Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 75
“That’s…”
It was a wooden box from the reward room.
Normally, auction items are taken out of the box, examined, and then presented for sale.
But now, they were presenting the entire box as it was.
‘Why?’
Irene flipped through the catalog she had received upon entering.
She hadn’t properly read it apart from the auction items.
Upon reading more carefully, she noticed something toward the end of the event schedule.
“A non-appraisal auction?”
She mumbled to herself, curious, and Michael, standing next to her, explained.
“They sell rewards from lower or lowest-tier dungeons without opening the box, just as they are.”
Irene nodded at his explanation.
“Ah, I’ve heard of that before.”
People tend to rely on luck.
That’s why, even though they know the odds are slim, they still go to gambling dens, thinking their luck might be different.
Everyone who came to the auction today wanted to acquire something valuable, but only one person could walk away with the Invisibility Ring.
So, what about the others?
A few might purchase something slightly less valuable, like the Stone of Silence that Irene had put up for sale.
Even so, it still held value. But most people would leave empty-handed.
‘These boxes are aimed at those people.’
People with money but an empty heart.
They came all the way to the auction, and even though they know the odds are abysmally low, they still buy rewards from lower dungeons, hoping something good might come out.
Hoping for a surprise.
‘It’s a foolish act.’
The auction house, however, is smart.
Irene made a mental note to sell unopened rewards like that if she ever obtained something from a lower dungeon, and then she refocused on the auction.
* * *
As with all auctions, the real interest lies in the items that appear at the end.
At first, the auction began with things like gold coins from a kingdom that had never existed, books, and poorly cut gemstones that likely wouldn’t fetch much.
As the early excitement faded and similar items started to repeat, the crowd began to grow bored. Sensing the shift in atmosphere, the auctioneer suddenly raised his voice.
“Now, let me introduce the first artifact of the day, the Stone of Silence!”
At the word ‘artifact’, a gleam sparked in the eyes of the crowd.
Finally, something valuable was about to appear.
And Irene’s eyes shone even brighter than theirs.
‘Please, let it sell for a bit more…!’
Unlike those who might earn close to a hundred thousand gold today, her sole source of income right now was this Stone of Silence.
‘The Count has already contacted me.’
Yesterday, the maid had informed her that a servant from the Count had arrived, bringing a message.
In her past life, whenever a servant from the Count’s house showed up, Irene would be gripped with fear and anxiety, barely able to breathe.
As in the past, the servant, acting as if he were the Count himself, had barked at her to hand over the money she had saved so far.
He even warned her that the merchant who was supposed to take her away was still frequenting the Count’s estate, waiting for her return.
He said it would be best if she gathered the money for her ransom as soon as possible.
In the past, she would have bowed her head like a criminal and silently listened to his words.
But this time was different.
“I’m sure you’ve already heard that my pair is Sir Michael, haven’t you? It’s not difficult for me to gather the money for my ransom, so tell the Count I will repay it within the given timeframe.”
Now that even Princess Cecilia no longer fazed her, the servant’s threats were nothing to fear.
Taken aback by Irene’s confident demeanor, the servant had retreated awkwardly.
Just then, Reyna and Cynthia, along with their partners, had arrived to discuss the next gathering with Irene.
“Oh, you have a guest. Should we come back later…?”
“It’s fine. He was just about to leave.”
Irene had dismissed the servant, telling him to be on his way. Her attitude toward the unwanted guest was clear, and two knights stood beside the servant as if to ask who he thought he was.
Faced with the knights’ imposing presence, the servant had fled in haste, barely offering a proper farewell.
Watching him leave, Irene suppressed a bitter smile.
They were such insignificant beings, yet why had she lived in such fear of them in the past?
‘I might be able to gather the amount by the end of the year, but…’
In any case, she couldn’t stand the thought of the servant visiting again, so she would have to gather the money as quickly as possible.
As Irene unconsciously leaned forward, observing how many people were showing interest in the Stone of Silence, Michael, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
