Chapter 14 (1/2)
News about Deculein’s actions swiftly spread throughout Hadekain, the capital of Yukline, by the second.
“What? Now? In the auction house?”
Yeriel’s eyebrows furrowed.
Deculein had already flushed away ten million Elnes from the estate’s finances last year, yet he had already entered another bidding. She couldn’t believe it. He didn’t seem satisfied by the havoc he already caused.
“Yes. I believe the auction is currently going on as we speak.”
“I see.”
Hearing the butler’s dispassionate reply made her feel nauseous. Since she was acting as the actual lord of the Hadekain Castle, she tried her best to minimize their expenses. Hence why she found such actions incomprehensible.
“…Alright. You may go.”
“As you wish.”
Slam─!
“Fuck!”
As soon as the butler left the room, Yeriel slammed her hand down on her desk. She then forcefully opened up a whiskey bottle and poured some into a glass as anger boiled up inside her.
“Is that the reason why he asked for funds to purchase the mine? Has he gone insane?”
Gulp.
She emptied the glass all at once. The alcohol burned her body up, but it made her head, which was ready to burst, cool down.
“Argggh─! Gaaaargghh!”
Yeriel screamed out of frustration.
“For Fuck’s sake! Seriously!”
Aside from etiquette, she was confident that she was far more skilled than Deculein in all areas, including magical affinity, administrative talents, cultural and industrial understanding, and even morals. Yet Deculein was the one made lord of Yukline.
And it might stay that way for as long as they drew breath.
“Why…”
Her parents believed in Deculein’s talents to such an extent that they decided on their successor too soon. He was a gifted child; that much was undeniable. After all, he managed to understand collegiate-level magic at the age of ten.
However, that was his limit.
It could be likened to his height, which had already gone beyond 160cm when he was just ten years old. That made everyone believe he’d become a tall and well-built man. To their surprise, however, his body stopped growing at that age. Simply put, he wasn’t gifted. He just developed prematurely.
It was for that reason that her parents once told her that they regretted it. They regretted their decision.
“You should have become the lord instead of Deculein.”
…That line was beyond anything she imagined.
“Fuck! Regrets always come at the end.”
It was too late. There was no room for it to be undone now. Her parents had already passed away, leaving him on the throne of Yukline indefinitely. Yeriel realized such a reality was unfair, but there was nothing she could do.
Deculein resembled her father, and she resembled her mother, who became his father’s wife only after the first one, Deculein’s mother, passed away. That made it crystal clear that Deculein would become the lord.
The situation was abhorrent, but there was nothing wrong with it. She understood that that was bound to happen since it was the natural course of events. However, she still found it too cruel of a fate to suffer.
She could have done it better, way better than that asshole whose expertise revolved only around his extravagance.
“Ah…I miss them…”
She chugged the entire bottle in a matter of a few short moments. It didn’t take long for its effects to kick in and for her to become drunk.
Yeriel laid her head on the table as she mumbled emptily.
“Why did they have to pass away so early…”
It had been seven years since their passing. Since then, there had been several moments when she wanted to feel their embrace even just once more. No, she desired it as frequently as her weeping: almost every single day. However, she was twenty-six now and the deputy of the lord. She had been carrying out Deculein’s duty as a member of the Yukline family since her melancholic younger days.
“…That bastard is a real pain in the ass.”
Bang—! Bang—! Bang—!
Instead of crying her heart out, she hit her desk over and over until she had enough. She then let out a determined sigh.
“Well, he wouldn’t spend that much…”
She hated excessive expenditure as it went against her dignity. Her emotions were telling her to abandon that dignity and etiquette, however.
“Fuuuckin’ bastard….”
There was a time when she asked for his affection. She was even proud of his existence then. But Deculein was always cold and oppressive towards her, and he insisted on making her practice etiquettes that didn’t suit her. Of course, Yeriel tried her best at that time. Although she wasn’t as well-spoken as him, she still wanted to win his affection.
And so, she wore dresses that she found inconvenient, held onto the book of etiquettes in her tiny hands, and always followed after him. He ignored her, pushed her away, and yelled at her, yet she thought his actions were reasonable. She was the child of their father’s second wife, after all. She was just a worthless being who grew up with so much savagery that she could no longer maintain her dignity or be taught anything.
However, time proved that he was the one far beyond acting as a noble.
“…S-Son of a bitch.”
Yeriel became strong as she gave up on winning him over. She even reached the point where she could now swear right to his face. Although some couldn’t tell whether she had actually grown stronger or was broken down, there was no doubt that she could manage Yukline all by herself.
She was satisfied with it, and for seven years, Yukline developed as her land. Now, all the vassals of their land acknowledged her as its lord.
“Ha…”
She took comfort in that fact and, in the corners of her heart, she knew she was proud of it.
* * *
The auction house of Routen Schatzinsel was known for its elegant aesthetics. The edges of its seats were made with the red velvet and golden craft admired by the nobles, and the auction platform shined bright as if it was made out of pure gold. It was the perfect embodiment of the Red and Golden Festival.
Surrounded by delicate fragrances and aristocratic laughs, I looked at the auction catalog that was hung at the armrest of the VVIP seat.
“Long.”
Ceramic pots, necklaces, scissors, rings, relics, findings from the historic sites, and the Snowflake Obsidian. Many artifacts were useful to wizards aside from the last item I noticed. Checking its price, I found out that it ranged from 10 to 30 million. A reasonable price to pay.
─I’d like to say a few words to the fine ladies and gentlemen of the Routen Schatzinsel’s Auction House…
Soon enough, the voice of the auctioneer resounded throughout the hall as the lights went off. The chattering started to cease.
─The gelid icebergs that seemed to have been there forever finally melted, followed by the rise of green seeds across the lands.
He went with his opening as items were carried to the top of the platform.
─Yes. Spring has begun, and this item here shall be the first to be presented in our spring auction!
It looked like a plain ceramic pot at first glance.
─Take a closer look at its fine curves. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the ‘Flower Vase of the East,’ crafted by the Far East Master Craftsman of the Aegean Sea. It comes with a document from the master craftsmen of the Ceramic Pot Association certifying that it is of the finest quality. The starting bid for it is 500,000 Elnes, with 50,000 increments.”
At first, I didn’t have any interest. However, my intrigue was piqued the longer I stared at it.
“That’s…”
The ceramic pot was emitting light. There was no need to doubt it. The hunch from the [Man of Great Wealth] was always correct.
─Number 37 with 550,000 Elnes! Ah, Number 693. 600,000 Elnes!
The first auction went on fiercely, but I only focused on that light. Its brilliance grew denser as I took a closer look.
─Number 37 with 650,000 Elnes! Ah, now our distinguished guest, Number 993!
Number 37 650,000, Number 993 700,000, Number 1038 750,000…the price stopped at 1.3 million Elnes.
─Now, Number 1413 with 1.3 million Elnes, are there any more bidders? Then I’ll say the price three times. 1.3 million Elnes. 1.3 million Elnes? 1.3 million-
Its price was 1.3 million Elnes, and the balance of my account was 200 million Elnes. There was no reason to think further.