance to strike, but Misha, the head maid, had accomplished it.
“Oh, it looks even better thanks to your handsome appearance.”
Luna Basilin Raphaelia—this peculiar fallen angel—had an unusual tendency to lavish praise on my looks.
Even when we first met, hadn’t she said I was handsome or something?
Does that mean I am objectively good-looking?
I personally don’t think so.
It’s said that those who wield aura tend to develop more ideal physiques than ordinary people, making them naturally attractive.
However, unless one undergoes a complete transformation, their features don’t drastically change.
“You always make people flustered with comments like that.”
Feeling slightly awkward in the high-quality formal suit, I asked her, and she simply closed her eyes and gazed up at me.
Then, she slowly adjusted the tie around my neck before looking up again.
“What does it matter what others think? Personal preferences differ.”
She had a knack for rendering me speechless.
“Just in case, don’t cause any trouble.”
“You should be saying that to yourself, not me.”
As long as no one storms in here causing chaos, the annex should be relatively safe.
“Let’s go, young master. I will attend to you throughout the banquet.”
“Is that allowed?”
“Yes. Many nobles bring along attendants, maids, or knights with them.”
With Misha’s words confirming the plan, I began walking.
Might as well gather some snacks for Luna while getting a feel for the auction’s atmosphere.
Black Friday is famous for its anonymity, but that doesn’t mean the items being auctioned or the auction itself are completely shrouded in secrecy.
The banquet hall was even grander than I had anticipated.
The hall I was standing in was built solely for banquets, and in terms of sheer size, it felt even larger than the royal banquet hall in Bata.
That’s just considering the indoor space—if you count the outdoor areas as well, the scale is even more impressive.
No wonder people say the satellite city of Mielephon has outgrown the capital of a small kingdom.
Of course, not all noble families in the Empire are like this.
Only the distinguished sword-wielding families or the 13 great houses of the continent could manage such extravagance.
Either way, the banquet hall was vast, and the crowd was large.
At a glance, there were many who clearly belonged to high-ranking nobility, judging by their lavish attire and accessories—on a completely different level from the banquets I had attended in the Bata Kingdom.
Many among them were foreign dignitaries.
Perhaps there were people from Bata here as well, but I hadn’t spotted any so far.
The reason for Mielephon’s banquet was straightforward.
It was the birthday banquet of Catsey Mielephon, the head of the Mielephon family.
Of course, the scale was particularly grand this time because several other noble families’ events coincided with it, but all I could think about was—where does all this wealth even come from?
If Melissa were here, she would probably be in awe at the scale of wealth displayed by aristocratic families.
Though, she wouldn’t be reckless enough to say it out loud in front of the Mielephon people.
“Hmm… this looks good.”
I wandered around the outskirts of the banquet, sampling and gathering treats that looked particularly delicious.
As always, the Librarian informed me that they would analyze and recreate the recipes later.
— Grrrrr…
At that moment, a small wolf’s head slowly emerged from the shadows at my feet, its mouth opening wide.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]