IHDOE Ch 68

[Satina] "I know. I know very well we aren't related by blood. But what can I do? I'm just worried about you."

[Sharlan] "Worried? How hilarious. Who are you to worry about me, Sister?"

Even though his father had battered him like this, Satina was hardly in a position to worry about him.

Satina was a bizarre woman. She worried about him, meddled unnecessarily to resolve his troubles, and expected nothing in return. Though he offered to buy her as many jewels or dresses as she desired, all she ever requested was a dance or a simple picnic together.

Sharlan couldn't define the emotions stirring within his chest. Confused and unsettled, he lashed out at her, breaking his usual composure.

[Sharlan] "A minor wound won't kill anyone. And what if I die? Would my death cause you any loss, Sister? Why not take this opportunity to target the position of Young Duke of House Bersabet? With your capabilities, you could easily surpass Rebecca."

[Sharlan] "Stop pretending to care. I don't trust you."

Her eyes reddened.

[Satina] "I... I just wanted to be family with you. I wanted a family too, so..."

She was hurt.

The moment he realized that fact, his heart sank. Pain throbbed in a corner of his chest, yet Sharlan felt no need to retract his words.

No, he refused to. He didn't want to admit that a woman like her swayed him so easily. Every nerve in his body stood on edge toward her.

[Satina] "If you hate it that much, I won't interfere anymore."

A severe shock struck his mind. The moment he heard those words, he wanted to grab her by the shoulders and demand answers.

You said you wanted to be family with me. Were those just empty words?

You claimed you wanted a family, yet you pull away over mere words like this?

Satina extended her hand, her fingertips gently touching his cheek.

[Satina] "Still, will you let me heal your wound?"

Immense relief washed over him upon realizing she was not abandoning him yet. Only then did he realize that, deep down, he desperately wished she would never leave him—that she would reach out to him again, no matter what he did.

You crazy bastard.

He cursed himself. Though he had denied it so fiercely, he now had to accept the truth: she had occupied a substantial part of his life.

[Sharlan] "Do as you wish."

Even so, he lacked the courage to stop her as she pulled away after healing his wound.

---

Meanwhile, Duke Bersabet's rage remained unquenched even after showering Sharlan with verbal abuse. He headed to the auction house, intending to relieve his built-up stress by purchasing luxury items.

Yet in that very place, he encountered the person he least wished to see: Marquis Glacier.

[M. Glacier] "Haha, well now. I didn't expect to see Duke Bersabet here."

[D. Bersabet] "I didn't expect to see you here either. Are you idle these days?"

His gaze drifted toward the rat beastkin standing beside Marquis Glacier. Before the prominent scar crossing the man's face, the twitching rat ears atop his head caught the Duke's attention.

He grimaced in disgust.

[D. Bersabet] "Bringing a filthy rat beastkin to a place like this..."

[M. Glacier] "Please, don't speak so. This gentleman is the master of the emerging Lettina Merchant Guild, Mr. Hedzel."

[D. Bersabet] "Ah..."

He scrutinized Hedzel from head to toe. Though his remaining judgment prevented him from spewing outright slurs, he couldn't conceal his disdain for the beastkin.

[M. Glacier] "I brought him along today as he expressed interest in participating in the auction."

[D. Bersabet] "Well, I suppose a beastkin has never set foot in a place like this, so he would be curious."

Listening to the Duke's arrogant remarks, Hedzel wanted to hurl curses at him, yet he restrained himself, recalling Satina's instructions.

Ending the conversation, the Duke took his seat and grumbled to the butler beside him.

[D. Bersabet] "This auction house must be going under. Beastkin... How utterly low-class... And not just any beastkin, but bringing in a filthy, reeking rat beastkin."

The butler carefully read the Duke's mood, speaking cautiously.

[Butler] "It must be thanks to Marquis Glacier. How else could a rat beastkin set foot in an auction house?"

[D. Bersabet] "I wondered what crazy fool was sweeping up all the maltstone on the market. I thought it was some insane wealthy merchant, but it was a rat beastkin? Absurd beyond words."

He clicked his tongue.

Meanwhile, the lights dimmed, and the auction commenced. Spending money lavishly on auctioned items began to soothe his stress.

[D. Bersabet] "Today's auction items are quite splendid. I can hang that painting in my study."

He glanced covertly toward Marquis Glacier and Hedzel.

[D. Bersabet] "Those fools haven't bought anything."

[Butler] "He's merely a rat who happened upon some pocket change by luck. How could he afford items at an auction like this? You need not pay him any mind, Your Grace."

[D. Bersabet] "Isn't that obvious? By the way, when is Emperor Gordio's emerald brooch listed on the invitation coming out? I came to buy that item, yet only useless junk keeps appearing."

Right on cue, the auctioneer on stage bellowed in a loud voice.

[Auctioneer] "Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for your patience! The highlight of today's auction! We now present Emperor Gordio's emerald brooch!"

Staff brought out the emerald brooch displayed inside a glass case.

[Auctioneer] "As you all know, Emperor Gordio was the Eighth Emperor of the Empire, who greatly elevated the Empire's prestige by conquering the current southern region..."

The brilliant luster of the emerald stirred excitement throughout the hall.

[Auctioneer] "We start at one million! One million! Two million! Three million!"

Bidders raised their paddle boards, rapidly driving up the brooch's price.

The auctioneer called out, looking toward Duke Bersabet.

[Auctioneer] "Five million!"

Gasping echoes filled the hall as people marveled at the Duke dropping such a large sum at once.

[Crowd] "As expected of House Bersabet."

[Crowd] "House Bersabet's wealth is famous, after all."

[Crowd] "Speaking of which, did you hear what Lady Satina accomplished in the west? If she becomes the Saintess at this rate, no other ducal house will stand a chance against House Bersabet."

[Crowd] "Since Duke Bersabet is participating, I suppose I must give up on that brooch."

[Crowd] "A wise decision. How could anyone beat House Bersabet in wealth?"

Hearing the crowd's chatter, the Duke shrugged proudly.

Everyone knows their place. Who would dare challenge House Bersabet in a contest of wealth?

[Auctioneer] "Seven million!"

Duke Bersabet turned toward the sound. The rat beastkin sat holding up his paddle board.

Even Marquis Glacier looked at Hedzel in surprise, clearly caught off guard by his sudden bid.

The Duke's face hardened. Though seven million gold was a manageable sum, he despised the thought of a mere rat beastkin coveting an item he desired.

[D. Bersabet] "Eight million."

[Hedzel] "Nine million!"

[D. Bersabet] "Ten million!"

[Hedzel] "Twenty million!"

The price doubled in an instant. Murmurs erupted among the crowd at the unexpected bidder.

[Crowd] "Twenty million gold? Does that rat beastkin really possess that much money?"

[Crowd] "What on earth does that rat beastkin do to have so much gold?"

[Crowd] "Appearing out of nowhere and dropping twenty million."

[Crowd] "Could he be bluffing?"

[Crowd] "Hey, did you forget you have to deposit funds with the auction house in advance to call such an amount?"

People watched Hedzel and Duke Bersabet with intense curiosity.

Duke Bersabet glared at Hedzel. At that moment, Hedzel turned his head, his gaze locking with the Duke.

Just as he had done to him earlier, Hedzel scrutinized the Duke from head to toe before smirking mockingly, as if daring him to back down if he lacked the courage.

How dare a mere rat bastard!

[D. Bersabet] "Twenty-one million!"

[Auctioneer] "Yes! We have twenty-one million!"

The auctioneer couldn't hide his radiant smile at the Duke's exclamation.

Hedzel shrugged at the Duke, mouthing two words.

Is that all?

It was merely two words, yet more than enough to provoke him.

[Hedzel] "Thirty million!"

The Duke hesitated at the number tumbling from Hedzel's mouth. It was far higher than anticipated.

[Butler] "Your Grace..."

The price had long surpassed the brooch's actual value. Rationally, stepping back now was the correct choice, yet after being provoked by a beastkin he routinely looked down on, his pride forbade retreat.

[D. Bersabet] "Thirty-five million!"

An uproar erupted throughout the hall at his bid.

[Auctioneer] "Thirty-five million! Thirty-five million called! If no further bids before the third hammer, Emperor Gordio's emerald brooch goes to Duke Bersabet! Thirty-five million!"

People watched Hedzel with tense faces.

[Hedzel] "..."

Hedzel let out a peculiar smile.

[Auctioneer] "Thirty-five million! And the brooch belongs to Duke Bersabet! Congratulations!"

The crowd gasped in admiration.

[Crowd] "As expected of Duke Bersabet."

[Crowd] "Thirty-five million is a massive sum, but this is House Bersabet. That much is no trouble at all."

Hedzel approached the Duke. He welcomed Hedzel with a victor's smirk.

No matter how much money a rat like you earns, you are no match for House Bersabet.

[Hedzel] "My, I didn't expect Duke Bersabet to call such a grand sum."

[D. Bersabet] "Well, it might be a grand sum to you, but to House Bersabet, this isn't even horse feed money."

[Hedzel] "House Bersabet is truly remarkable. With House Glacier about to snatch all your clients, I envy that you still have so much gold to burn."

Hedzel clapped his hands mockingly.

[D. Bersabet] "What? How dare you blabber so recklessly with that trap of yours!"

[Hedzel] "If you hand that brooch over to me now, I might even sell some maltstone to you... Say, at ten times the market price? Hahaha!"

The Duke's face flushed crimson. He was a high noble, and short of the Emperor, no one dared disrespect him. Yet a rat beastkin suited for slavery dared to challenge him!

The butler standing beside him shouted at Hedzel.

[Butler] "You bastard! If you wish to keep living in the capital, apologize this instant! How dare you utter such outrageous insolence to His Grace...!"

[Hedzel] "Oops, look at the time...! I must be going!"

Ignoring the butler entirely, he hastily scurried away to evade the Duke.

I don't care anymore! I did exactly as you told me, Satina!

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