Chapter 40

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: The Princess Only Deals in the Real Thing 46

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Rozanne Viscountess glanced around and ground her teeth.

'What pack of idiots is swarming that painting!'

She'd heard everyone had laughed it off at the previous auction.

Who the hell would buy something like that?

And yet...

'Damn it. It must've blown up after the last auction!'

On top of that, people were sneaking glances at Rozanne.

Identities were secret at the auction house, but there was no hiding them from discerning eyes that caught the cut of one's clothes and jewelry.

Rozanne Viscountess was known for her deep knowledge of art. The moment she bid on Forest of Colonya, everyone seemed to think, "Guess it is a good painting. How did I miss it?" and piled in.

She'd shot herself in the foot.

But she couldn't back down now. Rozanne bit her lip and raised her paddle again.

The result?

"Forest of Colonya goes to guest number six for 170 million gold!"

Rozanne had snagged it for a whopping 170 million gold.

'Damn it all!'

No matter that it held clues to her uncle's hidden fortune—170 million gold was insane.

Still fuming, Rozanne shot to her feet.

She was done here anyway. Once she claimed the painting, she'd never set foot in this shabby night auction again.

Storming off irritably, she tripped over something and went sprawling.

"Ugh...!"

"Oh my, are you all right?"

She turned to see an old woman in a wheelchair.

"You must be in some hurry. Can you get up? Sorry I can't help."

That was when Rozanne realized her foot had caught in the wheelchair.

She muttered viciously.

"If you're so infirm, stay shut away at home."

The old woman's orange eyes widened.

Strictly speaking, Rozanne had tripped herself rushing along, but noble society didn't work that way.

The first to apologize lost.

Besides, this was just some nobody at a low-rent night auction—fair game for Rozanne to crush.

"How dare you say such a thing!"

"...Enough. Let's not make a scene."

A man who looked like a butler sprang up indignantly, but the old woman held him back.

Rozanne finally hauled herself up, encumbered by her fussy dress. She glared at them as she walked, then froze.

'Wheelchair? Orange eyes?'

A face flashed through her mind, but she shook her head.

No way. That 'someone' had vanished from sight for years.

She wouldn't show up in a dump like this.

"Bring it. Forest of Colonya."

At the claim counter, Rozanne crooked a finger.

A servant brought two large bags and spread them on the table.

One held 170 million gold. The other was a replica of Forest of Colonya, brought to compare against the original.

"Yes. Here it is. Once an item is sold at auction, the sale is absolutely final and..."

"You think I don't know that?"

Rozanne snatched the original roughly, snapping at the clerk.

'Let's see what Nicholas missed.'

She scrutinized both paintings for a long time.

But...

"This... how...?"

They were identical.

Texture, color, even the craquelure.

Not a single difference.

"No, this can't be. It can't!"

How was this possible?

There had to be a difference. Otherwise, it made no sense.

It had to be there, so that nothing turning up in the conifer grove wasn't her mistake—but Nicholas botching the replica!

Rozanne looked up, pale as death.

Voices drifted from the slightly ajar door to the auction hall.

"...A truly special painting in every way. Not on canvas but a plate, and the comeback debut of an unknown artist to boot. Introducing Viscount Nicholas Raum's Life, a northern waterfall."

"What?!"

Rozanne burst through the door.

What she saw was...

"Five million gold. Five-point-five. Six million. Bidding up by one million—seven million. Eight million..."

Paddles flying up like applause for Nicholas's painting.

"Sold to guest number one for 16 million gold."

Rozanne's head turned with a creak.

The person heading to claim Nicholas's painting was...

"Good thing. I fell for it at first sight—worried I might not snag it."

"Y-Your Grace. If I may be so bold, what drew you to that landscape? You've received plenty as gifts already."

"All those others were beautiful, but so large they saddened me. I have to crane my neck up, which reminds me all too well of my station."

"Your Grace..."

"But this Life on a plate? I can keep it close for comfort anytime. That's what I like. The painting itself is superb, of course."

'Duke Alchemia!'

The old woman in the wheelchair she'd just insulted was Duke Alchemia!

Her vicious words echoed in her ears.

As Alchemia passed the rigid Rozanne, she gave her a long look.

Then...

"Why hasn't a talent like that been painting all this time...?"

The smile never left Alchemia's face until her lips pressed into a cold line.

"Now that's what I'm wondering."

Shivering as Alchemia departed, Rozanne stumbled out of the auction house.

She ripped off her mask and headed for her carriage.

She had to find out.

Why the original Forest of Colonya matched the replica perfectly.

And why Nicholas was pulling this madness!

"S-Sis!"

But the moment she saw Hugo's ashen face waiting in the carriage, Rozanne knew it was bad.

"Uncle's pawnshop... got a guarantor! They renewed the permit!"

"...What?"

Guarantors came in just two flavors.

Blood kin, or a noble whose honor stood as its own symbol.

But she'd confirmed it.

Michele Pioquedaad Lionet hadn't set foot outside.

How? How the hell?

"That's not all! Not just Uncle's pawnshop—the whole Ashen Street applied under the same guarantor!"

"What nonsense is this!"

"You didn't know, Sis?!"

I didn't know?

Mulling Hugo's words in a daze, Rozanne felt like she'd been clubbed over the head.

"Your husband, Sis! Viscount Nicholas Raum! That bastard guaranteed the entire street!"

'Nicholas!'

Rozanne clenched her fists until her nails bit flesh.

The bastard had finally lost it.

"Without me, you're nothing. You think anyone would give a damn about the likes of you?"

Otherwise, how could the sniveling wretch who'd only wept at those words now screw her over like this!

"How did this even... No, but Forest of Colonya is in our hands, right?"

Hugo, who'd been uneasy, forced a cheerful note.

"With that painting, we get Uncle's fortune. Who cares what happens to some pawnshop? Was there a code? A mark?"

"..."

"Sis? Why aren't you saying anything...?"

"We're... going back to the estate."

"S-Sis?"

"I said we're going back to the estate!"

Right. She'd check the painting again. After carving Nicholas up.

A close inspection would reveal the differences for sure.

Her sly uncle had hidden it too well for the naked eye—that was all.

Rozanne trembling with rage and the terrified Hugo arrived at Viscount Raum's estate hours later.

"Nicholas!"

Rozanne tore through the manor like a madwoman.

"You pull this crap and hide? Show yourself! Get out here now!"

"M-Madam..."

A maid trailed her, trembling like an aspen, and spoke timidly.

Rozanne whipped around, eyes blazing. The maid gulped and stammered on the verge of tears.

"I opened the atelier door to prepare dinner and f-found... this..."

Rozanne snatched the paper from the maid's hand. Her face drained of color.

What she saw was.

《Divorce Decree》

The divorce papers bearing Nicholas's name.