Dry them up!
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They dare act all lovey-dovey after what they did to me?
"Those worthless pieces of shit…"
Somehow I couldn't hold it in and words came out in a quiet murmur.
"Princess?"
Not realizing I wasn't alone, it seemed that Logan picked up what I said then looked at what I was looking at.
His face stiffened and returned by my side.
"Please calm down, the Master gave orders to bring you home if something like this happens."
Logan seemed to be willing to take me home right now.
Annoyed, I looked at him with the side of my eyes.
"Don't worry about me now, Logan. I am fine…"
As I said so, I raised my plate up.
"Do we hear 22,000? Do we hear… oh! And the Lady from the Moore Family booth raises 22,000. Can the price go up more? Do we hear 25,000?"
As I raised the price, Logan was looking at me with widened eyes.
"My Lady, you can't do this! If you cause something…"
"Logan! I am bidding."
***
While Vivan was looking for a way to vent her rage off, the Royal booth seemed to be in a bit of a stir.
No one really would bid against someone sitting in the booth of the Royal Family if there was something they are interested in. But now, the Auctioneer had to play dumb and try to look partial, still, he was sighing in his heart.
On the Royal booth, however, the Prince looked towards the Moore Family booth with interest.
"Is that Lady Moore over there, Robert?" He asked.
"I didn't know that my Mother would come here, your Highness. Should I go and check?"
"No need. Matilda, what will you do?" The Prince asked the girl beside him.
That girl, with platinum blonde hair and green eyes, looked beautiful and captivating. She sat very close to the Prince and looked at him with her large innocent eyes.
"I… I don't know… should I bid against Nobles?" She asked.
Her enchanting voice made everyone around her want to protect her. That naive looking innocent girl made everyone's hearts feel worried for her just like that.
"It is okay. Nobles or Commoners, those standards do not matter to me and that's why I love Auction Houses, they are places of equality where only your ability matters. You do not have to be scared." The Prince said with a smile.
The Prince who was known for his decency was clearly loved for this quality and how friendly and approachable he was. The attitude that didn't suit his former fiancée, Vivian Moore.
Not wanting to remember such a haughty girl beside a pure girl like Matilda, the Prince encouraged Matilda to hurry up and bid.
"Aaaaand… 25,000 from Lady Matilda. Do we hear 28,000? Do we hear… Here it is. The Lady from the Booth of House Moore bids 28,000. Who else is going to bid? Can someone go over 30,000? Will we see…"
An eerie quiet enveloped the royal booth, casting an unusual silence upon the bustling entourage. Was it really alright to bid against someone close to the Royal Family like that? Even the Prince thought that no matter the identity of that Lady in that Moores' Booth, she should at least be considerate.
Just who is that rude person?
Lady Saskia is someone with a good reputation in society and Vivian is currently disgraced at her home. Did Count Julian send someone on his behalf?
It was an annoying situation knowing how rich the Moores are.
"35,000!"
At that time, Matilda raised the bid halfway in the 30,000s. She was determined not to lose the herb.
"Lady Matilda goes way over 30,000 to 35,000. This is getting exciting, Ladies and Gentlemen. Will the price go…"
"36,000!"
At that moment, a tall handsome man from the Booth of House Moore appeared as he bid by the same plate for the Lady. She seemed to be avoiding talking.
But still, this bid right now was obviously rude.
"... 36,000 for the Gentleman. Anyone can go higher?"
Even the Auctioneer was uncomfortable with the bid.
"What kind of bid is that?" One of the people attending the auction down the seats said to the one beside him.
"Raising merely a 1000 Pounds, this is extremely distasteful." Replied the one spoken to.
Meanwhile, Logan was having dark expressions from what Vivian just forced him to go.
"Princess, this is going too far. The Master won't be pleased with…"
"Logan, calm down. You need to know that I can go to whatever length I see fit to punish someone. Also, it is about to happen… anytime now." Vivian, however, was smiling ear to ear.
Her facial features hidden behind the shade of her hood were of absolute ecstasy.
On the other hand, the situation with Matilda and Prince Liam was grim. Matilda raised till 35 Gold Pieces and suddenly her opponent only raised one piece. A bit low of someone sitting in the seat of a Noble to pull on such a move!
With the worried look on Matilda's face, Prince Liam's face twisted from anger.
How dare they? He thought.
To put that rude one in place, the Prince had to make a move.
"40,000!"
And the Prince said it while raising his own plate.
"His Highness Prince Liam raises to 40,000 Pounds. The Blue Dragon Leaf for 40 Gold Pieces ladies and gentlemen, do we hear more? Do we hear more?"
The Auctioneer was smiling happily while calling for anyone who can raise the price more.
In her booth, Vivan simply smiled and didn't bid further.
"40,000 Pounds goes once, 40,000 Pounds goes twice… Aaaand the Blue Dragon Leaf goes to His Highness Prince Liam!"
Prince Liam smiled as he looked at the booth of House Moore with a hidden grin. No matter who, a Prince is a Prince.
Little did he pay attention to the fact that he paid 40 Golden Pieces for something that hardly amounts to 20.
At that time, the door of the Royal Booth was opened.
"Your Highness."
"Valentine, you are here?" The Prince turned around.
"Lord Valentine." Matilda stood up and greeted Valentine De Clare, the son of the De Clare family, owners of the Auction House.
"Lady Matilda, you look beautiful this evening. Please, do not stand."
"Thank you, my Lord."
Valentine walked beside the Prince and whispered for no one to hear.
"Your Highness, it is reckless to bid this early. That item from just now was not worth it."
"It is okay, Valentine. The matter at hand is that Lady in the Moore Family Booth. Who is she?"
Valentine walked to the edge of the Royal Family's booth and tried to look at the Moores' booth only to see a tall man giving him his back and talking to someone sitting on the main seat. That person was hard to see.
Valentine returned to the prince and whispered again.
"Apparently, not someone we know. Shouldn't we send Robert to make a scene?"
"Not fun. Let's wait until the end of the evening and crush them slowly. Let's see how they buy anything now."
"As your wish, your Highness."
Valentine retreated but somehow, an odd feeling remained in his heart.
Vivian, on the other hand, was preparing.
"Esmeralda, come here."
"Yes, my Lady."
"Go down to the reception hall. Speak with the De Clare maids, they will naturally know you are not one of them but try to stick around as long as possible and get to know them. Maybe start by asking about a rare drink… a milkshake, perhaps."
"A milk what?"
"Something that is yet to exist. What I want you to do is to know what plate numbers the people from the Royal Family's booth are using. Ask if they stopped to pick up the token plates first or they came with their own."
"I understand."
Esmeralda walked outside the booth and proceeded to for her mission while Vivian started planning for what comes next.
"Princess, what are you really after?" Logan was having a hard time worrying about the consequences of Vivian's actions but she only remained silent.
If she were to answer, the only word she would say is "trouble".
***
Esmeralda returned a few minutes later with news to Vivian.
"They took number plates when they arrived at the Auction, my Lady."
"Perfect! Now I can do whatever I like."
Vivian was pleased with the fact that neither the Crown Prince nor Richard Marshall had their families' tokens on them. It meant a lot to Vivian who was carrying her family's token.
After some items and weapons were auctioned, another herb appeared.
"The next item is the Flower of Aster Cinis, known for its white petals and soothing scent, the flower grows only in spring and mainly in Novark. Bidding price starts at 24,000 Pounds."
As the Auctioneer announced it, the people started bidding madly for the rare flower.
"35,000 for Lady Matilda, do we hear more? Do we hear 37,000?"
And Vivian raised her number again.
"37,000 for the Lady in the Moore Family booth. Do we hear 40,000? Do we hear it again?"
"40,000!"
"40,000 for Lady Matilda. Do we hear…"
"43,000!"
"43,000 for the Lady in the Moore booth? Do we hear 46,000? Do we hear it? 43,000 goes once, 43,000 goes twice."
"50,000!"
"50,000 Pounds for Lady Matilda. It is getting hot here ladies and gentlemen. Do we hear more? Who offers more? 50,000 goes once, 50,000 goes twice, aaaand the Flower of Aster Cinis is sold for 50,000 Pounds to Lady Matilda."
The auction visitors felt the intense rivalry atmosphere between Matilda and the Lady from the Moore Family booth.
"Hmph! Just some low class think they can compete with us because they have the support of Count Julian. It is clear that the woman doesn't even have more than 50 gold pieces." Richard Marshall said disdainfully.
"It is okay, Richard. We are not bullying people because we are richer or of a higher class. The Auction is just a game that all love to play." Prince Liam said with a gentle smile.
"That's indeed true, your Highness. I apologize for being impudent." Richard said.
"Alright then, I guess we should assist Lady Matilda today to get all the Flowers and Herbs she wants. I assume everyone here is a gentleman. Hahaha!" The Prince passed something to the others as a joke.
The first one to react to his words was Matilda.
"I can't really trouble you, your Highness, my Lords. This is very improper even though my money is not…"
"It is okay. We're not intending to buy anything in particular today." Robert said.
"I don't mind at all being on the side of Lady Matilda, it is a Knight's honor to bring fairness." Richard said.
"Also, Matilda loves roses, how can I say no in such a situation." Prince Liam said.
"Thank you, your Highness, my Lords. It is indeed true I love roses and herbs. I have quite the collection myself." Matilda said.
"If that's the case then I will invite you to the Royal Palace after the exams. There is that small flower garden we have that is nothing like anyone has seen before. I'll issue permission for you to come to visit it. Maybe have our tea there." Prince Liam said.
"Yo- Your Highness! The Royal Palace? Such an honor can't be bestowed on someone like…" Matilda was shocked by the sudden invitation Prince Liam came up with.
"It is okay. Nothing to make you nervous. Oh, look! Another herb is being auctioned."
By the time Matilda won two herbs against Vivian, another herb came to the stage. Matilda was an obsessed collector of rare herbs and Vivian knew that for the fact that the Game Heroine has studied Alchemy in the Temple of Saints and has a great affinity with herbs and flora in general. The game provided beauty cosmetics for such herbs through a crafting mechanic, it is absent in Vivian's system but not that it mattered to her.
As the third herb was auctioned, Vivian and Matilda went in another showdown that Matilda won.
And another…
And another…
The Prince and his entourage started to feel annoyed by Vivan's actions, not aware of her identity and motive. To feel better about themselves, they started to bid against her whenever she bids and buys these items for Matilda. Sometimes, Vivian would bid on other items to lure them into bidding making them think they are teaching her a lesson.
The Auction House had many battles and rivalries happening at the same time but this one was taking all the spotlight even heating up others to bid with all their passion.
Some old experts in the auction noticed the doings of Vivian and couldn't do anything but smile wryly and shake their heads. These chaotic moments in auction houses are really contagious.
"Princess, what are you up to?" Logan asked.
"I am just getting rid of trouble. Those little fishies tend to get drifted in the current but now the big ones have to do their best too. I don't want anyone to have enough stamina once I start to move." Vivan replied.
Vivian is a daughter of the Moore family, a family that has been involved with wealth and money more than anything and she has witnessed too many auctions, both private and public. Such tricks were things she is very familiar with and according to what she knows, there will be a big reveal tonight.
When it is an important item, even the small clients to the auction tend to gang up and share some ownerships together.
In other cases, the big clients gang up with small ones or even together. Sometimes people make shady deals with the auction house itself. In places like this, all is fair.
Now Vivian has burned out most of the small clients. Even the Prince and his entourage were spending money like crazy to bid against her for the sake of Matilda.
Other than the expert clients, no one cared to notice that Vivian didn't spend a single Pound since the moment she started all this.
And now they have arrived… the big and expensive items.
"A large factory building near the coast on the crossing of Hamilton and Ironwood streets… The price starts at 400,000 pounds."
"A brig that belonged to the Daiser Family… price starts at 330,000 pounds."
"An island housing a Sugar Plantation near the eastern coast of Avalon with its local workers… the price starts at 1,200,000."
"The painting Ladies of the Wood drawn by the great Morris de Brosa, inspired by the beauty of Avalon… the price starts at 300,000 pounds."
At that moment, Vivan felt as if she was struck by lightning. Not only her but everyone in the Auction House was taken by surprise. Morris de Brosa is the name of the most brilliant artist of the era. Someone that the Temple of Saints paid tons of money to just to draw an inspirational painting of Saint Athena, the Patroness Saint of Albion.
A Painting of Morris de Brosa was indeed a surprise but to think it is not the final item.
"350,000!"
"380,000!"
"420,000!"
"480,000!"
The Major Clients started bidding like mad wolves. Vivian herself was interested, her father Julian Moore has a big crush on De Brosa. If he knew a painting was sold and he didn't get to have it, he would be depressed for days.
"Here goes nothing… go for it, Logan."
"Your funeral, Princess. 530,000!"
And Vivian entered the bidding.
Seeing the Moore Family booth entering the big competition, the mood became frozen in an instant.
The Major Clients eyed Vivian as a small fry entering their club rudely and the Small Clients felt betrayed by her forking out 530 gold pieces while she was bidding on the small items just a while ago.
"This is not right." Robert Moore, in the Royal Family's booth, felt it was wrong.
His father may have lent his booth to someone but if that someone is this loaded, they surely can afford their own places.
Or was it a proxy to his father… but that still is unthinkable. Count Julian Moore is an addict to Auctions, there is no way he is using someone in his stead. Robert spent a long time trying to achieve that spot as his father's business proxy, he made sure he had no rivals. Even that elder half-brother of his has angered their father and left for Avalon.
Not just Robert but all the people in the Royal Family's booth were concerned. The Prince was frowning as he thought of something.
"And the Ladies of the Woods painting is sold for 640,000 pounds to…" The Auctioneer stopped talking as he looked at the Lady in the Moores' booth.
He had to announce a name.
Knowing that from the start, Vivian was now ready. She got closer to the booth's balcony and removed the hood.
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Please show some Love ❤️, Comment 💬, and Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You can also read the early chapters on P🅰️treon & Join Discord! 🔗 https://linktr.ee/donovel
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