TCBCVF 115

~Chapter 115~

“Oh my, such a huge sum.”

“Could it be that High Priest Evans has special feelings for Lady Lopez?”

“Well, he even arranged for her to plan this charity party…”

When the bag was sold, the nobles’ eyes toward Seraphina completely changed.

In truth, High Priest Evans held a very high position in the Empire.

He was one of the temple’s highest priests, and also the heir of the Marquis Evans family.

And he had arranged for Seraphina to plan this charity party, then even bought the item she donated.

This was more than enough to raise Seraphina’s reputation.

Seraphina, full of confidence, glanced at me.

‘Do you see? You and I are on different levels.’

As if she were bragging that way.

Then she straightened her neck proudly and spoke.

“The next item is submitted by Lady Ansie, an early work by Donovan the sacred painter…”

Seraphina suddenly froze, as if struck on the back of her head.

“Oh my?”

“What’s wrong with Lady Lopez?”

The nobles whispered in confusion.

Quickly snapping back to herself, Seraphina hurried to finish.

“…A-an early work.”

But she was so shocked, she couldn’t stop herself from stammering.

‘Well, how does it feel?’

I smiled at her calmly.

Even if the Claudius family had helped me, it still felt good to see Seraphina’s shocked face.

And then—

“Heavens, Donovan?!”

“A painting by Donovan was submitted?”

The nobles stirred like a hornet’s nest.

“To donate such a precious piece… Lady Ansie must be quite capable.”

“I did hear the Ansie family is secretly wealthy.”

Suddenly, everyone’s attention turned to me.

‘Hmm… Normally this kind of attention should be directed at the Duke.’

I couldn’t hide my apologetic face and glanced at Lady Eva beside me.

‘Once again, I owe them.’

Eva met my eyes, and with a mischievous smile, she whispered quietly.

“Look over there.”

She gestured toward Seraphina.

I turned my head, and there Seraphina was, biting her lips hard.

‘Wow, Seraphina with that expression?’

I stared at her pale face with satisfaction.

Normally she would never lose her smile, no matter what.

But right now, she didn’t even have the strength to control her face.

As I enjoyed the sight—

“An early Donovan piece… I’d like that myself.”

The Empress herself spoke, then raised her paddle without hesitation.

“100,000 derks.”

My goodness.

As expected of the mistress of the Imperial Family—what boldness.

But the Empress was not the only one.

The amount kept climbing without end.

130,000 derks.

150,000 derks.

180,000 derks…

The nobles’ paddles rose one after another.

“Look at the price going up!”

“Of course. It’s Donovan’s work.”

“But still, I never thought it would get this exciting.”

The atmosphere among the nobles burned hotter and hotter.

In the middle of that—

The Duke raised his paddle for the first time.

Seraphina’s face turned pale as she read the number.

“D-Duke Claudius… 500,000 derks…”

The enormous sum silenced the hall in an instant, like cold water poured over fire.

“500,000 derks. Anyone willing to go higher?”

“……”

“……”

But the people only looked at each other.

No more paddles were raised.

Grinding her teeth, Seraphina spoke.

“If there are no more bids… Duke Claudius wins Lady Ansie’s item.”

“Well, of course.”

Lady Eva beside me nodded in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, I swallowed nervously and looked up at the Duke beside me.

‘This… could it be a dream?’

Because normally in the “Rose Game,” buying someone’s item meant…

That you had romantic interest in them.

At that moment—

I even forgot how to breathe.

His deep blue eyes, like the winter sea, gazed at me without wavering.

It felt like only he and I remained in the whole world.

“……”

“……”

The moment I realized that gaze—

All the sounds of the world disappeared.

Only the pounding of my heart echoed through my body.

The Brightest Star of November.

An event said to come from the social pastime, the “Rose Game.”

And when he finally understood what the Rose Game meant—

“One piece of advice—if you don’t find out, you’ll regret it a lot.”

Dietrich finally realized what Evangeline had meant with her warning.

‘…So this was the meaning.’

The ladies submit items, the gentlemen buy them in an auction.

And when you win an item, it means—

‘It’s a way of saying you have romantic interest in that person.’

The world thought Duke Dietrich never hesitated in his decisions.

That he knew no fear, no doubt, no pause.

And Dietrich himself mostly agreed with that reputation.

But.

‘Lady Ansie.’

When it came to Laritte, he needed all the courage he could gather.

This time was no different.

He wasn’t afraid of the world knowing he liked her.

Yes, people would whisper about class and status. So what?

He didn’t care.

He had the authority of the Claudius family—he could crush such talk.

No, what really scared him was—

‘What if she rejects me.’

That was his only fear.

But no matter how high the wall of fear was,

He could no longer stop his feelings for Laritte.

“If there are no more bids… Duke Claudius wins Lady Ansie’s item.”

Even among the many murmuring people—

His eyes only saw Laritte.

Those pink eyes that quietly gazed at him.

Those red lips, slightly open in shock.

Her surprised face looked so lovely…

He wanted to hold her in his arms right then.

“…Duke.”

“……”

“Duke Claudius!”

At the sound of someone calling him, Dietrich came back to himself.

He gave his usual smooth smile.

“Yes, please speak.”

After the event ended—

Dietrich was speaking with Isaac and the other high priests.

“Truly, once again we owe so much to the Claudius Duke family.”

The priests thanked him again and again.

Because besides his regular donations, he had also given an enormous sum today.

And during this “Brightest Star of November” event, he had spent a massive amount to win Lady Ansie’s item.

‘It seems Duke Claudius has special feelings for Lady Ansie.’

‘To think such a lady almost got caught in marriage talks with Count Gusto’s family…’

That could have ruined the Claudius family’s relationship completely.

The high priests glanced at one another, each aware of what this meant.