Valia suddenly stopped her thoughts.

For some reason, she felt like Rachel or Susan would nag her.

“Hmm. What should I do?”

But she wanted to confirm.

In the end, Valia quickly looked around, then briskly walked to the place where the works for the auction were stored.

“Princess!”

“Eek!”

And Susan, who found Valia like that, rushed over.

“I told you to take a break! Remember what I said!”

“W-Well…”

In the end, Valia was led back to her seat by Susan’s hand.

“You’re here to watch the auction from here. I was so worried that Rachel and I had to check twice earlier.”

“…Okay.”

And a little later.

The lighting in the venue dimmed.

The purpose of today’s event, the auction for the bazaar, had begun.

The efforts of selecting the artworks one by one seemed worthwhile as the artists presented their works, and the reactions of the nobles were very positive.

Occasionally, noblewomen who really liked a piece would express their desire to sponsor the artist separately.

Artists who watched their works being sold at high prices at the auction table couldn’t hide their moved expressions.

‘The atmosphere is really good.’

Valia observed everyone calmly. Contrary to her constant worries, the auction proceeded smoothly.

Next to her, Susan chuckled with a knowing expression.

“Wow. That painting just sold for an incredible price!”

Mia exclaimed in surprise. Susan and Rachel were also very surprised.

But Valia remained calm.

She already knew that his work would create a tremendous response.

When she saw his name in the list of sponsoring artists, she was quite surprised.

‘This was an opportunity.’

If the painting by the artist she sponsored made a huge impact in the empire.

‘Naturally, they will praise my discernment.’

Even in her previous life, she thought it was beautiful as soon as she saw his painting.

This time was no different. His painting was still beautiful and magnificent.

Valia smiled, pulling her lips.

“Miss.”

At that moment, when everything seemed to be going well, a somewhat uncomfortable-looking messenger hurriedly approached Susan and whispered to her.

Susan’s expression, upon hearing the message, also turned pale in an instant.

“What’s going on?”
“Princess… Something big has happened.”

The moment Valia heard Susan’s trembling voice, a cold chill passed behind Valia. Something was definitely wrong.

Valia quickly left her seat and headed to the place where the auction items were being gathered.

Even as she hurriedly moved, Susan continued explaining.

“Viscount Caprié’s sponsored item is nowhere to be seen.”

Of all times.

Valia bit her lip tightly.

“Another one?”

“All the other items are safe. But just that one disappeared.”

Rachel, who was moving with them, spoke with an expression of incomprehension.

“We’ve definitely checked everything. We moved those items to the warehouse, and after that…”

“…We didn’t confirm it after moving it to the warehouse.”

Valia replied with a tight voice.

Somehow, she kept wanting to double-check.

It seemed like there was a mistake in the process of moving the items. However, it wasn’t easy for something to be missing unless someone deliberately stole it. What could have happened?

“Well… while we were moving the items to the warehouse, there were people nearby who brought flowers. It seemed like they misunderstood the location and came to the warehouse, so I directed them again. Perhaps, during that process, did they mistakenly take it, thinking it was their item? Viscount’s sponsored item looks like an ordinary small box, so they might have misunderstood.”

Valia said, pressing her throbbing temple.

“First, let’s look at the place where we organized the items again. And it would be good to seek Khalid’s help in chasing the people who supplied the flowers. Since they left not long ago, if we follow them right away, it won’t be too late.”

Viscount Caprié’s sponsored item was a magical tool.

Since a magical tool had disappeared, it would be the right answer to move as quickly as possible with Khalid’s help.

If they were late, they might not only ruin the bazaar but also have to take responsibility for losing the magical tool.

“Then I’ll go straight to His Highness and explain the situation, and request additional assistance. Rachel and Susan, please take charge of searching the warehouse.”

“I’m really sorry. If I hadn’t stopped His Highness from checking, maybe…”

“Susan, don’t blame yourself too much. I know it was out of concern. So, let’s just focus on solving the problem. Okay?”

Susan nodded with a expression that seemed like she was about to cry.

Valia smiled as if to say it was okay, patted Susan’s shoulder, and then looked for Khalid.

Since he was nearby until just before the auction started, finding him wouldn’t be too difficult.

When she caught a passing servant and asked about Khalid’s whereabouts, she heard that he was seen in the garden. Her steps became more and more urgent.

But as soon as she arrived at the garden, Valia’s steps slowed down, and she eventually stopped abruptly.

It was shocking. She couldn’t hide her surprised emotions, and her pupils shook rapidly.

Valia tried hard to focus her blurry vision.

Because the scene that entered her eyes through the hazy focus was simply unbelievable.

‘No way…’

Valia instinctively hid behind a wall and quickly covered her mouth with her hand to suppress a sound that seemed like it was about to escape. She couldn’t breathe.

Khalid was having a conversation with someone in the garden. That was all.

But the person who was brightly smiling at him, facing him, was someone Valia knew very well.

The person who took everything from Raul in the previous life.

The person who stole the position of Empress from her.

The person who took away everything she had.

It was none other than Erzé Kinétra.