“Oh my, to think such a distinguished guest would visit such a shabby place…”
“Welcome, Lady… no, esteemed guest.”
As soon as she stepped through the front door of the shop Whitney introduced, Lady Meredia was greeted not with friction but with warmth and hospitality.
“That’s quite a mild reaction. Weren’t places like this usually sticklers for rules?”
“That’s correct. Normally, this place has strict rules allowing only married individuals to enter…”
The woman in the mask, who was clearly someone of high rank and in charge of Meredia, lowered her voice with a sly smile.
“Sometimes, there are people to whom rules don’t apply. For instance, someone who holds sway over about a third of the back alley’s power.”
Though her words were somewhat veiled, it was obvious she was referring to Lady Meredia herself, who was wearing the mask Whitney had given her before parting.
“That’s quite the exaggeration.”
“Heh. The ‘Godfather’s’ influence has been weakening lately, hasn’t it? Isn’t it obvious where power will be concentrated in the future?”
“Sigh.”
As the masked woman laid on the flattery more blatantly, Meredia let out a quiet sigh and started walking forward in silence.
“By the way, what brings you here today…?”
“…Ha. Is this the kind of place where they pry that deeply?”
“Oh, I beg your pardon.”
The masked woman, who had poked her head out beside Meredia to ask the question, immediately bowed her head with hands clasped in response to Meredia’s cold reply.
“Well, it’s not like there are many reasons someone would visit here.”
“Still, the clientele usually falls into two broad categories. If you could just give a small hint…”
Then, pretending to be slightly troubled, the masked woman glanced at Meredia to read her mood.
“…Exhibition.”
“Aha. I see. So that’s the reason.”
Eventually, Meredia spat out her destination in an irritated tone, and the masked woman, rubbing her palms together, immediately took the lead.
“Most guests tend to prefer private rooms. Hehe…”
“Is that so? Guests like me, you mean.”
Meredia caught the woman’s passing comment and narrowed her eyes, beginning to probe quietly.
“A noblewoman of my status isn’t exactly common, though.”
“O-Of course, we value every individual’s privacy above all, so I can’t reveal anything.”
Caught off guard, the masked woman stammered a bit as she tried to offer an excuse.
“If you’re thinking of trying to identify anyone, please don’t. Instead, allow us to provide Diamond-tier membership service for the day…”
“…I hate ranking things with gemstones. It just feels cheap.”
“I-Is that so? In any case, we’ll offer the best service. So, um…”
But as Meredia showed no signs of backing down, the masked woman began sweating nervously and stuttered even more.
“No need. Just don’t get in my way.”
“Aha, so you’d prefer to enjoy quietly! Understood.”
At Meredia’s exasperated remark, the woman’s eyes lit up and she gestured toward their destination with both hands.
“Just in time! A new exhibit arrived today! I hope it pleases you.”
Hearing the words “new exhibit,” Meredia’s tired expression twisted into one of sheer dread.
“Hehe. No need to look at me like that. The exhibits eligible for masks are under high-level security.”
“…Is that so?”
“And they’ve been thoroughly vetted. To be honest, I don’t even know who they are. Exhibits are assigned on a rotating basis by sales staff.”
Thanks to the masked woman’s overly kind explanation, Meredia, who had been deep in thought, silently resumed walking.
“Then, please enjoy your time~!”
“…Sigh.”
Letting out yet another sigh, Meredia stepped into the ‘exhibition hall,’ the door having been courteously opened for her by the masked woman.
“It’s a bit much to say I’ll enjoy myself when the road ahead looks so bleak.”
She muttered in a low voice, glancing around as she began searching for Whitney, who had entered earlier.
“Alright, first I’ll need someone to break the ice…”
Though her face still looked unamused.
“…!?”
Just a few seconds later, an expression of complete disbelief swept across her face.
“Everyone, please calm down for a moment… oh dear.”
“What’s your name, dear?”
“Excuse me, but I was speaking to him first?”
“Ahaha…”
The reason she had been looking for Whitney—
Was because Whitney had already become the most popular exhibit in the entire exhibition hall.
***
Yes, I’ll admit it honestly.
When I used the mask I’d acquired through a shady deal with Bergen to infiltrate the emperor’s infamous pleasure venue as an ‘exhibit,’ I had no idea it would turn out like this.
“Ladies! Please step back just a bit!”
“Move. Do you even know who I am?”
“Just one touch—just once, please?”
“We can’t let such a rare find slip away…”
I never imagined that the vast majority of noblewomen in the hall would rush over the moment I was put on display by the staff.
‘Is this like a hidden-camera prank? Or a trap?’
At first, I was so stunned that I suspected it was some revenge plot by Lady Meredia who already knew everything, or a scheme by some enemy faction.
“…Huh?”
But judging by Lady Meredia’s utterly dumbfounded face just now, it didn’t seem like her doing.
And thinking about it, there’s no reason for my enemies to waste their effort on such an empty trap.
That leaves only one logical conclusion.
‘Could it be… that I’m the type older women like?’
It might sound ridiculous, but it could be true.
The swarm of noblewomen around me right now is proof enough…
—
Rumble…!
While I was scratching my head thinking that, a glowing light suddenly appeared at my feet and a solid barrier formed around me.
“…We’ve activated this for the exhibit’s protection. Thank you for your understanding!”
The masked man who had been struggling to hold back the noblewomen shouted while wiping cold sweat from his forehead, and only then did the ladies back away with dissatisfied expressions.
“Such items rarely come up for display, you know.”
“He must be a fallen noble at least from a viscount’s household.”
“…And recently fallen, at that. Was there a family like that?”
“Still better than someone who crawled up from who-knows-where. At least this one’s a certified lunchbox…”
Though it eased the immediate pressure, it was still unpleasant to hear them whispering like I was a rare animal behind a zoo cage.
“If you’re bidding just for fun, you should drop out now. I’m going all the way tonight.”
“Oh my, it seems most of us have the same idea.”
“Well, the more you use such merchandise, the more it loses its value.”
“But with an item of that quality, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone tried to buy it outright today rather than just rent it.”
I couldn’t recognize them because of the masks, but judging by the ornate dresses and all the gemstones, they all seemed to be noblewomen from powerful families.
Honestly, I don’t understand why they’re engaging in this kind of activity in the shadows. Have the private lives of imperial nobles become this depraved?
Crunch…
Still, more than that social issue, what really caught my attention was the sound of Lady Meredia grinding her teeth in the distance.
I really didn’t mean for this to happen this time. Honestly, I feel so wronged.
Once this operation is over, it seems I’ll have to do all sorts of ridiculous things to cheer her up. I can already feel a sigh rising from the depths of my heart.
“Well then… Normally we wouldn’t start this early, but since everyone seems excited, let’s begin the bidding…”
While I was awkwardly avoiding Lady Meredia’s gaze, the ‘auction’ finally began.
Anyone with the slightest sense would realize what kind of ‘bidding’ takes place in a place like this.
It’s just that, because the bidders are noblewomen, they use more refined language.
“I’ll bid my entire fortune from the very beginning. If that’s too much pressure for you, maybe you should wait for the next opportunity.”
“Heh. Only stray dogs from the back alleys would covet a lollipop someone else has already licked.”
“…Oh my, how vulgar. What’s gotten into everyone?”
No matter one’s status or title, the disgusting stench in this place wasn’t something that could be masked with mere words or ambiance.
“1 billion.”
But as I frowned in discomfort, I suddenly heard a lazy voice from behind the noblewomen that forced me to revise my thoughts.
“I’ll buy him for 1 billion gold.”
In a place reeking of filth, a woman wearing a golden mask suddenly appeared, exuding a chilling charisma.
“Gasp.”
“Huh…?”
“…Damn.”
The noblewomen who had been preparing to bid with fierce expressions instantly froze in place.
Of course, part of it was the terrifying aura the golden-masked woman radiated, but more than anything, it was the number that came out of her mouth—1 billion.
‘Even without knowing the exact in-game exchange rate, that’s got to be enough to live in luxury for life, right?’
And if I remember correctly, there’s only one person in the empire who could casually throw around that amount in the underworld.
That would be none other than the current Emperor—Lilia Winter Klaus.
“…1.1 billion.”
Just as I thought the Emperor had taken the bait and started to smile quietly to myself, I was startled by a cold voice coming from the opposite direction.
“I’ll buy him for 1.1 billion gold.”
Another person who could name a number that high in a place like this had just entered the fray.
‘Wait, why…?’
The problem was that the one saying it was none other than Lady Meredia—the very person who was supposed to play along and subtly coax the Emperor into bidding.
***
“1.3 billion.”
“1.7 billion.”
“2.5 billion.”
“3 billion.”
As the numbers rose rapidly from the mouths of the two women who suddenly caught fire, the expressions on the noblewomen’s faces turned to horror.
“T-Those two must be crazy…”
“E-Even if we mobilized our family’s entire trade guild, we couldn’t match that amount…”
Even if they were famous for being rich and flamboyant, the amounts being thrown out now were beyond the wealth of ordinary nobles.
“6 billion.”
But that shock was short-lived. When the mysterious woman opposing the one in the golden mask doubled the bid again, no one questioned the situation anymore.
“S-Suddenly I feel like using the restroom.”
“H-Haha. Me too.”
By that point, everyone present began to realize something was seriously wrong with what was happening.
“12 billion.”
“…Gasp.”
Hiccup.
And that realization became absolute the moment they heard the golden-masked woman casually call out that number.
Crunch…
Meanwhile, as the mysterious woman ground her teeth and opened her mouth again, all eyes, including those of the noblewomen heading to the restroom, were drawn to her.
“Twenty bi…”
Unfortunately, the bidding never went any further.
“…Tch.”
After exchanging glances with the man inside the barrier, she twisted her face into a grimace and clamped her mouth shut.
“Alright then, that child is mine, I suppose?”
“W-Well…”
“Is there anyone else who wishes to bid?”
The golden-masked woman turned toward the private rooms with a satisfied expression, but no one dared answer her question.
“Then I’ll make good use of him.”
Only then did she smile faintly and whisper in a quiet voice, casting a sideways glance at the grimacing Meredia.
— I’ll make sure to return him in one piece, Lady Embergreen.
Her final words weren’t spoken aloud—they were the innermost thoughts that Meredia’s gemstone eyes read from her heart.
Cliche Novel 