CH 141

In response to the reaction that acted as if nothing happened, Miella looked at Lucion as if she had met God.

He really was a saint.

But she wasn’t sure if she could really receive it.

Miella hesitated and opened her eyes wide.

‘Huh?’

Come to think of it, it was a strange situation.

‘…When I first met Hamel-nim, it was like this too.’

Miella stared at Lucion.

She didn’t know if it was because she’d been next to him, but as the pressure disappeared, strangely, a familiar feeling radiated from Lucion.

“I….”

“Yes, Lady.”

“Really, I… Can I?”

Miella asked carefully.

“I accidentally overheard your conversation. If so, shouldn’t it go back to its owner?”

“But it’s too expensive.”

Heint’s eyes widened at the conversation between the two.

He could see the circumstances when Lucion mentioned the owner, but it was something Lucion had bought for 600,000 dells.

It didn’t make sense that he had to hand it over to the lady who he met for the first time.

“Ah…’

Heint belatedly thought of the ‘gift card’ that Naughton mentioned.

Pfft.

At Lucion’s bold figure, Heint burst into laughter.

The more he looked at Lucion, the more he felt like he was tasting deeply brewed tea.

It was like the kind of tea that made you want to taste it again, boasting a different taste from its first impression.

“There is a way. That’s… Ah. The next auction is starting.”

Lucion smiled and pointed forward.

When he couldn’t explain it, this method was the best.

Changing the subject.

* * *

Hoahm.

Lucion yawned, covering his mouth with his hand.

The auction was halfway through, but Lucion used his body as an excuse to get up first.

There was nothing more to see, so he better went back and rest.

Miella looked at him as he got up.

“I’ll see you again next time, Lady Miella.”

He already told Miella to pick up the item through Naughton, so there was nothing more to worry about.

―Bye, Miella!

She couldn’t hear it, but Ratta said farewell, too.

The auction was over.

As Lucion first planned, he didn’t give the other nobles the opportunity to pursue him.

‘What are they going to do about this? They must have been excited to talk to me after the auction. That dream is completely shattered.’

Lucion smiled at the nobles and turned his head.

The auction wasn’t over, so they couldn’t leave.

[Look at their eyes. They’re about to cry.]

Russell was also busy giggling.

The saint was so close that they couldn’t even talk to him, how sad they must be.

It might be different if they never saw him at all, but since they were close in the same place, they must be longing for Lucion even more.

“How was it?”

Hwint strolled down the corridor and asked insinuatingly as he saw Lucion surrounded by the Imperial Knights.

‘Hmm…’

To put it nicely, it was a series of windfalls, and to put it badly, it was tough.

Anyway, Lucion was satisfied because he got Miella’s masterpiece, which was his goal.

“I’m satisfied. It was fine.”

“That’s a relief. Carson was really worried. I’ve been thinking a lot about what to say to him today. “

“You can just let me speak to him.”

Lucion blinked.

“But Carson is busy these days, he only has time at dawn. I can’t wake you up from a good night’s sleep.”

Heint replied with a bitter look.

He couldn’t tell Lucion that he had no choice but to open his eyes at dawn because of that damn Carson these days.

Still, as a friend, Heint walked forward, hiding that fact.

Upon arriving at the office, Naughton welcomed Lucion.

“Saint, I have your bracelet prepared in advance.”

He had Hume tell Naughton in advance that he would be returning sometime later in the auction.

He saw Naughton move quickly towards somewhere as soon as he heard it from Hume, but he didn’t expect him to be here.

[He’s genuine. I wasn’t sure at first, but it’s true. He’s going to worship you at this rate.]

Russell pointed his finger at Naughton and stuck out his tongue.

Still, Naughton was the owner of a large auction house, so how could he act like this?

“How was the bracelet?”

Lucion asked.

“I was very concerned at first too, but through the priest, I confirmed that the light would be fine enough for the Saint to take it.”

Naughton smiled with joy as if it were his own business.

‘As expected.’

Lucion didn’t even laugh because he knew the priest wouldn’t be able to confirm.

[No way… It should be a holy relic.]

Russell questioned Naughton’s response.

Ratta’s words and such pure light certainly couldn’t be explained unless it was truly a holy relic.

Lucion smiled as Russell’s worries deepened, but he held back.

It was fun to see Russell, who knew everything, looked lost from time to time.

“Oh, Naughton-nim.”

Lucion approached Naughton just in case and lowered his voice.

“You didn’t forget my request, did you?”

The request to give the necklace to Miella Chefran.

When Naughton first heard the request, he was horrified.

The original owner of the necklace was Miella Chefran.

He didn’t know how Lucion knew about it, but he didn’t give up the opportunity to take things for free to others.

Even offering to donate the money from the auction to an orphanage was purely a pretense to see Lucion.

But Lucion was genuine.

A kindhearted person.

The fact that Lucion had asked to return the item to Chefran through Naughton made him realize that he had no secrets and that things must be returned to their owners.

“Yes, of course!”

Naughton looked at Lucion with gratitude.

“Then come this way. I will return the item after the Saint verify it.”

Lucion followed him, questioning the eyes of Naughton, who looked at him warmly.

Only Heint and Hume accompanied him because Imperial Knights couldn’t come to the room.

“Bring it.”

At Naughton’s words, the servant placed a carefully-wrapped gift box on the table.

―Huh… What?

He could feel Ratta tilting her head.

[Hmm…]

Lucion walked toward the gift box as Russell also dragged his word.

‘Hmm.’

Lucion noticed the temperature was weird.

There was no awkwardness peculiar to light.

“Do you mind if I open it?”

Lucion asked.

“Yes. You can open it.”

“Lord Lucion.”

Heint called Lucion.

Lucion himself felt that it was weird, so it would be strange if Heint stayed still.

“Yes.”

“I’ll open it. Please allow me.”

“What’s the matter?”

At Lucion’s question, Heint took a step closer to him and lowered his voice.

“The light… I don’t feel it.”

[I think they’ve changed it?]

Russell touched the box.

[…Tsk!]

When there was no response, a curse popped out of Russell’s mouth.

The content of the box had obviously changed.

―Hop! Lucion’s bracelet!

He could feel Ratta stamping her feet.

‘It’s not Naughton.’

Lucion excluded him after seeing Naughton’s expression full of anticipation.

‘The priest…’

There was no one who touched the bracelet other than Naughton and the priest.

[It’s the priest!]

Russell just happened to have a similar thought.

Without hesitation, he ran straight to the wall.

[I’ll go. You keep your mouth shut.]

But Hume suddenly grabbed Russell.

He looked as if he was holding something in the air, but Hume naturally pretended to flip his hair.

[What’s wrong, Hume?]

Russell didn’t think Hume was grabbing him for no reason.

Since he had to hurry, Lucion pretended not to know anything and urged Heint.

“Yes. Then do so.”

Heint nodded slightly and opened the gift box.

It looked similar to the bracelet he had seen, but its thickness was different.

Wasn’t this the form before the bracelet was combined?

“It’s fake!”

Heint said hastily.

“It’s fake…?”

Lucion pretended to be surprised, and Naughton’s mouth went down like flowing candle wax.

Soon Naughton’s eyes widened so big that they were about to pop out.

“F-Fake! What are you…”

The moment he checked the bracelet, Naughton immediately stopped breathing.

Just as Naughton’s face turned red, he uttered with a gasp.

“T-The priest! The priest is the only one who checked the bracelet!”

“Where is he now?”

When Heint asked, Naughton moved right away.

“Follow me!”

“Lord Lucion. Stay here.”

Heint left the room and ordered his men.

“Close the door, don’t let anyone in here.”

“Understood!”

The stolen item was not just any other item, it was Lucion’s.

It could have led to the incompetence of the Imperial Knights.

Heint followed Naughton with only a handful of knights.

As the door closed and the surroundings quieted down, Lucion asked Hume.

Perhaps because he had seen him grabbing Russell.

“Is it him?”

Lucion pointed to the servant.

Looking at Russell trying to leave the room, the culprit was inside.

Except for him and Hume, only that servant was around.

From that moment, the servant began to tremble.

“Yes. The smell of Young Master’s perfume spread through that person’s body.”

Hume’s gaze went up and down and then stopped at the servant’s hand.

“It smells quite strong because he touched the bracelet himself.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Lucion raised the corner of his mouth.

“Y-Y-You’re mistaken…”

Hume tactfully shut the servant’s mouth.

Because it was difficult for knights to come in from outside.

[Don’t worry about Heint. He’s gone far.]

As soon as Russell saw Lucion’s twitched fingers, he told him to do as he wished.

After absorbing the black orb, although not completely, Lucion was able to send out darkness even if it wasn’t from the palm of his hand.

―Oh, Lucion is trying to use delusion. Ahem. Ratta is ready anytime.

Lucion let the darkness flow from his feet like a shadow and quietly ride up to the body of the servant.

He immediately sharpened the end of the darkness and penetrated the servant’s head.

Ti-ring.

Lucion’s hands trembled, but it was tolerable.

No, he had to put up with it.

Crackle.

As the darkness penetrated the servant’s head, the flames of darkness rose in both his eyes.

Hume took out a paper and pen in advance and handed it over to the servant.

“The guy who tricked you into changing my bracelet. Write down everything you know about him.”

Lucion ordered.

When he felt that about 5 minutes had passed, the servant stopped.

Hume took the paper and handed it over to Lucion.

– He said he’d give me a lot of money. I’ve received half of the down payment. A middle-aged man. Has a lot of money. He’ll give me the other half when he comes to my place. The place is…

‘Idiot.’

Lucion couldn’t help but laugh as he read the paper.

The place that the middle-aged man who persuaded the servant told him about must have been the place where he intended to kill the servant n order to destroy evidence.

[Those words… He believed it? No way. He believes in anything because he’s been blinded by money.]

“Yes. That’s right. If you’re blinded by anything, your ears will be closed, too. You’re grateful to me, aren’t you?”

Lucion looked at the flame of darkness, which was extinguishing from the eyes of the servant.

“I found out that there’s a big guy out there aiming for my stuff.”

[So… Ratta. Heint is coming. Turn off the darkness.]

―Oh, got it! Just trust Ratta. Ratta can do it!

When Russell urged Ratta, Ratta scurried and inhaled heavily.

―Huft.

When the flame of darkness was extinguished with the sound of the wind, the servant looked around for a moment.

As if it was just a dream, he stopped looking at Hume and knelt down towards Lucion.

“I-I was wrong! I needed money! Please, Saint, have mercy on me!”

Thud!

The door opened, and Heint came in.

‘…He’s really fast. did he just check it? Or did he come back halfway?’

When Lucion was flustered, Russell told him.

[I don’t know why, but he came back halfway. He left the priest to Naughton.]

“What… is going on?”

Heint’s eyes shook as soon as he saw the servant kneeling to Lucion.

The red thread, which had become tense at best, seemed to lose strength again, but it returned to its original state at Hume’s words.

“That servant is the culprit.”

Lucion didn’t miss Heint’s expression of relief.

The servant was begging, and he was on his knees.

Wasn’t this a common occurrence for nobles?

‘…Ah.’

Only then, Lucion noticed one thing.

Regardless of status and titles, Heint saw people as people, as if from a modern perspective.

Even when he first asked Heint to be friendly so that he wouldn’t look like a villain, saying ‘Can I call you brother?’.

Even when Heint said thank you for saving the Royal Knights.

‘That’s why the red thread tightened.’

Heint’s title was lower than Lucion’s.

Calling Heint big brother in itself wasn’t aristocratic.

The Imperial Knights were also below him, and he was currently being escorted by the Imperial Knights.

In other words, it also meant that Lucion had no reason to step forward, whether or not the Imperial Knights were dead.

But didn’t he overturn that obvious fact by using light?

Unaristocratic behavior.

This was one of the conditions to cut off Heint and the red thread.