Chapter 55
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Black Friday's Buzz
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Look at that. For a mere maid, he seems unusually terrified of him.
He carefully wrapped the box and let out a sigh.
"This auction is going to cause quite a stir. Would it be alright if I let a little rumor slip about this item?"
"To draw in more customers?"
"Yes. If the right people hear about it and come prepared, it benefits both sides—ours and the young master's."
"Go ahead."
As long as they didn't know we had it, spreading word about the item itself was fine.
"And I'd like to consign these as well."
What I pulled out next weren't items with any grand backstory.
"Ho?!"
But the old auctioneer's face lit up once more at the sight.
"My word... jewels of this size..."
The corners of his mouth curved up slyly.
"You've brought me incredible luck, young master. Thanks to you, I'll make a killing."
"You know what they are. Handle them well."
"I won't let you down."
Even the continent's top auction houses—or any prestigious ones with strict entry bars—couldn't turn away prime goods.
After consigning all the jewels Luna had given us and the Queen's Twilight, stamping the contract, I finally left.
The auction would kick off in about a week or two.
With a major event coming up at House Mielephon, they were dead set on capitalizing on the nobles flocking in.
"The items are worth more than expected, but there shouldn't be any major issues."
"If they bolt, we'll just track 'em down."
They didn't know it, but I'd woven a little magic into the items themselves.
Something that would activate naturally once the auction ended.
The moment anyone tried to run or swap them out... well, let's just say it'd be a spectacle.
The next few days passed quietly.
Since our engagement wasn't real, House Mielephon didn't demand anything of me.
I spent the time circulating my aura to temper my body in the secluded annex where few people came, playing chess with Luna, or writing letters to Melissa.
Of course, I occasionally wandered the Mielephon lands, taking in the sights.
I hadn't seen the Sword Saint since that first day—he'd been tied up with outside matters.
The family head of House Mielephon hadn't summoned me either, so no direct meetings there.
Instead, Misha passed along word that Black Friday's people were spreading rumors about the Queen's Twilight.
Naturally, folks had been skeptical at first, but Black Friday's reputation carried weight. It was drawing massive attention.
"Thanks to that, more people are showing up than planned—even beyond the empire, tycoons and nobles from other countries. The guards at the entrance are overwhelmed."
Misha, the head maid, had been attending me closely during my stay.
She was familiar enough that I had no complaints.
Despite her stiff demeanor, she turned out nicer than expected. Over these past days, Luna and I had warmed up to her quite a bit.
"A contact stopped by today. They've verified the items are authentic, and they'll all headline the auction."
"Good news."
I subtly smacked the back of Luna's hand as she tried to reposition a piece, checkmating her so she couldn't escape.
"Amateur."
"Rematch."
"I don't play scrubs."
Offended by my jab, Luna kicked my legs—though her blows lacked any real force.
"Young Master."
As we bickered, Misha called out again.
"Something to say?"
"There's a party at House Mielephon tonight."
She clapped, and maids flooded in carrying boxes.
"I said I wouldn't attend."
Why hide out in the annex if not to avoid this?
She replied calmly to my question.
"The family head's orders: attend the banquet in exchange for Black Friday's help."
"What kind of logic is that?"
"He says with so many guests, you won't stand out."
She pulled a small note from her pocket and handed it over.
It was a letter from House Mielephon's head, Catesi Mielephon.
Skimming it, the gist was: word had spread faster than expected about the two mystery guests in the empty annex. Pretend to attend briefly as a young noble visiting on personal ties.
How long had it been since the Bata Kingdom banquet? Now this.
"Hiding completely is tricky, huh."
"Sorry for the inconvenience."
"Not your fault, Head Maid Misha."
What could I do? When the host insists...
"What's it say?"
"Host's summoning you."
"Didn't we say standing out is bad?"
She had a point—drawing eyes here wouldn't help.
But with the items already consigned, the risks were lower.
"I'm not some idiot who'd cause a scene. It'll be fine."
It was a massive gathering, after all.
That shifted me from "suspicious boy squatting in the annex, skipping the head's party" to "noble youth attending via personal connections."
A stretch depending on perspective, but manageable.
Once I agreed, Misha's expression softened ever so slightly—the first crack in her stoic facade.
"Then I'll help you prepare."
"Leon, I go too?"
"Where? You stay here."
"Why?"
Luna looked up with a pout.
"Head Maid Misha."
"Yes, Young Master."
"If she shows up in a dress, will she draw eyes or not?"
"I shouldn't speculate, but..."
After a pause, she answered quietly.
"By any common sense, every eye in the room. Disguise isn't feasible."
Hear that?
I nodded at Luna, who puffed her cheeks in protest.
"Very dissatisfied. Extremely dissatisfied."
But she dropped it.
"After this, back to Cascadia—I'll let you taste-test the strawberry ice cream prototypes."
"Satisfied."
"Luna, I'll have the maids bring banquet desserts here."
"Also satisfied. Head Maid Misha is very accommodating."
Her childlike glee briefly melted Misha's stern face.
Guess even she shows emotion after time together.
The tailcoat Misha prepared was classy without being flashy—just right for blending in.
Presentable, but unobtrusive.
A tough balance, but Head Maid Misha nailed it.
"Oh, your handsome features make it fit even better."
This peculiar otherworlder, Luna Bazilin Raphael, was always overly generous with my looks.
Even at our first meeting, she'd called me handsome.
So, objectively, was I?
I didn't think so.
Aura users' bodies idealize over time, so they're often good-looking.
But without full-body reconstruction, changes are limited.
"You always say stuff that makes me cringe."
Awkward in the fancy tailcoat, I asked. She closed her eyes and stared up at me intently.
Then she adjusted my necktie slowly and looked up again.
"Who cares about others' gazes? Tastes differ."
She had a knack for leaving me speechless.
"Just don't cause trouble, got it?"
"Say that to yourself."
No one would track us here to start something, and the annex was safe.
"Shall we go, Young Master? I'll attend you at the banquet."
"That okay?"
"Yes. Many nobles bring attendants—valets, maids, knights."
With preparations done, I set off at her words.
Grab snacks for Luna on the way, scout the auction vibe.
Black Friday was anonymous in dealings, but not shrouded—their auctions and items were public knowledge.
The banquet hall exceeded my expectations in scale.
This hall was built solely for events; width-wise, it dwarfed Bata's royal one indoors alone.
Factor in outdoors, and more so.
No wonder they called satellite city Mielephon more advanced than some kingdoms' capitals.
Not all imperial noble houses were like this, though.
Probably just ancient sword clans like the Thirteen Continental Families.
Either way, the hall was vast, packed with people.
High nobles everywhere—their attire and jewels outclassed Bata's banquet.
Many were foreigners.
Maybe Bata folk around somewhere, but I hadn't spotted any yet.
The reason for Mielephon's banquet was simple: Family Head Catesi Mielephon's birthday.
Other families' events overlapped, swelling the crowd, but I wondered where all this wealth came from.
Melissa would've marveled at the scale difference—if she dared say it to their faces.
"Hmm... this is good."
I wandered the outskirts, sampling and pocketing tasty-looking bites.
The scholar, as usual, reported analyzing recipes.
-Grrr...
Then a small wolf head slithered from my shadow, jaws gaping wide.