Time Healer Ceres

Well, a few people do know the truth.

She already told Antonian and the three dukes that Sooty wasn’t a Tamer Relic. Still, none of them had bothered to add another truth to the circulating rumors.

“Hmm.”

Crown Prince Aseraian continued to gaze intently at her, as though he were trying to determine whether she was lying or telling the truth. The corners of his eyes curved slightly.

“That’s a shame. I was hoping this would be my chance to find out what Marquis Merial’s backer was up to.”

“Who is backing Marquis Merial?”

“If you tell me what the black egg is.”

“I believe I just told you I don’t know.”

“Then I’ll assume I don’t know who his backer is, either.”

“......”

...Why? Why is he so annoying?

It’s not like he’s actually done anything to me.

For some reason, just being around him put her on edge. She couldn’t seem to speak to him without sounding irritable.

It was a strange experience. She really must have been incompatible with people from the imperial family by nature. Even after changing bodies.

“Besides, I wanted to use this opportunity to take Marquis Merial down for good.”

“Why do you keep saying you’re going to get rid of that grandfather of yours?”

I have my reasons, but he’s your own blood relative.

“Didn’t I tell you earlier? Cheion is very softhearted.”

“So?”

“If he found out Marquis Merial had killed people and was involved in all sorts of wrongdoing, it would upset him. I should deal with it before he finds out.”

“...That’s your reason?”

“Do I need another one?”

“......”

...Is that really all there is to it? Just because he’s worried Cheion might get hurt?

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t do anything to upset my Cheion, either. I’d rather not have to deal with you too.”

“......”

Ceres stared at him incredulously.

...What a hopelessly doting brother.

Crown Prince Aseraian’s expression changed abruptly as he delivered those final words. Ceres quietly shook her head.

.

.

.

Chapter 51: At the Auction House

“Is that it?”

“What?”

“The flowers the Crown Prince gave you.”

Kainel had come to the house because they had somewhere to go together that day. Seeing the countless flowers filling the living room, he smiled mockingly.

“I can’t just throw all those flowers away.”

“Why not? Just dump them in the trash.”

“Julia likes them.”

Ceres didn’t care much for flowers herself, but Julia was delighted to see them in full bloom. Since there was no particular reason to throw them away, she had the butler Colin arrange them around the house instead.

“...Then I suppose it can’t be helped.”

“Exactly.”

Neither of them said anything more about the flowers.

Anyway...

“How did you know the Crown Prince had come by?”

Do you have someone reporting every little thing I do to you...?

“......”

I see.

Ceres glanced toward the window. The curtain twitched and moved slightly despite the lack of wind.

Ben, that rascal.

He was clearly still reporting her every move to Kainel.

Should I keep him around or not?

He was good at doing what she asked, though, so she had let him stay.

The colder Ceres’s gaze became, the harder the curtain trembled.

You know exactly what you’ve done wrong, don’t you?

“Are you really coming?”

“Of course. You’re the one who doesn’t have to come.”

At Kainel’s question, Ceres picked up the invitation she’d set aside. Kainel let out a short sigh when he saw it.

“What I mean is, you should stay out of this. I’ll go alone.”

“I’m the one who started this. If anyone should stay out of it, it should be you.”

After the Crown Prince’s visit, Ceres had gathered as much information as possible on Marquis Merial through the Sky intelligence network.

But as Crown Prince Aseraian had warned her, digging into Marquis Merial’s affairs wasn’t easy. Every time she thought she was getting somewhere, she ran into another obstacle and couldn’t get any further.

“It’s not that our guild isn’t capable.”

“.......”

“I’m telling the truth...”

The head of the Sky guild looked so nervous around her that day.

What did I even say?

She hadn’t said anything particularly threatening. Still, they had managed to find one lead.

The only thing we found was this illegal auction house.

Of all the money flowing to Marquis Merial, the only trail they had managed to follow led to an illegal auction house operating in secret in the capital.

Of course, it wasn’t open to just anyone. You needed an invitation to get in, and it was run exclusively for select members. The membership fee alone was enormous.

Somehow, Kainel managed to get his hands on an invitation.

That man really has money to burn. How did he even get one? After seeing that ridiculous membership fee, she didn’t even dare try.

That punk was definitely the one who told Kainel about this illegal auction house.

Ben must have gone straight to Kainel and told him everything. Since she had asked him to investigate Marquis Merial, he must have run off and tattled to Kainel about it.

Good grief...

She was getting annoyed all over again. She was the one who held the keys, so why did it feel like he listened to Kainel more than her?

I’m not imagining it, am I?

Should she just teach him a lesson one of these days?

Ceres glared toward the window again. The curtain had stopped moving. It seemed Ben already made his escape.

Well, that’s not important right now.

She would deal with Ben later. For now, Ceres turned back to Kainel and made herself clear.

“I’m only taking you because of the invitation.”

Don’t forget that you’re the one who forced your way into this.

“I know.”

Kainel had insisted on coming along by using the invitation as leverage. In the end, Ceres wasn’t able to stop him.

What else could I do when he said he wouldn’t give me the invitation unless I took him with me?

Yet somehow, he was acting like their positions were reversed, constantly telling her to stay out of it.

Even now, his expression made it obvious he still wasn’t happy about going together. He looked like he was trying to find a way to leave her behind.

I’m the one who wants to leave you behind.

She was already worried about what kind of trouble he might cause once they got there.

Seriously, isn’t there some way I can ditch him? The invitation is already in my hands...

Whoosh.

As if he’d read her mind, Kainel snatched the invitation from her hand.

“As I said earlier...”

Perhaps he was worried she’d leave him behind and go alone, because he continued in a firm tone,

“I’m the one who received the invitation. You’re just coming with me.”

...Will you look at him? He’s trying to take charge again.

Ceres stared at him incredulously. He made it sound like he was doing her a favor by taking her along. He even told her to stay right beside him at the auction and not do anything on her own.

If only he hadn’t gotten that invitation.

She would’ve punched him and gone alone. But without the invitation, there was no getting inside. Each invitation holder was allowed to bring exactly one person to attend to them, such as a servant or attendant. No one else was permitted entry.

“Fine, I get it. Let’s go.”

Ceres gave him a half-hearted answer and hurried outside. Today was the day the illegal auction was being held.

***

“Your invitation has been confirmed. Please allow me to show you to your seats.”

The man standing guard at the entrance bowed politely before leading Kainel and Ceres inside. The auction hall was already crowded.

This isn’t even a masquerade ball.

Most of the people seated inside wore masks that covered either their entire faces or just the upper half. Others, like Ceres and Kainel, had pulled their robes low over their faces.

Then why are they wearing their family crests?

What was the point of hiding their faces when they were openly wearing rings and bracelets bearing the symbols of their families, practically announcing who they were?

Ceres couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

Come to think of it... I’m hardly one to judge.

Ceres glanced down at her own hand, then at Kainel’s. She scratched her cheek sheepishly.

After all, she was wearing the ‘CAS’ membership ring the three dukes had given her, along with a bracelet that was a Tamer Relic. Meanwhile, Kainel wore a silver ring bearing the crest of the Grand Duchy of Persia.

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