#164. Counterfire (6)
The special feature of charity auctions at Velikordo Castle was none other than Sasha’s insightful commentary.
“The Count has previously donated remarkable works, and today he has made another significant contribution. Let me first express our gratitude.”
Sasha, with knowledge rivaling any expert across multiple fields, spoke with precision and eloquence.
“This piece was created during the early period of Shulivan’s transformative years—a time when he began to establish his own unique style, diverging from contemporary trends. Its value is thus particularly great.”
Her explanation brought the artwork vividly to life, as if she had lived in that era herself.
Merely her words were enough to elevate the piece’s perceived value.
Of course, she had indeed lived in that time in a previous life, but those unaware of this were amazed by her extensive and deep knowledge.
“Observe here: Shulivan’s keen powers of observation and depiction are evident. It’s as though he plucked a scene from that era and painted it directly. This piece holds not only artistic value but also serves as an important historical record.”
Listening to Sasha, guests were almost hypnotized, their desire to buy intensifying with every word.
The auction items she described naturally sold at higher prices.
This event was no exception.
Whispers could be heard from those watching the prices soar each time Sasha spoke.
“The Duchess is incredible. I thought she only knew about relics, but she seems to know everything.”
“Indeed. She even identified the Tabarishi imitation. Her eye for art is exceptional.”
“Does the Duchess take an interest in sponsoring artists? Who knows what talents could emerge if she nurtured exceptional creators, much like the greats of the past?”
Hearing the praise for Sasha, Naina internally seethed.
‘Showing off, are we? How obnoxious!’
She crossed her arms and glared at the back of Sasha’s head.
‘Because of that woman, nothing goes right!’
Earlier, she had been in high spirits when entering the charity party, basking in the attention she received.
But now, after making a few remarks about Sasha, everyone fled from her like she carried a plague.
And the fanatical Sasamo girls—whatever they were—had swarmed around her.
Recalling the earlier events, Naina shivered with humiliation.
‘How dare they do this to me? I won’t let it slide!’
She spun her head toward the Sasamo girls clustered around Sasha.
Yet the girls, noticing her gaze, deliberately turned away, as if not to engage.
After being harassed by their loud chatter earlier, Naina didn’t want to entangle herself unnecessarily.
‘I endured all that insult and humiliation, only to see them heap praise on that woman for a trivial auction!’
Everything around her seemed only to chip away at her pride.
‘This is just the level of people stuck in some backwater!’
In truth, Naina longed to escape this frustrating North.
Her original plan was to conquer the North first, then expand from here.
But after recent events, her mind had changed.
If she succeeded in her plan today, she would use the commotion in Velikordo Castle to head to the capital, Kalita, bearing her fame as a prophet.
She was confident that, in Kalita, she would receive the respect she deserved.
These ignorant people didn’t know their own worth, nor could they dare compare themselves to her.
The imperial capital would be different.
Her agents had already spread rumors about the prophet there.
The Emperor, curious about the mysterious prophet, would call for her.
Moreover, no one would want such a valuable asset to fall into the hands of others, especially the threatening North.
Once she gained the Emperor’s favor, no one could treat her carelessly.
The thought of people groveling before her brought a smile to her face.
Yet leaving quietly now would not satisfy her.
Leaving was one thing; she wanted to take revenge first.
‘How dare they offend me?’
Fury blazing, Naina signaled the maid, Anne, who stood at a distance.
Anne nodded subtly and began to move.
Simultaneously, movements stirred throughout the hall.
From the maids led by Anne to the serving staff and guards, all were subordinates whom Naina had previously brainwashed with dark magic.
‘As expected, I’m still formidable.’
Previously, she had used dark magic to try seducing Pavel but had failed, and had worried her power might be gone.
Her magicka had already been exhausted in reviving Gregory, and she hadn’t fully recovered it.
Thus, she had limited magicka available.
Had she possessed her full power, she would have crushed everything that annoyed her.
She would have killed Sasha first and made Pavel her puppet!
But now, her magicka was insufficient to satisfy her ambition.
It was so weak that even attempting to seduce Pavel with dark magic had failed.
Still, creating chaos in the banquet hall was well within her current abilities.
Naina was eager to ruin the place.
The hall, now full of excitement, was the perfect stage for her destruction.
The people present would serve as materials to restore her power.
She twisted her lips into a malicious smile.
‘Even if you regret it later, it’ll be too late. You’ll all be my sacrifices for my cause!’
Feeling her malice rise, she snapped her fingers lightly.
Snap!
Magicka bloomed at her fingertips.
Naina surveyed the hall with a confident gaze.
Everyone was preoccupied with the auction, whispering excitedly to their neighbors.
Soon, their elated faces would be filled with fear and despair.
Yes, she thought, show them that sight!
But… nothing happened.
“Why… isn’t anything happening?”
Naina frowned in frustration.
Her magicka should have been drawn into the totems she had secretly placed around the hall, triggering a massive dark magic spell.
Yet.
Snap! Snap!
She snapped her fingers several times, but the magicka dispersed into empty air.
The party remained peaceful and cheerful, as if nothing had occurred.
“Why?”
She scanned the hall desperately, only to see an unbelievable sight.
Her brainwashed subordinates—maids, servants—were being restrained and removed by knights in plain clothes!
Among them was Anne, her first and most loyal follower.
‘No!’
Every one of her controlled subordinates was securely bound, unable to resist, and quietly taken away.
The knights moved so stealthily that no one else in the hall noticed.
Naina realized her plan had completely failed.
And…
‘Of course.’
Sasha calmly surveyed the near-chaotic banquet hall with a composed gaze.
Amid the lively crowd, Naina frowned and scowled, flustered and angry.
Sasha had been watching her all along.
She had assigned a mid-level spirit to prevent accidents, spread rumors through Nikolai to manage the North’s social scene, and had Nina carefully monitor the servants, creating a list of suspicious individuals.
Most of the names on Nina’s list were, in fact, Naina’s own controlled subordinates.
Thanks to Nikolai and the knights, any suspicious movement was quickly intercepted and restrained.
With the help of Nina, Nikolai, and others, the plan was easily thwarted.
Sasha knew she must express gratitude, and she kept a close watch on Naina.
She sensed the situation wasn’t over; Naina’s gleaming eyes still burned with malice.
Indeed, distrusting by nature, Naina had never relied solely on her brainwashed servants for the plan.
‘Useless fools! I can’t trust these mortals!’
Biting her lips, Naina focused and drew more magicka from her core.
With all she had gathered, she could at least summon a formidable dark creature.
Though she would be weakened afterward, she planned to restore her strength using the people here as sacrifices.
Her mind racing like a gambler’s, she unleashed dark magic using the magicka she drew.
Shhh-!
Her eyes, flickering, turned black.
Her appearance was terrifying, but no one noticed yet.
What people noticed first was above their heads.
Zzz-iiing!
The massive chandelier hanging from the ceiling began to sway violently.
At first, only a few sensitive observers noticed, but soon everyone in the hall saw it shaking.
The auctioneer on the stage froze, staring at the perilous chandelier.
As if cut by an invisible saw, the chains holding the chandelier snapped one by one.
“Ahhh!”
People underneath screamed and scattered, but the chandelier fell faster than anyone could move.
Shreeeek!
The last chain broke, and the structure plummeted under its own weight.
Below, people remained.
“No—ah!”
“Ahhh!”
But…
“Hmph—!”
The horrific accident never occurred.
“St—stopped! It’s floating in midair!”
