Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 123: Visitor from the Desert (2)

“Anyway, it will be finished without a problem if I buy Herold Mortgage.”

She was suddenly talking about buying a bank… Haejin recalled hearing that the bank the organization controlled was called Herold Mortgage.

“I don’t think I can ask you to do that.”

Haejin did feel sorry for the painting’s owner, but it was none of his business, and technically, that man could have committed crimes as well.

However, Princess Hassena was about to buy a bank because of it? Haejin couldn’t accept that, even though that was a small local bank.

“Hmm… that’s not what Mr. Holton said. He said you would like it.”

“No, you don’t have to spend so much money because of me, and actually, we don’t even know if that painting is real. I haven’t got a chance to appraise it properly. And even if that’s real, the owner would have to explain how he got to possess a painting that was supposed to be in Norton Simon Museum. If that reason is not good, there’s no need to help him.”

Haejin panicked and tried to explain, but Hassena smiled and shrugged.

“Well, of course, and I think you misunderstand. I am trying to help you, but that’s not why I am going to buy Herold Mortgage. I was looking for a good company to invest in, and I thought Herold Mortgage would be good. If I can help you too, that’s a nice option.”

“Oh…”

Haejin was embarrassed. Well, of course. Why would Hassena want to buy a bank to help him? He wasn’t that important.

“Haha! Anyway, I don’t have to buy Herold Mortgage. Thanks for letting me know.”

“Haha…”

Haejin smiled awkwardly and silence filled the car again.

He tried to think about something else in order to not speak because of the awkward mood, then he suddenly wondered when and how he was supposed to appraise the Portrait of Titus.

He had a feeling that he would be troubled forever if he didn’t solve that matter, so he spent some time thinking about it. Then, they arrived at the hotel where the princess would stay.

“Huh? You are staying here?”

“Yes, thanks to Mr. Holton.”

Surprisingly, the princess was going to stay at Eric Holton’s hotel where Haejin was also staying. Now, he couldn’t even rest in peace. The princess could summon him anytime.

“Oh…”

“I heard you are staying here, too. So, I decided to stay here, although it will be a little cramped.”

There was no way Eric had prepared a small room with one queen-size bed. He probably had given her the biggest room of the hotel that cost thousands of dollars per night, and she still thought it would be cramped…

Haejin felt again how rich she was.

“However, when a room is too big, it is kind of scary. From my experience, this hotel is not bad.”

Haejin thought he had to say something, so he did.

“Really? Well… I will have to get used to it from now.”

She left after that, but her last words somehow lingered in the air.

Next, her secretary coldly spoke to Haejin.

“The rules of the desert are strict. Do not try to cross the line. Even if the prince is very fond of you, if you break the rules, Princess Hassena will have to pay the price.”

At first, Haejin was offended, but he was shocked that Hassena might get hurt. He had seen the news about Arabian women getting killed by their families because of honor.

Haejin sincerely apologized.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I am not used to your rules, so please understand.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me. I would never do anything that would harm my princess. But you must be careful about invisible eyes.”

“Okay, I understand.”

“Then…”

She turned around and went after Hassena. Someone then tapped Haejin’s shoulder, it was Jessica.

“I see you are very close to Princess Hassena?”

“I told you. We met once before.”

“And she let a man she had seen once before in her car? Don’t you know what can happen if her father finds out about it?”

“It was a mistake. That’s why I told her secretary I was sorry.”

Jessica looked at Haejin as if he was helpless.

“You still don’t know what is going on. Now, you are…”

She was about to say something, but then she stopped. Haejin wondered why, and then he realized Eric Holton was coming.

“It’s been a while.”

Eric offered his hand. Jessica took it and forced herself to smile.

“Nice to meet you. I am still grateful about you helping us to investigate the fake Gogh.”

She said she was grateful, but that couldn’t have been a good memory as her face said otherwise.

“I only did what I had to do. But what happened? This fellow usually doesn’t cause trouble.”

“Is he really an appraiser?”

Haejin’s face hardened. Jessica knew he spoke English, but still, she asked it like that. He was offended.

Eric could see that and coldly said, “I assure you that he is greater than any appraiser you know. You don’t even know about antiques, and you doubt him… that is simply rude.”

Jessica realized her mistake and apologized.

“I’m sorry, but I had to ask that.”

“Why? What has he done?”

“This great appraiser came here in the princess’s car.”

“What?”

This time, Eric was shocked. He looked at Haejin who just blankly blinked as if he couldn’t see how that was a problem. Eric then sighed.

“Hu… that’s… troublesome.”

“Why?”

“Hassena is a member of the royal family. Even if she is one of many princesses, Prince Sahmadi loves her a lot. She is the only child who owns an investment company. And she made you get into her car… that’s kind of an announcement.”

“You’re saying…”

“Yes, she announced to her father that she has picked her spouse.”

Haejin was shocked, of course, but more than that, he couldn’t understand it.

“Why? Why? For what? I have nothing. Why would she pick me?”

Haejin wasn’t rich. He wasn’t from a good family, and he didn't graduate from a good university. He had nothing to show off. The only decent thing was his face.

However, that should only work on ordinary people. It was not supposed to be enough for a princess of the UAE. Then, all that was left were his skills as an appraiser and the small museum he had…

“I don’t know, either. If I knew about a woman’s heart so well, all the Hollywood actresses would be at my side by now.”

That was ridiculous but somehow made sense.

“Anyway, I will notify the Diplomatic Service of Korea. You said you are a good appraiser, so take care of Sotheby’s auction on your own. Well, I think your true abilities lie somewhere else, but…”

Jessica had planned to give Haejin some information before the auction, but he didn’t need that.

However, why was she going to tell the Diplomatic Service?

“Why are you going to do that?”

“Because they should know, of course. That you and Princess Hassena might get married. I still think that is impossible, but if that happens, it would be good for Korea. But it really makes no sense…”

Haejin was a little hurt, but Jessica was right. Prince Sahmadi would never let his daughter marry a man who wasn’t a Muslim.

Now, Haejin just couldn’t understand what Hassena was thinking.

It wasn’t like she was in puberty. She must have been educated by the Islamic rules, so Haejin didn’t think she was doing that for no reason. There had to be a purpose.

After Jessica left, Haejin wanted to talk to Eric about this, but he looked at his wristwatch and urgently said, “I am sorry, but I have to go immediately. Things got a little complicated after you said you won’t buy the Portrait of Titus. I must make the princess buy that bank, which is the creditor, and force the man to not sell the painting in the meantime, so I have to go. I really envy your charms, but I will come back to hear about your love life.”

Eric teased Haejin and left. Haejin just stood in the lobby for some time. Then, he gathered his senses and went back to his room. He took a shower and lay down. Soon, however, he got a call.

“The princess wants to meet you.”

The voice was cold and firm, it was Hassena’s secretary.

“Okay.”

“It’s room 801.”

Haejin had thought the princess would be in the restaurant or lobby, but surprisingly, he was told to come to her room. That was why the secretary was so cold.

The top floor of the hotel had only two rooms, and Hassena was staying at one of them.

The bodyguards at the door simple did a body search and let him in.

“Welcome.”

Hassena was still wearing the same clothes and her hijab.

“You wanted to see me?”

“Yes. Please, sit.”

She asked Haejin to sit next to her. He sat down, but the secretary was sitting opposite to him. It was uncomfortable.

Her eyes were full of hostility, and it looked like one wrong word would be enough to make her take out a knife and lunge at Haejin.

Haejin firmly closed his mouth, determined not to speak unless spoken to first, but Hassena calmly spoke to her secretary.

“Seliyah, you should leave now.”

“Your Highness.”

Seliyah was surprised, and so was Haejin. Why did the princess want to be alone with Haejin?

“Seliyah, I am sorry, but you can’t hear what I am about to say.”

“There is no secret between you and me.”

Seliyah protested as if she couldn’t accept it, but Hassena calmly shook her head.

“No, and you will get to find out in time. So please, give us a moment.”

“Your father will be enraged if he finds out about this.”

“I’m aware of it, I will handle it. So please, leave.”

Hassena was firm. Eventually, Seliyah left angrily.

Haejin didn’t know what it was about, so he couldn’t just leave, but Hassena calmly looked at him.

That gaze made Haejin want to escape.

“I don’t understand…”

Instead of answering, Hassena took off her hijab. Her hair was bright maroon.

Then, Haejin spotted the necklace around her neck.

The chain was gold and it had a black cube pendant. Other than beauty, it had other purposes.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

The moment Haejin saw the small pattern engraved on the pendant, his heart sank.