“It’s a big deal.”


    It seemed I wasn’t the only one thinking this.


    The scoundrel maintained a calm expression as he looked at his opponent''s face and spoke.


    “Countess Artea is one of the most prominent figures on the continent. It will be very difficult to win against her in thispetition.”


    His opinion matched mine exactly.


    The moment that woman decided to acquire the tablet, it was impossible for me to win the auction.


    This is a ce where it’s all about money—no tricks or gimmicks.


    If I had known Isabel would show up, I would have prepared another method, but I had no idea Lucy was banned from entry.


    “I’ll keep trying for now, but don’t get your hopes up.”


    The scoundrel said this while raising his sign, but the opponent was persistent.


    As I watched the rapidly rising bids, I could feel Isabel’s determination.


    That woman was set on getting the tablet for sure.


    “Three hundred! Three hundred gold!”


    The auction price shot up to my total funds in an instant.


    Hadn’t I expected the price to rise this much?


    The noise in the auction hall was buzzing, and the auctioneer''s face was full of joy, but a silence hung over our private room.


    Everyone was watching me.


    Ah. Damn it. Nothing is going my way.


    What should I do?


    There is a way to quickly gather some money.


    I could transfer various valuable items in my inventory to the scoundrel and use that money.


    I have quite a few items I’ve collected so far, in addition to what I received from the Georg familyst time, so I could raise a significant amount.


    But would that really change anything?


    It would only force Isabel to spend more, and in the end, that item would end up in her hands anyway.


    I remember an event from the game. Isabel once brought out a thousand gold to buy something she desired.


    Sighing, I shook my head silently.


    At that, the scoundrel lowered his sign.


    “Three hundred! Three hundred! Three hundred! Sold!”


    Let’s think positively.


    The fact that Isabel has the tablet means that item will be kept in her storage. It won’t flow elsewhere.


    Having a known location is much better than having it go missing.


    Moreover, Isabel is a somewhat devout follower.


    Although her methods are quite different from ordinary believers, it is clear she believes in the deity.


    So, I could take Faibiter, or use the old man as coteral, or, in the worst case, reveal my identity...


    No, that’s not it. Things seem like they could go weirdly wrong.


    <You had bad luck.> ‘Yeah, right.’


    Because of that one thing, I ended up dressed as a Gothic Lolita and now I’m missing the item I wanted right in front of me!


    At this rate, I’m just doing favors for that perverted deity and that foolish fox!


    It’s so unfair!


    So unfair!


    The only good thing is that the tablet came out rtively early.


    If my desired items hade out before that tablet, I would have had to give up everything with tears in my eyes. And I would havemented losing the tablet as well.


    Thinking about that situation, it’s not so bad right now.


    Anyway, I can still collect the items I originally wanted.


    “The auction is heating up! The next item is the Bracelet of Revelry!”


    They say that when a person is stressed, they should spend moneyvishly.


    Let’s indulge in some overspending.


    “I will start from one gold!”


    I’m going to spend all the money I have today.


    Fueled by excitement, I tossed my money around recklessly, but I failed to use up all my funds.


    The items I was aiming for were mostly practical rather than luxury goods, so their prices didn’t rise much.


    Thanks to that, even though I purchased most of the items I targeted, I only managed to spend half of the money I was holding.


    After the auction ended, I didn’t head straight outside.


    Right now, I was taking on a different persona rather than Lucy.


    I couldn’t use one of Lucy''s powers, the ability to pass through crowds.


    I would have to push through people, taking their gazes upon myself, but it would be better to leave slowly after most of the people had exited.


    “I’ve received the items. Mydy.”


    After receiving the items I purchased at this auction and dawdling for quite some time, I finally stepped out of the private room when it became quiet outside.


    There were still several people lingering inside the auction hall, but it wasn’t enough to block the way.


    Good. Now, let’s quickly return and throw off this pathetic Gothic Lolita outfit and put on my original clothes.


    “Hey. Wait a moment.”@@novelbin@@


    Checking the gaze of the man who called out to me, I pulled down the brim of my hat to cover my face.


    He was acting polite, but the emotions in his eyes were clear.


    Why is some nobleman I don’t even know approaching me with such greed?


    What could it be?


    It’s obvious.


    “Hello. I’m the Young Master of the Rumley family.”


    As the man approached me, Porcel and Erin blocked my path, and at the same time, the scoundrel moved forward to stop the man.


    “Who are you?” “I’m someone serving Lady Sartus. Ourdy is quite shy, so if you tell me something, I’ll pass it on for you.”


    The scoundrel, using his overly polite demeanor as a weapon, responded to the man, but that response only worked under the assumption that the other party was sane.


    “Step aside. I want to speak directly.”


    “However...” “Don’t you understand? I’m not asking. I’m giving an order as the heir of the Rumley family.”


    If the other party was an idiot belowmon sense, that response was meaningless.


    Hah. Not only is my day going badly, but now some idiot has attached themselves to me, making me even angrier.


    “Slow to think, aren’t you? Consider this. This is an opportunity for you to reverse your life from an unnamed, lowly family. Though your family may be insignificant, you might be epted as a concubine because of your decent looks.”


    The contemtion was short.


    If he’s going to throw a tantrum asking for me to take my anger out on him, I might as well do it once.


    As I stepped forward, Porcel and Erin tried to hold me back, but I ignored them.


    What does it matter? The auction is over anyway. What’s the worst that could happen? Getting kicked out?


    Then, as I reached the side of the scoundrel, I looked up at the man.


    I gave him a light smile, and he burst outughing.


    “Haha. Look. Even thedy wants to talk to me...”


    However, thatughter didn’tst long. While he was speaking, I kicked between his legs.


    The man’s face, once filled with joy, instantly turned pale as he fell backward.


    I hadn’t hit him hard since my body wasn’t in great shape, but he was being overly dramatic.


    “Brother?!”


    As soon as the man hit the floor, a girl came running from behind with several attendants.


    That girl’s face was familiar to me.


    Avery.


    The second-inmand of thedy group that Joy belongs to, who hates me but is under my control and cannot do anything against me.


    In a sense, she was a much more viinousdy than Joy.


    So, their family was Rumley?!


    The moment I recognized her face, I felt the heat rising in my head cool down.


    Of all people, I got entangled with someone I know at the academy.


    The only reason I’m maintaining myposure right now is that I believe today’s incident will end with today.


    But if the fact that I walked around in this Gothic Lolita outfit spreads elsewhere, and it doesn’t end today...


    No way.


    That would be truly humiliating.


    “You! How dare you attack our brother, who will inherit the Rumley family in the future! What confidence do you have?!”


    Did she forget that perverted idiot approached me first? Is she only thinking about herself?


    That thought surged to the tip of my tongue, but I forced it down.


    The moment I say anything, my identity will be exposed.


    <This is why you shouldn’t let your emotions drive your actions. Take today as a lesson.> ‘Grandpa. Is this really the time for such talk?!’ <What does it matter? No matter what happens, the worst that could happen is getting kicked out of the auction house.>


    Then my identity will be revealed!


    You truly have no sense of delicacy at all!


    <What can I do? It has already happened. The best I can do is manage it before eyes gather.>


    That’s right...


    Yeah. Let’s think positively.


    Anyway, Avery has no choice but to listen to me.


    Even if this guy figures out my identity, as long as I shut him up, there will be no problem.


    “Why are you keeping your mouth shut like a mute? Answer me!”


    Seeing Avery raise her voice, I slightly lifted the brim of my hat to show her my red hair.


    Then, I let out the voice I had kept hidden until now.


    “Shut up, Young Lady?”


    I said it softly so that only Avery could hear, causing her hand to freeze.


    The fierce, confident glint in her eyes just moments ago wandered off into the void.


    “...Alrn Young Lady?” “Could you take those dirty hands off me?? Just breathing the same air makes me feel sick, and with your body touching me, I feel like I’m going to vomit?”


    Avery didn’t show any denial or suspicion.


    Upon hearing my voice, she was certain of my identity and quickly withdrew her hand, pulling both arms in front of her.


    “I’m sorry!...” “You don’t think your pig-like voice is pretty, do you?? Shut up?” “...Yes.”


    With her mouth forming a straight line, I grabbed Avery’s cor and whispered in her ear.


    “Listen carefully. Today, nothing happened? Even a stupid goldfishdy can understand this much, right??”


    We did not meet at the auction today.


    Your brother just got beaten by an unidentified youngdy while being too confident in his power.


    Maybe it was because I told him to shut up, but Avery nodded desperately instead of answering.


    Good. She understood this much.


    As I released her cor and stepped back behind the scoundrel, Avery directed her attendants.


    The attendants didn’t understand thismand but didn’t disobey Avery’s order either.


    Thus, we managed to leave the auction hall, leaving behind a man foaming at the mouth on the floor.


    Later, I heard that unfortunately, the young master of the Rumley family’s sexual function was fine.


    I was thinking of breaking at least one.


    Guess he couldn’t control his strength due to his poor condition.


    Dayster, after the events at the auction had made me kick off my nket several times at night, a letter flew from the Parn Duke family to our family.


    There were two letters.


    One was an invitation letter sent by the head of the Parn family.


    The other was a letter from Joy addressed to me.


    [Alrn Young Lady. Would you like toe over and spend some time with me in a few days? I really want to introduce you to the Parn territory.]


    The response to that was already decided.


    How could I refuse when my favorite character wanted to hang out with me?