008. More Frequently (1)
Owen arrived at the Edelte Manor right on time.
“You didn’t have to come out first.”
Lucia was waiting in front of the manor even before Owen’s arrival.
Seeing her, Owen mumbled a brief greeting, which made Lucia burst into a smile.
“You also came out to greet me last time.”
“…I did.”
Owen slowly gave an affirmative response.
Then, he extended his hand.
It was a gesture of escort.
Lucia, who was surprised the last time, now smiled and reached out her hand, having become more accustomed in just a few encounters.
Owen clasped her hand that rested on his.
“You’re not wearing gloves today.”
Lucia smiled lightly at the passing remark.
“I didn’t feel like wearing them.”
Her choice not to wear gloves brought them closer in warmth.
Lucia thought it would be nice if Owen also didn’t wear gloves, but she didn’t bring it up.
“I see. It suits you well too.”
Owen spoke warmly towards Lucia.
Facing Owen’s affectionate words, Lucia smiled brightly.
“As do you.”
“It’s a similar style to the last time.”
“The arrangement of jewels at the end is different.”
“It’s amazing that you notice that.”
Owen muttered as if impressed.
He thought he should observe Lucia’s details more closely in his mind.
She seemed to lack in many aspects compared to her elegance.
“Get on the carriage. I’ve reserved a place for us today.”
As they continued their conversation, some time had passed.
Owen checked his wristwatch and then assisted Lucia in boarding the carriage.
“A reservation?”
Lucia asked as she climbed onto the carriage in response to Owen’s words.
“It’s difficult to visit without a reservation.”
Lucia was puzzled by his answer.
It was not easy for her to come up with a quick response.
“Understood.”
As soon as the two got on the carriage, it started moving.
It didn’t take long to reach the destination from Edelte Manor.
“This place…”
Lucia, who got off the carriage at the designated spot, widened her eyes in surprise.
The shop in front of her was of a completely unexpected kind.
An auction house.
And it was none other than ‘Rodel Auction House,’ which Lucia frequented the most.
“Do you also come here often, Your Grace?”
Seeing Lucia’s curious eyes, Owen avoided her gaze and replied.
“…No. I just happened to find out about it.”
His words were, of course, a lie.
Coincidence, indeed.
Rodel Auction House was a place featured in ＜Empire’s Flower＞.
Along with the explanation that it was Lucia’s favorite auction house.
“You love beautiful things. Many beautiful items come up here.”
Lucia easily agreed with Owen’s excuse-like words.
It was because she had acquired many things from this auction house, just like Owen said.
To her, Rodel Auction House was a place with many beautiful and desirable items.
“That’s right. But, unless you’re a VIP here, it’s difficult to make a reservation…”
As the villainess from the original work, Lucia frequented Rodel Auction House, which was quite popular.
Moreover, it was known for being selective with its guests.
Hence, unless one was a VIP, reservations were simply not accepted.
Apart from the reserved seats, there were hardly any empty places left.
“Sometimes, exceptions exist.”
No one in this world would dare not treat the person becoming the Count of Verdun as a VIP, even if it was their first visit.
The fact that he had amassed a tremendous wealth was known to everyone, even the children on the streets.
“Ah…”
Lucia quickly understood Owen’s words.
She soon nodded her head and stepped into the auction house with Owen.
“Welcome.”
As soon as they entered the auction house, an attendant greeted them.
“I will guide you to your reserved room.”
Politely, he led the two to the VIP room.
The room was splendid and luxurious, fitting for a VIP.
Once they were seated, the attendant briefly explained the auction process to them.
“Pressing the button here indicates your intention to purchase the item.”
The auction process was simple.
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When the auctioneer called out the price, the participants in the auction would press the button made of magic stone.
The bidding would continue until no one pressed the button anymore, and the final bidder would win the item.
It was a rather sophisticated process.
“Well then, enjoy your time.”
After the brief explanation, the attendant left the room.
As the attendant left, Lucia opened her mouth to ask a question.
“Is there something you wish to buy here, Your Grace?”
Her question was filled with curiosity and intrigue.
Perhaps she was curious about Owen’s reason for coming here.
“Well…”
Thinking that Lucia had made the reservation without any particular reason, Owen could only give a vague answer.
At his ambiguous response, Lucia tilted her head slightly.
“Did you just want to come and see the auction house?”
Whether she was trying to figure out Owen’s interest or not, Lucia wore a rather serious expression.
Since Owen probably didn’t have specific preferences, he might have been quite pleased.
She seemed to have learned something new about him.
“I suppose so.”
“I see. May I offer you a gift then?”
Lucia brightly smiled at Owen’s response.
Taking in her beautifully curved smile, Owen nodded slightly.
Seeing Lucia’s joyful smile, Owen gazed at her for a while before slowly speaking.
“There is something I’d like to ask you.”
“Feel free to ask me anything.”
It was rare for Owen to show curiosity and ask questions to Lucia.
Feeling pleased that he wanted to ask her something, Lucia responded.
“I heard a rumor that you’ve started learning horseback riding.”
But as soon as Owen continued, she stiffened.
“If it’s not too intrusive, may I ask why?”
“Why, well…”
Lucia struggled to organize her thoughts as she spoke.
She had no idea her absence from society for a few days would lead to such rumors spreading, let alone reaching Owen.
“I thought I might ride in the hunting competition.”
With no other choice, Lucia came up with a suitable excuse.
It wasn’t a lie.
She did plan to ride in the hunting competition.
It was meant to be a secret practice to show a plausible appearance while talking with Owen.
But all her plans had gone down the drain.
“At the hunting competition?”
Owen asked in a puzzled tone in response to Lucia’s answer.
His reaction was understandable enough.
The fact that Lucia had no interest in horseback riding was a well-known story.
Even if it wasn’t well-known, Owen, having read the original, was familiar with the story.
“Yes. I got a bit tired of just attending tea parties all week.”
That’s why Lucia knew Owen’s bewilderment was justified.
Someone who had never shown interest in horseback riding suddenly taking up riding.
It was indeed puzzling.
But she had no choice but to go along with it shamelessly.
There were no other excuses.
Lucia casually replied with her usual dazzling smile.
Her easily bored attitude and beautiful expression completed her usual appearance.
“Hmm, I see.”
Instead of questioning further in his usual manner, Owen simply nodded his head.
Yet, he couldn’t shake off his bewilderment.
It was strange that something out of the ordinary was happening all of a sudden.
“Is it because of me?”
That suspicion crossed his mind for a moment.
Without much time to dwell on it, the auction was about to begin, so he pushed aside his doubts.
“To all of you visiting Rodel Auction House, welcome sincerely! Let’s start the auction now.”
The auctioneer’s voice spread through the magic-enhanced microphone.
Both of their gazes immediately fell on the stage.
“The first item is… “
As items were presented one by one, the auction proceeded.
Lucia quickly began to focus on the auction.
It had been mentioned a few times in the original work that she enjoyed auctions.
She seemed to genuinely enjoy the auction, judging by how she couldn’t take her eyes off the items on the stand and the auctioneer’s voice.
While Lucia was engrossed in the auction, Owen observed her with fascination.
Her delicately cascading red hair, sharp yet striking features captivated his gaze.
But what truly captivated him was her presence.
Lucia’s vibrant emerald eyes immersed in the auction.
[Lucia enjoyed auctions and frequented auction houses. Rodel Auction House was where she visited most often.]
In the original work, it was briefly described in just a sentence.
In the webtoon, it was condensed into a short scene.
Her actions were already quite captivating, but this was unparalleled.
The scenery of the auction house, her attire, and even her external appearance couldn’t be ignored, but her aura and demeanor held immense influence.
It felt like a thrilling sensation of obtaining something previously out of reach.
Thanks to this, every time he witnessed scenes described in the novel with his own eyes, his heart raced.
Even though the scenes described in the novel were brief and fleeting.
Just the fact of seeing her in person and realizing that she existed where he lived filled him with excitement.
As a result, he started to feel greedy.
The desire to linger by her side and watch over her, such a desire.
Ping-.
While Owen was lost in thought, Lucia pressed the auction button firmly.
Only then did Owen shift his gaze towards the stage where the auction was taking place.
On the stage lay a pair of cufflinks made of red jewels.
“40 gold. It’s been bid up to 40 gold.”
One gold was roughly around ten million Korean won.
40 gold amounted to 4 billion.
At such an astonishing price, Owen’s lips parted in surprise.
He knew nobles spent a lot of money, but spending 4 billion on cufflinks was quite astounding.
As Owen was taken aback by this fact.
The auctioneer spoke again.
“The ruby cufflinks have been sold to guest number 35 for 40 gold.”
At the news of the successful bid, Lucia smiled widely.
She turned her head to look at Owen and said.
“It’s a gift for you, Your Highness.”
“…For me?”
Taken aback by Lucia’s unexpected words, Owen slowly repeated.
In response, Lucia nodded brightly.
“Yes. A red rose, you said you liked it, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
The cuff button had a ruby embedded in it, shaped like a red rose. I thought it would be nice to present it to Your Highness.
Without a closer look, it seemed that a rose pattern was intricately engraved inside the red ruby.
Owen realized once again that she remembered even the smallest details about him.