Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Battle of Connections (2)
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“I greet Your Highness the Princess.”
All the nobles bowed their heads in greeting.
However, Irina paid them no mind.
Her unfocused eyes turned toward me as she approached.
“Bu... building a mansion in the west? What’s the reason, Veil?”
She had maintained a lofty tone in front of others.
But now, speaking to me like a peer, the nobles looked puzzled.
“Let’s talk somewhere private for now.”
To deflect further attention, I brought her to my side.
I seated her next to the Duchess of the North and explained.
“The mansion will house my subordinates. I plan to train Allen and the other knights there.”
Irina gripped the fruit basket tightly.
With a serious gaze, she asked.
“But why the west of all places? It’s expensive, and it’s so far from here.”
“It’s near the Western Palace, so under Lady Lea’s watchful eye. The Crown Prince’s spies won’t find it easy to come and go.”
Once I laid out my reasons, Irina pressed her lips together.
“Plus, the land is fertile—perfect for farming.”
Irina glanced up briefly.
Her emerald eyes signaled her understanding.
“Got it... But you’re not planning to live there too, right?”
“No. My workplace is in the North, so I’ll stay there.”
I flashed a reassuring smile.
Only then did she let out a deep sigh of relief.
She was satisfied knowing it would be close to the Northern Palace where she resided.
“I see... I thought you were moving your house there.”
Irina pulled her hat down low.
Hiding her face, she let her lips curve up alone.
“I asked Allen to stand as guarantor, but you came yourself?”
“Yeah, I had business nearby anyway.”
The Second Princess gazed at the auction house.
Together, we looked at the 90,000-gold mansion that hadn’t yet been decided.
“That’s the one you’re after?”
“Yes. With sufficient guarantees now, it’s just a matter of winning the bid.”
The auctioneer returned to the stage.
Seeing three imperial royals guaranteeing my identity, he wiped his brow with a handkerchief.
「Now that the guarantees are secured, I’ll announce the results.」
The auctioneer picked up a small wooden gavel.
Just as he raised it to end the bidding.
He had no choice but to hesitate.
During the extended time for guarantees.
The Grand Duke’s secretary had received an increased budget from his master.
「Ah, 100,000 gold!」
The auctioneer had no reason to refuse the rising bid.
The higher the amount, the larger his commission.
He immediately entered the secretary’s 100,000 gold bid.
“100,000 gold? That’s too expensive...”
“You’re right. It’s beyond my budget now.”
I agreed with her bitterly.
“Giving up?”
“Yes, regrettable, but I’ll have to settle for denting the Northern Grand Duke’s coffers.”
He was on the Crown Prince’s line anyway.
Satisfying myself with a blow to his finances would have to do.
There were plenty of ways to build training facilities without craftsmen.
But at that moment.
「Huh...? 110,000! 110,000 gold!」
Irina casually raised her paddle.
She joined the bidding without a fuss.
“P-Princess? Are you sure that’s wise?”
Honestly, at this price, even for a master craftsman’s house, it was exorbitant.
Buying at auction for near cost price...
And the poorest among the princesses, Irina, was going for it?
“You said Lea gave you land.”
Irina looked up at me steadily.
With a relaxed smile, she said.
“You’ve helped me so much until now. Let me build your mansion.”
Even though it was on land that wasn’t hers, in the west, she stepped up personally.
She chose to help me over jealousy.
「120,000 has been bid.」
The secretary immediately countered with 120,000 gold.
But Irina, paddle still raised, simply parted her lips.
“130,000.”
「Will you go to 140,000...?」
The Grand Duke’s secretary ground his teeth in frustration.
Then, slamming the table, he agreed.
「Very well, 140,000 gold!」
“150,000.”
Irina held her paddle high.
At that, all the nobles focused on her.
“Please don’t push yourself. Not for my sake...”
I looked at her with concern.
But hearing me, Irina didn’t lower her hand.
Instead, she fixed me with a cool gaze and said.
“Veil.”
“Yes...?”
As I asked in confusion, Irina’s lips curved up.
With a smile as regal as the Emperor’s, she declared.
“I’m imperial royalty. I’ve got money.”
Hearing that.
I was speechless for a moment.
The Irina of my past life had been a girl resigned to her tragic fate.
But today’s her had grown into a leader, just like the other princesses.
「150,000 gold. Anyone bidding higher?」
“Ugh...”
The secretary chewed his lip.
He had no bandwidth to challenge a princess.
「Then, countdown. 3...」
「2...」
「1...」
―――.
A clear hammer strike echoed through the auction house.
Afterward, the auctioneer announced loudly in congratulations.
「Today’s highlight, the final masterpiece of Lord Colbert, goes to Princess Irina!」
Cheers from the upper crust rang out everywhere.
Especially the Duchess of the North sitting beside us.
She chuckled at her younger brother’s loss, genuinely delighted.
“Serves him right.”
Irina stood.
She walked calmly and collected the construction reservation contract.
“Thank you so much, Your Highness.”
She moved to hand it to me readily.
But just as my fingertips touched it, she slyly pulled it back.
“...?”
Irina swallowed hard.
Clutching the contract, she mumbled shyly.
“I didn’t say I’d give it right away...”
The princess hid her face behind the contract.
Peeking only her eyes, she said to me.
“As payment for giving it to you, help me out a bit.”
The duchess watching from the side caught on to Irina’s intent, her eyes gleaming mischievously.
“Oh my.”
I just tilted my head.
“What could I possibly help with?”
“Nothing big. My close cousin is getting married soon.”
Irina cleared her throat.
Tucking the contract into my breast pocket, she said.
“So, I need to buy a trousseau. Help me out?”
“Couldn’t you do that with Dasha?”
I asked flatly.
The Duchess of the North beside us shook her head at me.
Meaning, don’t argue—just go along.
“They say it’s best for a man and woman to go together for an objective evaluation on a trousseau.”
“She’s right, Your Highness. My trousseau was handled by a relative couple.”
I glanced between the two.
Catching on, I nodded too.
“Understood. I can manage that much.”
After all, how could I refuse after she bought a 150,000-gold mansion?
In response, I stood with her from the seats.
“I know the Northern Palace area well, so just follow me.”
“Yes, I’ll send my subordinates ahead and join right away.”
Irina, now in high spirits.
With a girlish, bright expression, she headed out to the garden first.
The duchess watched the princess intently.
In a gentle voice, she said.
“You two are in the honeymoon phase.”
I glanced at the duchess.
Casually, I asked her.
“You’re the Duchess of the North, right? The one who published that novel.”
“How embarrassing. Hearing about my novel from a gentleman.”
She opened her fan.
Covering her lips, she chuckled softly.
“It’s fine. I didn’t finish reading it either.”
I pulled out the fairy tale book *The Fox That Ate Books*, a gift from Lea.
“But I know someone who’s a huge fan of yours.”
“Oh my, what an honor.”
I handed it to the duchess and made my request.
“Could you sign it for him?”
The renowned author took the book I offered.
Her eyes widened at the golden lion seal beside it.
“Ah... that fan is...”
The duchess glanced at me cautiously.
Then, carefully, she signed the fairy tale.
“Thank you.”
I thanked her flatly as I took the book back.
Then, following Irina, I strolled out of the auction house.
The duchess watched me leave in silence.
Then, smirking to herself, she murmured.
“The Second Princess has her work cut out for her.”
「―――.」
After leaving the auction house.
I walked the palace outskirts with Irina, who wore a wide-brimmed hat.
Unlike Nostran, this area was lined only with elegant, antique shops.
Northern nobles were enjoying their shopping.
In the past, Irina would have felt out of place here.
But with her knight order established and self-sufficiency secured, she browsed the shops leisurely.
*She looks good like this.*
Seeing her relaxed like any imperial lady, my lips curved up.
“Veil, this way.”
The princess pointed to an alchemist’s workshop with a luxurious signboard.
I followed her finger and entered together.
The workshop held all sorts of exotic gems.
From opalescent opal necklaces shimmering in rainbow hues.
To diamonds, the latest trend.
They called themselves alchemists, but it was essentially a jeweler.
There, the princess deftly purchased a necklace and ring set.
She asked them to deliver it to her cousin’s address.
“Seemed like you didn’t need my help for that.”
I said, watching her finish paying.
She beamed brightly.
“But walking around together is fun.”
Busy with her knight order and building her faction until now.
Irina seemed content just being with me like this.
“And we’ve got more to do. Bride and groom outfits to look at. Riding gear too.”
Irina clasped her hands behind her back, eyes closing briefly.
As we headed out.
She paused at a poster on the door.
「Free fortune-telling for customers spending 500 gold or more.」
“They’re offering fortunes.”
I read the poster and replied.
Irina chuckled and shook her head.
“Nah, I don’t believe in fortunes. It’s all superstition.”
The princess tried to step out leisurely.
But she stopped upon hearing the alchemist.
“Superstition? My astrology has a very high accuracy rate.”
A red-haired woman approached us calmly.
Confidently, she urged.
“You’ll be clapping in amazement after one reading.”
Irina glanced at me upon hearing that.
Catching on, I stepped out first and said.
“Go ahead and get it. I’ll wait by the door.”
“Should I?”
The Second Princess sat by the window, where I could see her from outside.
She waved to me waiting out front, signaling she’d be quick.
I focused mana in my ears.
Faintly, I eavesdropped on her conversation with the alchemist.
“So, what’s this fortune?”
“Simple. Your love compatibility.”
Irina checked my direction upon hearing that.
“Pick an animal card here, and I’ll read Your Highness’s compatibility with that knight.”
She didn’t believe in superstition.
But at the sensitive topic of romance, she subtly picked a card.
“Hmm...”
The alchemist drew a pair of wolf cards.
Smiling, she said it was fortunate.
“Very good.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Wolves are inherently family-oriented. You two match like wolves—perfect compatibility.”
Compatibility.
Hearing that, Irina blushed.
“H-Hmm... Guess it’s not just superstition.”
“Of course. And same species means fated pair.”
The princess fumbled for her purse to tip the alchemist.
Then, eyes sparkling green with a sudden idea.
“Oh, can you check Veil’s compatibility with someone else here too?”
“Hmm... Why not. But reading fortunes for other royals...”
Irina quietly offered a stack of gold coins.
The woman’s lips curved slyly.
She deftly drew a card.
“Huh?”
She tilted her head in puzzlement.
“Interesting. Good matches don’t usually come consecutively like this...”
The woman showed Irina the card she drew.
It depicted a fox sharing food with a leopard cub.
The leopard was traditionally the symbol of the Third Princess, Lydia.
“A clever fox and an affectionate leopard. Quite the good match.”
“A fox? You said Veil was a wolf earlier.”
The Second Princess asked, and the alchemist shook her head.
“Wolves and foxes are both canines, so it’s commonly accepted.”
Irina chewed her lip.
Anxiety surging, she cautiously wrote Lea’s name too.
The alchemist drew a card in response.
And at that moment...!
“No way...”
She showed Irina a card with a lion and fox.
“The First Princess came out very well too.”
“What...?”
The Second Princess furrowed her brows.
Her trust in the fortune plummeting.
“I-It’s true. Look at this card...”
The card showed a lion and fox.
The fox playing a violin to the lion’s taste.
The lion watched the fox fondly under a pomegranate tree.
Then the alchemist made a tactless remark.
“Pomegranates symbolize fertility too. Lady Lea probably...”
“Quiet!”
Irina shouted, eyes welling up red.
Startled by the sound, I.
Looked through the glass at the sullen Irina.
*She said she didn’t believe in superstition.*
Yet traces of the innocent girl from my past life remained.
My lips curved up involuntarily.