On stage, the succubus host let a dramatic pause linger before she continued, her voice rich and alluring.
“Honored guests, allow me to present this matched pair in full detail. Baron William Vossfield — a sword genius who only recently reached Ascendant rank at the age of forty. His blade mastery is renowned across the borderlands; he can cut through Elite-rank defenses with ease and has defended Silverfield for decades against demon incursions. A loyal and capable warrior who would make an excellent personal guard or commander.”
She turned gracefully toward Lady Nadia.
“And beside him stands Lady Nadia Vossfield, a gifted healing mage of Elite rank. Her restorative magic is exceptionally pure and efficient, capable of mending severe wounds in moments and sustaining allies even in the heat of battle. Her beauty is equally legendary — many have sought her favor over the years, only to be gently refused as she chose to marry a low-ranking baron.”
The hall erupted into a frenzy.
Nobles and merchants surged forward in their seats, eyes gleaming with naked desire.
“An Ascendant-rank swordsman and a high-grade healing mage? In one lot?!”
“William’s sword arm alone is worth a fortune…”
“But Nadia… that body… even after giving birth, she’s become even more seductive. I’d pay anything to make her my personal toy.”
“Imagine having the hero’s surrogate mother and father as your slaves.”
Some lower nobles looked visibly uncomfortable.
“This… this feels wrong. They were loyal supporters of the hero.”
“Enslaving a respected baron and his wife like this… even for us, it’s too far.”
Yet the lustful voices drowned them out.
Many in the noble circles had long desired Nadia — the elegant, untouchable beauty who had rejected every high-ranking suitor in favor of a simple baron.
Now she stood before them in chains, regal even in captivity, and the bidding hunger turned vicious.
In the royal box, Aurora’s breathing grew heavy and ragged.
She couldn’t think of any way to stop this nightmare.
More than the public shame, she was terrified of what Elarion would think if he learned she had done nothing while his surrogate parents were sold like livestock.
Diana reclined on the couch, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips.
She knew the full history between William, Nadia, and Elarion better than most.
She could have spoken up.
She chose not to.
If this drives Elarion and Aurora apart, so much the better, she thought coldly.
Kael, still watching the stage with calm interest, suddenly spoke.
“Sister, what if we bought them? Wouldn’t that solve all the problems?”
Aurora froze mid-breath.
Yes… First, I must save them before they fall into some lecher’s hands.
But the thought of owning them like slaves made her stomach twist.
Diana cut in smoothly.
“She cannot, my Prince. If the Crown Princess publicly purchases a pair of once-noble slaves, the repercussions would be severe.”
Kael tilted his head innocently.
“Then… if I bought them?”
Aurora’s head snapped toward him.
“Stop with your games, Kael. This isn’t the time.”
Kael pushed gently, his voice soft and reasonable.
“Think about it, sister. What can people say if the ‘trash prince’ makes them his slaves? ‘The prince has no principles…’ It’s nothing new to me. At least they would be safe with me. After all, I can’t even leave the palace freely…”
Inside, his thoughts were cold and razor-sharp.
How delightfully ironic.
The very family that treated the hero like a son… delivered straight into my hands.
Oh, Elarion… even your precious past now belongs to me.
I wonder how long it will take for that elegant woman to whisper my name in the dark.
Aurora’s mind spun. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
It’s the only way we have… but… She glanced at Kael, who was watching the stage with that same soft, innocent smile.
What if this idiot misbehaves with them?
How can I ever explain this to Elarion?
On stage, the bidding for the pair had already reached staggering heights.
A cruel, lustful Marquess — known throughout the empire for his sadistic tastes — was currently leading with a massive offer.
His voice rang out arrogantly.
“Six million gold crowns! I’ll take good care of them both.”
Nadia’s face slowly turned to despair at the sound of his name.
Even in chains, her regal posture faltered for the first time.
The succubus host raised her gavel, ready to strike.
“Six million going once—”
Just as the hammer began to fall, Kael’s playful, clear voice echoed from the royal box.
“Six point one million gold crowns.”
The entire hall fell into a stunned, breathless silence.
Six point one million gold crowns.
A single bid from the royal box — from the so-called trash prince himself — had just shattered the previous offer by over a hundred thousand gold.
The succubus host’s crimson lips parted in genuine surprise for the first time that evening.
Her tail flicked once, then she recovered with a bright, delighted smile.
“Six point one million gold crowns from Prince Kael Vossarian!” she announced, her voice ringing with theatrical flair.
“A bold and decisive bid from the royal family!”
The crowd erupted.
Whispers turned into outright commotion.
Heads craned upward toward the royal box as if seeing it for the first time.
“The prince… buying the hero’s surrogate parents?
Some nobles looked genuinely unsettled.
Others wore dark, speculative smiles, sensing the political earthquake unfolding before their eyes.
In the royal box, Aurora’s face lost all color.
Her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the table.
Kael simply leaned back in his seat, calm and composed, as if he had merely commented on the weather.
Diana’s purple eyes sparkled with quiet amusement.
She glanced sideways at Aurora, noting the princess’s barely contained panic, and allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.
Aurora’s mind was a storm.
This can’t be happening… If Elarion finds out I let Kael buy William and Nadia…
She could already picture the look in his eyes — betrayal, pain.
Her heart hammered against her ribs.
Kael turned to her with that soft, innocent expression.
“Sister… it seems I’ve won them. They’ll be safe with me, won’t they?”
His voice was gentle, almost caring.
Aurora couldn’t speak.
She simply stared at the stage where Baron William and Lady Nadia stood frozen in their chains, their faces pale with shock and quiet despair. The source of this chapter is g.com.
The succubus host raised her gavel high, the golden light catching the runes on her slave collar.
“Six point one million gold crowns going once…”
A heavy pause.
“Going twice…”
Crack.
“Sold to Prince Kael Vossarian!”
The hammer fell with finality.
The entire hall broke into a cacophony of stunned murmurs, gasps, and frantic speculation.
No one had expected the “worthless” prince to walk away with one of the most emotionally charged lots of the entire auction — and certainly not in front of the entire empire.
The hammer had barely fallen on the sale of Baron William and Lady Nadia when the succubus host smoothly moved on, as if the empire had not just witnessed a political earthquake.
Two more items from the Top Ten came and went in rapid succession — a legendary mana-forged spear and a set of ancient spirit-binding rings.
Kael remained silent for both, letting the frenzied bidding play out among the nobles and merchants.
Then the succubus raised her hands once more, her voice taking on a note of genuine mystery.
“For our next lot… we present something truly unique.”
A simple, unadorned leather-bound codex floated onto the pedestal.
Its cover was plain, aged, and bore no markings, no runes, no title.
Yet the moment it appeared, the air in the hall seemed to grow heavier.
“Our appraisers spent weeks attempting to uncover its origins,” the succubus explained with a graceful smile.
“We could not. Not a single record, not a whisper in any archive. It refuses to open for anyone — not even our strongest mages. We have no idea what knowledge, curse, or power it contains.” She paused, letting the tension build.
“Therefore… buy at your own risk.”
A few cautious bids trickled in, mostly from curious collectors testing the waters.
But before the price could climb far, Kael’s calm voice echoed from the royal box.
“One million gold crowns.”
The hall fell quiet again.
Kael felt it instantly — a deep, resonant throb inside his Void Core, as if something ancient and hungry had just woken up and called to him.
He didn’t know what the codex contained.
He didn’t care.
The pull was undeniable.
He needed it.
The succubus host’s smile widened with delight.
“Sold to Prince Kael Vossarian for one million gold crowns!”
Diana leaned back on the couch, watching the exchange with open interest.
She turned to Aurora with a teasing smile.
“The bill for everything will be sent to the palace, of course.”
Then she looked at Kael, her purple eyes gleaming with curiosity.
“Everything you purchased today — every artifact, every treasure… and the slaves — will be delivered directly to the palace, my Prince. You need only drop a single drop of your blood onto the slave seals. From that moment, they will belong to you until death and will be physically incapable of betraying you.”
Diana’s tone became slightly more serious.
“However… since both Baron William and Lady Nadia are of high rank, you cannot simply treat them like common slaves. The slave mark can only restrict them so much. Their wills remain strong. You will need to be… careful.”
Kael’s lips curved into a soft, innocent smile as he glanced down at the stage where the collared couple now stood motionless.
Aurora’s face was pale, her hands clenched tightly in her lap.
She said nothing, but her mind was screaming.
What have I done…?