Chapter 36

My accusation was thoroughly ignored. The guards rushed down and restrained me. The auction guests watched with curious eyes as I was dragged backstage with my arms pinned.

 

“It hurts!”

 

How hard were they grabbing me? It felt like my arm bones were twisting. I struggled to slip from their grip, but the guards were twice my size—far too strong for me.

 

“I said it hurts! Let go and talk this out!”

 

Gortu narrowed his eyes and walked toward me.

 

“Kneel her.”

 

At his command, a guard kicked the backs of my knees. Bound as I was, I collapsed. My knees slammed into the cold floor, and I glared up.

 

“What the hell are you doing!”

 

Gortu frowned as he looked down at me. Then he reached out and pulled back the hood of my cloak.

 

“What brings the vice merchant of the Baimery Trading Company to our consortium’s auction?”

 

I looked away, flustered. I hadn’t expected to be recognized.

 

“A young noble girl revived a dying trading company—how could I not be curious?”

 

He crouched to meet my eyes.

 

“You. What trick are you playing?”

 

“The trick isn’t mine—it’s yours. I’m just revealing it!”

 

I forced myself to stay bold. Gortu smirked.

 

“You make bullshit sound almost convincing.”

 

“I’m only telling the truth!”

 

“You’re directing your jealousy at the wrong target, vice merchant. And a girl who sells mere textiles dares tarnish our consortium’s honor?”

 

I had nothing to say about sneaking in here, but hearing him insult my efforts and Baimery’s goods was unbearable.

 

“Who are you to call our goods ‘mere’ anything!”

 

“You’re a funny little girl. I’ll address your offense against our consortium. Take her away.”

 

“I want to speak with the person who bought the mana stone, not you!”

 

“Shut your mouth.”

 

The guards began to drag me away with brute force.

 

Footsteps approached.

 

“Stop.”

 

I lifted my head. It was the agent who had bought the highest-grade mana stone earlier. He looked familiar now that he was closer.

 

“My apologies, sir,” Gortu said, bowing deeply. “We’ll finish momentarily.”

 

“Release her.”

 

“You don’t mean you believe her, do you?”

 

“I said release her.”

 

Gortu flinched at the cold eyes behind the mask, then signaled the guards. They freed my arms.

 

“Ow…”

 

I rubbed them and looked at the masked man. He removed the mask—and my eyes widened.

 

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Lady Lilithia.”

 

It was the Crown Prince. I had expected someone from the palace, yes, but not him.

 

‘So the Crown Prince was in charge of the Hunt Festival preparations?’

 

The novel never mentioned such trivial details. But once I knew it was him, I felt relieved.

 

‘If it’s the Crown Prince, he’ll listen.’

 

He was kind. He would hear me out. I hurried toward him.

 

“The highest-grade mana stone you bought—it’s actually synthetic!”

 

“…”

 

“If you don’t believe me, try pouring mana into it right now! It will definitely—”

 

“Lady Lilithia, I’m glad to see you, but spreading rumors out of jealousy is unwise.”

 

“It’s not jealousy!”

 

He shook his head slightly, looking at me.

 

“Please, tell me the truth.”

 

“I am telling the truth! If that mana stone is used in the Hunt Festival, something disastrous will happen. I can guarantee it!”

 

He didn’t believe me. My stomach tightened.

 

“I know the Hunt Festival needs mana stones. I’ll get you a stone better than the one you bought. So—”

 

“What you’re doing isn’t right.”

 

He closed his eyes briefly and gripped my shoulders.

 

“I know you’re earnest about your work. I believed you must have had a reason to enter an auction you normally wouldn’t.”

 

“I do have a reason—”

 

“Lady Lilithia Baimery, you continue to disappoint me.”

 

His gaze turned sharp and cold.

 

“I hope we never meet again.”

 

His secretary handed Gortu a pouch.

 

“1,000 gold.”

 

Gortu accepted it with a smirk.

 

“As if His Highness would believe such nonsense, Vice Merchant.”

 

He pushed the box toward the secretary—

 

“The Crown Prince seems rather heartless.”

 

The low voice froze him.

 

 

***

 

 

“Wouldn’t you agree?”

 

A tall man in a black cloak wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I flinched at the sudden closeness—until I sensed the familiar scent of cool forest.

 

“Freyer…?”

 

I blinked rapidly. Shocked shouts erupted from Gortu and the secretary.

 

“Who are you!”

 

“To think I’d meet my dear brother here. How fortunate.”

 

Freyer lifted his cloak. Brilliant silver hair and sharp eyes appeared. The Crown Prince’s expression stiffened.

 

“What are you doing here.”

 

“A secret auction today. Naturally, I came to purchase an item.”

 

He showed a jewel box containing an amethyst necklace.

 

‘No way…’

 

The wealthy noble who bought it—it was Freyer.

 

“It’s a fine auction. I came to collect my purchase, and imagine my surprise to find Lady Lilithia and my brother here. Truly delightful.”

 

“If you’re done, leave. Now, Second Prince.”

 

“I’m afraid not, since the lady seems to need assistance.”

 

Freyer smiled lazily.

 

“You’re buying that highest-grade mana stone for the Hunt Festival in two weeks, aren’t you?”

 

“…That’s none of your concern.”

 

“It’s strange you won’t even hear her out when she’s trying so hard to warn you.”

 

“…”

 

Freyer opened Gortu’s box and picked up the mana stone.

 

“A real mana stone shouldn’t react to infused mana. But if it’s fake like the lady says, it’ll shatter.”

 

“Put it down.”

 

“If you’re too afraid to test it, I’ll do it for you.”

 

The stone glowed an eerie blue.

 

Woooong—

 

It started to vibrate.

 

“W–wait—”

 

I did tell him to test it, but not here. Freyer tightened his arm around me and gave me a slight nod—don’t worry.

 

“We need to evacuate the building now! Immediately!” Gortu cried, panicked. As he tried to flee, the stone in Freyer’s hand burst with blinding light.

 

“That stone detonates when exposed to high mana!”

 

“It’s—no!”

 

The stone began to fracture. I grabbed Freyer’s collar and squeezed my eyes shut.

 

KWA-BOOM—

 

The deafening blast rang out—but there was no pain. I peeked and stared.

 

A spherical blue barrier floated in the air around the stone.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Gortu had fallen while trying to escape, sprawled on the floor, staring wide-eyed.

 

“T-that’s impossible. It should explode at the slightest mana—”

 

“So you did know.”

 

Freyer’s grin widened.

 

The barrier faded like mist. The now colorless stone dropped neatly into his hand.

 

“If this had been used in the Hunt Festival, it would’ve been disastrous. Don’t you agree, brother?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Arrest the consortium leader Gortu.”

 

At Freyer’s words, Derek grabbed Gortu.

 

“I—I’m innocent!”

 

“You didn’t know? When it came from your own mine?”

 

“Th-that’s—”

 

“Take him.”

 

Derek dragged him out. The Crown Prince’s eyebrow twitched faintly. He looked at me.

 

“…It seems I judged too quickly. Please forgive my rudeness.”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

“Thanks to you, one of my biggest worries just vanished.”

 

“…?”

 

“You said you could obtain a higher-quality mana stone. A relief indeed.”

 

My heart dropped.

 

“I’ll purchase it for 1,000 gold. I need it by next week’s state council meeting.”

 

He left.

 

I stood frozen.

 

‘I’m doomed.’