Chapter 35
“First, our opening auction item. Please take a look at this ring, inlaid with a sapphire of the highest purity. I’m sure those of refined taste will recognize its value at a glance…”
As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, people began raising their hands to bid.
“Fifteen million gold!”
“Eighteen million!”
“Twenty-three million gold!”
Jayna couldn’t believe the amounts she was hearing. Even someone like her, unfamiliar with the human world, knew those were astronomical sums.
‘That’s incredible…’
At that moment, Hilbenzia, sitting beside her, asked casually,
“Jayna, what do you think of that necklace?”
Jayna followed her gaze to where Hilbenzia was pointing — an emerald necklace.
Even though Jayna didn’t know much about gemstones, she could tell it was exquisitely crafted and extremely expensive.
“It’s beautiful.”
“You like it?”
Hilbenzia’s lips curved into a graceful smile.
“Yes.”
The color was similar to Hilbenzia’s own eyes; it would suit her perfectly, Jayna thought — she was about to say so when—
“Forty million gold.”
Hilbenzia immediately placed her bid after hearing Jayna’s single word of approval.
Not just a few million more — she’d raised the price straight to forty million gold.
‘Amazing.’
Jayna covered her mouth as she heard the collective gasp of those around them.
‘I guess for an alchemist of Lady Hilbenzia’s level, that amount is nothing.’
The auctioneer smiled broadly.
“Forty million gold! If no one wishes to go higher…”
“Fifty million gold.”
The room fell into silence. Everyone looked stunned, doubting their own ears.
“Hm.”
Hilbenzia raised the butterfly mask she wore slightly, revealing a faint smirk.
“Well, I suppose tonight won’t be boring after all.”
Her gaze met that of the woman with a ponytail — the one who had called out fifty million.
Moments later, Hilbenzia spoke again.
“Sixty million gold.”
Hilbenzia continued to bid on every single item in the auction.
Her offers were so absurdly high that no one else dared to raise their hands.
Yet there was one person who challenged her — the ponytailed woman who had bid fifty million for the emerald necklace.
The two women competed fiercely, alternating bids and claiming every item that appeared on stage.
“You’re quite a rare guest, one with such exquisite taste,” the auctioneer said afterward, approaching Hilbenzia with a bright smile once the auction ended.
“As it happens, we’re holding a second, more exclusive auction later tonight. We would be honored to have you attend.”
“I suppose we’ll do that, then.”
With Hilbenzia’s easy reply, the three of them — Hilbenzia, Jayna, and Izren — were invited to the second auction.
As they waited, Hilbenzia, holding the accessories she had just won, asked Jayna,
“Jayna, which of these do you think is best?”
“The emerald one. It matches your eye color, Lady Hilbenzia.”
“Hehe, unfortunately, these aren’t for me.”
At that, Jayna examined the designs more closely.
“Then perhaps you should choose colors that suit the person who’ll wear them?”
“Hm, you think so?”
“Yes. And the design too — this one feels mature, while that one’s more for someone younger…”
Hilbenzia nodded thoughtfully, watching Jayna with serious eyes.
They chatted like that for quite a while, until it was almost time for the night auction to begin.
“Jayna,” Hilbenzia suddenly asked, “can you put on a necklace by yourself?”
Jayna narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“You’re not planning to give me one of those because it’s my birthday soon, are you?”
If it were Mikael, he’d have shouted, “I’m giving it to you, what’s the problem, idiot?!” — but Hilbenzia was far more cunning than that.
“Oh? I was just going to put it on for you. Why would you think that?”
“Oh, then that’s fine.”
“Such unnecessary worries.”
Hilbenzia tilted her head and smiled brightly.
“I could give it to you, if you really wanted it.”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
“Hmm, so you weren’t interested after all. You should’ve said that sooner.”
Jayna gave a faint smile at her teasing — and in that instant, Hilbenzia’s hand moved like lightning.
“Ah!”
Before Jayna could react, Hilbenzia had clasped a sapphire bracelet around her wrist.
Jayna struggled to remove it, but strangely, it wouldn’t come off. It fit perfectly — and she sensed a faint trace of magic.
Seeing her futile efforts, Hilbenzia chuckled softly.
“That bracelet carries both tracking and mana-sensing enchantments.”
And she said it as calmly as if commenting on the weather.
‘So she still hasn’t let go of what happened last time…’
Jayna realized Hilbenzia must still be worried about her running into danger again — diving into fire, like before.
“This isn’t a gift. I simply can’t risk letting someone steal away my precious material supplier.”
Jayna laughed softly at the alchemist’s joke.
But not everyone took it lightly.
‘What did that woman just say?’
Izren, Jayna’s knight, glared sharply at Hilbenzia.
To say such a thing — to a child not even half her size — was outrageous.
‘As I thought, no one from the Tower is normal.’
Izren’s eyes burned with renewed determination — he’d need to be twice as vigilant from now on.
“You don’t seem pleased,” Hilbenzia said.
“You know that’s not it.”
“It saddens me when you show no interest. Especially when that bracelet is a magical artifact.”
Indeed, the blue sapphire at the bracelet’s center wasn’t ordinary.
It carried a defensive spell that would automatically activate a barrier if Jayna were ever in danger.
“I didn’t say anything earlier because I heard Mikael scolded you quite a bit last time…”
Hilbenzia was referring to the incident when Jayna had transformed into a dragon to save people, nearly destroying herself in the process.
“If you really want to torment yourself like that again, it’d be more fun to just become my test subject.”
Hilbenzia pinched Jayna’s cheek and pulled. The soft skin stretched under her fingers.
“Ow— Hilbenzia, that hurts…”
But Hilbenzia didn’t even flinch. Her expression remained perfectly calm as she replied,
“This is actually quite fun.”
Then she pulled both cheeks at once, making Jayna squirm helplessly.
“I’m scarier than I look, you know.”
Not “scarier than she looks” — she’s just plain scary! Jayna thought resentfully, glaring at her, but Hilbenzia only laughed.
Yet this smile was different from her usual graceful one — it was brighter, gentler somehow.
And in that clear voice of hers, Hilbenzia said,
“Jayna. Happy tenth birthday — a little early.”
Then the night auction began in earnest.
‘Huh?’
Jayna immediately felt a change in atmosphere.
The earlier auction had been relaxed — rich nobles showing off their luxury purchases.
But the night auction… the air was thick, feverish, almost dangerous.
‘Maybe because this one’s for special clients — people with greed to match?’
But it didn’t feel like simple greed or vanity. It was something deeper, more primal.
‘This doesn’t feel right.’
Jayna’s gentle eyes sharpened as she scanned the room.
Sure enough, her sensitive ears picked up disturbing whispers.
“That jewel… isn’t that the heirloom Viscount Elgott’s been desperate to find?”
“Hah! As if that fool would ever find this place.”
“Exactly. No way a proper noble knows about this auction.”
So it was true — this was no ordinary sale.
If an heirloom was appearing in the opening rounds, the later items would be far more outrageous.
All eyes turned eagerly toward the stage.
Jayna glanced at Hilbenzia beside her, but the woman’s expression didn’t change at all — just the same calm, confident smile.
“Now then, allow me to present tonight’s main attraction!”
At that moment, Jayna saw Izren’s face twist in horror.
‘What’s going on?’
Veins stood out in his temples, his eyes bloodshot — shock, or maybe grief.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t normal. He was trembling as he stared at the stage.
‘Wait…’
No — maybe she was the one trembling.
Jayna’s head spun as a strange, sweet scent reached her nose.
‘…I noticed too late.’
Her vision blurred — faint, pink dust floated through the air —
And then everything went black.
“You… knew, didn’t you?”
Izren’s voice trembled with fury as he glared at Hilbenzia.
It was the first time he had ever spoken to her directly since joining as Jayna’s escort — and his voice was clenched with rage.
“Who can say? I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Lies.”
“How insolent. Do you really think you’re in any position to speak to me that way?”
Hilbenzia’s tone turned cold, almost icy — but then, her lips curved again, her voice soft and teasing.
“Hehehe… Even if I did know that one of your kind was being sold here, don’t forget — you have no right to challenge me about it.”
“…”
“You’re of the Neandra tribe, aren’t you? Hm. I can see why you’d be popular as a specimen — such a beautiful, exotic look… and so many secrets hidden inside. Isn’t that right, my little kitten?”
On the auction stage stood a member of Izren’s own race — a Neandra — blindfolded with black cloth, bound tightly in chains from head to toe.
