In the Empress’s private study, Kai and Rei knelt before Valeria’s grand oak desk, delivering their report in calm, measured voices.
The moment they mentioned Kael’s demand for a date, the Empress’s pen stopped mid-motion.
“A date?” Valeria’s voice was cold and incredulous.
“Since when did that worthless boy have the audacity to demand anything?”
She leaned back in her high-backed chair, fingers tapping once against the armrest as she considered the situation.
“Perhaps… it is not such a bad idea,” she murmured.
“You two will keep watch from a distance. Stay hidden, but be ready in case anything goes wrong.”
The twin maids bowed deeply in perfect unison.
“By your will, Your Majesty.”
With that, they vanished in a swirl of silver mist.
Back at the hero’s private palace, the backyard training grounds were bathed in the soft light of the late afternoon sun.
Astrid moved with sharp precision, her katana slicing through the air in flawless forms.
Sweat glistened on her skin as she practiced her sword techniques without pause.
Nearby, Morgana lounged under the shade of an elegant umbrella artifact, casually sipping a glass of deep crimson blood from a crystal goblet.
Charlotte sat at a stone table, reviewing urgent reports of recent demon attacks through a glowing communication token.
Suddenly, Charlotte’s token flared to life with an incoming message from Aurora.
The three women froze and exchanged uneasy glances.
Morgana lowered her goblet first.
“Does the princess wake up wrong or what? Why would she agree to such an absurd request?”
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed slightly as she read the full message.
“It seems that the boy is not as simple as we believed…”
Astrid stopped mid-swing and planted her sword in the ground.
“But what if the hero hears that Aurora went on a date with her own cousin—”
A voice thick with disbelief cut through the air from behind them.
“Who did what…?”
The trio turned at once.
Elarion stood there, golden hair slightly disheveled, his sky-blue eyes trembling with shock and rising pain.
Morgana rose quickly.
“Elarion, it’s not what you think—”
Before she could finish, Elarion blurred away in a flash of golden light, vanishing deeper into the palace grounds.
Astrid yanked her sword from the earth and slammed it back down with raw force.
The blade plunged deep, cracking the stone beneath it.
“Ah… why does everything keep messing up these days?” she muttered bitterly.
Elarion sprinted through the palace corridors toward Kael’s isolated quarters, heart pounding.
When he burst through the door, the room was empty.
No sign of Kael, no sign of Aurora.
Panic rising, he searched the nearby halls and gardens, asking servants who only shook their heads in confusion.
Finally, he spotted it — a grand royal carriage flanked by elite guards, moving steadily toward the palace gates.
Citizens along the main avenue had already gathered, staring in awe as the procession passed.
Some cheered and hailed the princess, waving excitedly at the sight of the imperial crest.
Elarion stopped at the edge of the crowd, chest tight.
The carriage windows were sealed with powerful protective enchantments; he couldn’t see inside at all.
She told me this morning she was only going to talk with her brother… just a quick conversation.
Now they’re leaving together in the royal carriage?
The thought burned.
Did she really lie to me?
Was she afraid I wouldn’t agree?
Or did everything change so suddenly?
Jealousy and doubt clawed at him as he followed at a distance, golden energy flickering faintly around his clenched fists.
He couldn’t stop himself.
He had to know.
Inside the luxurious carriage, Kael sat directly opposite Aurora, his violet eyes slowly tracing every curve of her midnight-violet gown.
The way the fabric clung to her chest and thighs under the shifting light made no secret of her beauty.
Aurora noticed his gaze immediately.
“What are you looking at?” she snapped.
Kael smiled softly.
“You dressed really well today, dear cousin. Is it for me?”
Aurora scoffed and crossed her legs, the gown sliding smoothly over her skin.
“Stop dreaming, idiot. Why would I bother doing anything for you?”
Kael leaned back comfortably.
“But you have to act like a loving cousin today. Otherwise, our deal won’t work.”
Aurora’s mind raced.
What the hell does he want?
I know he’s never been allowed outside the palace… Is he really just trying to sneak out with me?
Or does this fool actually have some delusional feelings after that night?
The memory of their previous encounter flashed through her head.
Her cheeks warmed against her will, and she pressed her thighs together even tighter, trying to push the thought away.
Distracting herself, she asked coldly, “So where do you want to go, Kael? Let me say it now — we cannot leave the capital city.”
Kael’s smile grew warm and genuine on the surface.
“Of course, dear princess. Let’s go to the auction conducted by House Vantress. The once-in-a-decade grand auction I’ve heard so much about.”
Aurora’s brows rose in surprise.
“Why? What does a mana-less person like you hope to buy there? Not to mention, I doubt you have any wealth to speak of.”
Kael’s eyes sparkled with quiet amusement.
“I have you, don’t I, my dear cousin?”
Aurora exhaled slowly, forcing down the surge of anger rising in her chest.
Patience… Just let him play for today.
I have to be patient.
Elarion kept following the royal carriage from a careful distance, his heart hammering harder with every passing second.
The mere thought of what might be happening inside that sealed compartment made his stomach twist.
He couldn’t see anything through the enchanted windows, and that blindness only fed his growing unease.
Suddenly, the carriage gave a small, subtle shake.
Elarion’s eyes narrowed.
Did the carriage just shake…?
No, no… I must have imagined it.
What could happen inside that would make it move like that?
A few moments later, it shook again — this time more noticeably.
Elarion’s entire body trembled.
His mind spiraled into dark places he couldn’t control.
What are they doing in there…?
Is he touching her?
Is she… letting him?
Did she lie to me this morning just so I wouldn’t stop her?
Or has she started to enjoy this humiliation?
The jealousy burned like acid in his chest.
He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white and decided he couldn’t wait any longer.
He stepped forward — only for a firm hand to land on his shoulder.
He spun around.
Astrid Sinclair stood there, her glossy pink hair catching the sunlight, her expression a mix of worry and hesitation.
“Finally found you…”
Elarion blinked.
“Astrid… why are you here?”
She flushed slightly and looked away for a moment.
“I mean… You just ran off without saying anything. I got worried, so I followed.”
Elarion’s tense expression softened.
He caught her hand gently before it could pull away and gave her a small, strained smile.
“You did well.”
Astrid smiled in visible relief.
She had been afraid he might be angry that she had tailed him without permission.
“But… are you really following the carriage?” she asked quietly.
“We can just enter normally, you know.”
Elarion suddenly remembered the carriage.
He turned frantically, only to see it had already pulled far ahead.
“Let’s follow it for now. I’ll explain everything later.”
He moved forward again.
Astrid’s eyes traced his back as she hurried after him.
I wonder if you really were worried about her following like this… or if you’re just afraid of what might be happening inside…
The carriage eventually turned off the main road and entered a heavily guarded teleportation plaza reserved exclusively for the Grand Auction.
Towering crystal arches hummed with ancient magic, ready to transport VIP guests directly to their destination.
The reason for such measures was simple: the Vantress Grand Hall did not sit on the ground like any ordinary building.
It floated high in the sky above the capital, a massive floating palace of white marble and floating crystal spires, held aloft by the most powerful levitation enchantments known to the empire.
Built 742 years ago by Vantress the Collector from the ruins of an ancient godly sky-realm, it was designed to be unreachable by ordinary means — protecting both the priceless artifacts inside and the dangerous secrets the house had accumulated over centuries.
By the time Emperor Kraven Vossarian’s grandfather took the throne, House Vantress had already established the Grand Auction.
This once-in-a-decade event quickly became the most anticipated gathering in the entire continent.
Only the wealthiest nobles, legendary adventurers, archmages, foreign royalty, and select high-ranking imperial officials receive invitations.
The auction is held inside the heavily warded Vantress Grand Hall, a floating structure protected by ancient magic so powerful that even Overlord existences would struggle to breach it by force.
The carriage vanished in a flash of silver light as it activated the teleportation gate.
Elarion and Astrid stopped at the edge of the plaza, watching the space where it had been.