ficcloud.com [https://ficcloud.com/images/ficcloud.jpg]
After thinking it through, Mengdie raised her head earnestly, her tone less forceful and instead sincere and genuine—
"Sir, do you mean for me to be by your side at all times, never leaving?"
The middle-aged count nodded like a bobbing doll.
Mengdie brought her hands together respectfully and bowed slightly, saying slowly, "I understand. As long as you return my necklace to me, then my... my..."
Suddenly, Mengdie hesitated...
Oh no, what's the official term for "strength" or "responsibility"? Let me think... Is it "Adata la" (note: a variant form of 'strength')? Or "Akada la" (note: implies using one's body for labor, a verb usually referring to physical labor)?
Everyone was puzzled why the girl suddenly stopped talking. Countless eyes were on her, and under such scrutiny, Mengdie regretted not having mastered the language, focusing only on physical training.
Well... let's gamble! Both words imply using the body for work, either should work!
With her mind made up, Mengdie raised her head and announced—
"As long as you return my necklace to me, then my 'Akada la' naturally belongs to you."
Mengdie, not fluent in language, simply interpreted the word literally. But to everyone present, her simple sentence seemed to carry an undertone completely unexpected by Mengdie!
Anyone who gets the necklace... gets this girl's body too?!
"Really?!" The count drooled, his eyes seemingly wanting to inspect every hair on Mengdie's head.
(Seems like this man has done many wrongs... Must have many enemies. Although I've never been a bodyguard before, with my abilities, it shouldn't be difficult.)
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
"Of course, it's true." Mengdie's gaze was more serious and earnest than ever, "As long as you buy the necklace and return it to me, whether at home or outside, eating or entertaining, I will stay by your side, never leaving, and ensure your..."
Safety.
She didn't finish her sentence, as the count suddenly had a nosebleed and fell backward. His attendant rushed to support him, but in his last conscious moment, he still managed to raise his paddle—
"One... million Sula!!!"
...
...
...
The hall was silent, watching the count being carried out, no one daring to bid further.
The prolonged silence confused Mengdie, who instinctively felt she had done something terribly wrong but didn't know what exactly.
The host wisely seized the moment of silence. Knowing it was time to hammer down, he coughed, raised the gavel, and announced loudly, "Any higher than one million? No? One million once... one million twice... okay, one million..."
"Two million Sula."
Before the gavel could fall, someone finally called out a higher bid. Mengdie, along with everyone else, turned to see Dika stroking his golden mustache, smiling at her.
"Two... two million Sula?"
Even the host couldn't believe it. The price was astronomically high! For instance, the Pierre family's magic stone mine that Dika was after would take two years to profit two million Sula without expenses. Such a vast fortune... all for a woman?
Mengdie didn't grasp the true concept of two million Sula. She just curiously looked at Dika, wondering if he also needed a bodyguard.
"Two... two million Sula once!" The host began the final countdown.
The price was too high, and everyone finally shut their mouths, resigned to watching the auction end. Dika's face lit up with a triumphant smile as he walked down the steps to embrace the girl who was willing to accompany him even in the bath...
"Two million Sula twice!"
As Dika approached Mengdie with open arms, ready to embrace her, she turned her head to look at him. Though she felt some aversion, she refrained from pushing him away, considering he seemed to be her next employer. She decided to wait until the necklace was in her hands before setting boundaries.
Thus, Mengdie didn't push Dika away, letting his approaching arms draw nearer...
"Two million Sula thr..."
"Stop everything!!!"
Suddenly! A furious voice erupted from one of the entranceways of the round auction hall. Mengdie looked up to see none other than her comrade—Edward!
Edward, impeccably dressed today, contrasted starkly with his dusty appearance from their last encounter. His gaze swept across the hall, and upon seeing Dika about to embrace Mengdie, a surge of rage flared within him! Ignoring Duke's attempts to stop him, he drew a sword from a soldier's waist and threw it towards the center of the stage, landing accurately between Mengdie and Dika.
"Your Highness!!!" Duke, panicked upon seeing Mengdie, rushed forward to intervene but was forcefully pushed aside by Edward, who left him with a "I know what I'm doing" before swiftly entering the stage, pulling out the sword, and standing between Mengdie and Dika.
"Mengdie! How could you let this man embrace you? Are you hurt? Did he take any advantage of you?!"
Hearing Edward's words, Mengdie was confused. She scratched her hair, asking, "Take advantage? He might be my future employer..."
"Employer?! Ridiculous!!!"
Dika, angered by Edward's interruption, snorted coldly, "Oh, what's this? Our respected Prince Edward Lanxide Mul. You should be at your own ball selecting my future sister-in-law, the future queen, yet you're here meddling in my and my future concubine's affairs. What's the meaning of this?"
"Concubine?!" Edward looked anxiously at Mengdie, who was utterly clueless.
"Mengdie, why are you here? Do you know how hard I waited for you today? You don't know the truth about this man, so don't be deceived by his smooth talk! He's completely unfaithful to women, you mustn't be misled by his honeyed words!"
Read more at: fⅰÇçlоūd▪çōm
ficcloud.com [https://ficcloud.com/images/ficcloud.jpg]