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"Ah, no. What happened...?"
The servants who brought the painting finally realized it was a fake and were flustered.
'It was definitely genuine when I checked it earlier.'
Just before the bazaar started, when the nobles were entering, I checked the auction items one last time.
There shouldn't be any problems with the auction items everyone sent with good intentions.
"H-How could this happen...?"
Michael was also confused by the unexpected change when the host's voice was faintly heard from the stage.
"Grand Duke Dellua has successfully bid 10 million gold for the necklace!"
"......"
"Oh, my goodness. To see 10 million gold at today's auction... It's an enormous amount that I might barely collect if I saved my whole life without spending a penny."
"......"
"Can we assume that His Highness loves his partner that much? Of course! Love is a precious value that can never be converted into money."
It seemed the host was talking about Idris, but I couldn't hear it.
The most important thing for me right now was the problem in front of me.
'Fortunately, I avoided the worst-case scenario of the item being revealed as a fake after the auction...'
I can't put a fake up for auction like this.
But I can't say the auction item was stolen either.
It would lead to my fault for not properly managing the donated items, or to the issue of security in the Imperial Palace.
'...That would ruin the bazaar atmosphere.'
I can't let that happen.
For the people who practiced for today, and for Her Majesty the Empress who trusted me and entrusted me with this task.
'Hurry, hurry up and come up with a solution. Leticia.'
I calmed my mind, which was as blank as a blank sheet of paper, and thought about how to overcome this situation.
And the moment I barely came up with an alternative.
"The last auction item for today is!"
The auctioneer turned to this side and shouted.
I shook my head at him and used the 'break' signal I used during rehearsal.
The host was puzzled but seemed to understand the meaning of the break and naturally began to continue.
"...I was going to reveal it! But you have to leave the fun stuff until the end to keep the tension up, right?"
"......"
"The last auction item that everyone is waiting for will be revealed shortly!
A small boo mixed with disappointment erupted from the audience.
"The last auction item is something that everyone will covet, so please discuss the amount with your husband and madam during the break. If you miss it... you might wake up in the middle of the night startled for a while?"
The host, who perfectly delivered the closing remarks, returned behind the stage.
Then he immediately asked, puzzled.
"What's going on? Why the sudden break...?"
"There's no time, so I'll get straight to the point, Robinson."
I took a breath and continued.
"The auction item was stolen."
"Yes?! Then the auction..."
"But the culprit probably hasn't gone far yet. So I'm going to catch that culprit from now on."
I checked the painting for the last time just before the auction started.
The auction items were guarded by the knights of the Imperial Palace.
'Then the culprit is either a knight of the Imperial Palace or a servant of the Imperial Palace.'
If they sell the painting right away, they will be framed, so they must have the painting.
'Considering the effect I've seen so far... the culprit will probably look black too.'
Of course, I can't be sure...
'It's worth a try.'
Rather than ruining the bazaar like this.
"In the meantime, Robinson, you have to lead the bazaar well. Just like you've been doing."
"What can I do?"
"First of all, proceed with the order of showing new products first, and drag out the time as much as possible."
The host, who looked at me with a nervous look for a moment, nodded.
"That's what I mainly do in the theater, stalling for time. I'll give it a try."
"Okay. I'm counting on you."
I left Robinson in charge and went out of the hall through the side door.
"Young Lady Chloe."
Michael followed me out.
Only then did I think of him, so I stopped and turned to look at him.
"Sir Hildes, you should stay here."
"Yes? H-However, shouldn't we move more people to find the culprit faster?"
"Finding the culprit is important, but it's also important to check the situation of the bazaar before that."
"That's, but..."
"So one of the people in charge has to stay in the hall. Those people will be waiting for your instructions."
Michael didn't object any further, perhaps because he thought my words made sense, but he seemed uneasy about sending me alone.
It was when he hesitated for a moment and moved his lips.
"Leticia."
Idris appeared with hurried footsteps.
"What's going on?"
I was surprised by his unexpected appearance and widened my eyes.
"How did you know that?"
"The order is different from the rehearsal."
Ah, that's right. He watched the rehearsal, right?
Anyway, since Idris seemed to have a rough idea of the situation, I immediately got to the point.
"The auction item was stolen."
"What? What crazy bastard―"
"So I'm going to catch that crazy bastard now."
"I'm going with you."
Idris grabbed my hand without a moment's thought. As if there was no other option than going together.
It was always like that, but at this moment, I felt this solid hand reassuring.
'It's better this way.'
It would be more beneficial for me to have Idris go with me.
I can pressure the people involved with power, and if necessary, I can use force.
I nodded and turned to look at Michael.
"Then, Sir Hildes, I'm counting on you."
He looked at me and Idris alternately with somewhat bitter eyes and answered.
"...I'll be waiting. Be careful."
After parting with Michael, we came to the auction item storage room on the second floor.
The knights of the Imperial Palace, who were about to leave to guard the entire building after all the auction items were gone, looked puzzled when they saw us suddenly appear.
"Lady Leticia? What brings you here?"
"Was there anyone else who entered the room besides the servants in charge of transporting the auction items?"
"No. There was no one except the servants. We can't let suspicious people in."
The room is a secret room without even a window.
Then the suspect was narrowed down to the servants who moved the auction items.
"Where are all the servants who moved the auction items?"
"Now that the transportation of auction items is over, they will either be serving in the hall, packing auction items, or returning to their original palaces. Why do you ask?"
I bit my lip.
'It would have been easier to check their faces and screen them out if they were all gathered in one place.'
As I was lost in thought, Idris also seemed to have had a similar idea and ordered the knights.
"One of the auction items was replaced with a fake. Summon all the servants here right now."
I urgently stopped him.
"You can't do that."
"Why?"
"If we summon everyone here at once, there's a high probability that people will notice something has happened."
"The chances are less likely if you don't tell the servants what's going on."
"But if that happens, the culprit who noticed the situation might run away."
Of course, if they run away, we can catch them right away, but that would make the incident bigger.
'Then the bazaar will be completely ruined.'
Idris, who finally realized the meaning of my words, groaned.
"Then what are you going to do?"
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