“I, I apologize for the inconvenience at our auction house.”

The manager glanced at the stunned Leandro. The aristocratic manager recognized Leandro at once.

“It seems difficult to judge the conflict between you two in the auction house…….”

“So I deserved this?”

Then other auction house guests intervened.

“Manager! It’s time to start the auction!”

“It started from the man’s side, just kick out the one who caused the disturbance!”

The manager glanced at Estelle again and approached Leandro.

At that moment, a note fell from Leandro’s moving trouser pocket as he conversed with the manager.

Leandro, engaged in conversation, did not notice.

‘Undine Tear?’

Estelle’s eyes widened at the drawing on the note.

‘Leandro came to buy the same gem as me?’

Undine Tear, the tear gem of the water spirit, Undine.

A famous sapphire named after a legend’s spirit.

‘I don’t know why Leandro wants to buy Undine Tear, but….’

The legend within the Undine Tear was real. A real spirit’s power was contained within it.

‘I must buy this gem.’

The trees said the spirit’s power would help restore the fairy’s power. Spirits also possessed power opposing dark magic curses.

Leandro bit his lip, looking at Estelle.

Now he seemed to realize his unknightly excitement. Leandro, straining his jaw, nodded.

“……Alright. On my honor, I will cause no further disturbance.”

“Thank you.”

The manager bowed politely to Estelle after speaking with Leandro.

“I’m sorry for the difficulty. Although I have his promise, to prevent any incidents, I’ll guide you to the private room upstairs.”

“Can I still see the auction from there?”

“We will arrange it so you can.”

The manager, adept at mediating between the nobles, quickly remedied the situation.

“I understand.”

Estelle nodded, lost in thought.

‘Even if I have a lot of money now, Leandro is the successor of the Count Felcis.’

If he used the Duke Blanchett’s money, it might be different. There was no guarantee she could obtain the Undine Tear with her money alone.

‘In that case…….’

Estelle’s blue eyes sparkled.

‘I need to distract Leandro from the auction.’
The manager courteously guided Estelle into the auction house.

“I will lead you right away. Please follow me this way.”

Estelle, following the manager’s guidance, brushed past Liandro as if walking.

Click, the moment she attempted to take a step.

Estelle, who was moving forward carelessly, whispered softly to Liandro’s ear with her pink lips.

“But have we only called each other by name as a married couple?”

It was a faint sound, almost as if it could be overlooked as an illusion.

However, it was clear enough to remain in Liandro’s ear. Liandro’s eyes widened.

Liandro was stunned, mumbling without thinking of holding Estelle back.

“What else besides the name…”

In his imagination, the pure and white Estelle was defiled in Duke Blanche’s hand.

‘I was foolish.’

At that moment, Liandro realized that he had been too careless.

After all, they are a married couple.

Liandro helplessly watched Estelle’s back as she followed the manager.

Estelle, whom he thought was leaving without looking back, glanced at him as if lightly dancing.

Today, her sparkling pink platinum hair fluttered like a butterfly.

Estelle approached her lips with a finger, giving Liandro a smooth smile.

‘It’s a secret from now on.’

Estelle’s image faded like an afterimage.

Liandro unknowingly reached out, but Estelle was not there.

(This is a time separator.)

The auction has started.

I looked down at the auction from the luxurious private room the manager guided me to. Betty spoke with discomfort.

“While I was away for a moment, Lord Natana intimidated you. I should have never left your side.”

“I asked her to go. And it would have been difficult for you to stop even Felcis’s son.”

Betty is an excellent talent, but Liandro is too highranking a nobleman. Even in strength, he is not far behind Johan.

Even if Betty had been there, the situation would have been the same.

“But still… sigh. Why is he so obsessed with you, Madam?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t really talked to him.”

Is it because of the original work?

Even though they were not formally engaged, I couldn’t understand why Liandro was so obsessed with me.

I watched the auction, sipping the beverage prepared by the manager.

‘My thoughts should get through.’

Honestly, what I said to Liandro was nothing special. The best I could do at that moment was just that.

‘But it seemed to work well.’

Everyone has their weakness.

Like Johan has revenge, weakness is the most important part.

‘I don’t know Liandro’s weakness either.’

But having been hated for a long time, I tended to recognize people’s weaknesses.

Hatred is closest to weakness, and often reveals the deepest part of a person.

‘A noble knight like Liandro should react strongly.’

All along, Liandro had been excessively conscious, calling Johan a devil. It was evident when he reacted to the name.

‘I don’t know why, but I seem quite important to Liandro.’