The Marquis of Capri silently smiled and observed the people around him.

Both artists and nobles were enjoying their time. Everyone seemed to be in a festive mood ahead of the upcoming auction.

“Princess Bellia is more intelligent than I thought.”

Callid’s lips twitched at the sudden compliment.

Hearing praise for Bellia somehow made him feel even more proud.

“It’s also interesting that Your Highness doesn’t try to hide your expressions. There have been many intriguing events lately.”

“Stop with the sarcasm, Marquis.”

Callid said with a chuckle.

In fact, these two had been secret collaborators for a very long time.

Although the Marquis didn’t openly intervene, he had often secretly helped Callid, and Callid had also assisted the Marquis of Capri behind the scenes on numerous occasions.

“I was honestly surprised when Rachel said she liked the Princess. She’s not one to easily open up to others…”

Callid waved his hand dismissively.

“That’s none of my business. Now that the bazaar is over, try to keep her from visiting the palace.”

He had an exasperated expression.

The Marquis of Capri burst into laughter, finding it amusing.

“Hahaha. As if that could be done so easily. In any case, the fact that she’s won that child’s heart must mean Princess Bellia is a very kind person.”

The Marquis raised the champagne glass in his hand towards Callid.

“You’ve met a good person.”

Callid smiled at his words and clinked his glass against the Marquis’s.

“I’m a lucky man.”

“Haha. Indeed you are.”

Callid stood beside the Marquis, leaning his arms on the railing.

Then he looked around, searching for Bellia.

It didn’t take long to find her. Callid’s eyes curved as he quietly watched Bellia laughing while conversing with someone.

“Today, it’s enough if only rumors spread. We’re just planting seeds of doubt.”

No one would really believe that the Marquis of Capri had taken the Second Prince’s side anyway.

But just sowing that suspicion was enough.

“Well, I should be going now. Some strange fellows are hovering around Bellia.”

Callid raised the corner of his mouth as he looked at a young man chatting with Bellia, his expression slack-jawed.

Well, well?

He had the face of someone smitten with Bellia, unable to come to his senses.

I can’t just leave that be.

With her future husband right here.

Callid handed his half-finished champagne glass to the Marquis and strode down the stairs.

As he approached Bellia, he could feel the reactions of the people around them.

Not just the young man talking to her, but all the men around were staring at Bellia with their mouths open, unable to look away.

‘Tsk. It’s difficult having such a popular person.’

Callid moved forward, inwardly making a joke to himself.

“Bellia.”

Callid called out to Bellia in a low voice.

“Hm? Oh, Callid. When did you get here?”

Callid embraced Bellia’s waist without taking his eyes off the young man.

Then he pulled her into his arms.

“I was watching you from over there.”

His attitude was unapologetic, as if declaring that this woman was his.

“Are you done talking? If so, would you spare me some time as well?”

Bellia felt a bit embarrassed as Callid openly displayed affection in front of others.

“If you were here, you should have said something earlier… Just a moment, please.”

Bellia smiled and excused herself from those she had been talking to. Then she linked arms with Callid and moved away.

“What were you doing?”

“I was talking with the Marquis of Capri for a bit since he was there. You looked like you were having a lot of fun?”

“Ahaha. What’s this? Don’t say it like you’re jealous.”

Bellia laughed brightly, causing Callid’s brow to furrow.

“But I am jealous.”

“Nevermind that. So what did you talk about with the Marquis of Capri?”

Bellia asked, ignoring Callid’s words.

“Hmm. You really…”

“Did you call me over just to joke around?”

Well, not exactly.

I just wanted to get rid of those bothersome guys around you. And it bothered me that you didn’t even seem to notice whether I was here or not…

Callid pondered how to explain, then just grinned.

Whatever he said would make him seem too narrow-minded.

“Hmm? What is it really?”

As Bellia glared at him with narrowed eyes, Callid raised both hands.

“Alright, alright.”

“So what did you talk about with the Marquis of Capri? Was it something important? I have to go now because the auction is about to start. Tell me quickly.”

As Bellia looked back and urged him, Callid gave her a quick kiss.

“Actually, I just called you over because I wanted to kiss you.”

“What did you say?”

“Hahaha. Can I do it more deeply?”

“No, you can’t!”

Callid burst out laughing and gave her another light peck with a soft sound.

“Callid…!”

“Okay! I’m really done now! You can go.”

Bellia had a bewildered expression.

He suddenly pulled her over, and this was really all?

“If you have something else to say, tell me later when it’s over. Understood?”

Bellia hurried off to where the auction items were being prepared.

It was the most important event of the day, after all.

‘I’ll take one last look…’

Bellia suddenly stopped her train of thought.

Somehow, she felt Rachel or Susan would nag at her.

“Hmm. What should I do?”

But she wanted to check.

In the end, Bellia quickly glanced around and swiftly walked towards where the auction pieces were stored.

“Princess!”

“Eek!”

And Susan, who spotted Bellia, came running with thundering steps.

“Didn’t I tell you to rest!”

“W-well…”

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

“Watch the auction proceedings from here. Rachel and I checked twice earlier because you were so worried.”

“…Alright.”

And a moment later.

The lights in the venue dimmed.

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

The effort put into carefully selecting the pieces seemed to pay off, as the nobles reacted very positively each time an artist’s work was presented.

Occasionally, noblewomen who found a piece they really liked would send word separately that they wanted to sponsor that artist as well.

The artists watching their works being sold at high prices at the auction from one table couldn’t hide their moved expressions.

‘The atmosphere is very good.’

Bellia observed everyone with calm eyes. Unlike her constant worries, the auction was proceeding very smoothly.

Beside her, Susan grinned with an “I told you so” expression.

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

Mia exclaimed in surprise. Susan and Rachel also looked quite shocked.

But Bellia remained calm.

She already knew that his work would cause a huge sensation.

Within a few years, the person who painted this picture will become a representative artist enjoying immense popularity in the Empire.

When she discovered his name on the list of artists she sponsored, she was so surprised.

‘I thought this was an opportunity.’

If a painter who emerged through Bellia’s sponsorship swept through the Empire…

‘Of course, they’ll praise my discerning eye.’

Even in her previous life, she thought his paintings were beautiful at first glance.

This time was no different. His paintings were still beautiful and marvelous.

Bellia pulled her lips into a smile.

“My lady.”

Just when everything seemed to be going well, a servant with an uneasy expression quickly approached Susan and whispered something in her ear.

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

“What’s the matter?”

“…Princess. A big problem has occurred.”

The moment Bellia heard Susan’s trembling voice, a cold sensation ran down her back. Something had clearly gone wrong.

Bellia hurriedly left her seat and headed to where the current auction items were gathered.

Even as she moved quickly, Susan’s explanation continued.

“They say the item sponsored by Marquis Capri is missing.”

Of all things.

Bellia bit her lip hard.

“What about the others?”

“The other items are safe. But just that one has disappeared…”

Rachel, who was moving with them, said with an incomprehensible expression.

“I definitely checked everything. And then we moved all those items to the storage room. But how…”

“…You didn’t check after moving them to the storage room, right?”

Bellia answered in a dejected voice.

No wonder she kept wanting to check one more time.

It seemed something was overlooked in the process of moving the items. But it wouldn’t be easy for something to be missed unless someone deliberately stole it. What on earth happened?

“Um… Earlier, when we were moving things to the storage room, there were people bringing flowers nearby. They seemed to have come to the storage room by mistake, so I gave them directions again, but… Could they have taken it thinking it was their own item? The item sponsored by the Marquis looks like an ordinary small box from the outside, so they might have mistaken it.”

Bellia said, pressing her throbbing temples.

“For now, let’s search the place where the items were organized once more. And it would be better to get Callid’s help in tracking down the people who delivered the flowers. Not much time has passed since they left, so if we follow them right away, we won’t be too late.”

The item sponsored by Marquis Capri was a magic tool.

Since a magic tool has disappeared, it would be best to move as quickly as possible with Callid’s help.

If we’re too late, we might have to take responsibility for ruining the bazaar and losing the magic tool.

“Then I’ll go to His Highness right away to explain the situation and request additional help. Rachel and Susan, please search the storage room.”

“I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t stopped Your Highness from checking…”

“Susan. Don’t blame yourself too much. I know you did it out of concern for me. So let’s just focus on solving this for now. Alright?”

Susan nodded with a tearful expression.

Bellia smiled reassuringly and patted Susan’s shoulder before moving to find Callid.

Since he was nearby until just before the auction started, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find him.

She stopped a passing servant to ask about Callid’s whereabouts and was told he was seen in the garden. Her steps became more urgent.

But as soon as she arrived at the garden, Bellia’s pace gradually slowed and then came to an abrupt halt.

It was shocking. She couldn’t hide her startled emotions as her pupils shook rapidly.

Bellia tried to focus her blurring vision.

The scene before her eyes, coming into view through her hazy sight, was simply unbelievable.

‘This can’t be…’

Bellia unknowingly hid herself behind a wall and quickly covered her mouth with her hand to swallow a groan that threatened to escape. She felt breathless, unable to exhale.

Callid was conversing with someone in the garden. That was all.

But that someone smiling brightly as they faced him was a person Bellia knew very well.

That person was none other than.

The person Raul truly loved in her past life.

The person who took the position of Empress from her.

The one who took everything from her like that.

It was ‘Erzé Kinetra’.