And oh boy! It felt good.

I am glad I was unexpected but to think I was this unexpected.

Tsk tsk tsk, my heart is a bit broken.

"The Ladies of the Woods painting is sold for 640,000 pounds to Lady Vivian Moore."

And that's that, Father will be pleased, others won't be pleased, things will go better for me and bitter for others.

Speaking of bitterness, Robert had that glare in his eyes. So resentful, little brother.

Richard Windsor squeezed his glass from anger to smithereens.

And here he is… my ex-fiancé.

I couldn't help but meet eyes with him and… That look in his eyes… It still frustrates me.

He was looking at me like that… still that same look of indifference in his eyes.

He looks at her with all the kindness in the world and then he just turns high and cold when it is me.

No, not today will that look beat me.

I simply looked away taking this win home with a smile.

"And for tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are happy to announce our secret item and the last on today's list but first, let's welcome the Auctioneer of the secret item, Lady Isabella De Clare."

The uproar about me ended in a second and she emerged. Isabella… or the one I would usually call Bella… Why? Long story.

She went up there and took all the spotlight for herself but… she dresses as erotic as ever.

Isabella is a beauty, something like this world's version of supermodels. She is already 20 but not even engaged. Like me, her engagement was broken, but unlike me, she broke it herself.

Isabella is the very soul of controversy in the Noble Society. She is always wearing something too colorful, too erotic, or too futuristic. She just loves wearing and designing new stuff to walk around in. That's right, she designs her own dresses.

"Ladies… and Gentlemen. I welcome you all!" Isabella raised her hand up and looked around, her personality and charisma were overtaking the place.

I could already see people in the crowd cheering for her. I'm even sure that there are people that come only here for her.

On the other hand, she turned to me and winked. I only could reply with a smile knowing very well what was going to happen afterward.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Lords and Ladies! Boys and Girls! I hope you have brought all your coffers here tonight with you cause no one is leaving until we sell this item we are about to bring out." She said and clapped her hand for the servants and a ton of security detail to come on the stage.

"Alright. Here it is and without spoiling anything, you should guess what's inside. Who wants to guess, huh? Who can guess?" She asked around, putting her hand behind her ear.

"A Sword!" Someone called.

"Too cliche!" She replied.

"A Magic Crystal!" Another said.

"A Legendary Suit of Armor!' Another added.

"Alright people, I'll give you hints." She shut everyone up and continued, "It is from the New World, from Avalon. It is one of a kind here on Elgard. And it will make all the big pockets go crazy. Any ideas yet?"

Isabella was enjoying the fact that she kept teasing the guests left and right. She stood there hiding her smile behind her hands waiting for someone to answer but ultimately no one dared to think of what could make the big pockets go crazy and whether or not they had the ability to do something about it.

Enough with the foreplay already, girl. Even I am getting blue balls.

"Friends, today's auction is a big deal and quite frankly, if this doesn't get sold in an auction, one of those wars will start between the big names and so for the sake of the Kingdom's best interest, the owner of this treasure was "convinced" to sell it here in this auction. All the big families are aware but still… it gets me excited to be the host of today's auction."

As I heard that, I couldn't help but feel the irony. In my past life, things happened this way with some archaeologist and whatever he discovered has got the world to covet it. Naturally, the organization I belonged to did the same which led to the death of me and my friend in the end.

How… nostalgically laughable!

Anyway, Isabella confidently walked forward to the large cover concealing the item and pulling it away.

"Woooah!"

A dazzling spectacle only deserves such a sudden feeling of awe. On the platform was a large gray basin filled with water. Floating on the water's surface, there was a flower.

It was by no means a normal flower, it looked like a lotus but it was too mystical to be a real one. It looked transparent but it had a radiance to it. Even for those who never felt the magic power before, it made them feel it. Warmth and Life!

"Friends, I have been sitting there for two days silently gazing at this thing in my family's greenhouse. Such a thing reflected so much beauty and mystery that I have never seen before in a living being." Isabella said and the crowd turned silent.

"Yes, you heard right. A living being… from Avalon!"

It was a shock to all the people around.

Such a thing was possible?

A living being reaching Elgard from Avalon?

The Mystery of Avalon has never been solved so far; today reveals its first clue. The first living being that arrives from the new world is that flower. No living being ever passed from its local habitat in Avalon without mysteriously dying halfway across the ocean.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. I present to you the Manawalōkū flower, an Avali sacred flower whose name translates to the Spirit Lotus."

All were in awe at the announcement of the name. Isabella wasn't merciful and dropped another bomb.

"As this thing may hold the secret of how to bring living things from Avalon, the owner wishes that the bidding starts from 1,000,000 Elgardish Pounds."

£1,000,000 just for the kick-off! Forget about the small pockets, even some big pockets were backing off.

For that, only a few names were taking part in this final bidding.

The Moore Trading Family.

The Harland Royal Dynasty.

The Temple of Saints.

The Ambassador of Novark Empire.

The Blackguards.

The Magic Union.

Such heavyweights were all eyeing one prize. I started to understand what Father told me not to disappoint him.

Still, there was one big worrying thing appearing in front of her face.

« New Emergency Quest: [Acquire the Spirit Lotus] »

====================

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

- Acquire the Spirit Lotus: Acquire the lotus by any means necessary!

— Time: 12 Hours

— Reward: Rare Item

— Penalty: System Inactivation for 2 Months

====================

And…

"1,200,000!

"1,500,000!"

"1,800,000!"

"2,500,000!"

"3,000,000!"

The price increased at an insane rate without even the need for Isabella to start calling for raises.

Six factions were after the "Spirit Lotus" and all of them were wildly baring their fangs and screeching their claws. This was no longer a tactical competition, it was a deep pockets competition.

As the bidders were going wild, the rest of the people were holding their breath from the astronomical numbers that couldn't possibly be forked out during a casual auction day. Such forces were truly great and well established making the smaller ones know the real difference between them. Still, other than the wild bidders and the excited bystanders, two faces were having a dangerous look while eyeing the Spirit Lotus, those would be Me and Matilda.

Matilda was obsessed with all kinds of herbs while I was having a message displayed on my face threatening that the system I acquired three days ago would go through a two-month shut-down if I couldn't acquire the Lotus within the given time period. All options were out of my hands whether I liked it or not.

Still, what on Earth is going on here?

Two nights ago, I requested to come to the auction to research the matter regarding my investigator and now, I am participating in a multi-million-pound auction. Father clearly knew about it yet he just let me represent the family without prior notice? There is no way the Moores are not interested in this Spirit Lotus.

Now that I look at it, there are some unusual people around the Auction.

For example, the High Minister of the Elgardish Regional Temple didn't show up and rather sent a team of Senior Temple Knights to auction in his stead, while the Royal Family didn't use the Crown Prince but the one auctioning was a famous Courtier.

It was clear now that buying this precious thing comes with a huge risk. Clearly if one is moving such a treasure, a large security detail is needed.

"Esmeralda, go out of the booth and see if there is someone from our house around."

"Yes, my Lady."

While Esmeralda went for a minute, the Auction kept going even when Isabella wasn't counting down as Auctioneers should do. The hype she accumulated from the buyers made the situation feel slow. Once Esmeralda returned she whispered something to my ears and it was all that I needed to hear.

"4,450,000 pounds! That's not a nice number, ladies and gentlemen. I'm not even agreeing to sell it to such a number. I see 4,700,000 coming up closer. I can almost taste it, I swear. Here it is… here it comes…"

"5,000,000!" I ultimately had to put a regrettable stop to the comical show Isabella was hosting.

Everyone and their mothers turned to me right away. I could even feel Logan's gaze burning through my back.

"And her ladyship Vivian strikes down the last raise. Five Million Elgardish Pounds, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the most expensive item ever sold in our humble Auction House since the age of my great-grandfather. Should I tell you a story about it or start counting? Hmmm… I'll tell you a story. 72 years ago…"

"5,500,000!"

"5,500,000 for The Noble Knights of the Temple… where was I with the story, yes…"

"6,000,000."

"6,000,000 once again by Vivian Moore. Now I feel like we have enough money, Ladies and Gentlemen, 6 Million goes…"

"""Once!"""

"6 Million goes…"

"""Twice!"""

"Aaaand…"

Isabella paused all of a sudden while shamelessly looking at the people of Temple expecting another raise but they seemed to be no longer able to continue.

"AND for the third time, Six Million Elgardish Pounds for the Manawalōkū. Congratulations, House Moore!"

On her own accord, Isabella was blazing on the stage as she announced my victory. The crowd was even cheering for her as she went away.

She was indeed a very powerful influencer with a striking fan base and popularity. How she can do that is beyond me but for sure, these skills are not that of a noblewoman.

Whatever! Both me as Nadia and me as Vivian prefer to keep it quiet most of the time, which is the opposite of my current situation. Everyone is either glaring at me, hating me, or eyeing me like wolves.

"Let's get out of here, Princess. I'll send someone to the house to send us a security detail for escorting the Spirit Lotus back to the mansion." Logan said.

"It has already been taken care of." I replied and nodded for Esmeralda. She, by her part, went and opened the door of my booth.

There, we saw an aging figure standing and looking at us with indifferent expressions.

"You have good eyes, young miss." Old Theo spoke.

"So… have I passed Father's test?" I asked.

"Yes, you passed. I'm afraid I'll be taking your Token from here. I'll go and receive the item." Old Theo had me hand him the auctioning plate over.

"There are two items actually. The painting of…" I tried to say something but he shook his head.

"Sadly we only have one room for the Lotus. You will have to handle the painting yourself. The payment is already taken care of." He said and walked away on his cane.

I guess that was that, huh? I knew Father wouldn't let the Lotus go, so earlier, I asked Esmeralda to check for some of our people and she found Old Theo with our house's knights, this was enough for me to know how things would go.

"Let's get out of here." I said as there was no longer a need to stay.

As a buyer, I was led to one of the rooms where the auction house deals with business. As I arrived, I asked the servant to call for young lord Valentine De Clare to conduct the business with me. I then waited with Logan and Esmeralda in the heavily decorated tea room on a chair with my Knight and my Maid on my side.

About five minutes later, I could hear some heavy footsteps heading hastily towards the door, the door was pushed open and Valentine stormed in.

"Vivian Vivian Vivian! You seriously… goddammit! What are you doing here? Why did you ask for me?"

Seeing the handsome Valentine rush in like this, I couldn't take him seriously for some reason but here it goes.

"Shouldn't someone call for their friends when they are about to conduct such an expensive deal?" I asked.

"Friends? After the things you did? Vivian, I don't really want to involve myself with you at the time…"

"Valentine, my old friend. Please… you are breaking my heart." I raised my hand for him to stop talking and turned to my people, "Esmeralda, why don't you go bring us some tea, and Logan, please make sure no one is eavesdropping so Valentine can relax a bit."

"My Lady!" "Alright!"

The two went out of the room leaving Valentine all to me all alone.

"Relaxed now?" I asked.

Valentine looked towards the door and narrowed his eyes.

"Trustworthy people?" He asked.

"The Knight is. The Maid is new." I replied.

His face relaxed a bit but stiffened all over again.

"No! I shouldn't. I must go."

"Valentine, relax." I said as I took out my storage purse, "I brought a gift especially made for you."

Valentine halted and looked at me.

"No, we… we are not doing this." His voice became shaky.

"What? And I went through all this trouble to prepare and make it look good for you?"

"Don't! Just don't, please."

"Fine. But won't you regret it if you know that it is the first of its kind to go public just for you?" I said some words that made him sweat.

"Vivian… you devil."

"Valentine, you are saying such mean things. Tsk tsk tsk, I thought I was your friend." I said as I put the purse away.

"Wait!" He almost jumped from his place. "Can I just… see?"

His state was miserable.

"Alright!" I agreed and took out something from the purse.

It was a plate with something he hadn't seen before on top of it. It was a cake baked in a cup shape, a cupcake.

On Earth, cupcakes appeared around the year 1800 so it is not something that emerged in this world just yet. Valentine's eyes were simply fixed on it.

That's Valentine's weakness that Vivian always used against him.

He loves food, but the word "love" doesn't even begin to describe it.

When he was a child, he was a well-rounded glutton who liked to eat everything his way but his mother, Lady Claudia, and elder sister Isabella put him on a strict diet forcing him to become fit and graceful. Actually, Valentine has an almost perfect appearance that defies his inner nature. That is impossible to be known by anyone other than those who grew up with him such as myself.

"Now you saw it but since you are not interested…" I wanted to retreat it back to the purse but Valentine almost went insane.

"I'm interested… I said I'm interested."

There is more than just a weakness but also a weakness inside a weakness. Valentine is not just a glutton but a glutton for rarities, if it is something that was never eaten before, Valentine would just die over it, sweets above all else.

"Alright. You can have it but in return…"

"Damn you, Vivian. I'll do anything!"

"Atta boy!"

I put the plate in front of him and he snatched it like a criminal. He looked closer at the cupcake that was specially made by Esmeralda who received a lot of instructions from me this morning. There was whipped cream on top of it, which thankfully existed in this era, alongside some additions that I made to make it look perfect.

Valentine's mind was enthralled as he saw it.

"So, tell me, old friend. Do you know who the Prince will send to interrogate me?" I went right to the point.

Valentine lost focus on the cupcake for a second and then looked between me and the cupcake.

"I know." He said, "It is Edith Black."

"The Edith Black?!"

Of all people?

This was more than just a shock to me but a big surprise as well. Edith Black is no ordinary lady even when she is a year younger than me. She is a trained knight from House Black and the younger sister of Edmond Black, the very same Edmond, Prince Liam's aide, who was there when the Baron and his son were at my home.

Edith is… let's say she is bad news. She is a fanatic who is blindly loyal to the Kingdom and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty or act violently. She is there to put me down for good and maybe pin the murder of the Baron boy on my House then walk out with a deal signed by Father as my destruction sentence.

Yes, that's Edith Black. Even Nadia knows how scary that girl is.

How does she know that?

Simply… Edith Black is the Second Villainess of the game.