Chapter 10
“You said you wouldn’t eat it twice. How disrespectful.”
“It’s good for your health.”
“That’s mine.”
“So petty.”
When Eve looked, she saw the door leading from the dining hall to the kitchen slightly ajar. She approached, drawn by the familiar sound of a voice.
Peeking through the crack, as expected, Arsen was sitting at the table. Next to him was a servant she hadn’t seen before. Arsen appeared to be eating, but he didn’t look particularly pleased.
“This really is such a strange taste.”
“Then why do you keep shoveling it down?”
“Because Eve made it for me.”
The servant grumbled about how devoted Arsen was as he cast him a sidelong glance. It was then Eve realized that the dish he was eating was the eel she had made.
‘He’s still eating that?’
A few days ago, she had cooked it in bulk out of spite, feeling resentful over putting effort into anything for Arsen, and then left it untouched.
A strange feeling welled up inside Eve. And she soon realized it was the same emotion she had felt a few times after returning to the past and seeing how Arsen had changed.
She didn’t want to waver again. The pain from before her return was still too vivid.
Just as she turned to leave, something the servant said froze her in place.
“By the way, what did you say to Duke Bonaparte? He looked like he’d aged ten years overnight.”
“He always looked old for his age.”
“…Can you stop judging people based on your own good looks?”
The servant, irritated, pressed on.
“So what did you say to make him look so close to death?”
Arsen calmly sliced the eel like it was nothing and replied as casually as if discussing the weather.
“I told him to kill me.”
“…Hrk.”
‘What?!’
Eve gasped involuntarily and took a step back. But Arsen—or rather, Charles—sensed her presence and turned toward the cracked door.
“Why don’t you come in, Eve?”
‘He caught me.’
After hesitating, Eve opened the door and stepped inside. The servant immediately stood and retreated. Charles, still composed, continued eating.
Eve, pretending nothing was amiss, set down a plate of cookies and sat across from him.
“Did you eat?”
“Yes. But it seems like you’re having a late meal.”
“Ah, I had some work.”
Charles smiled warmly and held out a fork with a piece of eel for her.
“Want a bite?”
“No.”
“Is it that bad?”
He tilted his head and popped it into his own mouth, then furrowed his brows slightly.
“Tastes like your heart, Eve.”
“Is my heart that terrible?”
“Hm?”
Charles looked up, and Eve gave a crooked smile.
“You just said it tastes awful. I know I’m not a great cook.”
“Well, it’s not just bad—it’s… unique.”
Eve clenched her fist. Had he always been this annoying? Rather than hate, she had the urge to sock him in the face.
Charles chuckled at the sight of her tightly pressed lips.
“Still, I wouldn’t let anyone else have it. No matter what you make, if it’s for me, it’s mine.”
Eve didn’t reply, stunned, and Charles added,
“Oh, I’d give you one bite though.”
“No thanks.”
“So cold.”
“Anyway…”
Eve fought the urge to pinch his lips and changed the topic.
“Are you going to attend Madam Luwan’s auction? Like before?”
She deliberately said “like before.” If he was pretending to be the real Arsen, he’d try to act the same.
And without a trace of hesitation, Charles replied.
“If you’re going.”
“…Me?”
“Isn’t your birthday coming up? I want to give you a gift.”
Thinking of her miserable past birthday, Eve clenched her jaw and looked down with a faint smile.
“We’ll see. Madam Luwan’s auctions are secret. Everyone wears masks or sends representatives. You know that, right?”
“But I doubt I wouldn’t recognize you, Eve.”
Eve slowly raised her head and stared at him.
“…Same here.”
Charles smiled brightly.
“Great, then we’ll both go.”
“But let’s go separately. It is a secret auction, after all.”
“Ah, hide and seek? Or tag? Sure.”
“….”
Eve frowned. Whether or not he was her real husband, this man certainly had a knack for derailing conversations.
But Charles continued, unfazed.
“If I win, grant me a wish. If you win, I’ll grant yours.”
“Forget that and just eat your eel. And please… recover.”
I’m the fool for trying to talk to this man, Eve grumbled to herself and stood. Whether or not he was Arsen, they clearly had one thing in common—conversations with him never went smoothly.
As she got up, Charles smiled sweetly and waved.
“Take care, Eve. Good luck.”
“Good luck with what?”
“Anything.”
It sounded ominous, but Eve turned away without giving it too much thought. Right now, she was full of doubt and confusion about him. She had to keep her distance before losing her objectivity. And above all, she needed to uncover the truth quickly.
Returning to her office, Eve immediately sent a reply confirming her participation in the auction and her intention to list the pink diamond ring for bidding.
—
A few days later, the auction day arrived.
Eve, wearing a mask, quietly scanned the room without drawing attention. So far, there was no sign of anyone who looked like Arsen.
‘There wasn’t any movement at home either.’
Still, she didn’t think he wouldn’t come. The butler had said Arsen responded to the invitation and was scheduled to go out today.
With cold, anxious hands, Eve sat at her assigned seat. A tall, long-haired blond man with a fully hidden face sat beside her. When their eyes met, he tilted his head.
Eve quickly looked away, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was smiling behind his mask.
‘Could it be…?’
Just then, a familiar figure with brown hair caught her attention a few rows ahead. Though his face was hidden by a mask, his clothes and gait unmistakably matched Arsen.
‘He came.’
Eve focused on him, forgetting about the man beside her.
Soon, all thirty seats filled, the lights dimmed, and a spotlight lit the stage. Standing under it was the masked Countess Luwan.
“Thank you all for coming to my secret auction again this year. All of you here are those whose taste I recognize. To satisfy you, I’ve prepared exceptional items this time as well.”
She smiled confidently.
“In particular, one of the items in this auction is especially rare and precious. I hope you’ll look forward to it.”
She glanced briefly in Eve’s direction. Eve flinched internally—Was she that easy to recognize? But the countess soon turned away and continued.
“Now then, let us begin.”
The room fell into a reverent silence. The first item was brought under the spotlight: an ornate necklace with a large blue sapphire.
But Eve wasn’t interested in the items. Her eyes remained on Arsen.
“The first item is the late Queen of Saxen’s necklace. Bidding starts at 1 million gold.”
Several more items came up, but Arsen showed no particular reaction.
Then finally, the last item appeared—Eve and Arsen’s wedding ring, the pink diamond ring.
“This is a ring made from a rare pink diamond that appears once every 500 years. As you can see, it boasts an enormous stone and exquisite craftsmanship. Bidding starts at 4 million gold.”
Eve closely watched Arsen. He didn’t seem particularly surprised. How could he be so calm when their wedding ring was up for auction? Had he not recognized it?
‘…Is he really not Arsen?’
But then, Arsen raised his paddle.
Eve’s eyes widened.
‘If he’s bidding, then he did recognize it?’
Or maybe… he simply liked the ring.
Eve decided to observe further.
“4.5 million. Yes, 5 million. 5.5 million. 6 million…”
In no time, the price surged to 8.5 million gold. Eve was shocked. The ring wasn’t worth that much. Arsen and someone else were clearly locked in a bidding war.
And only then did Eve realize the other bidder was the man beside her.
“9 million gold. Do I hear 9 million?”
Silence.
Then the man next to her raised his hand.
“9 million. Do I hear 9.5? 9.5? No? Sold for 9 million gold!”
Eve turned, startled, and looked at the man beside her. He looked back, their eyes meeting. Then Eve rose from her seat.
‘Where’s Arsen?’
The important thing wasn’t who won the bid. She had to see Arsen’s reaction.
Even if the ring was a family heirloom, 9 million gold was a steep price. He was the type to complain. Or maybe… he went home in a huff.
Still, that didn’t prove he was the real Arsen. To confirm, she had to face him directly.
Eve hurried out of the auction hall and began pursuing Arsen. In the distance, she caught a glimpse of his brown hair disappearing.
