The Lingering Heat
“Haah… haah……”
Irene entered the break room and quickly sought out a private space to be alone. Then she took a deep breath. She could barely remember how she had even ended up here.
“Hoo… haa…”
After taking several deep breaths, her mind slowly returned. The break room was decorated with exquisite luxury, as if it had been built specifically for the wealthy patrons of the auction house. If it had been any other day, she would have been thoroughly enchanted. But right now, her eyes saw nothing at all.
She stood there for a long time, lost in thought, before lifting her hand to touch her nape. The spot where Michael’s breath had touched moments ago felt as though it had been branded by fire. She rubbed it with her fingers, pressing harder, but the prickling sensation refused to fade.
Irene’s mind drifted to Michael, the way he had approached her so closely. If she had not stepped away at that exact moment, his lips would have brushed her skin instead. The mere thought sent a shiver racing down her spine.
She hastily pressed the cool back of her hand against her burning cheeks. ‘What foolish thoughts.’
He had only grabbed the railing beside her to better see the man below. He had been trying to comfort her because she had been upset by the words he uttered. Nothing more.
Yet he had pressed his face into her nape. She had never imagined such a thing before. Why, then, had she stood so still and allowed it to happen?
As if drawn by some invisible force, her gaze lingered on the memory of his face. Even from a distance he was breathtaking. Up close, however, she had to admit there was not a single flaw. And the closer he had come, the more flawless he appeared.
‘The title of the knight most beloved by the gods was not spoken lightly.’
His appearance alone, with its divine grace, spoke volumes. His golden hair shimmered like sunlight, framing delicate features that radiated purity and mercy. His closed lips carried the strength of unyielding will. Even with all this knowledge, she had never truly been able to look at him carefully. The last time he had approached too near was before she lost her senses. Today, seeing him properly, she was simply stunned by how unfamiliar his presence felt.
Still pressing her cool hand to her cheek, she unconsciously recalled his eyes. Beneath lashes as bright as his hair, the clear blue eyes resembled the sky itself. Despite his countless other perfect features, her mind kept returning to those blue eyes that had blinked while gazing at her.
* * *
Irene returned to her box seat in the auction house only after the second half of the auction had already begun.
‘He’s gone.’
Michael’s figure was nowhere to be seen. The outer robe she had hung on a separate hook had also vanished. It was clear he had not simply stepped out for a moment. He must have left the premises entirely.
Leaving her behind without a word was rude, but not shocking in Michael’s case.
‘Perhaps he went to investigate a new dungeon.’
He usually ventured into dungeons alone. Sometimes, however, the fortress requested his assistance in clearing high-grade dungeons. The dungeon Reina and Felix had intended to enter was one such example. The previous party had failed, and no one else wanted to attempt it. Whenever such a dangerous place appeared, the fortress always called upon him. And he had never refused.
As a paladin of the gods, it was only right that he should. Still, Irene hoped he had at least left a note. She looked down again.
“Eh?”
She had not been paying attention, yet her eyes automatically scanned the seat of the man she had just seen moments ago. He was still absent.
‘Did he really take only the Quiet Stone and leave?’
The probability was low. Almost everyone in the room today had been drawn by the transparent ring. Even if they could not afford it, they would at least have come to watch the bidding. Could he truly have walked away?
‘Or perhaps something went wrong.’
Irene frowned in worry. What if he had won the Quiet Stone, changed his mind, and was now trying to cheat the auction? If that happened, it would become troublesome.
Next month’s auction would have to feature it again. Between now and then, many artifacts would either be released or not. If many new items appeared, they would steal all the introduction time from the current ones. And once something had been on the block and returned, it would naturally be pushed back. But if no new artifacts were released at all…
‘There would be no one here to watch.’
The wealthy from the fortress and its neighboring kingdoms might stay, but those traveling from distant lands would not. ‘Then only fees would be lost, and nothing would sell.’
As Irene fell into troubled thoughts, the auction continued without pause until the moment finally arrived.
“Everyone has waited so long! Today, at last, we introduce the artifact that many of you have been most eager to see—the transparent ring!”
The auctioneer’s words were barely finished when colorful sparks burst across the stage and confetti fluttered everywhere. The moment he waved his hand, however, everything vanished.
“Oh my, these really are the auction house’s artifacts.”
“Having even one such interesting item would be wonderful.”
The guests felt a renewed thrill at discovering that this auction house was the perfect place for such wondrous magical treasures.
“The starting bid is one million gold!”
Most auctions began at one thousand. But this one shot straight to one million, as if everyone could tell the item was destined to fetch an extremely high price.
Irene rested her chin on the railing and watched the bidding unfold. She felt a pang of regret, wondering why she had ever accepted Michael’s proposal.
* * *
The transparent ring was finally sold for three million five hundred thousand gold.
“Three million five hundred thousand! The transparent ring has sold for three million five hundred thousand gold! The buyer is Prince Neren of the Kingdom of Neren!”
The auctioneer’s shout echoed through the VIP section, where the man nodded with satisfaction as guests offered congratulations. Owning a powerful artifact was a source of great pride. And this one could become a devastating weapon depending on how it was used.
The winner showed it off shamelessly, declaring that he had both hidden himself and acquired a remarkable weapon. The rest of the auction was merely routine. Since she had no intention of bidding anyway, Irene hurried downstairs.
“Irene!”
Reina spotted her and waved excitedly.
“Were you up there?”
“Yes. The auction house worried there might be a disturbance, so they asked me to sit separately. Even though I have my own ring, I was worried about Michael-nim as well. The crowd might have gathered. Ah, and congratulations on the three million five hundred thousand gold win!”
“Hehe, it feels good, but… am I allowed to keep it without you?”
“Well, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have said I wouldn’t take my share. But that was last month, and we should just shake off the regret quickly.”
Irene winked as she said this.
“But if I don’t have the money, I’ll have to beg you to lend it to me.”
“Of course you can!”
Only a few weeks ago, the two had been complete strangers. Now they spoke like old friends. A staff member soon approached to explain the remaining auction steps. The winner had already paid by check, and the funds would be transferred to each account within a few hours.
“So Irene will be leaving?”
“Yes. There’s nothing left to see here…”
As soon as she finished speaking, Irene felt something tight squeezing her hand.