UFSM 11

• Chapter 11

Bang—bang—bang!

“The fifth item has been successfully sold to guest number 101!”

Success.

“Unfortunately, this next item is even more beautiful and exquisite, so stay tuned! Now, let me introduce our next item!”

In most auctions, the later the item appears, the more intense the competition becomes.

Rare and coveted items are usually placed toward the end of the auction, while more ambiguous or mood-setting pieces are shown earlier to build atmosphere.

The item I just won was about mid-tier—introduced early enough not to draw too much attention, yet valuable enough to incite a fierce bidding war between a handful of participants.

Numbers 35, 71, 99, and myself, number 101.

As the price climbed, the voices shouting out numbers dwindled. The moment the others started to hesitate, I doubled the bid, jumping back into the fray.

Once it passed 2,000 krang—my final bid being 5,000—the other bidders gave up, and as soon as the gavel fell, those three turned to stare at me.

Whether it was a glare or simple curiosity—

“Fufu.”

I lifted my fan over my feathered white mask, attempting to hide the smile that kept breaking out. I couldn’t help it—the thrill of obtaining exactly what I’d come for was too satisfying to suppress.

Among those three competitors, it’s likely that one was connected to the Grand Duke and another to the Second Prince.

As for the third… I couldn’t quite tell.

‘Doesn’t matter. What’s important is that it’s mine now.’

I had fully anticipated that major players would be after this item. That’s why I had come prepared to bid as high as ten thousand krang.

Ten thousand was enough to purchase a small estate. I even brought a blank promissory note from my family just in case the bidding went beyond my expectations—but ideally, I wanted to leave no trace. That check was for emergencies only.

Luckily, the bidding ended neatly at 5,000, within the amount of physical cash I had on me. I breathed an internal sigh of relief.

“Let’s head back, Sir Roim.”

“Yes, my lady.”

As I stood and signaled our departure, Sir Roim, the knight guarding me, knocked twice on the door.

It opened shortly after. I stepped out gracefully, and the auction house staff bowed deeply as they closed the door behind me.

When we reached the first floor, a different staff member—this one with a polished silver badge and far more refined clothing—stood waiting.

“Are you leaving already?”

I nodded slightly, and he smiled politely, though his eyes gleamed with something else.

“That’s a shame. There are many more items in the second half of the auction that I’m sure would pique your interest.”

I said nothing in response. I simply smiled under my mask and opened my fan to cover the visible part of my face—just the mouth. A classic gesture of polite refusal.

The staff member let out a regretful sigh.

‘Well, considering I just paid 5,000 krang for something most would call insignificant, of course he’d be reluctant to let me go.’

Giving up on persuading me, he clasped his hands together and gestured to the side.

“Then allow me to escort you to your item.”

Over the past month, I’d wracked my brain organizing every memory from before my regression. I filtered out the uncertain details and carefully compiled a list of items I needed to obtain—when they would appear, where they could be found, and who was connected to them.

The very first among those was the item I’d just won at this auction.

A sapphire ring, imbued with the color of the sea.

“This way, please.”

We passed through a large, securely locked door deep inside the auction house. The employee opened it with a key and led us down a long corridor even deeper into the facility.

This place is larger than I expected.

Sir Roim entered the secure room first. I followed shortly after and scanned the surroundings. The staff member opened the box holding my auction prize and presented it for inspection. Once I nodded in confirmation, he closed the box and handed it to Sir Roim.

This item is still like an uncut gem—its true value yet to be revealed.

But in the next few years, I’ll definitely need it.

“It suits you well, my lady. Like the color of the ocean itself.”

One of the essential pieces was finally mine.

I’d started early this morning and gone through a great deal of effort for this. But it was worth every moment.

Nice to meet you, Oxana’s Ring.

Oxana’s Ring.

A striking blend of deep teal and blue. The sapphire was uncut and roughly set on a thick brass band—a design that might seem crude by today’s aesthetic standards.

The ring itself was unimpressive. But the gemstone atop it was of substantial value on its own.

Of course, I didn’t buy it as jewelry.

“Sir Roim, come here.”

I called him over and reached under my cape, retrieving a small black leather pouch tied tight with a cord.

Inside was another ring—an exact replica of Oxana’s Ring.

“Milady, this is…!”

Sir Roim gasped.

I raised a finger to my lips.

‘Shh.’

His reaction was understandable.

I had made an identical copy.

As he stepped closer, I opened the box holding the real ring and seamlessly switched it with the replica in my hand. Once done, I closed the box and handed it to him.

“Keep this safe.”

“Safe travels, madam.”

As we exited the auction house, I handed a silver coin to the staff member who had escorted us. He bowed repeatedly in gratitude.

I gave him a quick nod and turned away with a soft smile, heading toward the carriage that awaited us.

“This way.”

Sir Roim led the way down a narrow alley toward where the carriage was parked.

Since the auction hadn’t ended yet, no one else was leaving. It was just me and Roim—quiet and uneventful.

Ching—!

“Milady, get back!”

Suddenly, the sound of metal clashing rang out, and Roim stepped in front of me, drawing his sword in one fluid motion.

It happened so fast I didn’t even know what was going on. But as I ducked behind him, realization dawned.

So it begins.

“Who’s there?!”

I couldn’t see past Roim’s broad shoulders, so I dipped my head and peered through a small gap at his side.

Three men were waiting near our carriage. They wore dark navy cloaks with their hoods up, but none of them were masked. They didn’t seem particularly concerned about hiding their identities.

The coachman lay unconscious at their feet.

“Step aside! Do you even know who you’re threatening?!”

“Milady hiding behind the knight—we just want to talk.”

“Move again and I’ll cut you down.”

One of them reached out, prompting Roim to raise his sword with one hand and push me back with the other.

‘I’m sorry, my lady,’ he whispered.

I patted his back twice to let him know it was fine. As I lifted my gaze, I noticed a bead of sweat rolling down the back of his neck.

He was tense.

“I just want to talk,” the man repeated. “If you cooperate, I swear, not a single hair on your head will be harmed.”

“How can we trust the words of someone who attacked our coachman?”

“Oh, that?” said one of them, glancing at the unconscious man. “He just fainted from fright. We didn’t kill him. Now, how about we chat for a moment, madam?”

“Ignore them, my lady. Don’t move.”

“Typical trained dogs,” one muttered.

“Wait, she’s a madam? Is she older than she looks?”

Roim’s arm tensed at their sneering laughter.

I tapped his back again and stepped forward.

“How dare you—!”

“Sir Roim, don’t waste your breath on such filth. You said you had something to say to me?”

“My lady!”

“It’s fine.”

“Greetings, madam.”

“You didn’t go through all this trouble just to say hello. Get to the point.”

“Straightforward, aren’t you?”

It was obvious what they wanted—the ring I’d just acquired.

They must be one of the three competitors from earlier.

“What is it you want?”

“You already know, don’t you?”

“The item I just won.”

“Yes. You’re quick.”

“Who sent you?”

“That’s… not important.”

Roim stepped in front of me again as I stared down the man.

“If I hand over the item, do you swear to leave peacefully?”

“Absolutely. Not even a scratch, I promise.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that?”

“What would convince you?”

“Send everyone away. Only you stay.”

“That’s risky. Your guard might attack me.”

“I swear on my honor. Roim, put away your sword.”

“My lady, that’s too dangerous!”

“That’s an order. Put it away.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

After hesitating, Roim sheathed his blade but kept his eyes locked on the men.

“Fine. I understand how important noble honor is to people like you.”

With a snap of his fingers, the other two disappeared into the alley.

“Now, will you honor your side of the deal?”

“Roim, hand over the item.”

He retrieved the box from a pouch at his side and moved forward.

“Wait a minute.”

“What now?”

“With that murderous look in your eyes, how am I supposed to feel safe?”

“What do you want, then?”

“Have the madam bring it herself.”

“Unbelievable…!”

We were already running late, so I sighed and turned to Roim.

“Roim, bring it here.”

“My lady! Absolutely not!”

“I swear, no harm will come to her—not a finger laid.”

“Your word is worthless.”

“Fine. I swear on my master’s honor.”

I was starting to get tired of their bickering.

Since it was a fake anyway, there was no need to waste more time. I needed to move on.

“Enough. I’ll leave the box on the ground. Once we step back, you can take it. Satisfied?”

“Perfect.”

Roim placed the box down, and we backed away ten paces.

The man stepped forward, eyes locked on us, and picked it up.

A wide grin spread across his face as he patted the box.

“Good. I’ll keep my word. We’re done here.”

“Then disappear.”

“Consider yourself lucky, madam. That item was too grand for someone like you anyway.”

“Well, maybe it’s better off with your master. I only bid on it because I thought it was beneath me.”

At the mention of a ‘master,’ the man’s expression twisted.

“You’ve got some nerve, madam. Let me offer you some advice—”

“Don’t.”

“What?”

“I don’t have time for your pointless advice.”

“…Tch. Then how about some information? It’s only fair.”

As soon as he turned to leave—

Ping!

With a sharp whistling sound, the box shot upward into the air.

“What the—?!”

It soared out of his hands and landed perfectly in the arms of a masked figure standing on the rooftop behind us.

One of the other bidders, no doubt.

I knew others would be after the ring—but two attacks on the very day I won it?

As the masked thief fled across the rooftops, the man who’d just stolen it from me turned pale and gave chase.

I almost laughed.

“What the hell just happened…”

“It’s over.”

“My lady… did you expect this?”

“Well, I figured someone would try. Just didn’t think it’d be this soon.”

“Amazing…”

“Let’s go.”

Just as we approached the carriage again, Roim paused, a troubled look on his face.

“Ah… but we’ll need a new coachman, my lady.”

“No need.”

I walked over to the ‘unconscious’ coachman and raised the heel of my shoe right in front of his face.

“…Eep!”

He’d clearly been peeking through his lashes, because as soon as he saw the heel coming down, he flinched violently and froze in place.

He felt my cold gaze and scrambled to his feet, trembling like a leaf.

I turned away without a word.

“Looks like we’ve got our coachman back. Let’s go.”

“…Yes, my lady.”