Auction 1

The next morning, in the garden, Solis's voice woke Dea up from her thoughts, - "Master, breakfast is ready."

- "Hm."

- "Will you eat in the hall or the garden?"

- "In the hall."

- "Should I call the new concubine to eat with you?" - asked Solis, even though she already knew the answer. Her master did not like other people's presence.

- "Yes," - Dea replied.

- "I understand," - Solis said, surprised that her master actually agreed. As Solis was going out to have someone call for the new concubine, Caelum arrived.

- "Is there anything new?" - Dea asked.

- "Two weeks later, the largest auction house, 'Golden Palace,' will have an annual special auction. It's the largest auction held once every three years outside the capital, in Stone City. If the master wants to go, I will make preparations."

 Dea lazily nodded her head and took out a red box from her space. She opened it and put three dark glass pill bottles in it and gave it to Caelum. - "Take it to the auction house, don't cover yourself. We will leave in a week and stay there before the auction."

- "Yes, Master," - Caelum replied, bowing, and then left with the boxes

.

 The fact that the crown princess can cultivate and that she is a beast tamer who, at the age of 14, can tame a 5th-level hellfire horse has already drawn a lot of attention. A few of their enemies have even started moving. Dea knew these pills would cause a lot of trouble, but that was exactly what she wanted. She was too lazy to participate in their scheming, so she directly wanted to draw all of them out one by one. She enjoyed good scheming as it made things less boring, but she was too lazy to use her brain cells on unfit people.

 At Lucifer's courtyard, he was already up and dressed. Mo had just brought in breakfast, and he was getting ready to eat when Lan rushed in.

- "First concubine, Crown Princess invited you to eat with her in the hall."

 This surprised Lucifer. 'She clearly was not interested in me yesterday,' thought Lucifer. This was not because he lacked confidence, but because he knew how to read eyes. That person's beautiful emerald eye filled with no interest in anything never left his mind. He did not know why, but he was happy to see her again.

- "Let's go," - Lucifer said.

 Mo led the way to the hall, and Lan followed behind Lucifer. When they entered, Dea's party was also just going in.

- "Crown Princess!" - exclaimed Lucifer, smiling.

- "Greetings, Crown Princess," - followed Mo and Lan a second later, as well as other servants.

- "Sit," - Dea said, as she sat at the main seat, picked up her fork, and started eating. Lucifer also sat next to her, but once in a while, he would peek at her. 'She does not eat much, so thin as if one blow from the wind could break her.'

 Dea ate a few bites here and there and stopped eating. She was never much of an eater. Solis and Caelum, even though worried, were used to her habits and didn't say anything, but Lucifer was not.

- "You're not going to eat anymore?" - he asked.

 His address was too casual, but Dea did not mind such formalities. Moreover, she had already taken this person in, and she was not going to treat him badly. Caelum and Solis did not think so, though, and neither did Mo and Lan. Lucifer also understood that his address was not right. After all, she was the crown princess, not a commoner.

- "Your Highness, you ate so little this concubine was a little worried" - corrected Lucifer, careful not to displease her.

- "It's fine," - replied Dea. She then took out a ring, which was the controller of the collar that Lucifer was wearing. - "I forgot to take off your collar," she said as she made a motion on the stone of the ring, and the collar came off.

- "Isn't the Crown Princess afraid that I might run away?" - asked Lucifer.

Dea's cold eyes looked at him for a while before she answered, - "Since I took you in, I won't treat you badly, but if you leave without my approval, I will take that as a betrayal. Those who betray me always end up wishing they were never born. Moreover, the outside world is not safe for an injured weak demon like you, and with that face, who knows where you will end up?"

- "How?" - asked Lucifer in surprise. He thought no one would notice, but even the people who caught him thought he was just a weak demon. This woman saw right through him, and his interest and desire for her grew more and more. He knew she was right; he could not leave. This place was safer for him. 'Just who are you?' thought Lucifer.

Caelum and Solis looked at each other in surprise during the conversation, but they didn't react further. Their master was too mysterious and powerful for her concubine to be just anyone.

- "In one week, you will follow me to the auction. Until then, stay in your courtyard and rest. Your injury is serious. If you need anything, just ask the people I sent to you. Solis will explain the rules of this place. As long as you follow them and are obedient, I won't mistreat you. I'll even help you heal and regain your power," - Dea said before standing up and leaving. Caelum followed her, and Solis stayed behind to explain the rules.

In the Crown Princess courtyard

- "If you want to say something, say it," - Dea said impatiently to Caelum.

- "Master, why did you let that demon stay?" - Caelum asked.

- "He's not a threat to us. It's been quite boring lately," - Dea replied, her lips curling upwards a bit.

- "I understand," - said Caelum helplessly. Sometimes his master acted like a child, indulging in a new toy.

In the hall

- "First concubine, my name is Solis. I am the Crown Princess's personal servant, and I will explain the rules to you," - Solis said, smiling as she approached. She was polite, knowing that her master had just acquired a new toy, and as long as Dea was interested in it, her followers would be polite too.

Lucifer nodded politely. - "If you don't mind, can we head back at the same time?"

- "Of course," - Solis said, leading the way as Lucifer followed behind, with Mo and Lan following after him.

- "There aren't many rules, but the master won't let anyone break them," - Solis explained.

Lucifer understood the warning in her words.

- "Master already explained about betrayal, so I won't mention it. The first thing you must remember is don't ask things you shouldn't and don't get involved in outside matters. But if someone bullies you, don't hold back. Master will settle it."

Lucifer's lips curled upwards as he nodded.

- "Second, don't enter the master's quarters without permission, but in all the years I've spent with the master, no one has gotten this permission."

Lucifer felt a little disappointed hearing this.

- "Third, never touch the master. This is for your own good to remember."

Lucifer felt a strange feeling of disappointment in his heart again.

Solis turned around and said, - "We've arrived at the courtyard. I will leave now. If you need anything, just tell Mo or Lan. The master treats her people well." - As soon as she finished speaking, Solis disappeared in a blink as if she had never been there.

Lucifer's curiosity and interest increased even more. Despite his injuries, he could still sense the power and true identities of the people in this place. He knew that Solis was a ghost and quite powerful and that the second servant was even stronger. In this place, they didn't need to be servants to anyone, so he wondered what the princess's true identity was. He couldn't sense her cultivation level, but she was able to see right through him.