"200 billion!" Idril repeated. "Going once, going twice..."
"250 billion," Arias' voice interjected before Idril could finish.
Danfres' face immediately darkened as she stared daggers at the elven-vampire prince. 'Why did I think I could convince this asshole to back down?' she thought irritatedly.
The demoness of Heste had already bid most of her fortune, all she had left was the fortune that was her kingdom. The little girl, however, was worth her bleeding herself dry.
"300 billion!" Danfres challenged with the hope of silencing the stubborn prince, but she underestimated the depth of his fortune.
The corner of Arias' lips upturned with a smile as he rose to his feet. "500 billion," the sixth prince of the elf kingdom announced.
Gasps resounded throughout the room followed by mutterings. Housewives and queens couldn't help but stare at Prince Arias Estiven with lust and want, silently asking their gods why such a rich and beautiful man had to be gay.
Even Idril couldn't believe it, he knew the little girl would be worth quite a fortune, but this much was beyond his expectations. "F-Five hundred billion," he stuttered, repeating the prince's bid.
Arias met Danfres' black eyes, daring her with his gaze to challenge him yet again, but the demoness was finished; she was at her limit.
"G-Going once," Idril continued, sweat soaking his face as his eyes darted between the only two bidders for the little girl. "Going twice!"
"S-S-Sold!" Idril could hardly believe it. One little girl made him the most money he's ever earned in all his years as an auction organizer.
"That little runt is worth 500 billion dollars?!" Cara couldn't believe it. She wasn't allowed inside the building, but she could hear everything from where she sat on the hood of her van by the entrance of the black market.
"The silver-eyed maiden, 500 billion!" Idril announced. "Sold to Prince Arias Estiven of the House of Marquis-Estiven!"
Tears streamed uncontrollably from Cara's eyes as she laughed. She stood on the van's hood and yelled, "I'm a member of the fucking high society!"
With Celeste announced to now be the property of the House of Marquis-Estiven, the auction was officially over and people were starting to leave with the battle between Danfres and Arias for the little phenomenon on their lips.
"500 billion, that's insane."
"I never expected something like this."
"I wonder what she is."
Celeste didn't move an inch from where she stood, she kept her silver eyes focused on the ground even when a small group of people was walking toward her; they were the prince's entourage.
"Remove her chains immediately," Arias commanded.
A smile brightened the prince's gentle features as he stooped before the frightened little girl. "Wow, you're even cuter up close," he complimented.
Arias furrowed his brows when he noticed she was crying; she was even trembling. He cupped her small face in his larger hands, wiping her tears with his thumbs. "You don't have to be afraid anymore."
Arias stared deeply into her silver eyes with compassion as he promised, "I would never hurt you neither would I allow anyone to hurt you." He took her trembling hands in his own before kneeling before her.
"My prince," a female elf from his entourage interjected, stepping forward. She was sent by the king of elves to watch over Arias. 'How can the sixth prince of the elf kingdom kneel like a commoner before this lowly girl?' she angrily thought.
"Arias," came another female voice. She was not an elf, but a witch, a very powerful one with telepathic abilities and a friend to the prince. "The babysitter your father sent just disrespected your daughter."
"Oh?" Arias responded as he put Celeste's warm hand on his face. "Kill her," he commanded without even turning to look at the woman.
"Prince Arias, you are making a mistake," the woman challenged as she fought against the prince's guards who held onto her. "Your father won't stand for this!" she yelled as they pulled her out of the room.
"Lily, write this down," Arias told the witch. "Anyone who offends or disrespects my daughter will be sentenced to death."
Lily smirked as she mocked a bow, "As you wish, my prince."
"What's your name, my sweet princess?" Arias questioned Celeste.
For a moment, Celeste only looked at the elf knelt before her. He was as pretty as a woman with his red eyes and long white hair that extended to his waist. His upper half was naked and white pants made of pure silk ornamented with gold chains adorned his lower half.
He had pointy ears, so Celeste knew he was an elf, but based on the shiny gold things he wore and the crowd of important-looking people who followed him, she knew he was no ordinary elf.
"C-Celeste Gerald," she introduced herself. The last thing she wanted was to offend him and be sentenced to death like the female elf a while ago.
Arias smiled as he removed the gold necklace adorned with a dragon emblem that was gifted to him by his husband on their wedding night. He put it over Celeste's head as he declared, "You are now Celeste Marquis-Estiven of the house of Marquis-Estiven."
He gently gripped her chin so she could look at him, "You are the most important person in this world and any other world that may exist."
Arias' entourage went on one knee, lowering their heads in respect as they greeted the young miss of the house of Marquis-Estiven.
Celeste looked at them with a blank expression; she didn't know what to think or how to feel. 'Why are these people kneeling before me?' She couldn't understand anything.
"I just realized I haven't introduced myself." Arias was the first to stand. He offered Celeste his hand, "My name is Prince Arias Estiven, the sixth prince of the Western Elf Kingdom."
In the short time she's been on Earth, Celeste had found herself in many narratives, but she never thought her plot would change so drastically to her being a damsel in distress being saved by a noble prince who intended to steal her away.
Now, only one question stands.
Will she get her happily ever after?