Marien carefully wrapped the ostrich feather ornament, which had snapped at the quill when she’d hurriedly shoved her face into the sink earlier, and tucked it safely into her trunk. She intended to ask a maid to glue it back together once she returned to the estate. No matter how much she was acting under the Princess’s orders and spending the Duke’s money, the instincts of a commoner like Marien Didi were hard to shake. She was happy to spend the money, but it pained her to see items go to waste in the process.
‘Objects have done nothing wrong.’
That was why she had also diligently finished off the luxurious dinner she’d ordered via room service. It was a relief not to have to play the part of a picky, small-eating noble lady who only nibbled at her food like a bird. In this one respect, she wanted to applaud Odette. Since the nouveau riche Lidien didn’t care about such decorum, she could polish off her plate without leaving a single drop of sauce. Marien was fully committed to living out a role that was deeply rooted in reality.
‘The food here is excellent. It’s worth the high price. There must be a master in the kitchen.’
Anyway, she was full, she had changed her clothes, and she had readjusted her crooked platinum-blonde wig. She was ready for action.
“Sir Biers, shall we head back to the enemy’s camp?”
“Yes, my spirited Miss Rabbit.”
Byleon, who looked much better than when they had first entered the room, said with a smile.
“Come to think of it, Marien, you were about to pour alcohol on that stubborn woman in the president’s office earlier, weren’t you?”
“Haha, do you really think I was going to pour it on her?”
Marien laughed as if she’d heard a very funny joke.
“I already poured water on her. And besides, her stubbornness was too much to be forgiven by just pouring something on her.”
Marien linked her arm with Byleon’s and pouted her lips.
“Her sin is deep. She scrutinized Sir Biers’s body far too closely. With those perverted eyes, no less. It’s absolutely annoying.”
“It’s an outfit designed to be looked at that way.”
Byleon admitted it readily. He, too, had changed his clothes, and the style was even more revealing than before. The vest, made of amber silk that shimmered with a mysterious luster depending on the angle of the light and soft, tactile light-brown leather, was cinched so tightly it was reminiscent of a corset. Furthermore, there was a secret to the black shirt Byleon wore, which was hidden by the vest. The back was made of sheer chiffon, leaving his skin shimmering and clearly visible beneath. Just like the ear piercing, this shirt had been Byleon’s own choice. He’d claimed that if it were Lidien, she would have dressed her show-off servant in exactly this way.
At this, Marien took a moment to reflect on ‘Team Odette,’ to which she belonged. Team leader Odette, true to her brilliant mind, had an exceptional ability to analyze people. Byleon, the leader’s long-time friend and subordinate, was no exception. To think he would go out of his way to procure and wear a shirt he wouldn’t even recognize as clothing in his daily life, all for the sake of a mission. Byleon didn’t even seem embarrassed by his attire. It was a judgment made after perfectly analyzing the tendencies of his partner, ‘Lidien.’
‘You two truly are quite the duo…….’
Odette and Byleon. She finally understood why their bond had lasted so long. The two were the best of comrades to each other. As that thought crossed her mind, Marien’s heart suddenly stung.
“Sir Biers is mine.”
“That’s right.”
“I’m saying he’s my person.”
Compared to the grumpy Marien, Byleon looked infinitely happy. He was delighted to be claimed as Marien’s, and even more so to hear those words spoken in Marien’s own voice.
“I’m going to pluck those eyes right out.”
“Was that it? Did you approach her earlier to pluck out that woman’s eyes?”
“Ah, that’s not it.”
Marien denied it, adding that bloodshed was terrible.
“I was going to grab her jaw, force her mouth open, and pour the alcohol down her throat.”
“…….”
“But it didn’t happen because Sir Biers stopped me.”
“Hmm, it may not involve shedding blood, but that is also…….”
Just then, Marien’s gaze shifted to the table. She had been so preoccupied with her lover that she’d almost left the room with her bare face. Marien quickly ran to the table and grabbed the two masks. When she handed one to Byleon with a bright smile, he stared at her as if he’d momentarily forgotten what to say.
“Sir Biers? Put it on.”
“…….”
“Is there something on my face?”
A smile slowly spread across Byleon’s lips.
“No, there isn’t.”
“Then why?”
“Just…… I’ve suddenly realized how much I like you.”
Even hearing such an abrupt confession, she felt nothing but happiness because the person saying it was Byleon. Marien put on her mask with a proud expression. Byleon, his hand on the doorknob, asked.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes!”
As they left the hallway, Marien whispered that since he had consumed such a large amount of strong liquor earlier and was already walking perfectly fine, he didn’t seem to be a lightweight when it came to alcohol after all.
◇ ◆ ◇
Many things had changed in the exclusive area. The interior, now generally darker, was illuminated by mysterious purple lights placed here and there. A hazy mist flowed out from beneath the lights, which were shaped like alluring flowers. It was a decoration she hadn’t seen before. Marien, curious, touched the mist with her finger. The moist vapor clung to her skin immediately. She sniffed it without much thought and caught a faint fragrance from her damp finger.
‘Scented mist? I don’t know what kind of device this is, but it must be expensive.’
Furthermore, dozens of plush two-person sofas that hadn’t been there before were now arranged facing the stage at the front. The entrance to the fighting arena was left open. The darkened arena was empty, as if it hadn’t just been bursting with excited people moments ago.
“You, get out there. You like to show off, don’t you? It’s the perfect opportunity to earn some money and show off your body!”
“But…….”
“Here! Here! A slave candidate entry! And give me a bidding paddle, too.”
A woman with a hairstyle curled like a conch shell called out to a staff member. The employee, holding a stack of auction paddles in one hand, approached the woman.
“What? There’s no such thing.”
The woman’s tone sharpened.
“There are still candidate spots left, aren’t there? I heard over there that there were two spots left? Why are you saying it’s not possible?”
The woman placed her hands on her hips. Her attitude showed she didn’t feel intimidated in the slightest by the employee, who was a head taller than her. She didn’t know what the employee had explained, but the woman’s lips twitched.
“No, what’s wrong with him? What is he lacking? Believe it or not, he even participated in the Flower of the Empire contest……. Ah, you, just stay still!”
The woman threw a tantrum at the man who was trying to stop her. When the man gestured for the employee to leave, she even slapped his cheek.
“Don’t you dare interrupt!”
The employee ignored her and continued his explanation firmly. In truth, judging by the flow of the atmosphere, it was less of an explanation and more of a persuasion.
“Lady Lidien?”
While she was watching the tantrum-throwing mistress, a staff member approached Marien with a friendly demeanor.
“You are Lady Lidien, who is visiting for the first time today, aren’t you?”
“Yes…… how did you know, Valentin? I’m wearing a mask, so how did you recognize me?”
Marien, who had been about to use honorifics out of habit, turned the conversation to Byleon as naturally as possible. Judging by the atmosphere of the exclusive area, it seemed only those who were overflowing with money and had thrown their manners out the window were qualified to enter. If so, it would be better for ‘Lidien’ to speak informally to the staff and treat them with a fair amount of rudeness.
“Well, I wouldn’t know about that.”
Byleon responded tactfully. The employee added that Lidien was the only new guest who had been upgraded to Level 3 today, and that it was his duty to recognize her anywhere. She thought he must have been well-trained in the art of conversation.
“I’m not sure if the guide mentioned it earlier, but tonight is Ladies’ Night. We have several special events prepared for our female guests.”
“Yes, I heard as much.”
“The event starting in about ten minutes is a slave auction.”
Marien tried hard not to look appalled. She had to show interest, not roll her eyes as if asking what on earth she’d just heard. That was how Lidien would act.
“A slave auction?”
“Yes, we have one of the guests’ companions or servants come out on stage. It’s not that we’re actually selling them off like real slaves, of course, but we will have them spend the night with the winning bidder.”
“Spend the night?”
“Yes, wouldn’t that be fun? I thought Lady Lidien would be interested.”
The employee’s voice was full of conviction. It seemed the rumor that Lidien was a lustful woman had already spread throughout the entire club. Marien felt unnecessarily proud. Her acting was decent, after all. It had been worth it to look around diligently and covet other men’s backsides from the moment she entered the exclusive area.
“So, I’d like to ask you to have your servant participate, Lady Lidien.”
Marien glanced at Byleon, who was standing beside her.
“Hmm, why should I do that?”
“Please don’t be offended. It’s absolutely not a requirement. It’s just that, given the nature of the auction, we have no choice but to consider the caliber of the participants.”
The employee said, looking at Byleon.
“In that regard, Lady Lidien’s servant is of the highest caliber. His appearance, physique, fashion, and etiquette are all excellent.”
“My Valentin is indeed impressive.”
Marien stroked Byleon’s arm with a proud expression.
“That lady over there said there were two spots left, didn’t she?”
“There is one spot left. Another person entered just a moment ago.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, so we would like to offer the last spot to you, Lady Lidien. If you don’t mind, would you be willing to let your servant participate in the auction? As you’ll see later, the auction itself will be very exciting.”
“What do I gain by sending Valentin out?”
She couldn’t help but ask this. Unlike the woman over there who slapped her partner’s cheek when she got angry, Lidien was, after all, set to be deeply infatuated with her servant. She wouldn’t send ‘her Valentin’ onto the stage to serve another woman without some sort of benefit. That was Marien’s assessment.
“We plan to have our president personally express his gratitude to the guest who makes the highest bid in today’s auction.”
“And what does expressing gratitude mean……?”
“We could present you with an item that is hard to come by even with money. Or we could provide you with an extraordinary experience. Either way, you won’t regret it.”
It was a truly tempting offer. The primary goal of her undercover infiltration was to go to the president’s office and have a private meeting with the First Consort’s cousin. Since it was difficult to break through the ironclad security, it was most ideal to have the president invite Lidien’s party in. The important point here was the reason for the invitation. It couldn’t be because Lidien’s party was suspicious, but because they were genuinely interested in them. And the employee’s explanation just now felt to Marien like a glowing arrow that had suddenly appeared on a map.
“Valentin.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Let’s go.”
“…….”
Marien clapped her hands together with a sharp *smack*. The employee quickly grasped the meaning of her words and wrote Valentin’s name on the list.
“Then, I would be grateful if you could send him behind the stage you see over there within five minutes.”
“Understood.”
“Once again, thank you for your generosity, Miss Lidien. I shall take my leave now.”
Marien even gave the employee a playful wave. Byleon, who had been silent, shot her a sidelong glance.
“Am I mistaken, my lady? You seem a bit too happy.”
*It’s because I’m in the middle of method acting, darling. It’s all just an act, an act.* Marien struggled to wipe the smile spreading across her lips.
“You heard Valentin, didn’t you? This is the perfect opportunity to meet the owner.”
“I also heard the rule about having to spend the night with the winning bidder.”
“Oh, come now. You don’t think I’d let you be won by someone else, do you?”
Besides, if everything went according to plan, Club Blooming would only be in business until tonight.
All the money paid by the bidders would be returned to the state treasury. There would be no night spent with a slave. They would be too busy running to avoid being caught by the Capital Guards.
*Smack!*
Marien slapped Byleon on the backside. It made a sharp, echoing *smack*.
“Let’s move out, Valentin!”
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