Chapter 24

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕰𝖓𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

"For the piece of this golden necklace made from the southern tribe of Gradel Region starting from 20 golds," the host from the auction presented us with the necklace made of gold and had this shining jewel. A family seal or symbol was embedded within the jewelry.

Nobles from around the place raised their hands, and echoes of noises reverberated within the room. Like before, some nobles raised their assigned numbers to bid higher.

"30 golds"

"40 golds"

"50 golds"

"300 golds"

"1000 golds"

"10000 golds"

"Any higher bid than 10000 golds?" The place became silent. No one raised their hands anymore, and the host made a sinister smile.

"Then the golden necklace from the southern tribe of Gradel Region is already sold for 10000 gold. Sir Hander, please put your seal on the backstage now and you can put your household or a place where you want to deliver the necklace..." the host said.

An old noble with a cape and brown beard walked, he had a mask covering the upper part of his face. From the long black cape he had, I saw a familiar yet, I had never seen before, a wooden stick from his other hand.

While the old noble continued walking towards the back of the stage, he was accompanied by someone wearing a mask only showing the lower half of his face.

I can see the young man to be the old noble's aide. When the host announced another object to be auctioned, the old noble with his aide disappeared from our sight.

The whole place began to make noises like before. I looked beside me and saw Crane looking seriously where the old man disappeared, from the back of the stage.

I tried poking his arm and see how he widened his eyes. Then he shifted his attention from the stage towards me with an open mouth.

"Is there any problem, Lady Festin?" I chuckled. I remembered how I spoke of that name when I borrowed it from the market where I used to hear a young girl's name from her brother.

Shaking my head, I looked at him and then pointed from the backstage

"Do you perhaps, want that necklace?" I asked then he chuckled.

"You're indeed a keen observer, Lady Festin but might I tell you, that is not the favor I sought you from the start, right?" I see how his current smile fades through the darkness of the place while being replaced by a serious stare.

His eyes reminded me of someone I knew well, the gaze that meant to be serious and can never be disobeyed. Blinking my eyes, I saw him smile once more but this time, he was already looking at the stage.

"I know, I apologize for assuming," I said. Yet, I felt warmth from the way he placed his hand on top of mine which widened my eyes.

"You don't have to, since you're free to think what you wanted to. It's also my fault for misleading you, I'm sorry Lady Festin," he said while sighing.

At that moment, I thought my heart skipped a beat. I can't help but think and ask myself, who is this young man and why does he want to seek an old forbidden book?

"And the second to the last thing to bid, The Book of Reisha... A forbidden book that contains a lot of information about the old history of nobles from before the Mezor empire began. Though it was forbidden, it was also the last and only original copy... I'll start with 100 golds," The host explained.

The book contains the noble lineage before the Mezor empire began. However, no one wanted a book that was forbidden, and the book was also expensive.

"Anyone for this forbidden book? If no one buys this, then I will have to----"

"1000 golds!" my eyes couldn't get any wider when I heard the noise come from my side, the young man beside me was smiling happily while raising his hands.

I saw how the host narrowed his eyes while looking at a young boy.

"All right, a young boy holding number 203 bid for the forbidden book of Reisha. Is there anyone who wanted to bid higher?" The host waited but no one seemed to be interested. When I looked around, people were murmuring while I could see how others shivered.

I couldn't help but narrow my eyes and yet, Crane held my hands without even looking at me. When I felt his warmth, I sighed and stopped observing the people.

When the host stamped his hammer, Crane smiled and immediately hugged me.

"Then the Book of Reisha had been sold from 1000 golds. Sir Crane, please have your way backstage for your seal and where you want to deliver the book," Crane looked at me and I nodded. After a few more seconds, I gave him my seal and I don't have to care whatever reasons he would say afterward.

Since he had the money he only wanted my seal.

I gaze at his back. This was the first time I saw a familiarity towards him but the opposite of that person. Where he was warm, jolly, and considerate, that person was cold, full of hatred and built-up anger.

Until my sight could no longer see him, I focused on my main goal.

"This is the last thing to be bid about so be prepared because I only have three pieces claimed. This is named the blue rose of the Clamorians and no one could deny the effect it has, a miracle plant that could revive a dead person after one minute of dying or it could heal any kind of illnesses..." the host paused.

He placed the blue rose in front of a tray above a cart, everyone focused their eyes on the shining jewel. Indeed, the petal is colored blue while it is out within a shining vase full of water. There were three, and like the others, they had thorns.

"However, I might advise you not to wound your fingers from the thorns of his blue rose because according to some rumors, the blood will cause the blue rose to turn crimson and will lose all of its effect turning it into an ordinary red rose," the host laughed while everyone gasps and murmured.

"So to start with, I placed 10000 golds to this one blue rose," the host started, and many nobles participated to claim the said rose. No, I can't lose, even though it started from a high amount, it's not enough to say that I can't buy that, for my friends' sake.

"20000 golds"

"30000 golds"

"40000 golds"

"200000 golds," everyone looked in my direction as I raised my hands. Crane who had gone from the backstage went to face me and smiled at me.

"Whatever happens, don't worry, I got you in here, Milady," his tone became deeper, and when I looked at him, he wasn't holding anything. Perhaps, he chose for our place to be delivered.

He then gave back the seal he borrowed earlier. The simple brush of his fingers on my skin felt warmth and I couldn't even do anything but gulp and shake my head.

"300000 golds"

"500000 golds"

"Any bid higher than the 500000 golds?" Murmurs filled the room but no one even interjected the host's question and that made me freeze.

"Then the other piece of the blue rose was sold for 500000 golds. Sir Kerian, please proceed backstage for other information," Since the host had been tired of repeating his words every after a bidder, he seemed to say something different from the young man.

I couldn't care less but when I saw the host narrow his eyes, I couldn't help but wonder, what could be the two's relationship?

The second blue rose was sold for 450000 golds and the last one, I ought to claim it even if the golds came to 1 million golds but I was too late, the last rose was bid for 2 million golds

"So, for the last blue rose to be sold for 2 million golds, Sir Creeze, please proceed to the backstage," After that happened the people from the place dispersed leaving me frozen in my current position.

"N-No, this can't be. The reason why I was here was to claim one and I—I---" my vision became blurry. My hands went to cover my face as I lump myself to the ground, not minding about everything.

I felt Crane's hand go to my shoulder but I was busy with my thoughts that I couldn't help paying attention to him.

"Lady Festin," his deep low voice came to my ears like soft caresses of gentle melodies, and yet, I couldn't face him.

"Sometimes, a lady should cry for men to always protect them, Lady Festin," Before I could utter any other word, I looked at him wide-eyed, since in his hand, I saw the blue rose that I tried hard to bid

"And nevertheless, a man should never have any favor unpaid for any lady who he was willing to protect," From the way he said those words, I could see how his eyes sparkled as if they were reflecting my soul.

"H-How? W-Where? W-Why? W-When?"

"There you go now, I know that this is important to you so I tried my best to buy this"

"But you don't have a seal, Crane"

"I know but I have my ways, Lady Festin," After claiming the blue rose from him as his sigh of returning the favor, I sighed but I couldn't just accept that even if it was meant to return his favor

"Then tell me, Crane, if we see each other again, just tell me anything you want and I will do everything I can"

"Is that a promise, Lady Festin?"

"Yes!" I smiled while holding the vase of the blue rose while I put our pinkies intertwined. A warm sensation overwhelmed me. I don't know what it meant, but I know Crane is a good person.

"Then I guess by that time, we should be introducing ourselves by our real names..." Those were the last words he said before we parted ways. I don't know why, but when I turned back, I didn't see him anywhere, but I saw the same coat from not far away only that it had silver hair strands and not brown

Weird...

Shaking my head, I sighed once more before looking at the blue rose. I will keep my promise Crane, just wait. But for now, I have to heal my friends...

***

"Vestia, it seemed that the crown prince, His Highness wanted you to prepare for your dance to your engagement party. He had sent you an invitation to the imperial palace..."