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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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I headed into the downtown with Rebecca, the Saintess. The auction wouldn’t begin until the moon was high in the sky, so we had some time.
“Is there anything you’d like to eat or drink?”
“…Order whatever you like.”
Her neatly arranged golden hair, like a flowing stream, peeked out from beneath her hood. Rebecca frowned slightly and brushed a stray strand aside. With the concealing necklace removed, her breathtaking beauty was revealed.
“…”
I paused mid-order, captivated by her appearance. While Agnes possessed a cold, resolute beauty, Rebecca radiated a gentle, serene grace.
If the Cardinal who had trained her saw this, he would surely smile with pride.
“Let’s get straight to the point. How did you know my true identity?”
She took a sip of her coffee, then interrupted my order. Her expression suggested she needed an answer immediately.
I took a slow sip of my own coffee.
My deliberate pace made her impatient.
“Answer me.”
“Apologies. The question was so obvious.”
With a slight smile, I explained what I had prepared beforehand.
“I doubt you’ve forgotten my family name.”
“Even the Philasia Dukedom can’t access confidential information from the Church…”
“The Saintess Rebecca’s hair shimmers due to her innate divine power when she’s happy.”
Rebecca’s eyes widened. It was understandable. The information about her shimmering hair was known only to a handful of people in the Church.
It’s not something to hide, but it wasn’t common knowledge either. And it certainly wasn’t something someone outside the Church would know. Especially since the Saintess was currently at the academy.
After she decided to enroll in Iliad Academy, the Church had suppressed all information regarding the Saintess, except for what was already public knowledge.
‘Even the current Duke of Philasia, my father, probably doesn’t know this.’
The Church’s control was impeccable. Even if it only lasted for a few years, it was a testament to their power.
But no secret was absolute. There were always irregularities, like me, who could uncover hidden truths.
Of course, I knew because I had read the original story.
Rebecca, unaware of this, looked worried. She was likely concerned that information had leaked to the eldest son of the Philasia family, bypassing the Church’s control.
“Saintess.”
That wasn’t what she should be focusing on right now. At my call, Rebecca looked up.
“Have you heard of the Night Auction?”
“Yes, it’s quite the rumor in the Empire. I hear they even deal in illicit goods.”
“Indeed. They even auction off narcotics forbidden by the Church.”
She frowned, as if she already knew.
The place I was heading to. The underbelly of the Empire. The back alleys. The Night Auction.
Attended by wealthy commoners and even members of the royal family.
“I need you to be my lover.”
The most dangerous auction, where only the most valuable and illicit items were traded. Masks were mandatory to conceal identities, and any disturbance was strictly forbidden.
Rebecca’s eyes widened.
“You don’t mean literally, do you? You mean the Masked Auction?”
“Precisely.”
“It’s not a place one can easily enter… though I suppose that doesn’t apply to you.”
“On the contrary, my status alone isn’t enough.”
Normally, I could enter. There were few places in the Empire inaccessible to the Philasia name.
However…
“Given my reputation, the organizers wouldn’t allow me entry.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Her immediate agreement stung a little. The rumors about me – the disgrace of the nobility, the trash, the invalid – didn’t exactly fit the image of the Masked Auction.
My sickly appearance could betray my identity, and I was considered a potential source of disruption. The Masked Auction thrived on anonymity. If someone’s identity was revealed, or if a disturbance occurred…
‘It would damage their reputation.’
The high-ranking nobles and those with “blue blood” might stop attending. So even as the eldest son of the Philasia family, my notoriety prevented my entry.
Rebecca placed her coffee cup on the table with a decisive clink. Her golden eyes, now sharp and piercing, fixed on me.
As if she could see right through me.
“So you want to borrow my reputation?”
“If the trash of the nobility enters with the Saintess as his lover… if the invalid enters accompanied by the Church’s healer, the organizers wouldn’t be able to refuse.”
Nor should they refuse.
“Alright. I’m willing… but…”
A sudden chill filled the air.
“Why should I?”
I gulped, meeting her sharp gaze, so unlike that of a Saintess. I had to choose my words carefully.
“Rumor has it that an elven slave is being auctioned off.”
“What?!”
An elven slave. Those two words changed Rebecca’s demeanor. Slavery itself was illegal within the Empire, but that only applied to its citizens.
Kidnapping and enslaving other races was rampant. Even some nobles within the Empire indulged in this practice, and it was often overlooked.
Elven slaves were the rarest and most sought-after. A noble and reclusive race that rarely left their forests, their otherworldly beauty made them a coveted prize among the nobility.
And there were rumors of ancient, powerful elves infiltrating and destroying entire families, so caution was understandable.
“Are you certain?”
“I can’t guarantee it. Rumors are just rumors.”
Rebecca gritted her teeth. I had phrased it that way, but I already knew an elven slave would be auctioned off. Petra had informed me.
Though it wasn’t the character I knew from the original story. The fifth heroine.
The Elven Priestess and Princess. She would appear at this Masked Auction a little later in the story. When was it again… after befriending the Imperial Princess?
I couldn’t quite recall.
“I’ll go.”
Rebecca muttered, interrupting my thoughts. I smiled and asked again,
“Are you certain? There’s no guarantee.”
“You wouldn’t invoke the Philasia name for unreliable information.”
She spoke as if she had known me for a long time. I felt a strange sense of familiarity but simply nodded.
She had no choice but to follow me. The Saintess, both officially and unofficially, opposed slavery.
I didn’t know the exact reason, but she abhorred slavery to the point of having a visceral reaction upon hearing the word.
The original story never fully explained her reasons. I slowly stood up.
If we were going to the black market, Rebecca’s attire needed some… adjustments. Even a mask couldn’t fully conceal her noble bearing, and her clothes would betray her status.
Participants in the Masked Auction could bring a partner, and given the event’s prestige, we needed to dress the part. I extended my hand to the seated Rebecca.
It was time to play the role of a loving couple.
“Shall we go?”
“….”
Rebecca frowned, then silently took my hand. Despite her cold gaze, her hand was warm.
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On our way to the Masked Auction, I purchased suitable attire. It was a bit expensive, but my savings were sufficient. Rebecca initially refused, appalled by the idea, but when I explained that overly plain clothes could bar us from entry, she reluctantly agreed.
As we prepared, the sun set, and the sky grew dark. People returned to their homes, and the city streets were illuminated by a soft, magical glow.
Night had fallen.
The Imperial capital was quiet, unlike the modern cities I was used to. The place I was taking Rebecca was even darker, hidden within this quiet city.
The back alleys. A dark and secluded place rumored to be where 70% of the Empire’s crimes occurred. Even the Imperial Family rarely interfered with the back alleys’ affairs, unless a high-ranking noble was involved. That spoke volumes.
As we ventured deeper into the back alleys, artificial lights greeted us. Rebecca finally lowered her hood, revealing her face to the world.
Her beauty was striking, instantly drawing attention. But no one dared to approach.
It was because of me. She was on my arm, and from a distance, we looked like a couple. And no one in the back alleys was foolish enough to provoke the eldest son of the Philasia Dukedom and the Saintess.
“We’re attracting attention.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
We both knew that what happened in the back alleys never left the back alleys.
That meant our charade as lovers wouldn’t be revealed to the outside world. We walked further in, and a man wearing a bear mask stopped us.
“To participate in the Masked Auction, you must wear a mask.”
“No need for explanations. We know the rules.”
“Oh, of course. Then please choose a mask from those on the table.”
Intricately crafted masks lay on the table. They hinted at social status but didn’t reveal it outright.
I chose a wolf mask, and Rebecca chose a rabbit mask. After confirming we were both wearing masks, the bear-masked attendant stepped aside.
Looking at the dimly lit, circular passage, I took Rebecca’s hand and said,
“Shall we go, Saintess?”
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