CHAPTER 32…………………………………………….
And then, back to the present.
“Y–y–dear…?”
Looking at Marquis Odilon collapsed on the floor, I swallowed a cough with a quiet ahem.
As expected.
Just as I’d predicted, the two of them were together.
Rather than an auction hall openly running an event, a marquis like him would be far more interested in this waiting room, where things were handled discreetly.
When I had thoroughly investigated the family ledgers, I found that several artworks had been sent to Marquis Odilon—and the person who sent them was none other than Xavier.
Which means…
The two had already been in contact for some time. And if they were planning to sell items privately, then even if I were Xavier, I would have targeted Marquis Odilon, who was steeped in indulgence and extravagance.
Putting all those circumstances together, it was only natural to be certain they’d be together.
“W–why are you here…!”
After looking up at his wife with a face that looked like it would knock him out if you flicked it, the marquis muttered.
As if he couldn’t believe any of this was real, his expression as he stared at his wife was utterly vacant.
Madame Odilon, who had been enjoying the sight of her husband, pursed her lips briefly—then slowly stretched them into a smile.
“…Wow.”
That smile somehow made her even scarier.
Honestly, she’d look less frightening if she were angry.
Just standing there smiling silently was enough to make my knees go weak.
“Y–you crazy—!”
At that moment, Xavier, who had also noticed me, glared with bulging eyes and raised his hand.
But just before he could grab my hair, a knight beside me deftly blocked him.
Seeing his wrist seized, Xavier twisted his upper body and roared in fury.
“Let go of me! Shit! What the hell—who are you people?!”
“What do you think?”
We’re here to take out the trash.
I smiled thinly at him on purpose. Xavier went even more berserk at the sight, but honestly, there was nothing left to be afraid of now.
I turned toward Xavier, who was shouting about how dare we lay hands on a noble.
Perhaps the heat had gone to his head—his face was bright red as he struggled, and it was oddly satisfying to watch.
Glancing to the side, I saw the other nobles also panicking, pointing fingers at the approaching knights and resisting.
A few kicked off the ground to try to flee, but were immediately caught by the stronger knights.
Leaving the scene, now a complete chaos, behind me, I looked back at Xavier.
“Don’t waste your strength.”
Xavier frowned, clearly not understanding me right away. Seeing that shameless face of his, a hollow laugh escaped me.
Still hasn’t come to his senses.
Well, what was I even expecting from him?
Clicking my tongue, I decided to spell out the reality of what was happening.
“Didn’t you hear the report about an intruder at the auction house?”
“…What?”
At my words, confusion washed over Xavier’s face.
His violently shaking pupils had nowhere to settle. It really seemed like he hadn’t heard.
Figures.
To hear the news, you’d have to be sticking close to the auction house. Hiding away like a rat, of course he’d be slower than everyone else.
I glanced sideways at the coin pouches scattered on the floor.
“Looks like you made quite a haul.”
“!”
Only then did it seem to register—Xavier hurriedly bent down, searching the floor.
But with him already restrained, there was no way he’d be reclaiming anything. After flailing his arms uselessly in the air, Xavier shot me a venomous glare.
I glanced at the knights who were tidying things up nearby. Receiving the signal, one of them began collecting the money pouches from the floor one by one.
Xavier, pale with shock, waved his hands frantically, demanding them back.
“Did the necklace sell well?”
The hand desperately chasing the money froze midair.
“Looks like you sold the bracelet and everything else clean, too.”
“H–how do you know that…?!”
Instead of answering, I pulled out the accessories I’d prepared in advance from my pocket. As the items slid out in a chain along my hand, Xavier swallowed a scream.
The very items he had just sold off were sitting right here.
Seeing this, Xavier inhaled sharply. Then, as understanding finally dawned, the shock in his eyes was gradually swallowed by rage.
“T–t–what is this?! Where did you get— Aaaagh!”
The moment he lunged at me, he was thrown backward. A knight who had swiftly subdued him looked at me.
At his questioning gaze, I beamed.
“Please take him away quickly.”
He might have been thrilled just moments ago, thinking he’d made a fortune.
But from here on out, the difficulty level of his life was about to rise—no, skyrocket.
Leaving him to the knights, I turned toward Madame Odilon.
Things looked much the same there—the marquis was struggling desperately, refusing to be dragged away.
But seeing how delighted his wife looked, I turned away without much concern.
That was when—
Thunk.
Something pierced into my flesh.
“…?”
I stopped instinctively and pressed a hand to my abdomen. For a split second, I couldn’t grasp what had just happened.
“Y–you bastard! How dare you toy with me…?!”
A voice thick with resentment, rough as if scraped against sandpaper.
Carefully turning my head, I saw my uncle, screaming in rage, having seized a knife from the knights.
Moments later, screams rang out around us. Only when I felt my palm grow slick did I fully understand the situation.
But by the time my briefly blurred vision snapped back into focus—
“M–my lady! My lady!”
My body had already long since fallen into that abyss.
.
.
.
Enraged by the realization that he had been toyed with all along, Xavier grabbed the knife he carried for self-defense without hesitation.
Taking advantage of a brief moment when the knights’ attention was divided, he attacked the niece who had deceived him. It all happened in an instant, before anyone could stop him.
Aria, stabbed straight through the abdomen, collapsed on the spot, and the scene descended into chaos.
However, with a badly injured person bleeding out, the knights hesitated to move.
They were hastily stopping the bleeding, but there was no hospital they could go to immediately.
“B–but shouldn’t we move her right away…?!”
“It’ll take too long to reach a hospital from here!”
They were in an area on the outskirts of the capital.
The few hospitals they could reach were all closed at this hour. The only places open at night were several hours away by carriage.
The likelihood that she would die on the way was extremely high.
“Then where on earth do we—! Ah!”
As everyone was racking their brains together, one knight suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
“There’s—there’s somewhere faster!”
Even if not surgery, they at least needed emergency treatment first.
And the closest place from here—
“Let’s go to Renesti!”
There was no other choice.
Update soon!~