Does that even make sense?
That excuse is way too lazy.
Before I could stop myself, the words almost slipped out, but reason barely held them back.
Right, I guess that's possible.
"You promised me, didn’t you?"
"What did I promise?"
"You said if I recognized you, you'd let me stay by your side."
I said it before.
This man was a master at leaving people speechless!
"Seriously, who goes around making promises in this cruel world?"
Ricardo lightly tapped the tip of my mask with his finger.
"……You'll regret it."
"Why would I regret being by your side?"
In the end, I gave up.
"How did you recognize me?"
"There’s no way I couldn’t."
"I mean, how exactly?"
Now that I thought about it, it was strange. The same thing happened when I was in Anne’s appearance before.
Even if Peril was being unusually sensitive, this situation didn’t make sense, did it?
While I waited in silence for Ricardo’s answer, the emcee’s voice came from the stage.
"Ahem, this is rather embarrassing."
The emcee scratched his head awkwardly, confirming that half the seats had emptied. Hestia urged him on.
"This actually works in our favor. Just continue."
"We thank our guests for staying with us so late into the night, and now we’ll resume the auction!"
"Are you close with that person?"
At that moment, Penny spoke warily from my pocket. I looked around cautiously and then shook my head subtly, prompting her to pout.
"Don’t get any closer. You should be closest to me, big sis!"
I didn’t know she was so obsessed with money.
"He probably has more money than you."
When she heard my muttered words, Penny flinched.
Right then, the bidding between Hestia and Ricardo began.
"9.5 million gold."
"10 million gold."
"11 million gold."
The absurdly rising price left Penny’s jaw hanging.
I stared at her quietly. Noticing my gaze, Penny quickly wiped the drool trailing down her chin and instantly changed her expression.
"I like beautiful people. Money comes second! Oh dear, I ended up talking about you, big sis. Hoho, but you know how I feel, right?"
I wasn’t sure about that.
But one thing was certain—if you saw Ricardo's face, you'd ditch me in an instant.
"13 million gold."
"14 million gold."
"15 million gold."
"Who would've thought I'd witness 15 million gold in my lifetime!"
I could wholeheartedly relate to the emcee’s words.
I felt at peace since I’d given up early.
While watching Hestia and Ricardo’s money-throwing contest, I heard a hesitant voice beside me.
"……Did you give up the necklace because of me?"
"Excuse me?"
What was she even talking about?
I had forgotten the person beside me was even there and scooted toward the armrest in alarm.
Even with her face hidden by a mask, I could sense her bashfulness.
Chills ran down my arm, and I immediately hardened my expression.
"No, I didn’t."
"Aww."
Though I was being sincere, it seemed unconvincing.
"When are you planning to head back?"
"I—I’m not going back with you."
"Oh my, I wasn’t even thinking that far!"
She burst out laughing and patted my shoulder with her fist.
Ow, that hurt.
Even though Ricardo used to treat me that way, I never reacted like this!
What a unique taste you have.
"Big sis, who is that guy?"
Penny, watching Number 21, remained on high alert.
‘I don’t know either!’
But we were sitting too close, so I couldn’t give a proper answer.
"Even the way she talks is weird. I bet she’s after your money."
But you’re no different, are you?
"24 million gold."
"25 million gold."
"……26 million gold."
That was when Hestia’s bidding started to slow down. Sensing her hesitation, both Number 21 and I turned our eyes to the front at the same time.
"Someone richer than the princess? That doesn’t make any sense!"
……Guess there’s no more point in hiding Hestia now.
‘But why is Ricardo trying to buy the necklace?’
When I asked him earlier if there was something he wanted to buy, he said he was still thinking.
But no matter how I looked at it, he had no reason to buy that necklace.
Ricardo, too, seemed to notice Hestia’s hesitation and let out a short laugh.
"30 million gold."
Even through his altered voice, I could hear the smile of a winner.
"Guest Number 4, do you wish to bid?"
The emcee stuttered.
I could feel Hestia’s distress from the back of her head.
Her paddle wavered up and down for a moment.
"……I’ve lost."
In the end, Hestia raised both hands in surrender.
"Congratulations, Guest Number 23! You've won the Cursed Necklace for 30 million gold!"
A deafening cheer rang out, making my ears throb. The emcee smiled broadly as he lifted the box.
"Th-that's not right…!"
Guest Number 21 stomped her feet in panic.
"That necklace belongs to the princess! Who the hell does that bastard think he is…!"
"In that case, he should’ve brought more money."
It wasn’t that I was siding with Ricardo.
‘It’s not like he stole it—he won it fair and square.’
I was just a bit irritated by how casually he criticized Ricardo.
"Did I make you mad?"
Guest Number 21 asked in a voice that sounded genuinely frightened. I was taken aback by her reaction.
"No, it’s not that…"
Just as I was about to explain, a sharp jolt, like a spark in my brain, made me dizzy.
"Ugh!"
While barely keeping my mind together, I heard others groaning in pain around me.
"Big sis, it’s a sleep spell! We have to run right now!"
Before I knew it, Penny had climbed onto my shoulder and tugged hard at my cheek, as if trying to keep me awake. But my eyes remained on Ricardo.
"Penny, you go first."
"What do you take me for…! If I leave now, you’ll end up giving all your money to someone else who’s into you!"
Why does no one ever listen to me?
I bit the inside of my cheek to fight off the sleep and darted toward Ricardo, dodging the collapsing people.
"You need to get out of here. It’s not too late yet!"
"No."
Of course!
Ricardo, as stubborn as ever, casually looked over the fallen attendees as if he’d pieced things together. Then, as if to confirm it, he sat himself down.
And then, he patted the space beside him, as if inviting me to sit.
"……"
Despite fuming, I quietly sat down next to him.
"You stubborn mule!"
"I know."
"Sea cucumber, sea anemone."
"I'm well aware of those too."
Completely oblivious to my mood, Ricardo just kept smiling. Then he had the nerve to say in that relaxed tone of his—
"Well, if I end up in danger, you’ll save me, won’t you?"
"What a bold dream you're having."
He said something else after that, but my fading consciousness wasn’t sharp enough to hear it.
* * *
Waaaahhhh!
A roar so loud it felt like my ears would fall off.
I snapped back to my senses and frantically looked around.
People were cheering with joy as someone entered the imperial palace.
I’d seen this scene before.
Yes.
‘The illusion Eileens showed me.’
That very illusion was playing out before my eyes.
"Eileens! Eileens! Eileens!"
Countless people followed her, chanting her name. A wave of anxiety washed over me.
Next would be… I was sure of it…
Without thinking, I grabbed the wrist of the boy following behind Eileens.
"Wh-who are you?"
The boy looked up at me with startled eyes.
"W-wait just a second."
I kept hold of him and pushed against the crowd.
I knew.
All of this wasn’t real. It was just a memory trapped in her mind!
As we fled, a furious voice thundered from the palace.
"Execute the traitor, Eileens!"
Countless arrows rained down toward the crowd.
The scent of blood rode the wind. The terrified boy turned back, trying to flee, but was pushed down by the masses.
I scooped him into my arms and ran, even as he clutched his injured ankle.