#Episode 47
<If that’s the case, I will repay three-tenths of Sir Albert’s gambling debt!>
<Make it four-tenths!>
<Alright. If Sir Albert can put the painting he brought into the auction, I will repay not four, but six-tenths!>
Albert, who had been on a roll after hearing the word ‘auction,’ suddenly hesitated for the first time. Even in his intoxicated mind, a warning bell went off telling him that this wasn’t right.
<An auction is a bit…>
<If not, then three-tenths it is. You’re well aware that everyone in Noctiluca knows how astronomical your gambling debt is!>
The nobleman was right. Even three-tenths of Albert’s gambling debt was an enormous sum, far too great to just be showing a painting.
The more Albert thought about it, the greed in him stirred. An opportunity to add three-tenths to another three-tenths didn’t come easily. Besides, there hadn’t been any talk yet about the actual auction proceeds…
Albert, calculating furiously despite his drunkenness, opened his eyes wide and spoke.
<…I will only put it up for auction, but I will take all the proceeds. Otherwise, I have no interest.>
<Haha, that’s only natural. It’s a promise! A painting from Laurus, never before revealed! How about holding the auction on the eve of the Lantern Festival? We have about half a year left, so there will be enough time to prepare.>
It was settled. As long as he could get Laurus’ painting, nothing else would be an issue.
The nobles, delighted, expanded the situation to ensure Albert’s promise was confirmed.
<Just holding an auction isn’t that exciting… Simply winning Laurus’ painting with money isn’t meaningful. The painting will shine only if one is fortunate enough to obtain it. What about earning the right to participate in the auction through gambling?>
<That sounds interesting! The biggest gamble in history! The biggest auction ever! I’m already excited!>
Everyone laughed and cheered, and it was only then that Albert realized something was amiss.
However, with drinks being poured continuously and everyone praising him, all his uneasiness disappeared.
<Now, Sir Albert! Let’s formalize this promise in a contract.>
<A contract…?>
<If you bring the painting and I, in a drunken state, mistakenly offer only three-tenths, wouldn’t that be unfair to you, Sir Albert?>
<That’s true.>
<That’s what the contract is for. After all, you’re going to keep your promise, right?>
<…Fine! I’ll stake my true name on it! Bring the paper immediately!>
Drunk and overconfident, Albert stamped the contract and laughed heartily among them.
It wasn’t until the next afternoon, after he had sobered up, that all his uneasiness returned. Albert clutched his head, realizing the colossal mistake he had made, but by then, the die had already been cast.
When Albert rushed to the auction organizer, they wouldn’t listen to his pleas.
<Are you mocking me, Sir Albert? Didn’t you promise? We even signed a contract. There were more than just a few witnesses. How can you expect me to call this off? What about my reputation?>
<I’m sorry, but this is really difficult…>
<Hah… There’s no choice, then. As stated in the contract, you must now pay me six-tenths of your debt.>
<What? What are you talking about?>
<Isn’t it written in the contract? If you fail to bring Laurus’ painting and the auction is canceled, you agreed to pay me the promised amount as compensation.>
The auction organizer thrust the contract into Albert’s hands. Albert was dumbfounded. How thoroughly could a drunken man have read the contract?
<Did you deceive me?>
<What are you talking about? Deceive you? Did I swap out the contract or do anything underhanded? Are you saying that you’re now trying to argue that you lost a game of cards due to a mistake?>
<Damn it!>
Albert realized he had fallen into a trap and stomped his foot in frustration.
But there was nothing he could do now that the contract had been signed.
He couldn’t afford to increase his debt any further, and if he broke this contract, he wouldn’t just be the laughingstock of society, but he’d be completely ostracized from the social scene.
<Fine! It’s true that there is an unrevealed painting. I’ll bring it somehow! But in return, you must keep the fact that Laurus’ unrevealed painting is coming to auction a secret. Although my great-uncle isn’t very attuned to rumors, you never know.>
<I’ll do my best to keep it under wraps. But you must bring the painting as soon as possible. Although there’s some time before the Lantern Festival, we need to hold the gambling event to select the auction participants much earlier. We need to confirm that the item truly exists before people will start betting with full confidence.>
<Then, by when should I bring it?>
<Three months. I’ll give you three months.>
The auction organizer smirked with satisfaction.
For the next three months, Albert had to secure Laurus’ painting.
Growing anxious, Albert constantly sought an opportunity to sneak into the annex.
However, after Albert managed to enter the annex, the Count hid the key to the annex securely.
Through persuasion, Albert learned from the maid who cleaned the Count’s room that the key was kept in the nightstand next to the Count’s bed, but that was as far as he got.
Even when Albert tried to sneak into the Count’s room, the Count wouldn’t leave his bed, so Albert never had a chance to get the key.
The only time the Count would leave the bed was to visit the annex, so it was no exaggeration to say that the Count always kept the key with him.
‘I need to lure my great-uncle out of the annex somehow… But how?’
At that moment, Albert remembered the portrait he saw in the annex.
Though he didn’t know the relationship between the Count and the person in the portrait, the fact that the Count cherished it enough to have it painted meant it held great significance for him.
‘Good. If I can find someone who resembles the person in the portrait, my great-uncle will be moved. I’ll introduce a young woman who looks like the one in the portrait as a companion for my great-uncle. Then, once I’ve stolen the painting, I can frame her for it—kill two birds with one stone.’
Had Albert been a bit more rational, he would have realized how close to impossible it was to find someone resembling the woman in the portrait.
But as the days passed and Albert grew increasingly desperate, no other ideas came to mind.
Then, as if guided by the grace of the holy dragon, Vasha appeared in front of Albert, as if by fate.
And just as expected, Vasha quickly charmed Laurus upon their first meeting.
The fact that Laurus had taken Vasha to the annex was proof of that.
‘He took a woman he had just met to a place where no one else is allowed? Ha, and yet he beat me so harshly… Well, whatever. Vasha must have seen what’s in the annex, so it’ll be easier to pin the missing painting on her later.’
Coincidentally, there was a maid named Melina who blushed every time she saw Albert.
Ordinarily, Albert wouldn’t have paid any attention to such a maid, but for this particular plan, she was necessary.
Albert coaxed Melina into spying on Vasha’s every move. Eager to please Albert, Melina proudly assured him to leave it to her.
With everything in place, all Albert had to do was wait for Vasha to take Laurus out of the annex.
Feeling like everything was falling into place, Albert hummed to himself.
***
Albert didn’t have to wait long. The very next evening, Melina came rushing to find him.
“Young master, the guest said she will be walking with the Count after lunch in the garden. She asked for a parasol, gloves, and a veil since the sun is too harsh.”
“Good. Fetch them for her immediately!”
Since only Laurus and Albert lived in Renfield Manor, they didn’t have any parasols or gloves suitable for a lady.
While Melina left to fulfill Vasha’s request, Albert paced anxiously in his room.
After some time, Melina returned, and soon after, word came that Vasha and Laurus had gone for a walk.
Upon hearing this, Albert hurriedly snuck into the Count’s room.
