16. What I Want
The Jennet Trading Company, now owned by Amelia, was originally a wedding gift given to Amelia’s mother, Jennet Vermerian.
It was a present from the Marquess of Vermerian, meant to win the heart of a woman who often said she didn’t want to just stay at home raising children or spend her life waiting for a husband who rarely returned from the palace.
Following her detailed requests, the marquess established a trading company bearing Jennet’s name.
Although she loved the marquess, Jennet had no desire to marry—until this gift changed her mind.
Strong-willed, proactive, and ambitious, Jennet Vermerian gradually raised the trading company’s status.
Within just three years, she had grown it into a renowned name in the industry.
Jennet, a legend in the merchant world, continued working until just before giving birth to Amelia.
She would talk to the child in her womb, saying she wanted to teach her about the business someday.
Whether Amelia remembers it or not, this was the final memory Jennet made with her daughter—one she never even got to see properly after birth.
It was also a painful memory for the employees who had sworn their loyalty to Jennet.
The sorrow of losing their young employer soon turned into deep sympathy for Amelia, who had lost her mother at such a young age.
At the mere mention of her name, the people of the trading company would tear up.
“Our little lady… getting married now…”
“She was just toddling around yesterday, and now…”
Even now, it was the same.
As soon as Betty came into the underground section of the company through a secret passage and said she had come under the young lady’s orders, this all happened.
The burly men—each at least three times Betty’s size—pulled out old drawings of young Amelia from their pockets and began sniffling.
Betty, surrounded by all these men, looked dumbfounded, but they didn’t care. They cried like children, calling out to their now-grown lady who was getting married.
“I’m telling you, she probably doesn’t even remember any of you.”
The problem was, none of them had actually seen the grown-up Amelia.
The Jennet Trading Company was practically a lifetime job, offering excellent treatment, so most of the people present were hired when Jennet first established the business.
They were also the ones who had once wept silently over the adorable Amelia, newly orphaned.
As the company expanded, they had been dispatched to various branches across the empire under orders from the then-deputy head, Haley.
And there was one famous rumor about the group stationed here in Waynes:
When told they’d be transferred, they supposedly screamed like they were being exiled, wailing Amelia’s name.
Having heard that story many times, Betty glanced around at the men, looking like forlorn parents sending off their daughter to marriage, and sighed heavily.
“If you want to do what the lady ordered, you’d better get moving. Unless you want her to think you’re incompetent.”
“A request from the lady herself? No way we’re ignoring that!”
Such intense devotion.
The very men who had just been sighing as if the world was ending suddenly shot up at Betty’s commanding tone, reacting to the words “The lady’s command.”
The rumble of their movements felt like a mountain shifting, and Betty had to brace herself to stay standing as she let out another deep sigh.
Even the marquess, who constantly worried from behind the scenes about Amelia’s safety, hadn’t been this dramatic.
Looking at these men, loudly claiming they’d do anything she asked, Betty removed the hood she’d been wearing.
“First off, the lady wanted me to thank you all, personally.”
“Our lady did?”
“She said she hadn’t been able to visit the branches outside the capital due to her promise to the marquess, but the company has grown this much thanks to all of you. She really wanted to say that.”
As Amelia sent her here, she insisted on expressing her gratitude.
It was strange, coming from someone usually so concise, but Betty figured Amelia—being the meticulous person she was—was laying the groundwork in advance.
Soon, she’d likely start visiting the out-of-capital branches as well.
And as soon as Betty mentioned this, the men’s reaction exceeded her expectations.
“Our lady…!”
“She’s grown into such a fine young woman…!”
They began to sniffle again, staring at pictures of young Amelia they still carried with them.
Some even suggested going to see her from afar while she was staying in Waynes.
“I’m telling you again—she doesn’t remember you guys!”
Betty sighed long and hard. She hadn’t even begun to accomplish half of her task.
She was supposed to return before her masters got back to the lodging, but she had a bad feeling she was going to be late today.
* * *
The auction hall was darker than expected.
As we passed through a dim hallway lit only by minimal torches to avoid missteps, I thought it was overly dark.
“It’s darker than I thought.”
“They probably want to prevent people from recognizing each other’s faces. Even a bit more light might reveal someone.”
Leofric nodded in agreement and explained softly as we sat down.
Apparently, most illegal auction houses kept lighting extremely low, sometimes adding cloth veils over the masks provided to attendees.
“There are plenty of people here who’d get into trouble if they were found attending this.”
“Then why take such a risk just to come here?”
Being caught at such an auction could result not only in legal punishment but also in social ruin.
And yet nobles—and anyone with money—still sought out these auctions for their personal satisfaction.
Even those with more wealth and honor than they could ever need.
Why? Why would anyone risk so much to be here?
When I voiced my question, Leofric smiled gently and patted the back of my hand.
“Because human desire knows no bounds, Mella. It’s natural.”
Desire knows no bounds.
Those words pierced through me—a reminder of the time when I, blinded by desire, had made terrible choices.
Desire is endless.
And its end is always ruin.
I looked away from Leofric, toward the stage ahead, recalling the husband who had met a bitter end because of my reckless greed.
Once was enough for that kind of tragedy.
Leofric seemed to notice my silence and stared at me.
But I didn’t turn to look at him.
Just then, as if on cue, someone stepped onto the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for waiting! Welcome to the Sapphire Auction House!”
The man wore a mask covering more than half his face, just like everyone else, and introduced himself as the host of tonight’s auction.
The acoustics of the room were cleverly designed—the host’s booming voice echoed clearly even from far away.
Leofric and I both knew the item we were waiting for wasn’t the only rare treasure up for sale.
“This is the place where all things rare and precious gather—The Sapphire Auction! None of you will regret coming here tonight!”
The host was clearly confident.
With exaggerated gestures, like a circus performer, he waved toward the edge of the stage.
At his cue, an assistant—also masked—wheeled out a large item covered in cloth.
As the cloth was removed, the auction began.
“Three thousand gold!”
“Seven thousand gold!”
“Ten thousand gold!”
The excitement was overwhelming.
Perhaps the jeweler’s owner hadn’t been exaggerating after all—every item sold for far more than I expected.
The rarity of the items was part of it, but what really caught my attention was something else.
The host dropped famous names and claimed that even they had wanted these items, sparking fierce competition.
“The host is very talented.”
“I thought the same. Too talented to be wasting away at an auction like this.”
While others were caught up in the show and treasures, Leofric and I whispered about the host’s skill.
Though, of course, we were also still waiting for the real item of interest—Isolde’s Tear—which would surely come last.
That’s when he turned to me.
“Is there nothing you want?”
“…What?”
His unexpected question made me blink. He smiled gently.
“Something you want. I’m your husband for today, after all. Shouldn’t I buy you at least one thing?”
“Oh… it’s alright. It’s all just part of the act.”
In other words, I’d already accomplished what I came here for. There was no need to continue playing the role.
Smiling faintly, I shook my head and looked back to the stage.
But Leofric clearly had other ideas.
“That necklace—it’s the color of your eyes. What do you think?”
“I really don’t need anything. I already have plenty of jewelry.”
“Then how about that ring? It would suit your hand.”
“Your Highness… dear. I’m fine. Really.”
Necklaces, rings, earrings, hairpins—even a rare quill made from the feather of some exotic bird.
Leofric pointed out each item as it came up, asking if I wanted it.
But honestly, I already had everything I could want.
I was the only daughter of the wealthiest marquess in the empire and ran a large-scale trading company.
Before marriage, I’d been the flower of high society, setting trends.
There was nothing I lacked.
I was just getting tired of shaking my head again and again when—
“You won’t believe this one! A treasure of the empire! A precious item once only seen in the imperial palace!”
The host’s voice struck like lightning.
Finally, the item we had been waiting for.
Leofric, who had been joking around until now, straightened his posture, as did I.
“Behold—the Tear of Isolde!”
At last.
The long-awaited item had appeared.
