Chapter 17

'Yes! Finally!'

I walked close towards them so I could see a better view.

"My lady?"

"Shushh!"

'Oh my gosh, I never thought that the story was progressing this far already.'

I looked at the show in front of me and I was.....surprised?

No, it should be disappointed.

The prince and the heroine were facing each other. When suddenly, the prince just passed by, treating her as if he didn't see her.

'Wait, what just happened?!'

As if the prince noticed a hidden presence, he glanced to where I was at.

'Eek!'

When he caught my gaze, he hurriedly walked towards me.

'What! What now?'

"Lady-"

"What's your business with the lady." Justin stepped in and cut him off.

Justin glared at him and the male lead did the same.

'Oh no! That's the crown prince Justin!'

"It's alright Justin. I know him." I guess Justin doesn't recognize the crown prince.

Justin then stepped aside and stood silent.

"Erm...I greet his hi-"

"No need for the formalities."

"Then...how are you Leo?" Leopold is too long to say. I'd rather say two syllables than three.

He was a tad surprised when I said his name.

"I'm alright Anna." He chuckled.

"Weren't you with a girl earlier? Isn't she your date?" I curiously asked.

His face suddenly went gloomy.

'Did I perhaps say something wrong?'

*****

-

Leopold Wellington POV-

"Your highness, are you going to attened the festival?" Martin asked.

"....."

I don't know what's the big deal about festivals. It's just going to be noisy.

"I heard that they will put a rare jewel accessory in the auction. They say that the accessory possesses the purple star diamond which is very rare in these past few decades." He added.

I felt my ears twitch when he said the word purple. It reminded me of someone's unique eye color.

"Oh? How much is the starting point of bidding?" I was a bit interested in this product.

"One million gold."

'Pretty much captivating.'

"I'll attend the festival later. Let's take a rest for a while. You may go ahead first."

"Yes, your highness." He bowed and left.

"Ack-" This damn headache.

"Are you alright?"

'Huh?'

"It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you."

My mind suddenly recalled few images with a girl in it.

'What is this strange memory..'

I searched in my mind in order to find the girl's image but I couldn't see her face clearly.

I brushed off those thoughts and took a rest for a moment.

....

The sky was already dark when I woke up.

I just changed up casually and went to the festival later on.

There were many people who attended the festival.

I looked around to see where the auction was held.

..

"It is located beside a cafe named 'Gregory'. There will be a need for invitation so I just brought one for you. Don't worry, if ever you have a date with you, the logo at the back will handle it."

'Date? Whatever.'

"Thanks, Martin. You will be rewarded later on."

"It's a pleasure your highness."

..

While walking, I bumped into someone.

"Ahck- I'm sorry!" A girly voice said.

I recognize her. This was the woman at the garden that night.

My head started spinning again so I just passed by her.

Suddenly, I noticed a hidden presence.

I looked at the person who looked at me and I met two purple eyes.

'Oh.'

I walked towards her and tried to approach her. When unexpetedly, a man blocked me off and glared at me as if I was going to steal something which was his.

"It's alright Justin. I know him."

'Justin? Why is she speaking to him casually?'

From the looks of it, he looks like he's her knight.

"I greet his hi-"

"No need for the formalities."

If she can talk to him informally, how about me?'

"Then... how are you Leo?"

When he called me Leo, I remembered my mother. She used to call me like that too.

"I'm alright Anna." Her nickname should be Anna right? How cute.

I chuckled for a bit.

The moment she asked me if the girl whom I bumped into earlier was my date, I felt a bit disappointed.

"No. I just bumped into her. That's all." I replied.

"Oh, I apologize if I misunderstood." She said.

When she put her hand on her head, I noticed the bracelet she wore.

"Where did you get that accessory?"

"This one? A friend gave it to me."

"Friend?" Who's this friend?

"It's Patrica. Daughter of Duke Cornwall."

'Patricia?'

"Ah, I see. Would you like to come with me?"

-End of POV-

*****

I was feeling surprised when I heard that they just bumped into each other.

But I was even more surprised when he offered me to go with him.

"Pardon? Where to?"

"I am going to participate in an auction. Are you going?"

'Hmm....an auction. I remember he went together with the heroine and bought her a rare accessory. Might as well join him in order to know what it looks like'

"Sure. Maybe I'll find something I like on the way."

"Alright. Follow me."

Justin and I followed him and arrived at a certain building.

"Invitation please." The masked man said.

"Here." The prince handed him a black card.

"Confirmed. Please wear one these masks esteemed guests." The man said.

Each of us picked a mask and wore it.

"Enjoy." The man added.

The door opened and we went inside. At the end of the hallway, there was another door.

We walked inside and there were many seats placed in there. It looked like a large auditorium.

We took a seat then the auction started.

The first auction was a ring. It started at 1,000 gold and the final bid was 5,000.

Many products and accessories went by and all of them were beautiful. They were beautiful but I was waiting for the rare one.

Rare ones are usually showed at the last part so I just watched the whole show.

'Finally. Here it comes.'

"And now, the last and final product. This necklace possesses the purple star diamond which is very rare since the last decades. It was made by the most famous at the same time, most mysterious craftsman in the empire." The autioneer stated.

"The bidding starts at 1 million gold! Place your bids now!" He added.

"1.5 million!"

"2 million!"

"5 million"

"8 million!"

The bids continued until it became 50 million.

"100 million"

I was surprised when the person who said that was the person who sat next to me.

"100 million! Is there any more bid?!"

"120 million." A voice added.

'His voice sounds familiar.'

I looked at where the voice came from and saw a silver hair.

'It's the duke! Oh no, I wonder who'll win?' I excitedly thought.

Their competition didn't end until the crown prince offered it in 1 billion gold.

The other party conceded and so, the winner is the crown prince.

"1 billion gold! The product is taken at 1 billion gold! Please go to the receiving area and handle your transaction." The actioneer spoke.

"That will be all. Thank you for participating in the auction. Enjoy the festival." The staffs bowed and the audience clapped.

'That was a great show.'

The necklace was truly beautiful. No wonder the male lead gave it to the heroine.

Before we could stand up, a sound blew up and the entire auditorium was clouded with foggy mist.

"My lady!"

"Anna!"

I heard Justin's and the prince's yells but I couldn't see them anywhere. Everything was too dim and dark.

When suddenly, a hand took me and covered my mouth and nose leaving me helplessly breathless.

'I knew it. I already had a feeling that I'll be kidnapped. Haha, rest in peace me.'

I was then overcomed by darkness and fell unconcsious.