Chapter 15 —
“That, that damned fox…!”
“Calm down. You couldn’t have beaten her anyway.”
Heath’s comforting words didn’t help at all. Michel grumbled, unable to hold in his anger.
“Damn it, if only Mila were here!”
“Don’t bring up retired people. Anyway, that sword Marquis Blair was holding earlier—wasn’t that Raise Messer?”
Bin glanced at Heath. Heath nodded slightly, pretending not to notice, knowing it was because of the name that had just come up.
“Yeah.”
“Wasn’t the second prince supposed to buy that sword? Why does Blair have it?”
“Isn’t it obvious? The second prince tricked Ray. I knew something was fishy when I heard there wasn’t even a written contract! You really can’t trust those high-ranking people!”
“Let’s be clear. Ray couldn’t make a contract, not that he didn’t.”
“Damn those filthy nobles! Damn those royals!”
It had been decades since Michel lost his finger unfairly, but whenever he remembered that day’s anger and frustration, he still felt a phantom pain where the finger had been cut off.
Bin gently patted Michel on the back as he sighed, concern in his eyes.
“Why would Blair buy that sword anyway?”
“It’s got the name of the first emperor. Maybe he plans to gift it to the current emperor.”
“Well, he is the emperor’s lapdog.”
“Michel.”
“What? It’s just us here.”
If any one of them had read the morning paper, the conversation would’ve gone very differently.
But newspapers were more expensive than the beer-and-sausage combo at this inn. No one here was going to spend that kind of money on a piece of paper they’d just throw away after one read.
“So, how much do you think Marquis Blair paid for the Raise Messer?”
“Hmm…”
Bin remembered that the last relic of the first emperor sold at auction had gone for 9 million Larc—43 years ago. It might not be useful as a comparison, but…
‘Assuming no surprises, it should’ve sold for about 10 million Larc.’
That was only in the best-case scenario. They had to be ready for the worst—like Blair and the second prince making a secret deal behind the scenes.
“Whatever her reason, I don’t think we should expect a high price.”
“Michel, stop being a downer.”
“Don’t you remember? She said the trade went ‘perfectly’ and smiled like she won the lottery—for two measly Samdong coins! Like some penny-pincher!”
“Oh…”
Heath’s face darkened at Michel’s words. Seeing that, Bin shouted in frustration.
“What’s so weird about that? She got two Samdong coins just by standing there! How could she not be happy? Who wouldn’t be?!”
But no one else thought that way—only Bin.
Heath and Michel exchanged looks and then both dropped their heads onto the table.
“Ray’s done for. Totally done for!”
“Don’t say that. We don’t know yet.”
“What do you mean we don’t? I’ve already seen it—the total ruin of Elpheus!”
“Wanna bet?”
“Who’s making bets at a time like this?”
“Hey, people with big hearts save money. Look at me—I’m living proof.”
“As a cautionary tale, maybe…”
They didn’t argue too hard, though. That’s because when Leonard first took on Elpheus’ debt, it was Bin who gave him all the money he had without hesitation.
“If Blair really bought the sword for the emperor, he wouldn’t have paid a low price.”
Auctioned items are judged by their winning price. The emperor wouldn’t be happy if a relic with the first emperor’s name sold cheap.
“At least ten million. That’s my guess.”
“No way!”
Michel yelled, and Heath frowned.
“What if it’s less?”
“If it’s less…”
Bin slapped his belt with his hand.
“All the money in here goes to you two.”
“Deal! Ten million, yeah right!”
“I’m in too!”
“Hmph, idiots. You better get ready to beg for beer money.”
Bin snorted at the two who were acting like they’d already won.
“We’ll see who wins. But if I’m right, I get all your money.”
Bin truly believed he wouldn’t lose this bet.
No matter the result, all the money in his belt was going to help Leonard anyway.
‘If not, I’ll just give up the title and run away.’
It’d be hard, especially if he took that girl Leonard cared about so much. Who knows if she’d even come willingly? But it’d still be better than letting her be dragged off by some creepy noble.
‘She probably won’t adjust well at first… I’ll need to get a sturdy carriage.’
Bin never imagined what would happen the next morning—
At dawn, as he went to the market early to buy a carriage at a bargain price, he’d hear rumors that the highest auction price in Roelle history had just been set.
‘What is this? A contract? Are you saying we had a contract? Then show me. You wouldn’t dare claim we had one without any proof, would you?’
‘The sword broke just from touching another blade? That rusty old thing was Elpheus’ treasure? 110,000 Larc? Might as well consider it charity for a beggar.’
“Count? Cooount!”
“Whoa!”
Edward shouted so loudly, Leonard’s ears rang.
Leonard rubbed his temples, wincing. Edward pouted.
“What were you thinking about so deeply? Didn’t even hear me from right in front of you. You weren’t sleeping with your eyes open, were you? You look super tired.”
Worried, Edward asked if he was sick, but Leonard waved it off.
“Just didn’t sleep well. Finally dozed off at dawn.”
“Why?”
“Just… a nightmare.”
“What kind of nightmare?”
Edward replied automatically, then realized he was being too nosy and looked anxious. Leonard didn’t notice and ran a hand down his face.
‘The second prince mocking me. Lord Royd Matthias laughing in my face.’
When Leonard demanded the second prince honor their deal, the prince acted like no such deal ever existed. Royd, who had bought the Raise Messer for a mere 110,000 Larc, snapped the blade right in front of him.
Their sneers had felt too real.
If Blair hadn’t stepped in, and Royd had won the sword at auction, maybe that really would’ve happened.
“Ahem… um, Count? Can you tell me now?”
“Tell you what?”
“The Raise Messer… how much did it sell for?”
Leonard looked at Edward, who was obviously trying to read his face.
Seeing their eyes meet, Edward flinched and bit his lower lip.
“I knew it…”
“Knew what?”
“Well, even if it was a relic from the Great Emperor, it couldn’t possibly solve our 30 million Larc debt…”
As Leonard’s only aide, Edward knew the exact amount Elpheus owed.
But he didn’t know about the verbal deal Leonard made with the second prince—not as Count Elpheus, but as The Golden Lion of Weinberg.
“Sigh… Count, I know how well you’ve treated me.”
“Why do you sound like you’re saying goodbye?”
“Well, it is goodbye, right? Elpheus is going bankrupt.”
“What?”
Leonard laughed out loud in disbelief.
Still not realizing, Edward clenched his fist.
“But Count! I’m a man of loyalty! I’ll work without pay until Elpheus officially collapses!”
…What was this? A golden pumpkin falling into his lap?
Leonard narrowed his eyes at Edward.
“Can you keep that promise? You know when the due date is?”
“There’s only a few days left, right? A month at most?”
“Oh, so your loyalty is worth just 300,000 Larc?”
Edward’s eyes widened.
“What do you mean ‘just’? Count, 300,000 Larc is enough to stay two whole months at this inn! Okay, the bugs are a problem, but still—it’s a huge amount of money!”
Leonard clicked his tongue at Edward’s enthusiastic rant.
He wasn’t always like this. Bin had clearly rubbed off on him.
Well, at least Edward wasn’t obsessed with every single coin like Bin.
‘They must be worried right now.’
Leonard thought of Heath’s quiet comfort, and Michel’s loud protests—“Don’t go to the capital! That woman’s a scammer!”
That’s when someone knocked on their room door.
“Huh? Who is it? Did you send someone on an errand?”
“Oh, probably the newspaper. I asked for the earliest one available.”
“What for?”
Edward looked puzzled as Leonard got up, gave a tip to the staff, and took the paper.
He stood there, reading the front page.
Edward stared at him silently, but curiosity got the better of him.
“What’s it say? Some interesting news?”
