Chapter 111
Silence descended.
His deep violet eyes radiate an aura of danger, as if they could mesmerize anyone at any moment.
The only thing more captivating than his godlike perfection was the expression on his face and the look in his eyes that made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
“Ha.”
Emperor Edward suddenly realized that there was no human being more difficult to deal with than this man.
“Valar.”
“Yes, Ed.”
“I like you.”
“I don’t dislike you either, Your Majesty.”
Their gazes tangled in the air. Intricate calculations, carefully concealed, went back and forth. Valar laughed.
“So enjoy it while it lasts, Your Majesty.”
“…”
“I don’t want to be face-to-face with another cub.”
“I’ve never had a cub as creative with longevity as you.”
“I mean it, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Edward sighed. His head throbbed.
“Valar, this city alone has five million people, and the entire country has more than that, obviously, so cut the crap, please.”
“Ed.”
“Why.”
“It is your duty to protect them.”
Valar smiled good-naturedly.
“Don’t put off your duty to me.”
“…”
“My duty is different, and you know it.”
Emperor Edward’s eyes narrowed.
If this was going to be the case, the Emperor thought, it was best if this bastard stayed in his northern castle, even if he couldn’t use him.
“Do you really want to die?”
“If dying would solve anything, I’d be dead already.”
Their gazes clashed in the air. Emperor Edward was the first to raise his hand in response to this unanswered question.
“Ha. Enough. Just don’t let me strike you down with my hand.”
Valar chuckled lowly at the warning, which sounded like a plea.
“Ed.”
“Why.”
“You’re too arrogant.”
“You’re too selfish.”
Emperor Edward glared at Valar in displeasure. The smirk on his face was irritating.
Since he couldn’t understand him, he decided to satisfy his curiosity.
“So what was that about your wife before? Are you married, or did you have a love affair in a northern castle?”
Valar suddenly burst out laughing at the sudden change of subject.
He smiled, his face full of life and a pleasant laugh, and answered obediently.
“I came back and found a wife that wasn’t there.”
“…?”
Emperor Edward was even more confused.
***
The highlight of the festivities.
The auction house, led by the Sperom twins, was exciting to watch.
The most sought-after items were dragon byproducts, which were coveted by everyone from our own nobility to those of other nations, wizards and merchants alike.
“It’s all about dragons.”
“It’s an ultra-rare item that comes out once in a thousand years.”
She reflected on Noel’s words.
She still has a stack of dragon bones in the corner of her room…
“Arel, do you want to buy anything?”
“I do have something I want to buy.”
Health items were what she was interested in.
“Tell me what you want. I’ll get it for you!”
“Can I buy it? Isn’t there an age limit to enter the auction house?”
“You can use a proxy, right?”
“…!”
Wow, genius?
“Well, I’ll take this one and this one and…!”
Ciel scanned through the catalog in a flash and gave her a slightly annoyed look as she rattled off the list.
“Are you going to start a business, Arel?”
“Haha.”
She’ll buy them while she can.
It seemed like it would be a good time to have a good time. Buying low is an investment truism.
“You guys should also buy a lot while it’s cheap. You’ll be praising this body later.”
“Hmmm. Really?”
The twins looked at some of the items she pointed out, and she wondered if they were being cold.
While the three of them put their heads together and talked about money, Aaron and Pession watched us curiously, only interested in the weapons.
“Sion, aren’t you having fun?”
“No, I’m having fun.”
“You don’t look like you’re having fun.”
“I’m having fun watching Arel.”
“…”
Well, he said so himself.
“And Aaron?”
“…”
‘Okay, you’re all for peace.’
She could now decipher some of Aaron’s eye language.
“Huh? What’s that?”
“Raffle?”
The auction house was sprawled out on one side of the room.
“Relic items without certificates or appraisals, sold as souvenirs.”
“Usually useless or cursed items, but I buy them for fun, because sometimes there’s a good one in the mix.”
“Want to try one?”
They huddled together and rummaged through the jumble of items. The twins were right, most of the items seemed useless.
But…
‘Why is this here?’
“Arel?”
The twins questioned the item they had picked up as if by fate.
“Why would you pick up such a useless item?” They looked at each other.
Doesn’t Golden Eye know the value of this item?
“The Devil Sleeps Here”
A sentence scrawled in unrecognizable characters on the first page of a torn diary.
Her eyes sparkled.
“I want this.”
“How can you write in a diary when it’s all torn up?”
She picked up the shattered dagger and narrowed her eyes at Pession suspiciously.
“It’s okay, I don’t live to journal.”
It wasn’t even meant for that, and it felt strange to pay for it so quickly.
‘I feel like I wrote two adventure chapters in a novel just to get this.’
She can’t believe how easy it was to get her hands on Laplace’s diary.
Is it because of the time zone difference?
‘Of course, you’ll need another item to pair with it to use it properly…’
Anyway, she was overjoyed with her unexpected find, and everyone looked at her in disbelief.
“Is it that good?”
“Yeah.”
Ciel snuggled up next to her.
“Then do me a favor.”
“What kind of favor?”
She narrowed her eyes, and Ciel opened his mouth, watching her carefully.
“Arel isn’t going to perform anymore, is she?”
“Isn’t she?”
“Then give me the sheet music.”
Does this kid have a conscience?
“No sheet music.”
Ciel stuck out his lips like a duck.
“Arel, do you hate me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s too much.”
Ciel began to plead.
“It’s a sin to keep such great music to yourself and not share it with the world. If you’re not going to perform it, you should at least give us the score so we can all enjoy such genius and beauty!”
Ciel’s enthusiasm for the music was a little overwhelming.
Even Noel heard the backlash.
‘I didn’t even make that.’
She can’t help it.
“Yay!”
“Then you promise me.”
She made three agreements with the twins.
First, not to let them know she told them. Second, to release it with proper attribution to the composer. Third, that all royalties go to a fund for the advancement of music history.
“Bach? Where does this guy live?”
In Germany.
“Can you bring him back?”
He’s already dead.
“He’s the father of music.”
“Huh? Isn’t the father of music Duke Glem?”
No, no. In her worldview, Bach is the father and Handel is the mother.
There was some minor worldview friction along the way, but somehow it worked out. Thank goodness she had the sheet music she’d written down to keep her occupied.
“I wish I could have seen the evening auction.”
“Age restrictions, I guess.”
The twins regretted it.
“Maybe later, when we’re older.”
Aaron and Arellin nodded at Pession’s suggestion.
They were on their way out the door after a successful outing to the auction house.
Excitement.
She suddenly felt her heart racing and stopped in her tracks.
“But why is there an age limit to enter the auction house?”
“Yeah, why is it there?”
The children’s voices were distant. Her vision blurred and she lost sight of them in the crowd.
Her heart pounded.
The pain in his heart intensified.
‘Help, I need to call for help…’
Where are the escorts?
Someone, help her.
The overwhelming pain disoriented her.
“… Ugh.”
Her knees buckle at the same time as her heart squeezes sharply.
“Careful.”
A large, white hand grabs her waist.
After nearly hitting her head on the floor, she looked up with relief.
“Thank you?”
Her eyes widened as she reflexively bowed.
Hmph.
Why is there a wizard here?
