Episode 52. Riley Auction (2)
Red Tears.
It is said that the large red diamond was discovered in Goldran across the sea a long time ago.
The clear and brilliant red color, like freshly dropped blood, was unrivaled compared to any other jewel.
The only flaw was that there was a transparent inclusion in one corner, which happened to be in the shape of a human heart.
King Goldran processed it into a shape like a teardrop, made it into a necklace, and gave it to a woman.
'I will give you my red heart, so be my concubine.'
She accepted the King's courtship, but the ending was tragic. The Queen poisoned her.
After that, the 'Red Tears' ended up in the hands of Queen Goldran, and disappeared when the King was beheaded her for treason and the palace burned down. That was about forty years ago.
After that, it ended up in the hands of pirates on the high seas and changed hands several times.
And about twenty years ago, there was a rumor that it had flowed into the mainland of the empire. But even then, no one had seen the appearance of the 'Red Tears'.
However, it was now displayed on the stage of the Riley Auction House.
The 'Red Tears' now had a large scratch like a knife mark on the metal decoration.
However, far from diminishing the value of the jewel, the scratch paradoxically proved that it had been the main character of a difficult fate over the years.
Grayon muttered as he looked at it.
"It's like a small sun. A bright red sun."
"Yes. I think it suits you well."
The Princes and Princesses are called 'Tagar's small suns' out of courtesy. Grayon snorted when Locard made a joke comparing it to that.
The auctioneer said,
"The first item of the day, the large red diamond, the legendary 'Red Tears', will be auctioned! Its authenticity is guaranteed by the Riley Auction House."
Locard laughed.
"They really seem to be sure of that, guaranteeing it."
"We should investigate whether or not they are dealing with pirates."
“What should I do? It’ll be useless soon.”
Grayon opened his eyes slightly wide and looked back at Locard, then shook his head.
“‘Red Tears’ starts at five million gold and goes up by one hundred thousand gold. Five million gold, number 31. Five million gold, number 6.”
The prices went up quickly. The reason the starting price was surprisingly low seemed to be because of the fatal flaw in the metal decoration.
“Five million, seven hundred thousand gold, number 17.”
Then a woman spoke.
“Seven million gold.”
“Lady 29 called seven million gold. Then we’ll go up by five hundred thousand gold. Seven million, five hundred thousand gold, number 17. Eight million gold, number 29. Eight million, five hundred thousand gold, number 17...”
Locard recognized the woman no 29 and narrowed his brows.
Grayon whispered with a sly grin.
“Damn it. My budget is twelve million.”
“Kalin Ankart. The Academy’s second-prize winner, you mentioned earlier.”
“Ankart?”
“Ten million gold, are you participating in number 17?”
But Grayon only glared at the auctioneer and did not pick up the number plate.
Locard muttered softly.
“I’ll pay the additional amount. What are you doing!”
But Grayon was holding the number plate firmly in his lap.
Locard barely managed to hold back the urge to snatch the number plate from Grayon.
Money is not the issue right now!
“You are making a mistake. Your Highness.”
“Number 29, ‘Red Tears’ ten million gold one, ten million gold two, ten million gold three! The first item in the Riley auction, the legendary red diamond ‘Red Tears’, has been sold to Lady Number 29!”
The auction house erupted in murmurs and applause.
Kalin Ancard had no intention of hiding the fact that she was the owner of ‘Red Tears’. She stood up elegantly and gave a light bow to the guests.
She did not forget to smile meaningfully at number 17 and his party.
“Now, let’s start the second auction. The second item is...”
Meanwhile, the two left the bidding booth, leaving the auctioneer’s heated voice behind them.
Locard whispered fiercely from a corner.
“Why are you doing that? Without that, there’s no gift for His Majesty’s birthday!”
However, Grayon’s gaze was fixed on the back of Kalin as she went to pay the price.
He muttered with a bitter smile.
“If you don’t have money, you have to make up for it with charm.”
“...”
Locard hoped that Grayon’s plan was not what he thought.
However, Kalin, who had already acquired the ‘Red Tears’, was approaching with her escort knights.
Locard stepped forward with a stern face, and Kalin approached with a smile, leaving the escort knight far behind.
“I recognized you as Prince Kydel. I didn’t expect to meet you here during the vacation.”
“Miss Ankart.”
“I’m sorry, but I won the bid for ‘Red Tears.’ I hope you’re not offended.”
“I am. Offended.”
Kalin blushed slightly at the unexpected answer and covered her mouth with her hand. She had a very noble bearing.
She smiled softly and said,
“Still, I’m glad I was able to defeat the Prince in something like this.”
At that moment, Grayon stepped forward.
“Ankart.”
Locard sighed inwardly, but introduced himself softly so that no one around him could hear.
“Your Highness, Prince Grayon. Many eyes are watching, so please skip the courtesy.”
“Your Highness, Prince Grayon!”
Kalin whispered in surprise and bowed her head.
However, Locard, who was looking at her, was certain that she had known about Grayon’s existence from the beginning.
Grayon said cheerfully.
“I bid on the ‘Red Tears.’”
“Please call me Kalin. Your Highness, forgive me. I didn’t even know that...”
“If you had known it was me, would you have given up the bid?”
“...”
Kalin looked at Grayon’s face under the hood with a blushing face in embarrassment. Her eyes wavered, just like a woman who had fallen for a man.
However, her answer was firm.
“No.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry, but I wanted to create a story that would be talked about for a long time in our Ankart family. It could become another form of fame.”
“The Viscount Ankart made a fortune in commerce and even owned the ‘Red Tears’?”
It was a story of ambition and desire. The wealth of the Ankart family was said to be one of the few in the empire, but the limitations of being a small local Viscount were clear.
However, Viscount Ankart, or Kalin Ankart, had no intention of remaining within that limitation.
“You are correct.”
“I’ll give you ten million gold, so how about handing it over to me?”
Locard watched Kalin’s eyes shine like jewels.
He knew that he would eventually meet her in the palace.
With her skills, she could easily become an academy graduate and become a royal attendant or an academy researcher.
However, it was clear that she had no intention of waiting that long. He had noticed it when she had shown interest in Grayon in the library before, but he had never thought that they would meet in such an urgent situation.
That’s why the light she had on her was so annoying to him.
Kalin answered,
“Your Highness has proposed a deal, so may I also state my conditions?”
A deal at the request of the royal family?
Her decisiveness or recklessness made Grayon’s mouth slightly harden.
However, he tried to smile and answered,
“Tell me.”
“Even though Prince Kydel is studying at the academy, he is doing a great job as a royal attendant. With that support, I dare to challenge him as well.”
She met Grayon’s eyes and said.
“Will you make me your maid, Your Highness?”
Locard looked at Grayon’s mouth, visible under his hood.
What would he say? Would he accept this provocative woman now?
Grayon said.
“We are in the middle of a competition, so I cannot bring in a new maid. I have no choice but to decline, so I will pay you in money, Ankart.”
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
The two men could not believe their ears at Kalin’s calm answer.
“That is not what I want, so I cannot agree to the deal. The ‘Red Tears’ will be kept by the Ankarts.”
“...!”
“Then I will leave, Your Highness. Eternal glory to Tagar.”
The two men stood in silence until Kalin disappeared with her escort knights.
Grayon coughed and muttered.
“I apologize for doubting you before, Locard.”
When Locard had refused Kalin’s advances, Grayon had doubted his loyalty.
He had wondered if he was only bringing those he could defeat before him.
But Locard was angry for another reason now.
“Why did you refuse! This time, the jewel is absolutely necessary. I know you don’t want to show weakness, but this time...”
“The house of Chief Amata.”
It was one of the most horrible memories of what Locard had done in the Tunbar Mountains.
Grayon wanted that.
Locard groaned and placed his palm on his forehead.
“Your Highness!”
But Grayon smiled.
“Let’s go back. Locard.”
I couldn’t return to the palace for a few days. I was busy going from orphanage to orphanage.
When Sir Rond entered the inn at night, the noisy guests would become quiet at the sight of his size, and that made me feel quite good.
I donated the money for Her Highness’s ring to about thirty orphanages. I personally delivered food and clothes to the orphanages with some of the money.
It was better to see the gifts with my own eyes and hold them with my own hands.
It would have been easier to just give donations to a few orphanages in the capital city, but that would have made it seem like I was trying to make things easier.
And it didn’t fit my purpose.
Sir Rond followed me silently. He was a person who made me feel protected just by being around him, even though he didn't say or do much.
When we arrived at the palace after our long journey, it was night. We went straight back to our respective quarters and went to sleep.
And the next day, when we went to the Princess's reception room, we were able to see Targan together.
“The Viscount Ankart made a fortune in commerce and even owned the ‘Red Tears’?”
It was a story of ambition and desire. The wealth of the Ankart family was said to be one of the few in the empire, but the limitations of being a small local Viscount were clear.
However, Viscount Ankart, or Kalin Ankart, had no intention of remaining within that limitation.
“You are correct.”
“I’ll give you ten million gold, so how about handing it over to me?”
Locard watched Kalin’s eyes shine like jewels.
He knew that he would eventually meet her in the palace.
With her skills, she could easily become an academy graduate and become a royal attendant or an academy researcher.
However, it was clear that she had no intention of waiting that long. He had noticed it when she had shown interest in Grayon in the library before, but he had never thought that they would meet in such an urgent situation.
That’s why the light she had on her was so annoying to him.
Kalin answered,
“Your Highness has proposed a deal, so may I also state my conditions?”
A deal at the request of the royal family?
Her decisiveness or recklessness made Grayon’s mouth slightly harden.
However, he tried to smile and answered,
“Tell me.”
“Even though Prince Kydel is studying at the academy, he is doing a great job as a royal attendant. With that support, I dare to challenge him as well.”
She met Grayon’s eyes and said.
“Will you make me your maid, Your Highness?”
Locard looked at Grayon’s mouth, visible under his hood.
What would he say? Would he accept this provocative woman now?
Grayon said.
“We are in the middle of a competition, so I cannot bring in a new maid. I have no choice but to decline, so I will pay you in money, Ankart.”
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
The two men could not believe their ears at Kalin’s calm answer.
“That is not what I want, so I cannot agree to the deal. The ‘Red Tears’ will be kept by the Ankarts.”
“...!”
“Then I will leave, Your Highness. Eternal glory to Tagar.”
The two men stood in silence until Kalin disappeared with her escort knights.
Grayon coughed and muttered.
“I apologize for doubting you before, Locard.”
When Locard had refused Kalin’s advances, Grayon had doubted his loyalty.
He had wondered if he was only bringing those he could defeat before him.
But Locard was angry for another reason now.
“Why did you refuse! This time, the jewel is absolutely necessary. I know you don’t want to show weakness, but this time...”
“The house of Chief Amata.”
It was one of the most horrible memories of what Locard had done in the Tunbar Mountains.
Grayon wanted that.
Locard groaned and placed his palm on his forehead.
“Your Highness!”
But Grayon smiled.
“Let’s go back. Locard.”
***
I couldn’t return to the palace for a few days. I was busy going from orphanage to orphanage.
When Sir Rond entered the inn at night, the noisy guests would become quiet at the sight of his size, and that made me feel quite good.
I donated the money for Her Highness’s ring to about thirty orphanages. I personally delivered food and clothes to the orphanages with some of the money.
It was better to see the gifts with my own eyes and hold them with my own hands.
It would have been easier to just give donations to a few orphanages in the capital city, but that would have made it seem like I was trying to make things easier.
And it didn’t fit my purpose.
Sir Rond followed me silently. He was a person who made me feel protected just by being around him, even though he didn't say or do much.
When we arrived at the palace after our long journey, it was night. We went straight back to our respective quarters and went to sleep.
And the next day, when we went to the Princess's reception room, we were able to see Targan together.
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