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Soon, an object covered in black cloth was brought onto the stage.
However, the auction didn't start right away.
"Before unveiling today's final auction item, I feel I must first share a story about a certain painter."
"..."
"Are you familiar with the painter Capdan Maurice, who has been gaining considerable fame recently?"
Like a skilled storyteller, the host recounted the painter's love life, how he lost his beloved wife to illness and was consumed by grief, and how he eventually picked up his brush again.
The assembled nobles gradually became engrossed in his story, and people's attention focused on the painting.
But regardless.
Payten simply fidgeted, eager for the auction to begin as soon as possible.
After a while, when people's interest had reached its peak,
"Finally, we unveil it. The work of the greatest painter of our time, Capdan Maurice!"
Fortunately, the host removed the black cloth covering the frame before Payten's irritation boiled over.
'Finally!'
As those who recognized the painting's value let out small gasps of admiration,
Payten smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the revealed painting.
"We will start the bidding at 5 million gold."
As expected of a painting with rarity, the bidding price quickly soared.
"50 million gold! 50 million gold has been offered. To think we'd break 50 million gold already. This is truly incredible speed!"
Amid the increasingly fierce atmosphere following the rising price, Payten also jumped into the auction.
"60 million gold! 60 million gold has been offered!"
In truth, Payten had no interest in the painting whatsoever.
To him, a painting was nothing more than a slightly more colorful piece of paper.
But he had to buy that painting, no matter what.
And at the highest possible price.
'The higher the painting's value rises, the more the atmosphere is charged, the more criticism will be directed at Leticia for failing to properly manage the auction item.'
For spoiling the heightened auction atmosphere.
"Yes, 65 million gold! 65 million gold has been offered. Are there any higher bids?"
Someone immediately raised the bid by 5 million gold.
Payten clicked his tongue inwardly, but calmly raised the 70 million gold paddle.
"70 million gold has been offered! Are there any higher bids?"
He didn't expect to win the bid right away anyway.
The higher the price went, the more the atmosphere would escalate.
'Surely no one here will bid any higher.'
No matter how rare it is, it's just a piece of paper.
And no one would spend an amount that could easily buy a decent barony on it.
...Or so he thought.
"Wow, the atmosphere is really heating up, as befits the final auction item. 80 million gold has been offered!"
Payten frowned at the unexpected amount.
'I don't want to spend any more than this...'
After a moment of contemplation, Payten finally raised the bid to 90 million gold, thinking it would be the last time.
"90 million gold! 90 million gold has been offered!"
After all, if the painting turns out to be a fake, the winning bid will be refunded.
"Are there any higher bids? If not, we will now begin the countdown. 5, 4, 3, 2..."
He really thought the auction would end here.
But...
"95 million gold! An astounding 95 million gold has been offered! Now, shall we proceed with the sale at this price?"
'No, you crazy son of a bitch! What kind of insane person spends a barony on a single painting?'
Payten barely managed to suppress the urge to curse out loud.
Then, he nervously raised the 100 million gold paddle.
"1... 100 million gold!"
The host, as well as the people around him who were looking at Payten, were filled with awe.
In the face of that attention, Payten quickly forgot his unpleasant mood and became intoxicated with a sense of superiority.
"Then we will proceed with the sale at 100 million gold."
The countdown resumed.
"Sold! Sold for 100 million gold!"
With the painting finally sold for a high price, the host began his closing remarks.
"This concludes today's charity auction. This has been Robinson, the storyteller of the Accelando Troupe, the host of the auction."
Applause poured out for the host, who was bowing respectfully.
As the applause subsided, Leticia, the organizer of today's charity auction, walked out from behind the stage.
"Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for participating in this meaningful event. I promise that your generous donations will be used for the future of this empire."
Leticia, who was also offering her thanks respectfully, had a faint smile on her face.
She seemed proud of having successfully concluded today's event.
'Though only for a moment.'
Payten smirked at Leticia.
"Oh, and one more thing. The auction is over, but His Majesty has prepared a banquet for the distinguished guests who have attended, so I hope you will enjoy it to the fullest."
"..."
"We will also ensure that the items you have won are well-packaged for you to take with you when you leave."
Servants came onto the stage to transport the paintings, and the charity auction seemed to be concluding on a warm note.
Now was the perfect moment to ruin the atmosphere.
Payten raised his hand and spoke as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"Hold on a moment."
The eyes of the people who were getting up to move to the banquet hall turned to Payten all at once.
Leticia, who was on the stage, was no exception.
Payten grinned at Leticia, who was looking at him with anxious eyes, and continued.
"I've heard that there are a lot of con artists going around these days, selling fake paintings that look pretty convincing, so I think we should check it out."
Leticia frowned for a moment, but then calmly asked.
"Are you perhaps suggesting that His Majesty the Emperor is being dishonest, Duke?"
"Oh, no. How could I dare to suspect His Majesty the Emperor? I have no doubt about my liege, but there might have been a problem during the storage process, don't you think?"
It was essentially saying that Leticia could not be trusted.
The nobles, who had noticed the unusual atmosphere between the two, held their breath and listened intently to their war of nerves.
In that quiet atmosphere, Payten pressured Leticia.
"If the painting is genuine, there's no reason not to verify it, is there?"
Leticia glared at Payten with cold eyes for a moment, then reluctantly nodded.
"...I understand. The buyer has the right to verify the quality of the item."
At Leticia's signal, servants brought the frame down from the stage.
Payten strode towards the frame.
"As far as I know, this painter, Cap... Cap whatever, left a fluorescent signature on the back of his genuine works."
Amidst the gazes of those who were certain it was a genuine article and those who were hoping something interesting would happen,
The servants opened the back of the frame.
At the same time, Leticia gestured for the lights of the magic stone-powered lighting system to be turned off.
'I can't wait to see the look on your face when you find out that the auction item offered by the Emperor himself has been stolen, Leticia.'
The end of you maintaining appearances and acting all high and mighty in front of others.
Payten smiled in the darkness and checked the back of the painting.
But...
'What, what is this?!'
There was a clear fluorescent signature on the back of the painting.
The artist's initials, K.M., were accurately inscribed.
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