Today, the auction house was packed without even room to stand. Although I had anticipated a crowd to some extent, it was beyond what I had imagined, making it difficult to step away.

“Am I getting old? I feel completely disoriented.”

Sheffer wiped away the beads of sweat with a handkerchief tucked under his hat. The star of the commotion was the luxurious mansion known as the Great Mansion of Rodinia, or the Eveline Mansion.

The owner of the mansion was Lawrence Eveline, the top contributor to the restoration of the Mayer dynasty in Preston. However, ironically, after the restoration of the Mayer dynasty, Lawrence had to choose the status of a fallen nobleman to escape from Mayer, who sought to make his only daughter his mistress.

Lawrence Eveline probably hadn’t anticipated this when he built this mansion. That this mansion, which had heralded a new beginning in a new place, would be so ruthlessly hunted by the wolves of New Way.

“I wonder if there’s anywhere to sit.”

After squeezing through the crowd and dusting off his crumpled clothes, he searched for a suitable place to stand. Then, by a stroke of luck, he found a bench momentarily vacant, and his legs, faster than the countless eyes desiring a seat, became an opportunity to seize that luck.

Of course, he was grabbed by the scruff of the neck by some ruffian, but standing throughout the lengthy auction would be a waste of energy. Today, he had to secure the Great Mansion of Rodinia, the Eveline Mansion. It was Anthony Sheffer’s first and last chance to repay the kindness he had received from the Eveline family.

Sheffer’s elbow, which was adjusting the recently grabbed nape, bumped into the person next to him.

“I’m sorry. It’s so cramped here.”

He nodded to the man who, despite sitting on the same bench, he had to look up at slightly.

‘He looks like quite a pretty girl. With such a fair face.’

Besides that, the neatly tied black hair and light blue eyes that shone with an icy light made for a quite impressive face. Swallowing his first impression of the young man, Sheffer put on a cool smile, and the man lightly pulled his chin to accept Sheffer’s apology.

As the cold gaze that had settled on him disappeared, Sheffer slowly examined the man’s appearance.

With his long limbs, the closely placed bench must have felt cramped for this man. Sheffer consoled himself in that brief moment, thinking it was fortunate that he himself was short.

‘But, I feel like I’ve seen that handsome face somewhere before.’

A small doubt sprouted, and he forgot that closely examining a familiar face could be considered rude.

“Caspian, you were interested in the Great Mansion of Rodinia too, right? Or more accurately, are you more interested in Eveline’s only daughter?”

Sheffer’s attention shifted elsewhere due to the name Eveline being mentioned from the bench in front.

“Are you trying to seize this opportunity after being rejected by Miss Eveline?”

“Cut out the creepy jokes. Not everyone here has gathered to make Eveline their wife. She’s just an object that comes with the mansion, to be kept as a mistress until the fun runs out and then discarded. If Eveline begs, I might treat her as such.”

It was rather Sheffer who blushed at the somewhat vulgar joke. As he tried to rebuke the disrespect towards Eveline’s only daughter and confirm the man’s face, Sheffer had to quietly keep his bottom on the bench.

“You’re always so mischievous. Be nice to her. Isn’t she a poor and delicate lamb?”

“There are widespread rumors that she’s bringing men into the mansion for survival. What poor and delicate lamb? And then to play hard to get like that. They say you see a person’s true nature when they hit rock bottom. Anyway, Benjamin. Since you have some acquaintance with that Eveline person, don’t take her side. I’m starting to feel hurt by our long friendship.”

“I’m not taking her side, I’m just saying don’t be too upset about Miss Eveline rejecting your proposal.”

The new rich, Caspian Houd, and Viscount Benjamin Quinlan.

The only ones in New Way who could freely glare at the jovial Viscount Quinlan were the few dukes and Caspian Houd. So there was no one here who could fit between that combination.

“Anyway, I feel sorry for Miss Eveline. Are the Evelines dead or alive? Did the maid who stayed by Miss Eveline’s side run away with the money?”

“That maid was rather smart. And if the Evelines were alive, would they be ignoring their precious daughter who’s selling her body to survive?”

The only daughter of the Eveline family was miserably distorted at the corner of Houd’s lips. Sheffer, no longer wanting to hear, furrowed his brow and squeezed his eyes shut. He tried to erase Houd’s desires by cramming other distracting thoughts into his mind.

The warm afternoon sunlight shattered and spread across the wide glass windows. Vivian’s shimmering golden hair was like the surface of a lake rippling in the sunset light. Although her hair had already lost its luster, to Theo it felt more beautiful and soft than silk.

Theo, holding a dome dish, came to his senses when Vivian’s gaze, which had been concentrating on her embroidery, fell on him.

“Have you been embroidering all day again today?”

Gratitude filled Vivian’s face as she tucked her fallen hair behind her ear. Ignoring the smile that expressed a positive intent, Theo set the dome dish and fork down in front of Vivian.

“Please eat, Miss. You need strength to embroider more.”

“Thank you, Theo.”

All that remained for the precious only daughter of the Eveline family was Theo Evans, a tailor from a small town.

The sturdy walls that once surrounded Vivian had long since crumbled. Vivian Eveline, withering day by day from deep emotional distress, no longer looked like the cherished only daughter of a prestigious family.

“You don’t have to come every day like this. You’re losing business by leaving your shop empty because of me.”

“Have you forgotten? Until both of them return safely, I must take care of you, Miss.”

“But…”

“If I don’t look after you, you won’t even eat. You need to gain some weight. Otherwise, I’ll be scolded by both of them.”

The fork was slipped into Vivian’s fingers. A mere tailor from a small town couldn’t dare to touch the hand of a noble lady carelessly. But Vivian accepted his goodwill with a bitter smile.

“Because of me, many people have been sacrificed. If I had become Mayer’s mistress, my parents, Mr. Sheffer, and you, Theo… everyone wouldn’t have had to suffer.”

The suddenly dejected smile that appeared stabbed Theo’s solar plexus.

“I thought this place we escaped to would be paradise. If I had known it wasn’t, it might have been better to live as Mayer’s mistress there.”

Theo didn’t know exactly what had happened in Preston, but all he knew was that the king of Preston coveted the beautiful only daughter of the Eveline viscount family, causing them to flee to New Way.

Knowing only the outcome, Theo couldn’t even imagine how Viscount Eveline must have felt to turn his back on the king he had established and go into exile.

“Don’t say such things. Why are you speaking so weakly, it doesn’t suit you.”

“Theo, do you think Mr. Sheffer will be able to win the bid for this house?”

Theo was briefly relieved by the small hope Vivian showed. But a chill wrapped around his shoulders because he couldn’t be certain of the outcome that would follow.

“But Miss, do you really not know the source of that money that Mrs. Eveline entrusted to Mr. Sheffer?”

After failing in business and losing the family’s entire fortune, Lawrence Eveline disappeared. Then, unable to pay the bank debts, the mansion was put up for auction, and Mrs. Eveline also left New Way, leaving behind her daughter Vivian.

But before leaving New Way, Monica Eveline, whose credit was at rock bottom, borrowed a large sum of 700,000 mori and entrusted it to Sheffer.

“I don’t know either. Where on earth did Mother borrow such a large sum from.”

“Even if the immediate crisis is averted by winning the bid for the mansion, I’m worried that if Madam doesn’t return quickly, some creditor might appear and harass you…”

Theo’s words were cut short when he read the mind in the ashen eyes that were holding back their breath in frustration. The shadow cast on her face under the spring sunlight etched Theo’s mistake.

The fork was already neatly placed on the table. Theo, mixed with apology and complexity, placed the embroidery frame he had pushed into the corner into Vivian’s hands.

Instead of a fork, an embroidery frame.

In the harsh reality of working instead of eating, he conveyed his sincere concern.

“You don’t seem to want to eat, Miss. And you keep saying weak things that don’t suit you. It makes me worry too, so you’d better embroider instead. This can make money. The worries and thoughts of you and me don’t make money.”

The sadness in the ashen eyes had already disappeared. As a familiar and comfortable laugh burst out, Theo’s heart also lightened.

“You’re right. There’s no use in constantly worrying. Father and Mother will return soon, and Mr. Sheffer will win the bid for the mansion.”

“Let’s overcome this together. I’ll always be by your side, Miss. Have determination in your heart but don’t worry. That’s what Mr. Eveline always used to say, right?”

“Yes. My father left behind good words. I’ll be strong. I’ll keep my heart firm and not worry needlessly.”

A needle was held in Vivian’s hand. Theo quietly closed the dome dish and pushed it away. Vivian’s ashen eyes, now able to concentrate comfortably, were shining brightly.

“Next is the Great Mansion of Rodinia! We’ll start at 200,000 mori!”

Finally, today’s auction star, the Great Mansion of Rodinia, appeared. As soon as it appeared, the price started to skyrocket.

From 200,000 mori to 400,000 mori, then from 400,000 mori, the price that was hesitating jumped to 500,000 mori. Now, as it started to exceed 500,000 mori, competitors began to drop out one by one.

The dropouts began to criticize the remaining competitors. Sheffer was not unaware of the true feelings of the angry people.

An unspoken beauty that couldn’t be possessed. And the men with dark intentions reaching out towards that beauty. The hypocrisy of trying to comfort disappointment by condemning others’ hearts was all too obvious.

Anyway, the important thing was that he would be able to win the bid for the Great Mansion of Rodinia without much difficulty, and he could alleviate a piece of the sadness cast over the Eveline family.

“Hey, young man. Who do you think will end up with this mansion?”

Sheffer suddenly thrust his face in front of the man sitting next to him and asked. His heart was fluttering and he wanted to move his mouth, but when the blue eyes pierced Sheffer’s brow, he wondered if he had chosen the wrong person to talk to.

“605,000 mori! 605,000 mori! Any more bids?”

Oops.

It was about time to make a move. No matter how much they talked about old money and new money, it was unlikely that there would be a fool willing to pay more for a mansion on the outskirts of Rodinia, not even in the capital, at such a skyrocketing price.

If there is, come out! I’ll write ‘fool’ on your forehead and call you that until you die!

“700,000 mori!”

As Sheffer raised his paddle and shouted, all eyes turned to one place. There were many eyes curious about the identity of the person who bid 700,000 mori.

One day, Mrs. Eveline had suddenly handed Sheffer a large sum of 700,000 mori that she had borrowed. He was curious where and from whom she had borrowed this large sum when she shouldn’t have had anywhere to borrow from, but Mrs. Eveline, who earnestly pleaded, kept the source of the money confidential to the end.

“700,000 mori! Any more bids?”

Seeing Caspian Houd’s face contort with annoyance, it seemed he was giving up. That one too, and that one too, all giving up.

The battle would be over if the Great Mansion of Rodinia remained as the legendary mansion that was sold for 700,000 mori.

“It seems Your Grace wanted to have the Great Mansion of Rodinia.”

A voice without high or low tones rang out next to the expectant Sheffer. Although his appearance exuded nobility, his tone seemed to be stamped with aristocracy, clean and proper.

Sheffer showed slightly surprised eyes, not expecting him to speak to him, but he quickly regained his composure.

“I wanted it very much. Enough to be my lifelong wish. Ha ha. I’m asking just in case, but are we acquainted? I can’t quite remember my teacher’s face, and I can’t recall where I might have seen you. Ah, yes. I’m Anthony Sheffer. Nice to meet you.”

“I feel sorry to say this when you seem so excited.”

The straight smile, as if measured with a ruler, was both strange and flawlessly perfect. Until he didn’t know what he was sorry about, Sheffer felt embarrassed by the hand hanging awkwardly in the air.

“Ha ha. I really don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“I meant I’m sorry to inform you that you won’t be able to have the Great Mansion of Rodinia, Mr. Sheffer.”

Pouring cold water on the joyful Sheffer was nothing short of malicious. The proper mockery was quite irritating. It was then that he quietly raised his paddle, and immediately surprised gasps erupted from here and there.

“1,000,000 mori.”

Along with the man’s voice, Sheffer’s heart stopped. The mansion, which would be worth about 500,000 mori at best, had become 700,000 mori.

But 1,000,000 mori? Is this guy crazy? What’s wrong with his head?

Sometimes, irresistible events occur that lead to failure in winning a bid. Today’s event was no different from a natural disaster.

“1,000,000 mori! 1,000,000 mori! Any more bids? If there are no more bids, we’ll conclude the auction for the Great Mansion of Rodinia here!”

Sheffer helplessly looked at the man who had disrupted his plans. The blue eyes that slowly lowered held an unsettling perfect smile.

“Edwin Baitness, Mr. Sheffer. It was nice to meet you.”

A large hand was extended towards Sheffer. At that moment, the true nature of this young man flashed like lightning.

After reflexively shaking hands, he was gone from his seat. Sheffer, coming to his senses, immediately searched for his back.

If one were to name the top contributor to establishing New Way as a world power, Edwin Baitness’s name would be called first.

He was an adopted child of a viscount family, then granted the title of duke, and is currently a tycoon of New Way with tremendous influence, establishing himself as the number one figure that the combination of Caspian Houd and Viscount Benjamin Quinlan couldn’t even dare to compete with.

‘In this situation, I should at least try to talk to him. Otherwise, Miss Eveline will have nowhere else to go.’

Reporters who had already recognized Edwin Baitness’s presence were surrounding him. They began to relentlessly photograph him, who had acquired the Eveline Mansion. I could guess tomorrow’s headline without even seeing it.

‘New Way’s Duke Baitness Cruelly Devours Preston’s Fallen Nobility Eveline.’