A hush fell over the hall. Each merchant recoiled in shock—for within the unveiled cloth, they saw themselves!
Even Celeste, drawn by curiosity, staggered and nearly fell, but Darien's steady hand caught her.
"T-thank you!" she murmured, still trembling at the sight.
"This is…" she whispered.
"A mirror," he said simply.
"Mirror!?"
The white cloth removed, the mirror was revealed: slim as a gold coin, half-length, finer than any bronze mirror. Its surface gleamed like colored glass, yet clearer than any reflection they had known.
And within, the figure was startlingly real. Not a shadow, but oneself, fully and plainly.
"So… it is I, as I truly am," Slate whispered, trembling.
The others stared, astonished. Bronze mirrors or silver offered only blurred shapes—but this showed every line and feature, perfectly true.
After a brief pause, Oakwyn and the others stirred with keen anticipation.
A rare chance—one of immense gain!
"Lord, what is the base price of this mirror?" Oakwyn asked, eyes aflame.
"I have said it is a treasure beyond price," Darien replied with a smile. "There shall be no reserve. Should your bid please me, it shall be sold; should it not, it shall remain unsold."
"Five hundred gold coins!" Oakwyn cried.
The others would not be outdone.
"Five fifty!"
"Six fifty!"
"Eight hundred gold!"
Darien raised an eyebrow. Could they truly pay so much?
Slate, bold and eager, declared, "My lord, I pledge all my assets! My caravans across Thryngard are worth far more than eight hundred gold coins!"
"Sorry. Though I value your attempt, it is not enough to part with this treasure."
Darien shook his head. Eight hundred gold coins? He could claim them—but now was not the time.
He had already secured enough to see every hearth through the bitter winter. The rest could wait.
Still, he hoped the mirror might fetch an even higher sum, for some treasures were worth testing the market further.
The merchants, seeing his resolve, fell silent. They glanced between the mirror and Darien, curious about his thoughts.
Darien motioned lightly to a servant, who slipped away unnoticed.
Celeste, however, did not look at the mirror. Her gaze stayed on him. Who is this man, truly? she wondered.
Darien looked genuinely baffled as he met her gaze. "Celeste, what is it? Do I have something on my face?"
Celeste blinked, taken aback. "N-no… nothing," she murmured, averting her eyes toward the mirror.
Darien gave a light nod, watching her in silence, offering no further words.
Clatter! The hall rang with the march of armored feet. Knight Thorold appeared, eight guards at his side.
"Since none have offered a price that pleases me," Darien said calmly, "this mirror shall be withdrawn."
With careful hands, the servants re-covered the mirror, and Thorold directed the guards to bear it away.
At the sight of Thorold in gleaming armor, sword at his side, with armed guards behind, the merchants felt a shiver of fear.
Several broke into cold sweat, recalling that Darien was no mere man but a baron with knights at his command.
Envious thoughts of mirror vanished; here, life was the greater treasure.
Oakwyn and Slate watched the mirror carried away, hearts heavy with regret.
They bore no ill intent—wisdom and self-restraint had brought them far—but they knew this marvel might never grace their eyes again.
Oakwyn imagined the tale of the "Speculum" spreading far and wide, drawing crowds, some daring enough to offer Darien a sum beyond imagination.
Sigh… still beyond his reach.
At last, the auction ended. Darien courteously dismissed the merchants, who eagerly agreed to sell him food before departing.
Once alone, Darien surveyed the heaps of gold and smiled.
"Lord, one thousand one hundred ninety gold coins in all!" Isolde declared, cheeks flushed in astonishment.
"Adequate, and a bit beyond what I had predicted." Darien said with a gentle smile.
He did not return the mirror to the castle, but placed it in the center of the town hall's upper chamber, two guards stationed beside it at all times.
Celeste regarded the mirror silently, appreciating its clarity, but she said nothing, knowing it was not hers to claim.
"Do you find it pleasing?" Darien asked kindly.
"…Yes," she answered simply.
"Then I'll make sure a bigger one is ready soon, and I'll give it to you when the time comes."
"A larger one?" Celeste echoed, uncertain. Could such a thing truly exist?"
Though her doubts lingered, she offered a small, polite smile and lowered her head in gratitude. "I am grateful already, Darien, for the gift you shall give."
---
🔍 Did you know?
- Before modern glass, people used polished metals like bronze or silver to see their reflection. Glass mirrors, as we know them today, were first perfected in Venice around the 16th century. A clear reflection was considered rare and luxurious!
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