Callista and Ignis were peacefully walking as they conversed when something caught both of their attention.
"What's that?" she asked curiously and tilted her head "A public auction." Ignis responded while staring at the man at the platform "They have those here?" she asked and looked interested as she studied the auction.
It seems that they positioned here because there are not many soldiers patrolling the area and they are disguised as an ordinary food stand.
"You guys are here too?" they turned to the person who spoke and saw the trio "It seems like public auctions still exist here" Ignis said "Oh" Anastasia said when she noticed something.
"Wow...Callista you look pretty" she gasped making Callista proudly nod "I know, right? Ignis even personally picked it for me." she said as her eyes twinkled making Anastasia's eyes widen.
"Seriously? No jokes intended? I didn't know you have good taste in makeup, Ignis" she complimented and looked at Ignis who looked bored "I'm surprised you noticed it that quickly, Lady Ana" Denovan said.
"Because women are not ignorant like men" she retorted while Callista turned to Ivan when she felt his glare "What are you looking at, you midget?" she asked with a raised brow.
"Wh-who you calling a midget?" he exclaimdd with gritted teeth "You look ugly" he added "And you eat like a pig!" Callista retorted while looking at him noisily eat skewers and took a deep breath to calm herself down.
"By the way, what do they sell?" Callista asked curiously "Public auctions are not usually common in the Capital but they are normally a bunch of bastards who sells slaves to passing aristocrats" Anastasia explained with a look of disgust.
"And aristocrats buy them?" Callista asked and tilted her head "Of course, aristocrats normally buy slaves to either make them a plaything or sex slaves" Denovan responded as he stared blankly at the auction being conducted.
"In short, nothing good will happen if you become a slave. Even noble ladies without guards that get lost here in the Capital are sold as slaves." Ignis explained.
"Can't you do anything to help them?" Callista asked making Ivan scoff "Since when did you care about something like that?" he asked back so Callista glared at him.
"I don't care, I'm just curious" she said making Ivan sigh "To answer your question, we can't do anything to stop them without the direct command of the Emperor." Ivan said.
"Operations like this needs high ranking knights since we don't know how large their scheme can be, so if people caught sight of auctions like this are normally reported. The problem is, some don't since it serves entertainment for the nobles and commoners don't have the bravery to fight with them if they do file a report." Anastasia explained.
"Ana has the authority but rumors will come out if she tells her identity to everyone here" Denovan said so Callista glanced at Anastasia who had a helpless look.
"Now, for our special item of the day!" they all looked at the man selling slaves as a man with jet black hair and blue eyes dark as the midnight sky was pushed in front while his hands are tied on his back.
"Callista" Ignis suddenly motioned for her
"What is it?" she curiously asked as he bent down to whisper something in her ear.
Some aristocrats began to bid their prices "Doesn't he look like an aristocrat?" Anastasia asked curiously "He looks older than us. Do you think his one of those Young Masters who got kidnapped?" Denovan asked.
"I don't think so. He surprisingly has a large amount of mana in his body." Ivan pointed out while staring at the man who was currently getting sold.
"500 Gold" everyone who heard gasped.
Who's the idiot that would spend 500 gold for a slave? Oh, dear, they really must've like the handsome face of the slave. Anastasia looked curiously to see who it was and nearly had a heart attack.
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Unfortunately, Callista was that idiot.
"C-Callista, what the hell are you doing!?" Anastasia exclaimed with wide eyes while Callista innocently blinked at them.
"I know you're crazy but isn't this going too far!?" Ivan gaped at her "What do you mean? I only followed Ignis's orders." Callista explained so the three of them looked at Ignis.
"Why would you do that young duke?" Denovan confusedly asked that Ignis chose to ignore "Sold to the Young Miss over there!" the man said and pointed at the smiling Callista.
The Slave Dealer was an old fat man that even a noble would be afraid to get molested by him. He handed Callista the chain that was connected towards the man's metal collar.
"Thank you, Young Miss" he said with a wide smile, obvious that he was happy to get 500 gold coins from a mere handsome slave that made Callista want to strangle him.
Ignis was the one who paid the gold coins "Even though this slave is new, he doesn't disobey. He is also healthy so you can use him to your heart's content." he said boastfully that made Anastasia grit her teeth underneath the hood that was hiding her face.
It seemed like the old bastard thought that Callista was a daughter of a nobleman and mistaken them as knights and a maid. It's normal for him to think like that as Callista was dressed like a noble lady but to address a human being as an object that could easily be replaced just makes her blood boil.
She was about to use her authority as the Imperial Princess when Denovan curled their pinky fingers together, a way to calm her down since they were kids. She looked up at Denovan who smiled at her making her calm down and step back to stop herself from pouncing on the old bastard.
"Thank you but you can go now." Callista said but the old man stood there in place while staring at her. His eyes went down to her neck and all her body parts like she was a doll on display.
Callista wanted to kill him at where he stood that she didn't even care if she made a scene but it was like Ignis heard her thoughts and quickly hid her behind him.
"The Young Miss asked you to leave." he glared as Ivan conjured up a magic circle and threateningly pointed at the man with a glare.
The old geezer stepped back "Y-Yes, I'm sorry" he said and bowed.
"Now leave" Ivan spat so the old man walked away while trembling "Disgusting bastard" Anastasia muttered.
The old man took a last glance at the woman and can't help but click his tongue, a woman with two knights and a single maid doesn't surprise him but a magician? It seems like the Lady is from a more powerful family than a Baron's.
"What are you planning to do with him, Ignis?" Callista asked as Ignis silently looked at the slave "Excuse me" they all looked at the slave who spoke.
"I know that you bought me fair and square but I have some important matters to deal with" he said "As expected, you're not a mere aristocrat that got kidnapped" Ignis assessed him carefully.
"Correct. I'm actually from the Phantom Order." he smiles that somehow reminded them of Callista for some reason.
"The Order?! How did you even end up here?! It's a surprise that you were able to get taken away if you're from the PO." Anastasia said in confusion "I know, that's why I need to investigate this, so Young Miss.." he trailed off and looked at Callista who questioningly looked back at him.
"Oh, I'm not an aristocrat" she shook her head that made his eyes widen "What? But if you are not then why do you have two knights, a maid, and a magician with you?" he asked and blinked at her in question.
"Who said that we're her servants?" Anastasia asked and slightly lifted her hood "P-Princess!?" he stuttered in surprise "State your name" Anastasia said so the man cleared his throat.
"I'm Lance Sullivan of the First Platoon" he said and slightly bowed "It seems that he's not an aristocrat but a child born inside the Order" Denovan said "What even is the Phantom Order? You keep mentioning it a while ago." Callista asked with furrowed brows hating the fact that she doesn't know anything.
"It's a group that is made to be the eyes and ears of the Imperial Family. The nobles can't easily leave their homes and deal with situations outside, so that's why they created the Phantom Order. People who would deal with the situations and problems on their command." Ivan explained.
"I didn't know there was such a thing" Callista said "I'm sorry Princess, but I had already delayed so much and must go back to my platoon to report" he said so they all looked at each other.
"What are you going to decide? You are the Princess after all" Callista asked so Anastasia glanced back at Lance who waited for her permission. She then gave Denovan a look who understood it properly and took his wallet from his coat before giving it to Lance.
"You have to change your clothes, don't you?" Anastasia smiled seeing Lance's confused face and glanced at Ivan "Get rid of that choker Ivan" she said so Ivan approached Lance and held the iron leash that fell hard on the floor after a few seconds.
"Thank you very much" Lanced eyes brightened and bowed "Also, do you know anything about the kidnappings of young women in the area recently?" Lance asked while Ivan, Callista, and Anastasia had no idea while the other two looked at each other.
"Denovan" Ignis called and gave him a nod so Denovan stepped forward.
The Lennox Family are known for their swordsmanship and martial arts but they are also well known for the information gathering skills that they have.
Denovan Lennox was no different as it was easy for him to gather information as the Imperial Princess's personal knight. The only one he couldn't properly gather information about was Callista herself, it was like she never existed inside the Kingdom that even her family register was not in the Empire's data.
After he told Lance some of the information he knows, Lance quickly left as they stayed in the Capital to gather more answers for the research.