Dragons, at their core, have the freedom to choose the events they wish to attend, but the Torment Fairs are not just any event. In addition to rare treasures and items of hidden power, each auction offers wealthy merchants and great political leaders a valuable opportunity to establish their connections with the economic powerhouses of Bordium, such as Avaris, Terius, and Priomyr.

Aspiring and emerging Dragon Ladies can obtain both financial and scientific and technical support from influential figures, such as the more experienced Dragon Ladies or even the Great Dragon Ladies.

For the most prestigious Dragon Ladies, and especially the Great Dragon Ladies, the Torment Fairs are more than just an opportunity to negotiate - they are a direct invitation from Zenobia Drakhan herself, the Ruler of Avaris.

However, negotiating with Lady Drakhan takes time and patience. To avoid unnecessary chaos and waste of resources, there is a strict limit on invitations, preventing all influential figures from being invited at once.

Thus, a month before each Fair, Avaris publishes the list of selected Dragon Ladies. In a two-year cycle, all the great and important Dragon Ladies and Great Dragon Ladies are invited, without exception.

Abigail and Inessa, although young, are perfect examples of this system. The two manage a thriving trade in high-end medicinal Auroherbs, a vital sector for Bordium. They were invited two years ago and, as expected, received a new invitation this year.

Although there is no formal law mandating participation, refusing an invitation is practically a sentence of political and commercial exile. A city that chooses to sever ties with Avaris would risk its very survival, especially when it comes to a territory as close and dependent as Nenvia.

Of course, in exchange for all the inconvenience, Lady Drakhan herself agrees to establish minimum-gain trade agreements or other agreements that benefit the Dragon Ladies and Great Ladies. Depending on what is negotiated, Avaris may even lose money, but Lady Drakhan doesn't care about that, as long as Avaris continues to prosper politically and economically.

"In other words, Avaris remains standing and prospering because of its political and commercial influence." In short, Edgar crossed his arms, his expression carrying a hint of skepticism and disinterest.

"Humph. If you want to see the world in that simplistic way, go ahead." Abigail commented, letting out a sigh full of disdain. Her eyes remained fixed on the landscape beyond the window and a slight crooked smile formed on her lips — not of amusement, but of exasperation. "In time, boy, you'll realize that nothing in this world is as black and white as you'd like it to be. And when that day comes, I hope you'll have learned how to survive it."

Outside, the cityscape loomed large. In the middle of the city, two enormous mirrored towers shone under the afternoon sky, reflecting the world around them as if they were watching it back.

"I'll figure that out in due time, but for now, I choose to keep it simple." Edgar countered, crossing his arms and looking away for a moment. His voice carried a youthful stubbornness, but also a certain defiance.

"Anyway, what time is it?"

"4:38 p.m., Young Lord." Aglaya answered promptly, sitting across from him, her posture impeccable as ever.

"It's early…" Edgar murmured, looking out the window before looking directly at Inessa. His tone changed, becoming lighter, almost persuasive. "I want to walk around a bit, Inessa. I want to see the city and buy some souvenirs…" He leaned slightly toward her, trying to soften her insistence with a genuinely interested look.

"No." Inessa's answer was dry, sharp as a blade.

Edgar blinked, surprised by her coldness. "Why?" Her voice carried a childish disappointment, a hint of hurt.

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Inessa remained impassive, her arms crossed, but her gaze betrayed a cautious rigidity. Her firm expression did not hide the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers lightly tightened the fabric of her clothes.

"Avaris is not like Nenvia, Edgar." Her voice was low, but filled with a tension that did not go unnoticed. "Here, people come from all over, and that means not everyone will know who you are or treat you the way you expect." She paused, as if weighing her words, before continuing, this time with a more serious and almost protective tone. “I don’t want you walking around, being seen by the wrong people.”

Edgar frowned, surprised by the seriousness in her voice, but he couldn’t help but feel a touch of irritation. “You’re exaggerating. I just want to go for a walk, get to know the city... I’m not going to go around talking to everyone who crosses my path.”

Inessa took a deep breath, looking away for a moment, as if considering his words. “It’s not just about what you do or don’t do. It’s about who can see you and…” She paused, hesitant.

“And?” He persisted.

She frowned. “Nothing. You’re not going, period.”

Edgar narrowed his eyes. “That wasn’t a reason.”

Her voice wavered for a second, a slight tremor of insecurity emerging, before she took a deep breath and regained her firm tone. “Trust me, Edgar. I just want you to be safe. I won’t let the same mistake happen again…”

She looked away briefly, the memory of the past weighing heavily between them. But then she looked back at him, the hardness in her voice becoming unbreakable. “I won’t risk you like that.”

Edgar remained silent, absorbing every word. Inessa’s tone reached him more deeply than he cared to admit. He had always known about her concern, but at that moment, she seemed more vulnerable than ever.

"I won't take any risks," he said, more for Inessa's sake than for his own. Those words carried a silent weight, a promise he made not out of his own desire, but out of the trust he placed in her. He saw the determination in her gaze, but he also noticed the shadow of something she was trying to hide—something he knew he carried himself, a burden they both shared but rarely expressed in words.

Inessa stared at him for a long moment. Her expression softened, but her eyes still reflected a slight apprehension, as if the worry, although lessened, did not leave her completely at peace. When she spoke, her voice was low, almost like a sigh, filled with cautious relief: "Thank you, Edgar." She inclined her head slightly, as if his acceptance were a weight lifted from her shoulders.

Without looking away, Inessa approached Edgar. Her fingers gently touched the side of his face, the warm, smooth skin contrasting with the tension that still hung between them. The gesture was soft, but filled with something deeper—affection, concern, and the need to reaffirm the connection between them.

With an almost reverent slowness, she ran her hand over his jaw, the touch of her fingers running over him with an intimacy that only those who truly loved each other could share. The sensation of her touch was like a silent balm, soothing the restlessness that still enveloped them.

She gently pulled him closer, their bodies almost touching. When their foreheads met, there was a moment suspended in time, where the world outside seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them.

Inessa's breathing mingled with Edgar's, and the touch of her hand on his face conveyed not only affection, but a need—a desire for protection, for closeness, for something deeper that needed no words.

The delicate gesture lasted for a few seconds, until she pulled away a little, but did not let go. Her gaze, now more intense, fixed itself on his eyes. A slight, almost imperceptible smile formed on her lips, a smile that did not simply say “I am here”, but expressed a silent understanding between the two, an exchange that transcended everything around.

Aglaya, sitting with impeccable posture, observed the scene with a furtive but curious look. Although her facade remained serious and reserved, her eyes betrayed a spark of something more — perhaps a veiled envy, perhaps an admiration for their intimacy.

Her body remained rigid, as if trying to contain something that was pulsing inside her, while the fingers intertwined in her lap were a reflection of the restraint she imposed on herself.

Abigail, on the other hand, could not hide her discomfort. A low sigh escaped her, and an almost imperceptible roll of her eyes betrayed her discomfort. She tried to look away, but her attention remained glued to the couple in front of her.

The envy, visible in her closed expression, was not something she wanted to show, so she turned her face away, trying to distance herself emotionally from the scene that bothered her more than she wanted to admit.

Hendrina, however, was the most enchanted. She saw that scene with eyes of pure admiration, her vision of Edgar and Inessa filled with an almost naive purity.

For her, that affectionate and intimate gesture was not just an exchange of affection; it was the image of genuine love, something she did not see every day. A fond smile formed on her lips, as she observed the silent affection between them, as if that was the truest expression of connection and trust.