Chapter 48: Charlotte and the Fourth Day of the Auction

The fourth day of the auction. Normally, we wouldn’t even need to be here today. Sure, I was curious, but after everything that happened yesterday, I really just wanted to relax and let Alice-chan heal my heart.

So then… why are we sitting here on the fourth day of the auction? The reason is sitting on my left.

"I wouldn’t recommend bidding on that one. It looks nice, but the damage is extensive."

"...Right."

"If you want something like it, I can arrange another item for you. How about that?"

"No, thank you. I’ll pass."

Yes, the one sitting beside me is none other than the Monster Sister—Rosalind.

This morning, out of nowhere, I was summoned by the Alliance. I thought it was just to bring Riven and meet about the sword payment, since we’d settled that yesterday. But no—waiting for me was her. After that, my brain basically shut down, and I just went with the flow… and somehow, we ended up like this.

"Hey."

"Hm? Something wrong, Ri-kun?"

"I thought you were captured by the Alliance."

"Did you really think I would just walk in without a plan? Even if relations between my country and the Alliance are strained, we can still maintain friendships on a personal level."

Ah. So she really did coordinate with them beforehand. But then why are they leaving her here unsupervised? Seriously, why just let her roam free in an auction hall? Shouldn’t she at least be in cuffs? Or under watch? …Wait. Don’t tell me we’re the ones assigned to watch her? Ha. Very funny, Alliance. I’ll remember this. You’re getting payback later.

As I forced a dry laugh, I felt her gaze on me. When I glanced over, the Monster Sister was staring right at me. Wh-what. What is it…?

"…You really are an adorable young lady."

"Huh?"

"May I touch you?"

"Uh—y-yeah…"

Without thinking, I gave my consent.

"Then, excuse me," she said, before gently stroking my cheeks.

Wha—whaaa?! What is even happening right now?! Wasn’t I supposed to be hated as the sly fox who seduced Riven? Instead, she’s poking and prodding me like some aunt fussing over her niece.

"So soft. Smooth too. Are you really an adventurer? What do you use for skincare?"

"Hyah—"

"Ah, hard to speak while I’m touching you. My apologies."

Looking faintly apologetic, she let me go. What…? She’s being really friendly. Is this really the same person who went on a rampage yesterday? Lose once and suddenly become the comic-relief type?

"…Hey."

"Oh, sorry. I suppose I shouldn’t touch someone’s lover so freely."

"L-lover…?"

…? My face must look like some kind of chibi mascot right now. I don’t get it. What’s going on?! This is nothing like I imagined! And Riven—he’s just calmly sitting there on my other side! Aren’t you two supposed to hate each other?! You’re supposed to be enemies, not casually sharing a row with me in between!

"Oh, was I mistaken?"

"…We’re not in that kind of relationship."

"Hmmm?"

Leaning over me, the Monster Sister studied Riven’s face intently. Hey! That’s bad manners! Not that I’m one to talk, but still!

"Fufufu, very well, let’s say that’s how it is."

"No, really. There’s nothing between us."

"Oh my, are you actually willing to chat with me now?"

This time she leaned close to peer at my face. Ugh. Too close. Beautiful women getting in my personal space makes my heart pound. Riven too, but I guess it’s because they’re royalty—their looks are just ridiculously good. It’s kind of shocking how stunning their faces are.

"N-no, it’s not that I don’t want to talk, it’s just…"

"Are you nervous? It’s alright, take a slow breath…"

"Too close, too close, you’re way too close! I’m fine, just please back up a little, I’m begging you!"

This woman has no sense of personal space! Why does she have to lean in so close every single time?! Is she about to kiss me or something?! Our foreheads are practically touching! Sit down properly, don’t stand up over me!

"That’s enough. I told you before—what you’re doing is too close for anyone else."

"Really? I was only trying to show affection…"

"Your affection is too much for ordinary people to handle."

With a sigh, Riven threw me a lifeline. Rosalind, the Monster Sister, slumped back into her seat, looking disappointed.

Ahh… that was terrifying.

"First of all, why do you even care? He’s not your family…"

"Fufu. Is that really so?"

She laughed lightly, as if enjoying herself. Completely ignoring how scared I was. For me, this is terrifying—because what I can’t understand is what I fear the most. Maybe geniuses like her just can’t see that.

"It’s rare to meet someone who can get that emotional for the sake of another. To throw aside all self-interest, all calculation, and still care only for someone else. A bond like that isn’t so easily severed."

She said this while looking straight at me.

…Wait. Did she just compliment me?

"People call that… love."

Ugh. My face is burning. I just shouted in anger on impulse, and she interprets it in such a positive light?! How can she say something that embarrassing so casually?!

"To protect what’s precious. To protect what you can’t afford to lose. That’s when people resolve themselves to fight."

When I tilted my head up to try and hide my flushed face, I realized her gaze had shifted to Riven. So those words had been meant for him. Riven, though, just kept staring straight ahead, his expression giving away nothing.

Even so, Rosalind smiled with radiant joy, as though flowers were blooming across her face.

"…So, have you made up your mind?"

"…Yeah."

"Then I have nothing more to say. Do as you like. As long as I’m showing resolve, Mother won’t say anything either."

Riven’s eyes widened in shock, snapping toward her. Rosalind only smiled brighter, clearly entertained by his reaction.

"If you hadn’t made up your mind—if you couldn’t overcome anything at all—I was ready to drag you back by force."

Like a mischievous child, she raised one finger and pressed it playfully against her lips.

"But you’re a boy. So go on—struggle with everything you’ve got."

Could I ever forget the look in her eyes then? They overflowed with the brilliance of compassion, yet reflected no one at all. That was when I truly realized… she is someone utterly beyond my understanding.

That was the last thing she said to us inside the auction hall. Later, when information about her newly developed teleportation magic circle came up for bidding, it shocked us. And then the frenzy of that bidding—it made our own auctions seem like child’s play. The sums being thrown around were enough to buy a whole town. My head was spinning just watching.

And so, with many shocks along the way, the auction truly came to an end.

"Please take care of that child for me."

"Eh?"

She spoke again when we parted ways outside the auction hall. I turned back, and saw her smiling with a touch of sadness.

"He acts tough, but inside he’s terribly timid."

"H-hey, saying that in front of him is a bit—wait, what?"

I looked to my side where Riven should have been standing… and froze.

This was right after the auction ended. We were in the plaza in front of the hall, a place that should have been bustling with crowds heading home. But now—no one was there. It was just me and her.

Still in shock, I turned back to Rosalind. She only smiled, raised one finger, and pressed it gently to her lips.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to talk with you alone for a bit."

"W-wait, what’s going on here?!"

"I only shifted the phase. Don’t worry, for a short while no one else can perceive us."

A bead of sweat slid down my back. She made it sound casual, but I could tell—this was something absurdly advanced.

"...S-so, what do you want from me?"

"Forgive me for scaring you. But there’s something I absolutely have to ask."

Something she has to ask? No way—could it be that if I had even the slightest intent to harm Riven, she’d purge me on the spot...? Please, don’t! I don’t have a shred of that kind of intent!

"Charlotte. How much do you know about your own birth?"

"...Huh?"

That was the last question I expected. My birth...?

For a moment I thought she was joking. But she wasn’t. Her eyes right now were deadly serious. No teasing, no attempt to lighten the mood. From the bottom of her heart, she truly wanted to know.

"...I don’t know the details."

"And by that you mean?"

"I think… maybe my mother and father weren’t really my birth parents. That’s about it."

I couldn’t bring myself to lie. She didn’t seem hostile. If anything, she looked… worried. Toward someone like that, I didn’t want to be dishonest.

"And why do you think that?"

"Because we didn’t look alike. Not at all. And if we really were blood-related, I think we’d have been closer, more familiar with each other."

Yes, we’d always been strangely formal. I had the memories of my past life, so part of me always held back. But what about them? They didn’t know anything about that, yet they treated me with a strange, almost excessive politeness, as if I weren’t their own child.

Of course, it could have simply been their personalities. But for me—someone who remembered a family from my past life—it felt off. Too careful. As though they were afraid of hurting me. As though I were something borrowed they didn’t want to break. That’s how it felt.

"...I see. Understood."

She snapped her fingers. At the same moment, the clamor of the crowd returned to the world around us.

"Whoa! Where’d you go?"

"Ah, Riven."

"Hehe, just a little secret talk."

Riven blinked in surprise at me suddenly reappearing at his side. Was he… looking for me? It almost seemed that way.

"Charlotte. I—personally—will be supporting you."

"...? Thank you very much."

"Then, until we meet again."

Leaving those words behind, she slipped away into the crowd. I gave a small wave to see her off.

"Hey, let’s head back already."

"Right. Alice-chan must be waiting, so let’s go home."

Side by side, we started on the way back. I glanced behind one last time, but only the sea of people remained.

What was she, really? I already knew she was someone I could never fully understand, yet all I could think was how mysterious she felt.

What was it she wanted to say? What was it she wanted to ask? The time when I’d come to know that was still far, far ahead.