I’ll Become the Heroine’s Capable Divorce Partner - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 26

The sub male lead is an extremely valuable existence.

So much so that it’s worth the risk of me reaching out to Settler Auction House.

However, this adventure comes with some risk.

‘The Count has all my personal information from the start.’

More precisely, from the moment I sent that message about the auction house through the flower shop.

In that case.

‘I need to create a safety net to prevent him from revealing my identity.’

That’s why I deliberately dropped a hint to the Count.

‘After the auction ends. Would it be possible to meet the auction’s organizer?’

‘You can make that happen, can’t you?’

The person who can unconditionally arrange a meeting with the auction’s organizer.

That person is none other than the organizer himself.

Also, if it comes to a war of revelations, the one who’ll suffer greater damage is…

‘Count Disraeli.’

For me, it’s just the fact that ‘Princess Laventess is a client of Settler Auction House’ being exposed,

but the owner of the mysterious Settler Auction House is actually Count Disraeli?

He’d absolutely hate for that to be discovered.

‘So let’s both keep our mouths shut about each other.’

I smiled wickedly like a little devil.

Each of us putting a leash on the other.

This was the first reason I approached the Count.

And the second reason is…

“This item is the finest piece in today’s auction, I assure you!”

My thoughts were suddenly cut off.

‘Ah, it’s finally here.’

I glanced up slightly.

Arthur’s painting that I had submitted was on stage.

“It’s an early work by Arthur!”

The auctioneer shouted at the top of his lungs.

Simultaneously, the distinguished guests were shocked.

“What did he say?”

“Arthur!”

“My goodness, there were still early works remaining?!”

The guests buzzed like a swarm of bees.

And the auctioneer knew how to effectively build the atmosphere.

“Now, look here.”

The auctioneer carefully picked up the painting with gloved hands.

Under the intense spotlight, Arthur’s signature shaped like an ‘A’ was clearly revealed.

“Do you see this signature? It’s a secret signature left by Arthur himself!”

The guests stared at the signature with wide eyes.

“Indeed, there is a signature.”

“But did Arthur leave signatures on his paintings?”

“Yes, this is definitely Arthur’s signature. We’ll explain in detail later.”

The auctioneer nodded and returned the painting to its place.

Then he turned around to face the guests.

“As you all know, Arthur was a painter who mainly did portraits. But this work is a rare landscape painting.”

In front of a vast seashore.

A single pine tree stood.

Twisted branches and roughly peeled bark, with knots scattered here and there.

However, the pine tree never surrendered to the rough sea winds that whipped around it.

Though it might bend and twist, the pine tree stood firm.

That steadfast appearance stirred a strange emotion in the viewer.

And in my heart too, a fierce wave of emotion…

‘I can finally secure the funds to open the dress shop!’

Depending on how much that painting sells for, the scale of the dress shop I can set up for Isabel will change.

I watched the auction with sweaty palms.

“Look at Arthur’s characteristic rough lines that made him famous. Through these rough lines, Arthur expressed the deep anguish of the human soul. This landscape painting shows how powerless humans are before nature…”

The eloquent explanation continued.

And.

“Furthermore, this work comes with an authentication certificate from the Roden Appraisal Committee!”

At that triumphant announcement, the guests stirred again.

“This can’t be, the Roden Appraisal Committee?”

“Roden is the place that mainly appraises the Imperial Family’s treasures, isn’t it?”

“It must be authentic then. No wonder the auction house was so confident.”

“And a landscape painting at that, considering its rarity…”

In the original story, a painting that appeared at an external auction sold for 70 million gold.

I won’t expect to receive that full amount.

‘Please, please, even just half of that. 30 million, no, even 40 million gold!’

I clasped my hands together tightly and watched the auction proceedings with desperate eyes.

“Then, we’ll start at 10 million gold!”

With that shout as the beginning.

Paddles shot up everywhere.

“The lady over there bids 15 million gold! Oh, 20 million gold! 23 million gold…!”

Among them, I could see a middle-aged man wearing a fancy mask persistently raising his paddle.

As if he absolutely had to get his hands on that work.

I tilted my head inwardly.

‘Does he want that work that badly?’

The heated competition continued.

It was at the level where everyone in the auction house bid at least once.

The number of competitors was truly enormous…

But the middle-aged man kept raising the bid.

The auction house atmosphere heated up.

And finally.

“100 million gold! 100 million gold!”

…It went up to 100 million gold.

My pupils shook as if hit by an earthquake.

‘It, it sells for this much?’

It was an unexpected windfall.

Unable to contain my joy, I clenched both fists tightly.

‘Isabel, I hit the jackpot!’

Of course, after transaction fees, appraisal costs, and tax processing.

After deducting this and that, about 20% would be taken from the total amount, but still, how amazing is this?

Now I could move freely without worrying about money.

Finally, I could set up a dress shop for Isabel!

“100 million gold! Is there no higher bid?”

The auctioneer looked around and asked the question.

The noblewoman who had been competing with the middle-aged man until the end shook her head and put down her paddle.

“Then it’s sold for 100 million gold!”

At that exclamation, the VIP guests couldn’t hide their disgusted expressions.

“That’s really incredible.”

“Such a high price…”

“Honestly, I thought it could be purchased reasonably for about 60 million gold.”

After that, the auction continued uneventfully.

Expensive carpets, obviously old-looking ancient books, a jade turtle statue said to have come from the East…

Countless items came up on stage.

Most were sold at reasonable prices, and occasionally some went unsold.

Well, I hadn’t come here to buy anything in particular.

Rather than coveting items, I just watched.

Thus the auction was nearing its end.

‘Ah, how boring.’

Is it almost over now?

Just as I was listlessly resting my chin on my hand, listening to the auctioneer’s explanation with one ear and letting it out the other.

‘Huh?’

My eyes widened slightly.

The appearance of a small accessory placed on the silk cushion was very familiar.

That’s definitely…

“This is a ring made of silver. There’s a small emerald set in the center and the craftsmanship is very delicate. And its greatest feature is.”

The auctioneer looked around broadly and concluded meaningfully.

“It contains a trace amount of magical power.”

At the same time, one of the VIP guests asked.

“If it contains magical power, does that mean this ring is a magical artifact?”

Magical artifacts.

A general term for mysterious objects with magical abilities passed down from ancient times.

However, magical artifacts were extremely rare, with only a few existing in this world.

Currently, the only officially known magical artifact was the ‘Seal Ring’ symbolizing the Emperor.

There were no others besides that.

After all, magic and sorcery weren’t particularly prominent in this world’s setting.

Only the divine power passed down from the Grand Temple barely maintained its lineage.

Meanwhile, at that question, the auctioneer looked somewhat troubled.

“…Its abilities haven’t been discovered yet.”

“Doesn’t that mean it’s not particularly useful at this stage?”

As expected, that was the case.

I nodded inwardly.

Very rarely, ordinary objects sometimes contain magical power.

The reason is unknown.

Also, among minerals, some are occasionally found containing magical power, and these minerals are called ‘magic stones.’

Well, to return to the original story.

That ring with no special abilities was close to being a white elephant.

It was extremely rare but useless.

However, the reason I recognized that item was…

‘Because it’s a relic of Countess Delainey.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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