silence.
silence.
A long silence reigned over the entire banquet hall. Even the ladies stopped fanning themselves with feathers to cover up the situation. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the pen.
The man's name reappeared like a shameful nightmare.
Lucian was the only one who reacted with ease. He raised his chin and looked at Wade, who also looked over, blinked, and said in a "grieved" voice: "It wasn't me."
"I know."
Wade narrowed his scarlet eyes and frowned, which was rare. After a while, a hint of interest flashed in his eyes.
"Who is the donor?" After a brief pause, the knight beside Cardinal Shelly asked Duke Houston anxiously, "Haven't you checked it before? Although we have kept Lucian's identity and fate vague to the public, everyone who comes here knows it well. Could it be... Duke Cecil...?"
"Calm down, Clive." Shelly frowned and scolded him, "Duke Cecil is the one who least wants to see this scene. He came to this dinner to represent the Cecil family to repair the relationship with the Church. Who would bring the things of that filthy devil who deceived the world and stole the name at this time?"
Clive shut up and looked at Houston, wanting to know how he was going to deal with it. After a long while, Houston took off his monocle, rubbed his nose irritably and said, "Well, take it off..."
"We can't withdraw it." Shelly suddenly said, "This is a provocation to the Church and the nobles by someone with ulterior motives. Although we don't know how he did it, if we withdraw it now, it will mean the Church's embarrassment and humiliation - the Holy Church of Light admits that it has been framed and deceived by a lowly creature."
"But..." The butler beside Houston wiped the sweat off his face.
Houston closed his eyes and said, "Okay, continue."
He was about to gesture to the stage when an attendant came up to him and whispered something to him. After hearing this, Houston turned around and looked at Grand Duke Murphy in the crowd, and the two smiled at each other.
"What did Grand Duke Murphy say?" Clive asked curiously.
Houston gave the butler a few words, and the butler hurried to the side of the stage and whispered something to the people over there. Only after the host returned to the stage did Houston put on his monocular lens again and said with a smile: "Murphy said that being able to see through the appearances that ordinary people cannot see through and correct mistakes in time is also a sacred character."
Shelly also smiled reservedly, and glanced at Murphy in the crowd with a slightly grateful look.
…
There were small discussions among the crowd, and the host returned to the stage at this time. He pushed his glasses and said to everyone in a heavy but emotional voice:
He first recounted his glory: "In the past war, we defeated the haze and eliminated the evil..."
"Of course, with an unprecedented iron-blooded attitude and firm belief, we caught the pests hiding in the highest places!"
The host was still passionate on the stage, and he defined the feather pen as a trophy of the Church's determination to protect the human race, its courage to conduct internal inspections, and its strong and firm efforts to eliminate demons, and emphasized its commemorative significance. Everyone in the audience listened silently, only Wade tapped his knees with his fingers and laughed softly: "They are really bold."
Lucian looked back at him.
"A feat never seen before in history? Indeed, letting the illegitimate son of a succubus and the Pope serve as the Son of God for many years, and then turning against the demons and assassinating the Pope during the war between humans and demons, this is indeed a feat never seen before in history." Wade raised the corners of his lips sarcastically.
After saying that, he also looked at Lucian. It was time to look back at the dark history, so Lucian could only shrug and say, "Thank you for praising me so much."
Wei De's face turned very ugly because of him. Lucian knew that he must have remembered the incident in which he killed him.
The auction of the quill pen finally continued. Despite the host's efforts and impassioned speeches, no one was willing to bid and be associated with the dirty and vicious original owner of this unlucky pen. At the signal of Cardinal Shirley, Knight Clive was about to raise his sign when the voice of Oliver, who had pursued Elizabeth, came from a distance.
"I'll give you a shilling," said Oliver, sarcastically.
It was more of a blatant insult than an offer. The unicorn feather on that quill alone might have cost more than a shilling.
He wanted to take this opportunity to take revenge on Elizabeth for ignoring his pursuit and admiring Lucian instead.
"I'll give you two shillings." Another person raised a sign. He also had a dispute with Lucian, and there was a hint of sneer of satisfaction on the corner of his mouth.
The bids for the rest of the auction this evening often start at a sovereign, which is equal to 20 shillings.
"Three shillings." Elizabeth's brother also held up a sign to join in the fun, not because of the discord between him and Lucien, but simply because he now hated the name Cecil.
"Four shillings." The gorgeous woman held up a sign. She was a beautiful widow who had once wanted to have sex with the Son of God, but was rejected.
There were gentle laughters in the hall. They appreciated the humiliating price increase and watched this rare excitement. There were also many people frowning in pain, trying to suppress their emotions - they once admired Lucian, even though now they knew everything he had done. Several nobles who admired Lucian were impulsive and wanted to bid for the feather pen at a higher price, but they were stopped by their family members or succumbed to their own cowardice.
"They are really outrageous, this..." Knight Clive cursed in a low voice.
"Well, who doesn't want to humiliate the traitor?" Cardinal Shelly said in a casual tone, "It's not bad as a side show."
The price was increased shilling by shilling. Lucian yawned as the humiliated deceased protagonist and enumerated the people he had offended with great interest.
Until he heard Vader's voice: "That's your pen."
Lucian was confused: "Yes."
In this farce that caused laughter or anxiety, a voice finally rang out.
"Two thousand pounds."
The man raised the card with an elegant gesture and his voice was gentle and refined. All the voices stopped, and the nobles turned around and looked at Vader sitting in the corner in shock.
He is a madman whom no one dares to predict, and the person least likely to make a sound.
"Two, two thousand pounds?" Two thousand pounds was the final price of the pen, which was not too embarrassing. The host wiped his sweat. He didn't have time to think about why Wade would bid for Lucian's things. He could only say, as if he was afraid that Wade would regret it, "Two thousand pounds for the first time—"
"Two thousand one hundred pounds!"
Another voice came from the crowd. It was from Marquis Edward. This noble poet, famous for his money and talent, was Lucian's suitor when he was alive. It seemed that because Vid finally started this, he could no longer restrain his heart and shouted.
After him, several of Lucian's former admirers started bidding.
"Two thousand one hundred and fifty pounds!"
"Two thousand two hundred pounds!"
…
"Two thousand five hundred pounds!"
The host was almost stunned by the turn of events. He hurriedly recorded the bids of these people until he saw Wade's sign slowly raised again.
"Your Majesty," the host smiled at him flatteringly, "What is your offer this time?"
"Two questions. First, if I remember correctly, in this auction, the bid cannot exceed 5,000 pounds at a time, right?"
"Yes, this is to avoid vicious competition..."
"Second question," Wade said slowly, "What is the highest-priced auction item tonight?"
"It's the emerald necklace that you bought, belonging to Saint Queen Olivia, the Tears of the Forest Goddess." The host said hurriedly, "The transaction price is 100,000 gold pounds."
"Okay." Wade said.
He raised the sign leisurely and said, "Seven thousand gold pounds."
Marquis Edward was about to speak, but he saw Wade holding up his sign again and said, "Twelve thousand gold pounds."
"Seventeen thousand pounds."
"Twenty-two thousand pounds," he continued.
The banquet hall fell into deathly silence, and everyone was shocked by Vader's gesture.
He was bidding against himself... Want to raise the price of the quill that belonged to Lucian Cecil to the highest
Wade only raised his placard. His posture was elegant, but there was a cold smile on his lips. His voice was gentle and refined, and every time he spoke, he raised the price of the quill pen by five thousand. Obviously, no one would or dared to bid with him, but he raised his placard again and again, as if he was abiding by the rules of the auction house, and only raised the price by five thousand each time.
Everyone was forced to hear only his voice, vibrating in their eardrums.
It was as if one sharp knife after another was stabbing through the window paper.
Such behavior does not seem out of place on his part, but it makes people tremble at his mood swings.
"Mad man..." Green said in a trembling voice, "This mad man..."
He didn't dare speak anymore.
Finally, when the price rose to 97,000 gold pounds, they saw Wade put the bidding card in his hand into the hand of his lover in white.
"Lucian, for the last time, you lift it up." Wade whispered in his ear, "Take a picture of it."
“Why would I do that?”
Lucian looked at him coldly. After seeing Wade's crazy behavior, the lazy attitude he had been wearing since he came in finally disappeared, and was replaced by absolute alertness: "Wade, what do you want to do?"
Wade laughed softly, his shoulders shaking. The nobles in the distance could not hear their conversation, and could only panic at Wade's sudden crazy behavior and the rising sense of oppression. Finally, Wade stroked Lucian's chin with his thumb and whispered, "Lucian, your things cannot be sold to others, and they must not be sold cheaply."
"Why?"
"You are the adopted son of the Cessel family, and I am the only heir of the Cessel family, Lucian." Wade said, "Duke Cessel said that if you inherit a family, you inherit its glory and everything under the glory. Lucian, you are my inheritance - including everything related to you."
Lucian looked at him with eyes that seemed to be filled with sharp glass. Wade smiled softly, stuffed the card into Lucian's heart, held his hand, raised it, and said to everyone:
"One hundred and two thousand gold pounds." He looked at the host politely, "Can we make the deal now?"
The whole room was silent, only the hearts were in uproar. The host said tremblingly: "Okay, okay."
He was busy asking the clerk to record today's auction, and tried to adjust his monocle, but found that he was adjusting the wrong eye.
Cardinal Shelly and Houston looked extremely unhappy. Only Grand Duke Murphy stroked his chin and smiled mysteriously.
There was still no Duke Cecil in the crowd.
…
It is ridiculous that the highest-priced item in a charity dinner held to raise funds for the reconstruction of the sanctuary was a relic of Lucian the Magus, who had demonstrated the stupidity of the Church through deception.
After the auction, the other nobles were still enjoying the after-party in the hall. Lucian, wearing three hand cards, followed behind Wade to get what he got. When they walked to the corridor, Lucian said coldly to Wade: "You are so boring."
"Thank you for the compliment." Wade was in a good mood.
Lucian took the three priceless treasures from the servant's box. Now everyone knew that the tyrant Wade doted on his enchanting concubine, so everyone treated him with respect.
This made Lucian even more unhappy.
He hated being seen as Vader's property.
He handed the treasure to one of his followers and asked him to take it. After returning to the banquet hall, Wade was chatting with Grand Duke Murphy, Houston, and Bishop Shirley. Bishop Shirley had to thank the Emperor for his generosity to the Holy See and kowtow in front of his former envious peers. Wade smiled casually.
"You're welcome. Remember Bishop Oliver who fled from the battlefield? This money originally belonged to him." Wade said, "Don't forget to pay your taxes. Clergy are not allowed to operate. Bishop Shirley, your plantation is very good."
Bishop Shirley's face looked so ugly that it looked like water could drip from it.
Oh, it turns out that the wool comes from the sheep. Not only that, Wade also wants to collect the money back.
Lucian sat quietly beside him as a vase. He knew that Murphy and the others had been secretly glancing at him, and the knight Clive had been looking at him with a thoughtful look, as if he was thinking about something.
But he was too lazy to care about him. Now he was a little upset for some reason. Besides, the mask was always on his face. Maybe it was because his skin was too delicate now, so his face was a little itchy.
Then he saw someone coming in from the door. As soon as the person came in, the gentlemen and ladies near the door greeted him.
He was a black-haired nobleman who was approaching middle age but still handsome. He raised his hand and answered them with a gentle smile.
His adoptive uncle, Vader's father...
Dalton Cessel.
As the head of one of the oldest families, Duke Cecil is quite personable. He is a schemer and ostensibly a loving adoptive father to Lucian.
But the direction he was walking in was obviously towards Wade. Lucian remembered that he wanted Wade to repair the relationship with the Cecil family.
He also knew that Duke Cecil would definitely recognize him. But Lucian was more concerned about his face at this moment.
"I want to go out for some fresh air." Lucian whispered. Wade glanced at him and unexpectedly agreed.
However, he also asked his attendant to go with Lucian. The man was silent and tall, and much more reliable than Calvin before.
Lucian and Duke Cecil walked in the opposite direction of the crowd. The door of the banquet hall blocked the hustle and bustle. He washed his face in the bathroom and watched the water drip down his cheeks.
Just as he left the bathroom and walked towards the banquet hall, he heard a girl's voice behind him.
"Lu... Xian," the girl's voice trembled, "is that you?"