Chapter 16
Louisa turned her head completely to look at Raphael, her expression as if she’d been pricked by a needle. Anyone could see she was genuinely surprised.
“I wondered if you followed me all the way here, but judging from your face, I guess not.”
“Of course not!”
—I didn’t follow you, I’m here for the artifact you’re after!
Louisa suppressed the frustration that nearly burst out.
“What are you waiting for that you’re trying so hard not to fall asleep?”
“…Why are you asking?”
Her wary gaze locked onto Raphael.
“Am I not allowed to ask?”
“It’s not that…”
“I’m asking because we might be after the same item.”
“Would you give it up if we are?”
“It’s unlikely that we’d overlap.”
“And if we do?”
Startled by Louisa’s sudden assertiveness, Raphael paused for a moment and then nodded.
“I’ll yield. But on one condition.”
Louisa wanted to retort—what condition? I’m the one paying for it!—but since she couldn’t very well argue with a prince, she motioned for him to go on.
“If it really is the same item, I’ll tell you the condition then.”
“Can’t you tell me now?”
“I’ll tell you after the auction.”
What kind of condition needs to be delayed like that? Louisa sulked as she looked at his resolute profile.
Knowing it would overlap made her expression even more annoyed.
As she turned her head to face the front, a soft sigh escaped her lips.
“What’s wrong?”
Damian, who had been quietly observing her whispering with the man beside her, asked gently once the conversation ended.
“Hmm, it’s someone I know. I’ll explain later.”
“…Alright.”
Damian gave a faint smile and briefly glanced toward the man sitting in the corner. His usual amethyst eyes, always warm when looking at Louisa, now carried a sharp, cold light.
“Oh, there it is.”
As the next auction item appeared on stage, Louisa was the first to react. It was an artifact made of a transparent gemstone.
Raphael furrowed his brow in disbelief.
“…It really is the same item.”
“You’re planning to buy this?”
Feigning surprise, Louisa looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Oh, what a coincidence!”
“Why do you want to buy it?”
Raphael, who had seemed relaxed just moments ago, was suddenly tense. His upright posture leaned toward Louisa, betraying his unease.
“I like it.”
“It might be dangerous.”
Louisa narrowed her eyes at his serious tone.
“Wait—you’re not going to back out of your promise?”
“I keep my promises. I’m just saying it’s not something that should be taken lightly.”
His tone was uncharacteristically urgent. Louisa barely held back a laugh.
If it’s not something to be handled lightly, then why did you give it to the heroine in the original timeline? She wanted to question future Raphael.
‘At this rate, maybe the final boss of this world is the dangerously charming heroine. How does everyone fall for her like that?’
Louisa tilted her head and faced forward again.
“I’ll handle it carefully. Thanks for yielding.”
It was a clear signal: no more interference. Raphael bit his lower lip.
“…Then I’ll gift it to you. But please, allow me to examine it for a few days.”
“No, thank you. That’s too much trouble. I’ll be keeping it! But instead…”
“…”
“You can look at it briefly—but only in front of me.“
There was no way she’d lend it for days not knowing what he might do.
If he bonded it to himself, she wouldn’t be able to get it back. Even if she bonded it first, she wasn’t sure he wouldn’t have a way to undo it. So the safest route was to let him see it only while she had it on.
“One glance isn’t enough—that’s why I said a few days.”
“Then I won’t mind if you come visit me during those days.”
A moment of silence passed. Then, in a slow, almost exasperated tone, Raphael asked:
“…Must you go this far just to see me more often?”
The words were oddly phrased, but Louisa, focused on the auction, nodded distractedly.
“Ha, do as you wish.”
Whatever he says—that thing is mine.
Louisa’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“The Light of the Abyss, a mysterious artifact,” the auctioneer began, pointing to a small, nearly invisible gem.
“It looks like a tiny, transparent stone, but it emits a faint glow in darkness. Said to be from ancient times, it holds immeasurable value. Ancient artifacts are considered to contain pure energy and are revered as legacies. We highly recommend it as a prized possession. Let’s begin the bidding.”
Thankfully, due to its tiny size and unimpressive appearance, the “ancient artifact” hype didn’t land well.
“6,000… 7,000… 7,000—do I hear more?”
Relieved that the price wasn’t climbing fast, Louisa raised her paddle.
“One hundred million.”
“We have one hundred million! Any higher bids?”
The room fell silent. Louisa briefly glanced at Raphael’s side profile, then turned her eyes back to the auctioneer.
“If there are no higher bids, I’ll count three times and close. One hundred million, one hundred million, one hundred million—”
Bang! The gavel came down. Louisa smiled with relief.
“The Light of the Abyss is sold for one hundred million!”
Finally—I can go home!
