“Thank you for waiting! We will now begin the second part of the auction.”

As the nobles finished their champagne, the host returned to the podium and started the auction.

“As you have waited long, there will be many special items in the second part of the auction.”

On cue, an attendant placed the painting Erina had been eyeing intently on the podium.

The petals of pink and yellow that formed the background of the painting sparkled beautifully in the midday sun.

The woman curled up inside the giant petals was only faintly depicted in a small side profile.

“This painting is one of those that were on display, titled ‘Fairy’, artist unknown. It came to light when it caught the eye of an appraiser for its beautiful colors and mysterious style.”

As the host continued his explanation, Erina looked over at Rose, who was still talking with Bellodi and Tanya on the other side.

In her memories before the regression, Rose had not attended Lady Borbom’s charity party.

Since the memories were composed of Rose’s recollections, it was impossible to know for certain whether she had attended the charity party or not.

The memories mainly consisted of what Rose found impressive or significant.

Given that minor details were not in the memories, it was possible that even if Rose had attended the charity party, it might not be in her memory if she hadn’t found it particularly impressive.

However, that painting had transformed into a highly valuable piece just before Rose’s marriage to Peiron in the pre-regression timeline.

Erina also remembered that Rose had received that painting, along with several other works, as a gift from someone.

No matter how hard she tried to recall, she couldn’t identify the person who had gifted the paintings, and the only thing she could clearly remember was the enormous appraised value of the works.

While Erina was recollecting, the auction began.

“Then, we shall start the auction for this painting! We’ll start at 100 gold!”

Considering that there was no proper appraisal and the artist was unknown, it was a rather high starting price.

The currency of the Asilium Empire was divided into bronze, silver, and gold, with 1000 bronze equaling 1 silver, and 1000 silver equaling 1 gold.

Given that the average monthly income of a baron’s family was 2000 gold, the starting price for an unknown painting could be considered quite high.

As soon as it started, someone raised their hand.

“110.”

“House Izak, 110 gold!”

“130.”

“House Javel, 130 gold!”

Auctions held at charity parties usually only allow invited individuals to enter, so the hosts had to know all the nobles.

When an invited person raises their hand and states a price, the host mentions the family name as the auction progresses.

“150.”

Tanya, who was standing with Rose, raised her hand to participate in the auction.

“House Papia, 150 gold!”

Erina thought about the three people gathered together.

Tanya Papia was known to have a deep appreciation for various artworks, as her father worked as the head of foreign affairs.

While Tanya’s participation in the auction couldn’t be considered strange, Erina was concerned that Rose didn’t stop whispering among them.

“200.”

“House Javel, 200 gold!”

“250.”

“House Izak, 250 gold!”

As the family names continued to be called out, Heila bent down and whispered quietly to Erina.

“Both of these families were mentioned at the dress shop, Erina.”

This reminded Erina of Vilche’s letter.

The two noblewomen currently participating in the auction were Lady Mila Izak, Countess, and Lady Connie Javel, Countess.

Both were expected to hold positions in the United Small Kingdoms.

With this, the painting took on a different interpretation in Erina’s eyes.

A painting with an unknown artist and uncertain appraisal, yet coveted by the United Small Kingdoms?

It was clear that this painting must hold some significance.

“300.”

“House Papia, 300 gold!”

Before Erina could organize her thoughts that were chasing each other, the price of the painting steadily increased.

Judging by how Rose whispered into Tanya’s ear when she hesitated, it seemed that Rose also remembered this painting.

Whether she was encouraging Tanya because the painting would become expensive later, they seemed busy talking to each other even while participating in the auction.

“What do you think, Terik?”

“It could be a kind of channel, this auction itself.”

“A channel?”

Terik moved closer to Erina and whispered.

“A channel to circulate blind money.”

At Terik’s words, Erina’s body trembled slightly.

It felt as if the scattered puzzle pieces in Erina’s mind were dancing again.

Even before the regression, Sereni, as a spy for the Kingdom of Tula, must have held the event annually to expand the scale of the charity party.

Perhaps Sereni had asked for help from Rose, the owner of the mana stone mine, just like now.

The United Small Kingdoms disappeared when they learned that Rose was the owner of the mine.

Why did they disappear?

“350.”

“House Izak, 350 gold!”

If, as Terik said, this charity party played a role like a channel for the United Small Kingdoms’ blind money, they would try to inflate the price of the painting as much as possible to draw money from the Empire.

However, it was questionable whether that painting could reach its pre-regression price through a simple auction.

“400.”

“House Javel, 400 gold!”

This was because the appraised value of that painting, which came as Rose’s wedding gift, was as much as 50,000 gold.

“500.”

“500 gold! House Papia, 500 gold!”

Erina, who had been quietly observing the auction, straightened her back, which had been bent to whisper with Heila and Terik, and raised her hand.

“1000.”

The nobles stirred at the suddenly doubled price.

When they confirmed that it was Erina who had raised her hand, there were two reactions.

One was a “Well, if it’s Count Medelia” reaction, and the other was an interest in what might be special about that painting.

Suddenly, attention was focused on the painting.

“I apologize, I lost the tempo for a moment. 1000 gold! House Medelia, 1000 gold!”

The host apologized for momentarily hesitating at the suddenly increased amount.

Even to the host, it seemed difficult to see the painting as particularly appealing, and he appeared surprised by the continuously rising bids.

Erina looked at Countess Mila Izak with her long dark blue hair and Countess Connie Javel with her teal hair neatly twisted up.

Both their faces were tinged with confusion at Erina’s unexpected participation.

Erina turned her gaze to Tanya, who was standing with Rose.

Strangely, Tanya, who had no connection to Erina, was filled with hostility.

Knowing that House Papia acquired various artworks, Erina smiled at Tanya, intending to engage in friendly competition.

However, Tanya’s eyes flashed with even more displeasure.

“Erina, did something unpleasant happen with Lady Papia?”

Heila asked, seeming to have noticed it as well.

At the same time, Erina saw Rose whispering and smiling menacingly behind Tanya.

“Nothing happened, but I can guess who’s stirring up trouble.”

Just as Erina finished speaking, Tanya raised her hand.

“1050.”

“House Papia, 1050 gold!”

Mila and Connie, who were standing in the middle, were flustered by the rapidly increasing price for the first item of the second part and could only watch cautiously without participating.

There were 20 items scheduled for the second part.

If they spent too much on one item, it would be difficult to buy other pieces.

However, sensing something about the painting itself, Mila and Connie exchanged glances, and Mila raised her hand again.

“1070.”

“House Izak, 1070 gold!”

It seemed they had agreed for one family to take the lead.

At this point, Erina, who had only been suspicious before, could no longer ignore that there must be something about the painting.

Though she felt sorry for Tanya, it was difficult to simply watch the United Small Kingdoms, who unlike before the regression, showed no intention of disappearing.

“1500.”

“House Medelia, 1500 gold!”

As Erina spoke, Tanya glared at her resentfully, while Mila and Connie were at a loss.

“1500 gold! Any more bids?”

“1600!”

“House Papia, 1600 gold!”

The auction, reminiscent of a fight, continued to heat up.

Erina stared at Tanya, who kept emitting an inexplicable hostility.

It seemed as if Rose was continuously sowing discord about her, but if this painting went to Tanya, there was a high probability it would end up with Rose, just like before the regression.

To others, the painting being auctioned might be a mere piece of art, but to Erina, it was a fragment of the past connecting the United Small Kingdoms and Rose.

Moreover, it was something that needed to be shattered without leaving a trace.

“3000.”

“3000 gold! House Medelia, 3000 gold!”

The audience stirred, and no one else raised their hand.

A price far exceeding a baron’s monthly income was set for a painting they were seeing for the first time.

“3000 gold! Any more bids?”

No one else raised their hand.

Tanya looked frustrated but couldn’t rashly raise her hand.

Mila and Connie, who were anxious about the endlessly rising price, were in the same situation.

Initially, the painting was expected to be sold for around 500 gold.

“3000 gold! If there are no more bids, I will proceed with the sale!”

The host shouted with an even more excited voice at the heated auction.

“3000 gold, sold! The painting by an unknown artist is sold to Count Medelia!”

As soon as the auction for the painting ended, the nobles who couldn’t speak began to murmur.

“What could that painting be?”

“My goodness, as expected of Count Medelia.”

Among the excited people, the only ones not smiling were Mila and Connie, who had to secure the painting at all costs, and Tanya, who didn’t want to lose to Erina.