The Competitor Behind the Mask
Early morning. She slipped on a loose-fit cardigan over a white blouse and skirt. The key was letting it hang half-off her shoulders, right on the verge of slipping away. She boldly braided one side of her hair. The other side she left long, letting it drape naturally to partially veil her face. As a finishing touch, she pinned in a lily-shaped hair clip, then buckled on a short sword with a simple design. Done.
This was Sisilia's outing look.
"Hm. Not bad."
Sisilia appraised herself, staring into the mirror. She lived frugally in general, but she never skimped on dressing up. The outfit she had on now, hair clip included, had cost 30 gold. In modern terms, that was worth about 30 million won.
...Mostly because it hadn't matched her tastes, so she'd had it custom-made, jacking up the price.
"How much money do I have left, anyway."
Sisilia opened her coin pouch and checked carefully. 1 gold and 2 silver. Pathetic for the Sword Princess of the kingdom's top knight order.
She couldn't accept this reality.
"Someone must've stolen it."
Her current income, allowance included, was 50 gold a month. Sure, she'd blown 30 gold last week on these clothes, but still—this was too broke.
"...This is bad."
Today was the day the "item" she'd been waiting for so long was up for auction. She'd originally planned to farm it leisurely herself, but circumstances had changed. She had to snag it, even if it meant shelling out a fortune.
By Sisilia's estimate, she'd need at least 500 gold. An absurd sum. Sure, auctions let you pay in installments over time, but the problem was the deposit. Thirty percent of the final bid had to be paid on the spot.
...Gotta scrape together some cash. But first, get out of the mansion.
**
Sisilia crept down the hallway, glancing around nervously.
"Miss! Where are you off to? Eek, you look so cute today too!"
"...Where's the Captain?"
She really didn't want to run into Chiron if she could help it. He'd start lecturing the second he saw her.
"If it's the Master, he probably went to greet Marquis Viaton, right?"
"Thanks."
Gotta get out quick.
Sisilia hurried toward the central entrance. As she descended the stairs a bit faster, she heard footsteps. She ducked behind a pillar in a panic.
"I'm honored you'd come out to greet me like this."
"...Welcoming the kingdom's greatest mage is only proper."
Sisilia squeezed her eyes shut and muttered inwardly. Don't get caught. Don't get caught. Don't get caught.
But against her wishes, Chiron's voice came steady and calm.
"Sisilia. You're past the age for playing games."
"......"
Busted.
Sisilia sheepishly stepped out.
"Ho, so you're the famous Lady Sisilia. Fitting the moniker of Sword Princess—a synonym for beauty itself."
"Hello. Thank you."
Chiron's face hardened ever so slightly.
"Marquis Viaton. Would you mind heading to the guest room first? I need a word with the girl."
"Haha, of course. Take your time."
Once the marquis was gone, Chiron launched into his scolding, as if he'd been waiting.
"What's with that half-off robe? If you're wearing clothes, wear them. If you're taking them off, take them off."
"That's how this outfit is."
"Your skirt's too short. Maintain some dignity as a Windsor Knight."
"The uniform's shorter."
"The hair clip... suits you well."
"I think so too."
Chiron let out a small sigh. Sisilia had her quirky side, but she was generally obedient. She'd listened to him well since she was little.
But strangely, when it came to fashion, she wouldn't budge an inch. He wished she'd dress a bit more primly... The dresses he'd gifted her as a result were piled up in a corner of the warehouse.
"Where are you headed?"
"Picking up supplies for tomorrow's shift. Need a few things."
The Windsor Knights had gone into emergency mode with 24-hour shifts. Sisilia was on starting tomorrow, so today she was free. Her excuse was ironclad.
"...So, could you spot me some allowance?"
Chiron closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.
"How much was that outfit again?"
"3 gold."
Sisilia lied without batting an eye. Chiron rubbed his temple like he had a headache.
"I saw the receipt. 30 gold. Extravagance like that is unbecoming of a knight. No allowance until you learn the value of money."
"...!!"
**
Well, she hadn't really expected it to work.
Chiron never goes back on his word once he says it.
She'd tried anyway, just in case. No dice.
But Sisilia wasn't discouraged. She still had plenty of ways to make money.
"Oh? It's the baby knight."
"Hello."
She spotted her target for the day: Jerryway. Unlike at meetings, he looked almost normal.
"What brings you here? If it were me, I wouldn't set foot near patrol zones."
"Just stopping by on my way to shop. You're retiring soon, but still working so hard."
"Ugh, you're the only one, baby knight. The only one in this order who gets my plight."
"Then, could I borrow some mon—"
Jerryway suddenly remembered urgent business.
"Damn, something came up. Sisilia, I'm heading out first. Have fun shopping!"
"Astelle Champagne, '52 vintage."
"...!"
Jerryway, who had been bolting away, froze mid-stride. He turned his head with a wooden creak, like a puppet. Then he rushed back and slapped a hand on Sisilia's shoulder.
"H-How did you know that?"
"Saw you drink the champagne on the office shelf and refill it with water. I was on duty then."
Despair washed over Jerryway's face. He staggered to a wall, slumped against it, and moaned pessimistically.
"If the Captain finds out, I'm dead. Hell, I might already be dead since you know."
"Drinking on duty is..."
"I get it! Just keep it secret! How much?"
Grumbling, Jerryway yanked out his coin pouch.
"Everything you've got."
"...You're heartless even with demons, huh."
Irritated, Jerryway handed over the whole pouch. Sisilia bowed her head politely and took it.
"B-But keep it from the Captain, okay? Promise?"
"Sure."
Jerryway looked so lost and forlorn it was almost pitiful. In tribute, she'd spend this money wisely.
**
On the way to shop, she checked the pouch. Were adult knights just built different? The amount shocked even Sisilia a little.
Twenty platinum coins.
One platinum was worth ten gold. Meaning Jerryway carried around 200 gold just in his pocket.
Come to think of it, he was the son of a famous merchant guild down south. Still...
Hmm. This is way too much. Should return half after spending some.
Poor Sisilia was intimidated by the overwhelming sum! Her pouch suddenly felt twenty times heavier. Gotta hug it close and keep it safe.
"Welcome to the Ervine Auction House, Lady Sisilia Windsor. What mask would you like?"
"...Rabbit."
Sisilia arrived safely, took the mask, and entered. The auction house was structured around grand marble pillars and a central red carpet. Second and third floors were VIP seats; first floor, general.
Sisilia sat demurely in a general seat.
A bit late.
The hall buzzed with tension and anticipation. The auctioneer on the red carpet banged his gavel.
"Sold! Congratulations! 'Seria's Tear' goes to that dashing lion mask over there!"
The item Sisilia awaited was the main auction piece. Mains came near the end, so she'd have to wait.
"Now, on to the next item!"
The auction continued. Tempting items caught Sisilia's eye now and then, but she clamped down her urges for the one coming later.
That last one would've helped newbies a ton... Gotta make bank.
As she watched, smacking her lips mentally for a good while—
the moment arrived.
"Next up: 'Elasia's Pendant'!"
A blue gem dangled from a silver chain, twinkling like a living star. The exquisite craftsmanship and mystical glow inside drew gasps of awe.
Found it.
No doubt—this was the one Sisilia sought.
"Starting bid... 500 gold!"
Sisilia frowned slightly under her rabbit mask.
Why so high right out the gate? It is pretty, sure...
A couple hands went up around her.
"500 gold!"
"550!"
"600!"
The hall heated up. Bids from each floor amped the auctioneer's voice louder.
Sisilia felt a twinge of unease. It had already blown past her estimate. Just a pretty accessory—no big artifact. She hadn't expected this frenzy.
...Not yet. Can't jump in now.
But she couldn't give up. Sisilia watched for her moment.
"600! 600 gold! Anyone higher?"
In the brief silence, Sisilia's hand shot up.
"700."
Murmurs rippled. Her masked face was hidden, but her petite frame and firm voice drew eyes.
"700 gold! A new high for today! Does anyone dare top this staggering sum?!"
...No way anyone's dropping 700-plus on that, right?
As Sisilia's heart thumped—
the auctioneer cried out in glee.
"800 gold!"
"...!"
A snake-masked man on the second floor had raised his hand.
We're screwed.
Truth be told, 700 was already a stretch. 800 meant coughing up 250 gold right now. Over her limit.
"Incredible! No one to surpass this?"
The auctioneer was thrilled. The starting bid had been a stretch even for him, but this overheating was gold.
"Going onc—"
But a lazy gesture from the second floor.
"One... one thousand gold!"
Sighs echoed through the hall. It was the lion-masked man. Two curvaceous women beside him were throwing tantrums.
Who the hell...?
The snake mask, who'd been competing till now, shrugged in disbelief with wine glass in hand.
How loaded is this guy? No amount of money beats that.
Sisilia stared glumly at the floor, staying put just in case. But until the auction ended that day, nothing else she wanted appeared.
**
Sisilia trudged home, shoulders slumped.
With that, I could've pinned down exactly when the 'official opening' hits.
She figured it was about a year out, but that was just a guess. She needed certainty.
Now she'd blown it, and hope was lost...
"Hey, rabbit."
She turned at the voice behind her.
"Who."
Thwack. She snatched something flying at her fast.
Sisilia eyed the lion-masked man leaning casually, while glancing at the object in her palm.
It was Elasia's Pendant.
"Knew it was you."
The lion mask slowly removed his disguise.
"Leo Ric?"
He grinned, baring his teeth.
Sisilia blinked in surprise.
"How'd you know?"
"Think a mask hides you from me?"
"...This."
"Felt like buying that pendant would spark something fun. First time I've seen you want anything that bad."
"I'll pay you back."
"Psh, for this?"
He waved coolly and walked off.
Sisilia stood frozen long after Leo Ric vanished.
What counts as 'fun'? Guess I owe him a skit or something.
Gotta buy a pierrot mask tomorrow.