While Iris was presenting Serena on the stage, two cloaked figures stood in a shadowed corner of the auction hall.
One was taller than the other, suggesting a man and a woman by their postures.
Beneath her cloak, the shorter figure trembled with barely contained fury as she looked upon Serena being paraded like an object.
Strands of caramel-colored hair peeked out from under the woman's hood, and her hazel eyes glimmered with a fiery intensity.
The man beside her, his voice aged but strong like roughened leather, murmured in a low, urgent tone, "Miss Chloe, look how they've reduced the First Princess. If we don't act now, we may not have the chance to regret it."
The young woman answered through gritted teeth, "You don't have to remind me, Grandpa. Everything I've done in the last ten years has been for this moment."
She was Serena Youngest sister and the Third princess of the Artesia kingdom.
Though they weren't related by blood, Chloe Artesia, called him "Grandpa" out of deep respect.
The man, Roland, had been her father's most loyal fighter and the last remnant of the fallen kingdom of Artesia.
A level 6 warrior, he had dedicated his life to protecting the royal bloodline, especially now with only Chloe remaining.
Chloe had hidden her true identity for years, taking the surname Galarc—a family name borrowed from her father's close friend, who had taken her in as his own illegitimate daughter.
To hide any trace of her Artesian heritage, she had dyed her hair brown, leaving no obvious markers to connect her to the fallen royal line.
But that sacrifice paled against the weight of her grudge.
Her memories were young and tangled, but she recalled all too well the chaos and horror of that night—the blood, the fallen flags of Artesia, her parents' voices in their final cries.
Those images had kept her awake countless nights, building a single-minded hatred that filled her heart to bursting.
She had promised herself vengeance against the Empire of Leuvenia, not just as a legacy, but as her very purpose.
Only Roland, her silent guardian, reminded her of her humanity now.
And there, just a short distance away, was the culmination of her waiting—her sister, Serena.
The thought of rescuing her was like water in a desert.
Roland, watching Chloe's expression darken, couldn't help but think how deeply cruel fate had been to these two sisters.
Both had endured horrors in their short lives that few could imagine. Witnessing the massacre of their family had shaped them in ways that set them apart from other nobles.
While most princesses lived sheltered, pampered lives, Chloe and Serena had been thrust into a world that had sharpened them, leaving each of them scarred by the darkness.
Now, he could see the relentless grip of vengeance in Chloe's eyes, her face a mask of quiet rage as she watched her sister on display.
He had watched her pour every ounce of sweat and blood into honing her strength, driven by that single purpose. Yet just when she'd secured a significant investment in her new territory, news of Serena had surfaced like a curse.
Roland had seen the fortunes these nobles were ready to wield without hesitation, and he knew that outbidding them to save Serena would be an almost impossible feat.
Chloe understood the odds, too, though she clung to the fragile hope that Serena's rumored curse would be enough to drive potential buyers away.
The spell only harmed those who weren't of Artesian blood—a fact Chloe kept close to her heart, determined to claim her sister back from the heart of the Empire.
Chloe couldn't take her eyes off the stage where her last living family member stood.
As Iris continued, explaining how Serena had taken the lives of two rank 5 warriors, the audience collectively gasped, the air in the room suddenly heavy with tension.
Unfazed, Iris went on, her voice weaving a tale that held them spellbound.
"The emperor's priests warned him," she said, leaning forward as though sharing a forbidden secret, "that whoever harms this woman would bring a curse upon their family and everything they cherish." Iris let the words sink in, her expression shifting to one of solemn concern,
Almost as if she were witnessing the events herself she continued. "Unwilling to risk his empire's safety, the emperor spared her life, lest that calamity bring ruin to everything he holds dear."
A murmur erupted throughout the room.
Speaking of the empire's destruction so casually would normally spell disaster for anyone foolish enough to do so. Yet, everyone understood that Iris wouldn't endanger herself with such a story unless it was true.
Observing the crowd's reaction, Chloe felt a wave of satisfaction, her lips curling in an arrogant smirk.
She briefly entertained the thought of tossing some coins to the big breasted presenter for her flawless performance.
Meanwhile, Serena stood in the cage with an expression of detached indifference, as though the tragic story being recounted had nothing to do with her.
She appeared more like a statue than a living person, devoid of any reaction.
Iris's expression turned troubled as she addressed the audience. "We bear no responsibility for what may befall those who purchase this woman. Yet, given her beauty and history, she has earned her place in this auction."
She then set the starting bid
"10,000 gold coins. Feel free to bid as you see fit."
A heavy silence blanketed the room.
No one moved. No one was willing to take the risk.
If the emperor, the highest authority in the land, refused to gamble with this curse, who would dare?
Iris, sensing the discomfort, grew visibly flustered. It was likely the first time in her career that no one had taken the bait.
Chloe, feeling her nerves unravel as the silence dragged on, clenched her fists, her mind racing with anxiety.
Her sister was right there—this was her chance, her dream so close she could almost taste it.
The heavy silence continued.
All the guests were moving their heads, trying to see who would be courageous enough to place a bid.
At last, unable to wait any longer, she raised her hand with the number 203 and called out
"10,000!"
Her voice was steady, though she felt as if her heart might burst from the tension.
All eyes turned to her, their intense gazes landing on the cloaked figures, stirring whispers in the crowd.
She could feel their scrutiny, a weight like never before, pressing down on her. Like a thousand eyes were watching her every move. Even If they couldn't see her face at all.
Sweat beaded on her neck despite the cool air.
Relieved, Iris exhaled softly before resuming her usual composure.
A professional smile returning to her face. "We have our first bidder! Is anyone else willing to vie for this incomparable beauty?"
Silence answered her once more.
No one seemed willing to gamble their lives for Serena, no matter how enchanting she was.
Chloe's gaze fixed on Iris, willing her to finalize the sale.
Her heart pounded painfully, every second an eternity as she waited for this dream to solidify into reality.
Her hands trembled with anticipation as she stared, eyes pleading for the moment to be over.
Iris's voice broke the silence. "Seeing no other bids, it seems that the gentleman at number 203 will take—"
"100,000"
A smooth, detached voice interrupted, cutting through the room like thunder. It came from VIP Room 1, directly overlooking the stage.
The deep timbre of the speaker's voice seemed to shake the room, snapping everyone out of their stupor.