Chapter 67
Well, if I had to pick a side, I’d say I’m more on Johan’s…
But judging by the current atmosphere, if I took either side, these two might actually get into a real fight.
“What on earth do you two think you’re doing?”
The moment that cold voice sliced through the air, the two who’d looked ready to lunge at each other froze.
Their faces went pale in an instant.
“Ah—Shushu!”
“Miss, it’s been a while.”
“You’re just too busy these days.”
“I do try to stop by from time to time, but…”
Joshua, who had been chatting with me cheerfully, suddenly shifted his sharp gaze toward Johan and Ludias.
Even without saying anything, it was clear someone was about to get scolded, so I hurriedly changed the subject.
I asked Joshua the same question I’d asked Johan and Ludias earlier. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then clapped his hands once.
“How about going to the auction?”
“An auction?”
“There’s one held at dawn on the final day of the BaekSul Festival. I hear rare items often come up there.”
My ears perked up immediately at the tempting suggestion.
Seeing my interest, Joshua continued, feeding me more information.
“Oh! I think I heard that something truly one-of-a-kind is up for sale this time.”
“What? What is it?”
“A snow globe.”
A one-of-a-kind snow globe? What could be so special about that?
Honestly, I didn’t quite get it. Don’t snow globes differ depending on the maker anyway?
By that logic, wouldn’t there be tons of ‘one-of-a-kind’ snow globes in the world?
“Tomorrow’s the last day of the BaekSul Festival, right? The auction should be starting soon after that.”
“How amazing can one snow globe be?”
“I heard it’s the final work of a famous artisan from 500 years ago.”
“Someone even you know, Shushu?”
“Yes, the craftsman’s name is well-known even among other noble families.”
Okay, then that settles it!
If it’s the last masterpiece of a renowned artisan, it’s bound to fetch a high price.
No matter what others bid, I’ll just bid higher—so it doesn’t matter.
It might even end up being the most expensive item in the world…
A perfect blend of both Ludias and Johan’s tastes, maybe.
“Shushu, you’re coming with me.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Of course. The one who gave the information has to come too!”
Joshua’s expression fell immediately. Clearly, that wasn’t part of his plan.
“You don’t want to go out with me?”
“What? Of course not! I’d love to, it’s just…”
He didn’t finish, but I could tell what he meant—why he had to go along with me in the middle of the night when Johan and Ludias were already here.
Lately, Joshua’s been getting a bit more slippery with his excuses.
“So, you’re not coming?”
“No! I’m coming, I’m coming!”
“Since we’ll have to leave at dawn, you’d better sleep early. See you later, Shushu.”
“Miss, you’ll need to keep your wits about you from here on.”
“Mmnh… but my eyes won’t stay open…”
Around 2:30 a.m., Joshua and I arrived at the auction house.
It was located underground beneath an old-looking building, but once inside, it was incredibly luxurious—
a total contrast to its shabby exterior.
And it was packed with people. Joshua leaned close and whispered that most of them were there for the snow globe.
“When does it start?”
“Any minute now.”
Holding up a number plate labeled 236, Joshua found seats close to the stage.
Though, since we entered, something’s been bugging me—
why was everyone wearing these dull, gray cloaks?
Granted, Joshua and I were dressed similarly, but still…
Wait. Could this be… a black market auction or something?
Come to think of it, holding an auction in the middle of the night was already suspicious!
“Shu—”
“Welcome, valued guests, to the Adrowen Auction House! Thank you for waiting!”
Before I could ask Joshua anything, a bald middle-aged man stepped onto the stage as lively music began to play.
The auction kicked off. With dazzling lights, several items were displayed one after another.
But the crowd wasn’t impressed.
Clearly, none of the earlier items were what they came for—same for me.
“This is boring.”
“It’ll come up next.”
“How do you know that?”
“Just a feeling.”
A feeling, huh? He sounded way too confident for that. Suspicious…
Still, with no proof, I kept quiet and turned my attention back to the stage.
“Now, thank you for waiting! Our final item tonight! I’m sure many of you have been anticipating this moment!”
The crowd erupted into cheers as the final item appeared.
The cloth covering it was whisked away, revealing a snow globe encased in a transparent glass box.
Small, glittering, and so beautiful it immediately awakened my desire to own it.
“I have to buy that.”
I turned, listening to the bids rising behind me—
a million gold coins, then ten million. Prices soared astronomically from all directions.
But of course, only a few families in the entire realm could afford such sums.
“We have sixty-five million gold coins! Any higher offers?”
I snatched the number plate from Joshua’s hand and raised it high.
The auctioneer’s eyes locked on me.
I flashed a smug, victorious smile.
“Double!”
No one countered. The rest proceeded swiftly, and soon I had the snow globe in my hands.
“It really is pretty.”
“Well, of course. The artisan spent months perfecting it.”
Sitting on my bed, I set the snow globe on the table beside me and admired it.
Inside, a man and woman sat closely together atop a hill, overlooking a town full of tightly packed buildings.
“They’re sitting there under all that snow… don’t they get cold?”
From afar, I hadn’t realized how stunning it was, but up close, it sparkled with such delicate craftsmanship.
Every tiny embroidered detail looked like it had been stitched by hand.
No wonder people were desperate to have it.
And that thrill when I shouted “Double!”—I could still feel it.
“How fascinating.”
“What is?”
“Our estate’s warm year-round, right? So it never snows.
But inside here… it keeps snowing nonstop.”
It was incredible that a tiny glass globe could hold an entire winter.
Even if it wasn’t real, not even our estate could replicate something like this.
“Shushu, go rest. I’m going to sleep too.”
“You’re going to bed?”
“Yeah. I plan to enjoy the last night of the festival later. Want to come?”
“Ah, unfortunately I have work to do. Take Ludias and Johan with you! Bye now.”
Joshua shot out of the room like a bullet.
Good—I hadn’t planned to bring him anyway.
That guy takes my teasing way too seriously.
Now all that’s left is to give this snow globe as a gift… but how should I even present it?
‘I’d rather not say anything cheesy like yesterday.’
No good lines came to mind.
And even if I came up with one now, I’d probably end up saying something completely different in the moment.
Forget it. I’ll think about it later—sleep first.
My eyelids grew heavy almost instantly, exhaustion from the late-night auction dragging me down.
“…ss.”
“Mm…?”
“Miss!”
Someone shaking me and shouting near my ear jolted me awake.
Ludias stood over me, eyes wide and alert.
Still groggy, I blinked up at him before my memory snapped back—today’s plan!
“Ludi!”
“Yes?”
“What time is it?”
“Pardon?”
“What time is it now?”
I turned toward the window—it was dark.
Not the soft red of sunset, but deep, pitch-black night.
I was only supposed to nap for a bit… did I sleep through the entire day?!
Why didn’t anyone wake me up?!
“It’s ten minutes to nine.”
“…I’m doomed.”
“Ma’am?”
“I’m doomed…”
I ruffled my hair in frustration. Ludias quickly caught my hands, gently fixing the mess I’d made of it.
What good was that when my whole plan had gone up in flames?!
“Miss, what’s wrong?”
“There is something wrong…”
“Then please, let me help!”
He looked near tears, anxiously waiting for me to give him some kind of order.
Maybe I was overreacting. I sighed deeply, trying to calm my pounding heart.
No, it wasn’t completely over yet. It wasn’t nine o’clock yet!
If I hurry, I can still make it in time for the finale!
“Where’s Jayas?”
“Pardon?”
“Where is he—no, never mind, I’ll find him myself!”
I jumped out of bed, quickly packed the snow globe into a box, and dashed out of the room.
At the same time, I released pheromones to sense where Jayas’s presence was in the mansion.
Found him—at the far end of the opposite corridor. Of course, he wouldn’t have gone anywhere at this hour.
“Jay—ah!!”
I flung the door open—then slammed it shut just as fast.
‘W-what… what did I just see?!’
I clutched my chest. My heart was hammering wildly—
worse than during an entire day of sword training!
I squeezed my eyes shut, but the image wouldn’t go away.
If anything, it grew clearer.
Jayas had been… changing clothes.
‘Technically, he was just changing his shirt, but still…!’
Why—why right now of all times?!
Sure, it was almost bedtime, and yes, this was the room I’d given him to use… but still!
Who changes clothes in the middle of the room, door wide open?!
It’s not like there’s no dressing room!
Click, click—
The doorknob turned from inside.
“Senika?”
The door didn’t open since I was holding the knob, so he called my name, sounding confused.
He must’ve seen me for a moment earlier and couldn’t figure out why I was still outside.
He jiggled the knob again, harder this time. His strength easily overpowered mine, and the door creaked open.
No, no, no! My heart hasn’t even calmed down yet!
“What’s wrong?”
“T-that’s…”
Before the door opened all the way, I spun around to face him—thankfully, I’d managed to hide the snow globe behind my back.
Jayas, now fully dressed, looked at me questioningly.
But no matter how I tried, I couldn’t stop that earlier image of him half-dressed from flashing in my mind again…
