Chapter 52
“I’ve run into a troublesome person.”
Meeting someone you’d rather never see again in a confined space… Should I be grateful it’s not Rio?
“Wait, Daphne is cozying up with the Crown Prince in a dark space? Not Rio?”
At that moment, a single word popped into my head.
“An affair?”
“What! Princess, it’s not like that—”
“The worst…”
“Princess, it’s a misunderstanding!”
“I’ve heard that sort of thing is popular in the capital these days, but I never thought His Highness would enjoy that…”
“No, it’s not!”
Kaiden was passionately explaining, lowering his voice as if someone might overhear.
“Princess. How have you been?”
Daphne looked at me with a bright smile, as if she had no intention of hiding it.
How shameless. She dares to smile after all the torment I’ve put her through.
“Aren’t we supposed to be on greeting terms only?”
“I’m sorry. I just heard that your maternal uncle came to see you, Princess, and I was worried…”
Damn it. If even Daphne knows, how far has this rumor spread?
“I was worried you might follow me here and bother me…”
“You don’t need to worry. I’ll just stay home and relax.”
“Ah…”
Daphne’s face clouded at my curt reply.
No, I didn’t even torment her this time. Still, she seemed intimidated, silently reading my expression.
I couldn’t hide my irritation at her shrinking back.
Then Kaiden stepped in to block me.
“Enough, Princess. I’ll explain.”
“I’m not really interested in hearing it.”
But despite my disinterest, Kaiden persisted in explaining the situation.
When Kaiden finished, I suppressed a rising sigh.
“So, you wanted to surprise Rio with a gift, but since that item was up for auction, you sought His Highness’s help?”
“Yes, that’s correct… His Highness truly came along out of goodwill.”
“See?”
“Ah, I see.”
I nodded subtly, muttering to myself.
‘What nonsense.’
Help? If there was truly no ulterior motive, they could have brought even one extra guard or secretary.
A secret rendezvous with someone’s partner—there’s no way I can understand that.
I straightened my back, which I had leaned to hear their full story.
“Yes, understood. Do as you please, and enjoy your time.”
Whether they fought, played pranks, or flirted, it was none of my business.
I had the duty to observe this auction.
Tilting my body toward Herace to avoid them, he whispered into my ear:
“Are your eyes okay?”
“Yes. I think they’re fine.”
I blinked a few times to show I was alright.
No one else could see it, but a transparent film was attached to my corneas.
‘Like a type of lens.’
This transparent layer was exactly what Oel asked me to use in exchange for the ticket.
‘What is this?’
‘My scale.’
‘…Scale?’
‘Technically, it’s a magical tool made from my scale. A one-of-a-kind item.’
‘What kind of magical tool?’
‘It’s like a recording orb. It has a recording function. Wear it and record who wins which auction item. You insert it by opening your eyes—it doesn’t hurt, so don’t worry.’
‘That’s all I have to do?’
‘Yes. Just go and enjoy watching.’
Oel explained how to wear the item. It was just like putting in a lens, so with my memory from a previous life, it wasn’t difficult.
‘Good thing I put it in beforehand.’
The inspection tool didn’t detect it even after I inserted it.
‘Oel was really born for this job.’
I had thought she merely had long life and lots of knowledge. Turns out she constantly invents new items and strives tirelessly to gather information.
Originally, Oel wanted to attend the auction herself, but due to my treatment, she couldn’t, so she sent me instead.
‘Don’t worry, Oel. I’ll record everything without missing a single second.’
It wasn’t difficult. All I had to do was watch carefully.
I focused all my attention on the auction.
“Princess.”
Why does he keep talking to me?
“Pay attention over there with Daphne. Why do you keep talking to me?”
“No, listen. This is a bit tricky. Coming here alone with someone’s partner… Imagine what people would say if they recognized us.”
Is he insane? He came on his own and now worries about others seeing him?
I silently thanked the thick darkness. Otherwise, my openly scornful gaze toward the Crown Prince would have been obvious.
“So that’s why you came secretly, right?”
“We did hide it, but you noticed.”
Could I not? The aura was different the moment I saw them.
“…It’s a coincidence. A coincidence.”
“There’s no rule that a coincidence can’t happen twice.”
“What do you want me to do?”
Eyes on the auction items, ears on Kaiden.
This chaos left me exasperated.
Kaiden didn’t seem fazed at all.
“Keep talking to me. Let’s pretend we’re companions.”
“Why me?”
“Being next to you, Princess, makes me feel like my wandering mind is coming back. I have to stay alert because I never know what might happen.”
Seeing him tilt his head in genuine curiosity made me boil with irritation.
“Why not just curse me openly?”
“It’s not a curse… well, how should I explain…”
Kaiden’s desperate attempt to explain was cut off by Daphne.
“Your Highness, when will it be up?”
“Ah, soon, I think.”
Kaiden kept glancing at me while talking with Daphne.
But that was his problem. I leaned toward Herace, wary of being approached again.
“Do you want me to switch seats if it’s uncomfortable?”
“No. He’s probably done talking by now.”
Kaiden didn’t speak to me again after that.
Whether intentional or not, Daphne kept him occupied with endless chatter.
Thanks to that, I could enjoy the auction in peace.
Time passed, and the final item appeared.
“Now, today’s highlight! The Devil’s Bracelet!”
I flinched. My shoulder jerked reflexively.
‘Why is it here?’
That cursed item that could kill me… seeing the bracelet I had so desperately avoided, my expression hardened without me realizing.
“What’s wrong? Are you unwell?”
“Nothing.”
Herace’s concern made me shake my head.
How did Frank manage to obtain a magical tool like the Devil’s Bracelet?
‘So it was from here…’
It was certain he got it here and gave it to me.
I glared at the Devil’s Bracelet.
Despite all efforts to avoid it, was I being swept along by the original story? Or was it truly a coincidence?
There was no way to know.
Daphne’s Garden was entirely from her perspective.
There wasn’t much information available about me.
I slowly lifted my head, and immediately, my gaze met Daphne’s.
As if she had been watching me from the beginning.
‘Why now, of all times, is she looking at me?’
Did I curse her with that item? Just meeting her gaze felt unsettling.
Normally, she would have flinched and avoided my eyes, but she stared straight at me.
Continuing to meet her gaze made my eyes ache.
“Ugh.”
Rubbing my stinging eyes, Herace held my chin.
“Something in your eye?”
“No, just a little sore. I’m fine now.”
Was it from wearing Oel’s scale too long? My eyes kept stinging.
In the distance, the auctioneer’s voice echoed.
“Sold to the gentleman at lot 118!”
With the Devil’s Bracelet, the auction ended.
As the sunset settled in the sky, I blinked slowly.
“They sting a bit.”
Perhaps from dryness, my eyelids felt stiff and rough with each blink.
I leaned on Herace as a support and quickly removed the scale.
I placed it in its case and rubbed my eyes, still feeling slight discomfort.
But the moment I touched my eyelid, Herace grabbed me.
“Don’t rub. You’ll hurt your eyes.”
“I think an eyelash got in.”
I squinted and blinked, and Herace lowered his head.
“W-why?”
“Just stay still.”
I hesitated, taking small steps back, but Herace caught up and held me.
“No, I can do it myself…”
“Then you’ll just rub again.”
No! It’s not the rubbing—it’s the number of eyes watching!
The auction had just ended, and people were pouring out, crowding the exits.
Yet Herace acted as if it were only the two of us.
He met my gaze and blew gently.
I shivered at the soft breeze.
