Some nobles stayed longer inside the Imperial Palace, but as soon as the last song was over, I left the ballroom and took out the black robe I had prepared in advance.
"Princess Deborah!"
When I walked outside wearing the black robe, the Knight that my father had given me caught up to me.
"Princess, where are you going all of a sudden? And from where on earth did you get those clothes come from!"
He gasped heavily because he had to run fast to find me.
"James, take me to the night market."
I said as if I was waiting for him, while putting a mask with a boring design over my face.
When the Knight heard my destination, he was confused.
"Why do you want to go to such an uninteresting place?"
Unlike the Fountain Plaza near the Imperial Palace, where the nobles played around elegantly dressed, the Night market was a crowded place were all kinds of people went.
Today was another highlight of the Spring Flower Festival, that was known only to a few.
"You sure talk a lot. There is something I want to buy at the Night market."
"But, Princess Deborah, the inside of the Night market is much more crowded than this plaza! You may be pushed and touched by lowly things."
"I think you can make sure that the lowly things don't touch me."
The Knight had a worried expression when he heard my condescendic tone of voice.
"With all due respect Princess Deborah, crowds come in like waves. How can a single man stop a wave?"
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"So you are trying to stop me from going to the Night market because it is a difficult and inconvenient place for you to escort me?
It is a place where a lot of nobles go to have fun. I am very disappointed with you."
"I dont dare, Princess Deborah!"
"Then let's get going, if it isn't to difficult for you."
Because his pride was provoked, the Knight eventually started to go towards the Night market.
The Night market of the Spring Flower Festival, in the novel it was described that among the endless rows of stalls, an interesting auction was held every year in the basement of the building behind the stall selling black pots.
Noir Pot, was an auction known only to a few, there you could find all kinds o things, ranging from junk worth less than a few coin to treasures of high value.
But when one of the junk from that auction house fell in the hands of Diera Orgo, he hit the jackpot. It turned out that the junk was an ancient artifact that could hatch eggs from a holy beast.
A holy beast, in other words, a sacred animal. Legends say that in ancient times, when exchanges between different races were more active than today, quite a few holy beasts were born between spirits and animals.
The holy beasts disappeared because of the darkness that was cast on the land, but the fossils remained everywhere. And since holy beasts have an infinite lifespan just like a spirit, unless they are physically damaged, the sleeping egg of a holy beast could be awakened by ancient artifacts that matched the wavelength of his mana.
Diera Orgo obtained a white holy beast in the shape of a tortoise by incubating the egg he had in his possession with that object and he gifted that precious beast to the protagonist Mia Vinoche.
'That white tortoise was a precious holy beast that could inflict a strong blow with curse properties to a monster and it was sensitive to the darkness of witchcraft, it even had the ability to quickly detect signs of rifts.
A very useful skill in emergency situations. One time, that tortoise threw herself in a rift so that Mia could save her life.
Honestly, that turtle, I need it more than her because I am the villainess.
Mia has many strong lovers who will stand in line to save her life, but I don't. For the sake of my own well being, I want to carry around a holy beast that has the skills of a spirit.
A turtle is small, I can carry it in my pocket.'(ãÏã)
That mysterious holy beast was my ultimate goal, but for now, my main goal is to find the ancient artifact that has the incubation function.
While I was deep in thoughts we quickly found the stall that was selling black pots.
"Princess Deborah, where are you going now?"
Dark circles had already appeared under the Knights eyes.
"Wait here, by the door. I have something to do inside this building."
"It looks suspicious, I should follow you."
"Suspicious? What do you take me for?! Do you think that I am doing something indecent in this building? How dare you insult me, the Seymour Princess?"
I gave him one of my coldest glare.
"PP-Princess Deborah, I absolutely did not mean it that way. It was a mistake."
"Then stay here. I will come out around midnight."
After I put on a black mask, like a villain, I went inside the dark hallway,
and gave the invitation I had to the auction, which was procured by the Blancia Master, to the bulky security guard.
"4 gold! And we have 4 gold!"
"6 gold!"
"8 gold!"
In the inside it was already chaotic.
'They already started. I should have left a little earlier. If I came here for nothing, because of that Philap I willâ¦'
"10 gold!"
"And we have 10 gold! Is there no more? Then the Mermaid's Tears are sold for 10 gold!"
'Wow! This is intens but fortunately for me the final winning bid is only 10 gold coins, it looks like they just started.'
I began to search, attentively, among the auction items that were lined up on the board.
"Feathers from an Ancient Phoenix, the auction starts at 15 gold!
Everyone. Look at these dazzling and mysterious colors!"
"15 gold!"
"20 gold!"
I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the feathers held by the auctioneer.
'Phaa...What does he mean by phoenix feathers? They look just like the pink quill I carry with me.
No matter how I look at it, it just looks like someone casted attribute magic on the bright red feathers. But if someone who doesn't know anything about atribut magic, sees them, they would be fascinated.'
In case it might be a jackpot item, the participants were raising the bid. Like game addicts who keep spending money to buy loot boxes hoping to find SSS class items.
'I really don't know if I can figure out wich one of this items is the real artifact, especially with that auctioneer acting like a con artist.
This auction is held in a flash for a short amount of time, and the host is just attaching any plausible stories on the objects, to sell them fast. That is the problem with this auction, you can't rely on the information they provide. Ancient legend, mermaid's tears, dragons...Haa, those kinds of words sounds like the real purpose and value of the items is unknown.
If I knew it was going to be like that, I wouldn't have come to this auction house. I really don't know which one of these items is the artifact. The shape of the artifact wasn't specified in the novel. The only clue I have is that a junk from the auction house turned out to be a precious ancient artifact.
This is just crazy, everything here is junk!'
The items for today's auction were lined up on a long table covered with a red cloth, and most of them were rusty antiques.
'A jar, shoes, a cane, a necklace, a bracelet, a mask, a book, a sword...Which one of this items is the artifact?
The jar has animal drawings engraved on it, could that be the item? Would a holy beast egg, hatch if I put in that junk jar?
Aaaaa(ToT)'
There were so many ancient artifacts in the form of ornaments, that even old bracelet could be the jackpot item.
'I am so confused, should I just bid on everything?'
"80 gold! Do we have more?"
"90 gold!"
'What?! Is it because the real value of the items is unknown? The price of this items is absurdly high.
The dyed feathers were sold for 40 gold coins, and the necklace "of the orc chieftain', the one currently being auctioned off, soared to 100 gold
The auction just began! Why are the prices so high? If I buy all these things, the cost might be equivalent to the cost of buying a title!'
I bit my nails nervously.
'I am going crazy right now. Huh!!! I know what that is! This is it!!!'
In the novel, Diera Orgo, whas described as a person with a noble personality who didn't had any desire for worldly possessions.
He was very respected by his knights because he was a simple-minded man who knew nothing other than training and swords. So if Diera Orgo were to receive an item from someone, it must be something he was really interested in or needed.
'And given Diera Orgo's personality, there is no way he would have benn interested or needed such crude things like a pot or a bracelet.
At the age of twenty, he was already the deputy commander of the Knights, and the only thing that a genius swordmaster is interested in is swords, only that.d=(^o^)=b
I think I saw an old, rusty iron sword lying on the table just a few moments ago...Oooo! I can't wait...
God! Please, let the price be a little lower....and no competitors for it.'
I prayed and waited for the sword to come out, and shortly after it was brought out.
"Attention, please! This here is the bastard sword that the Dark Knight Berserker of the Demon Realm carried with him.
Look at the handle adorned with skull ornaments! Can you feel goosebumps its giving of ?
The bet starts at 50 gold!"
'But now that I see it, how do you hatch a cute holy turtle beast with such such a savage sword?'
"50 gold!"
'It doesn't make sense?'
I felt unsure for a moment, but I raised my stake.
"100 gold!"
"100 gold!!! This wonderful woman here doubled it right away!"
'I managed to say it in a high voice.'
The man who was going to win the bid with 50 gold coins gave me a death glare, and that gave great confidence that I can win.
'I got really lucky!'
When I looked closely, I saw a black horse engraved on the sword handle on that man's waist.
'A black horse, the seal of the Black Knights! Diera is the deputy commander of the Black Knights, one of the four great knights of this Empire.
It is clear that this man is the one who gifted the artifact to Diera Orgo. '
"110 gold!"
That man seemes to be a close associate of Diera, so he didn't back down and raised the price.
"220 gold!"
But I showed my determination to have that sword so I doubled the price, and that man closed his mouth.
'Just from the shape, it seems to be very far from a hatching artifact. I hope it won't break the egg and kill the tortoise. I have to do some research.'
After I fulfilled my purpose, I stayed to watch the auction purely for fun.
Dragon scales, devil's horns, and even earrings that contained the soul of an ancient empress were sold, all sorts of objects that incite people to buy kept popping up.
'They are really good at enticing people. Even I would want to wear earrings that contained the soul of an ancient empress just out of curiosity.
If only it wasn't sold for over 400 gold coins.'
The auctioneer brought out an old book.
"Everyone! This is an ancient document that belonged to a Sage, a ethics book that contains the wisdom and lessons of life.
The starting price is at 60 gold!"
'Wow, the atmosphere became so solemn all of the sudden, as if someone poured cold water over them.
But a book about ethics is a very remote knowledge for me, the one who came to a fast auction, with the hope of having luck. And why is it so expensive?'
"60 gold!"
In the end, only one person participated in that auction, and the owner of the ethics book was a tall man dressed in a shiny white robe.
The sharp jawline that could be seen under the hood, was enough to indicate his intense handsomeness.
'It is only normal that the ethical mind is embedded in the right vessel.'
I slowly nodded my head, in secret, with admiration. But the man who had acquired the sage's ethics book suddenly walked towards me.
'Why is he walking toward me!?'
"It seems we are fated to meet again."
He said in a soft, gentle voice that soothed my eardrums. And when he pulled down his hood, emerald colored eyes and gorgeous blonde hair sparkled. His white mask was half down and when he smiled, cute eye bags appeared.
'Isidor?!'
"How did you recognized me?"
When he heard my question, he raised his mask.
"Knights have a very good observation skills, just by looking at someones posture, body size or walk, I can easily grasp another persons identity, especially someone I danced with. Ah, and your hair sticks out from your hood."
Isidor pointed to my purple hair that flowed out of my robe.
'Oops.(^o^;)
I was swept away by the crowds when we entered the Night market, that I didn't even notice that my hair was coming out from the hood.'
Isidor glanced through the ethics book he bought, while I was quickly fixing my hair.
'He can concentrate on something even with in this noisy and crowded place.'
"Is it really only about life lessons and wisdom, or does it have other useful information?"
When he saw that I was curios, Isidor held out the book to me
'I'll give it to you as a present. So you can red it if you are curious."
"What?Why?"
'There is no reason for me to decline something that is free, but this is a bit to sudden.'
"I looked through the book, but I don't think I need it at all. But it my be useful to you, Princess, it might be even quite useful. "
"I don't think I need it either. You already know that I didn't develop morals, tolerance, manners or anything like that."
'I think that in this life I will never be interested in ethics or morals.'
"Hahaha! Princess you are really funny."
He only laughed and handed me the book.
"This book doesn't have that kind of unnecessary information. "
"Then, is there something amazing in it?"
'An easy way to make money maybe?'
"Maybe?"
He smiled mischievously, like child.
"Alright, then I will accept it."
I carefully examined the ancient document, but I couldnât understand a word.
'Isn't this the Imperial language?'
"Princess Deborah, is there anything else you want to buy here?"
"No."
"Then let's go outside and watch the fireworks together. It will start soon."
'Fireworks?! What a very tempting offer. The fireworks were so amazing that it even remained in the fragments of Deborah's memories.'
The fireworks display was an event that splendidly announced the end of the Spring Flower Festival, that was carefully prepared by the Imperial mages.
My previous life was filled with learning, grades and part-time jobs, I had never really enjoyed that kind of romantic atmosphere, so I was really tempted.
'Isidor was my ball partner for today and I had a good time. Even though he is nosy, he is still a charming man and there is nothing wrong about watching fireworks together.'
"Alright."
I took my mask of while I justified my greed.
Even though he was the one who proposed to see the fireworks together, his emerald pupils, behind
the mask, widened and then he blinked slowly and turned around.
"Then, let's go this way."
We went thru the back door of the auction house, in the dark hallway, then he took out a piece of paper with a golden magic circle drawn on it.
"What is that?"
"A short-distance movement scroll. Since it's an interesting event, it's a waste if you miss even one second of it?"
"But we can see it if we go out."
Isidor smiled.
"Excuse me for a moment, since this scroll for one person and we are two, we have to stick together."
Then he suddenly put his arms around me and I heard the sound of paper ripping. Everything happened so sudden that I didn't even had time to react, a white light appeared in front of my eyes and the surrounding landscape changed in an instant.
"I know we can see them from anywhere, but we can see it better from here, right?"
It wasnât just better, in front of my eyes was a splendid view of the Horun District.
The place where Isidor moved us with the scroll was at the top of a tower, from where the night view of the Horun District could be seen all around us.
'It is so amazing!'
I was so mesmerized by the beautiful scenery that I couldn't help but marvel at it.
I could see everything, the arch bridge connecting the Yones District and the Horun District, the river flowing through them, the alleys lined with many stands lit by red lanterns, all the  houses, the grandiose Academy, the exquisite Imperial Palace adorned with colorful lightsâ¦
I always had an indifferent attitude about everything here, because I considered that this was just a world of a novel, but right then, at the top of the tower, I felt a strange wave of emotion surge through me.
I realized that I don't feel like I was thrown in a book anymore, but like I was invited to a new world.
After I slowly captured the beautiful scenery in my memory, I pulled down my burdensome robe.
Isidor took off his mask to and was enjoying the cool breeze next to me, with a pleasant expression.
Perhaps because he exudes a relaxed atmosphere but my facial muscles, that had always been tense no matter what, relaxed in that moment.
"It will start soon."
He lightly brushed his bangs, that had been disheveled by the wind and stepped forward to lean against the railing.
"Be carefâ¦!!"
The railing seemed too weak to support his large body, so I unconsciously grabbed his collar and pulled him towards me.
"Princess, you are proactive today."
Isidor face came closer to mine, and an unrealistic handsome face smiled playfully in front of my nose.
Although his beauty was suffocating me, I was secretly surprised.
"Sir. Isidor, did you just play a joke on me?"
At my question Isidor's eyes opened wide, but he quickly pointed his finger towards the sky.
"Look up there. It's starting."
An intense light light up the sky, leaving behind a long trajectory.
Boom! Boom!Boom!
The sound of the firecrackers exploding one after another was heard, and the night sky was illuminated by a roar. Yellow daffodil-shaped fireworks began to brighten up the night sky.
"Wow!"
Many colorful fireworks soon bloomed splendidly and brightly like a cosmos, all around us.
The fireworks scattered radiantly just like dandelion seeds glistening elegantly. A wonderful magic unfolded before us, the entire sky was like a huge flower garden.
And when I heard the loud cheers of people in the distance, my heart swelled up with happiness.
'If only I had chicken and beer, it would have ben the best.'
I looked up at the sky absent-mindedly, wishing for this moment to last a little longer. The bright colorful fireworks, soon faded to a pale pink color and fluttered around, like butterflies.
I instinctively stretched out my hand towards the night sky, where the glitter of the fireworks fell like fireflies.
"So pretty!"
Isidor, from next to me, agreed in a gentle voice.
"Yes, very beautiful."
........................