He is the one who bought me !

Scene 25

Location: Auction Hall

Maam Fiona had sent Astraea ahead, as the number of slaves being sold was dwindling, and it was almost her time to be auctioned.

She sent Jigu along, knowing Astraea behaved better when Jigu is with her. The bond between them is one of the few things that seemed to bring Astraea some comfort.

After bidding Astraea goodbye, Maam Fiona stood still, watching her walk toward an uncertain fate. The sight of Astraea's calmness gave Fiona an uneasy feeling, a deep restlessness stirring within her.

To ease her anxiety, she instinctively made her way to the only place that offered her some peace during such moments.

Behind the curtain at the back of the stage, Astraea peered out, observing the auction with quiet composure. Jigu, ever by her side, noticed her curiosity.

Jigu: “Don’t peek, Astraea. You know you'll get punished.”

Astraea (still peering through the curtain): “Are all the slaves sold?”

Jigu (glancing at her): “What do you think? It’s Merchant Nior. Even if a slave isn’t attractive, he still manages to sell them at a decent price.”

Astraea (turning her head slightly): “Don’t mention that devil’s brother. Even the devil feels ashamed of him.” (She sighs and turns back to the stage.) “I don't have the energy for it.”

Thoughts raced through Astraea’s mind — I hoped to be sold first so I could try to influence my buyer to purchase Faris as well. But Faris had already been sold, and I could only pray that his buyer had some shred of decency. Keep him safe, Almighty. she silently begged, "Let his fate be kinder than mine."

Jigu studied Astraea. Despite whatever thoughts were clouding her mind, Astraea remained calm, poised, as if she'd already accepted the fate that awaited her.

The silence between them grew, and Jigu finally broke it.

Jigu: “You’ll be going on stage soon. How do you feel?”

Astraea snapped out of her thoughts and turned to Jigu.

Astraea: “Honestly? I feel nothing. I’ll just go with the flow.”

Jigu (curious): “When you arrived here this morning, you were so rebellious. You even tried to escape the moment Maam Fiona left your room.”

Astraea (surprised): “You saw that?”

Jigu: “I was outside. I watched from a distance. It's rare to see someone with your beauty here, so I was curious.”

Astraea smiled, and suddenly, she hugged Jigu, who hesitated for a moment before returning the embrace.

Astraea: “When I come back, I’ll take you and Maam Fiona with me.”

Jigu: “Don’t give me hope, Astraea. No one ever comes back. If they suffer, they blame this house, and if they find happiness, they forget it ever existed.”

Astraea (holding Jigu by the shoulders, her eyes unwavering): “I will come back. I promise.”

Jigu looked into Astraea’s eyes, searching for even the faintest hint of doubt, but there was none. Astraea was sincere. It was a promise, not a dream. Jigu managed a small, uncertain smile.

Jigu: “In just a few moments, you’ll be sold to someone you've never met.” (She glanced toward the stage, her voice softening.)

Astraea turned her gaze back to the stage, taking a step forward to hold the curtain in her hands. Her eyes focused on the place where she would soon stand, a silent object for the highest bidder. Her expression remained neutral, but Jigu noticed the weight behind her stillness.

Jigu: “Have you ever served anyone before?”

Astraea: “No.”

Jigu (raising an eyebrow): “So, you’re virgin.”

Astraea: “No.”

Jigu (startled): “You’re not? But you said you’ve never served anyone.”

Astraea (smirking): Many people served me.”

Jigu: “Where are you from, Astraea? Where did you come from?”

Astraea: “East Turkan Empire.”

Jigu’s eyes widened in shock.

Jigu: “The largest empire on the continent. No one dares to challenge it.”

Astraea gave a slight nod but remained silent, her smile faint and guarded.

Jigu: “I’ve heard stories about the eldest princess. She’s a legend, everyone’s dream.”

Astraea turned to look at Jigu, her smile deepening just slightly.

Astraea: “Even princesses carry burdens. Suffering isn’t reserved for the common folk.”

Jigu (skeptical): “What kind of suffering could a princess possibly have? Struggles over fabric choices or jewels, perhaps?”

Astraea (her voice softer, more thoughtful): “I can’t speak for other princesses. But if you’re talking about Princess Artha, you’ve misunderstood her.”

Jigu (intrigued): “Why? Is she different?”

Astraea: “She’s not just beautiful. She’s a master of swords and strategy. Her mind is sharper than her blade.”

Jigu (impressed): “It sounds like you know her quite well.”

Astraea said nothing, simply keeping her eyes on the stage. Sensing that Astraea wasn’t going to elaborate further, Jigu changed the subject.

Jigu: “So, you had servants attending to you in bed ?” (She raised an eyebrow, half-teasing, half-curious.)

Astraea leaned in close, her voice a whisper in Jigu’s ear.

Astraea: “No. I had a harem. Of men.”

Jigu’s eyes widened in shock. A harem? That was a privilege reserved for the royal family of the East Turkan Empire. Only royalty had the right to maintain a harem.

She opened her mouth to ask how it was possible, what Astraea’s true identity might be, but before the words could escape her lips, Merchant Nior arrived.

Merchant Nior (grinning): “Time to earn some gold! Let’s go.”

He grabbed Astraea’s arm and led her toward the stage. She didn’t resist, instead glancing back at Jigu with a smile, waving goodbye as she disappeared behind the curtain.

Jigu stood there, still processing Astraea’s words. Her mind raced as she realized what Astraea had just implied.

There could only be one explanation if Astraea was telling the truth. Her heart pounded as the realization hit her like a wave.

Jigu (thinking): She... she’s...

Without wasting another second, Jigu bolted from the backstage area, running as fast as she could. She needed to find Maam Fiona, and quickly, as if her very life depended on it.

...****************...

Scene 26

Location: Main stage of the auction hall

Kael and Karlus were waiting anxiously for the girl Kael had seen at the market to appear on stage. But as the final girl was sold to Deputy Duke Narius as a servant, Kael’s frustration grew. That girl had blue eyes with a slight purple tint, but she didn’t compare to the beauty Kael had seen earlier in the market—the girl he was looking for.

Seeing the last girl sold off, Kael rose from his seat, anger tightening his jaw.

Kael: "That swindler lied to me! I clearly heard him say he had a girl with bluish-purple eyes. But this one… she doesn’t even come close to the one I saw."

Karlus: "Maybe we lost track of her. She could’ve been captured by another house or noble. But those soldiers uniform matched this house’s—I can’t be wrong."

Kael: "I don’t care. I don’t care about anything, Karlus. I will find her, and I’ll bring her back to the palace. I’m not leaving without her."

Karlus: "Kael, don’t do anything rash. Let’s go back to the palace. You remember her face, right? We’ll sketch her and distribute it across the capital. We’ll find her."

Kael: "She was taken, Karlus. Captured to serve someone. Do you really think people would give her up that easily?"

Karlus: "Kael…"

Kael: "Don’t. Don’t try to console me."

Kael turned his back on Karlus, but Karlus could sense the storm of emotions Kael was struggling with. He was frustrated, anxious, angry, lost—in a word, devastated.

Just then, Karlus turned his attention to the stage as Merchant Nior pulled a girl from behind the curtains. His gaze fixed on her, and his breath caught.

She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her slim figure, the elegant curve of her collarbone, her perfectly shaped lips, her pointed nose—all framed by a pair of striking bluish-purple eyes. She took his breath away.

It hit Karlus all at once. "Bluish-purple eyes! Could this be the woman Kael is searching for?" He glanced at Kael, who stood lost in his hopeless state, and quickly approached him.

Placing a hand on Kael’s shoulder, another one on his arm, Karlus urged him forward.

Karlus: "Don’t lose hope. Look. Come here. Look at the stage."

Kael: "I don’t want to. What’s left to see? The last one’s already been sold, and she isn't here."

Karlus: "No. One more remains. She’s on stage now. Come and see for yourself."

Kael shot him a confused glance but followed Karlus’s lead toward the window. However, Merchant Nior was standing in front of the girl, blocking Kael’s view.

Kael: "That greedy scoundrel is blocking the view."

Karlus: "Just wait."

Kael waited a few more minutes, but Merchant Nior still wasn’t moving. Growing impatient, Kael began turning away, resigned to leaving.

Just as he did, Merchant Nior’s voice boomed across the hall.

Merchant Nior: "Here she is—the most valuable, the most exquisite one. Bid with everything you have!"

Kael look back ,he froze, mid-turn. His eyes widened, his lips trembled, and his heart raced. "It was her." The woman with the bluish-purple eyes. "I have found her. Finally, I have found her."

A smile spread across Kael’s face. Karlus, seeing his expression, knew they had found the one they had been looking for.

Karlus: "Don’t just stand there. The bidding’s already started. Win her. Bring her to the palace, where she belongs."

Kael nodded, his eyes never leaving Astraea, and waited for the right moment to place his bid.

Location: Stage

Merchant Nior pulled Astraea onto the stage, positioning her at the center. Standing in front of her, he whispered, his voice laced with a dark warning.

Merchant Nior: "Look at the crowd. One of them will be your new master. Don’t even think of trying anything foolish, or I will deal with you right here."

Astraea: "I won’t. Don’t worry," she replied quietly, her voice steady.

Satisfied, Merchant Nior stepped aside, announcing that Astraea’s bidding had begun. Astraea kept her head lowered, feeling a wave of disgust. A warrior like her, being sold like a commodity—it filled her with a deep, simmering anger.

The nobles started bidding higher and higher, their offers rising quickly. Soon, someone placed a bid of ten thousand gold coins.

In the empire of Theomov, there are three forms of currency: silver, gold, and emerald.

100 silver coins \= 1 gold coin

10 gold coins \= 1 emerald

Commoners used silver, nobles dealt in gold, and royals traded with emeralds.

The one who placed the bid of ten thousand gold coins was a noble whose leering gaze made Astraea feel sick. His eyes roamed over her, making her blood boil. But she had no idea that someone else shared her anger—someone watching from above.

The bidding continued, climbing higher and higher, much to the delight of Merchant Nior, whose greed was written all over his face.

Astraea glanced at the merchant, smirking to herself — "Laugh while you can, she thought, soon you'll cry , I promise !"

...****************...

Location: Second floor room

Kael and Karlus stood by the window, watching the crowd and the bids soar. When the offer reached ten thousand gold coins, the two exchanged a look and nodded in unison.

Kael and Karlus (simultaneously): "Now."

Kael leaned forward, placing his bid.

Kael: "FIVE HUNDRED EMERALD STONES!"

The room erupted into a frenzy of gasps and murmurs. Every head in the auction hall turned toward the second floor, including Merchant Nior and Astraea.

Location: Stage

Astraea, deep in her thoughts of vengeance, was pulled back to reality by the sudden commotion. The entire hall had erupted into shocked whispers. She looked up toward the voice that had placed the enormous bid.

There, on the second floor, stood a man, hands resting on the railing. He wore a deep blue kaftan adorned with intricate embroidery, topped with a cap. His eyes were locked onto hers with an intensity that sent intensity down her spine.

He looked desperate, as though clinging to something that wasn’t even his. Beside him stood another man, equally focused on her.

"Five hundred emerald stone?" she thought. "Is he a royal? Oh, Almighty, let my fate be kinder from now on."

Merchant Nior, giddy with excitement, rushed forward as though he had just discovered a hidden treasure.

Merchant Nior: "Well, well, well. Since the prince has placed the highest bid—far surpassing the others—this slave will belong to him."

Astraea ( in mind ) : prince !?! he is a prince !?

He signaled for his assistant to bring the contract and, facing the crowd, announced:

Merchant Nior: "Ladies and gentlemen, the auction is now officially closed, with the last girl sold to Prince Noah. I hope everyone enjoyed the evening. Good night."

Astraea’s heart skipped a beat. Prince Noah? she thought. So, he is my master. The first and the last . The one who bought me.

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