ᴡᴍᴍᴀᴘ: ℌ𝔢𝔯 𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔰

Resplendent, a worthy heir: II

They're tucked away in a VIP booth, overlooking the auction stage as the items slowly made their way across the stage. The bidding numbers were still weak, but it was obvious, most of those gathered here were here for specific things. 

The little baubles and expensive trinkets in the front line weren't their real goal. 

Her dress bunched up as she sat on her companion's lap. His red hair and gray eyes peering out from the black mask adorning his face couldn't hide his handsome looks. 

She sees the item being placed on the podium, and she tugs at his hands that are wrapped around her waist.

"It's that one!" He looks at it, the spotlight hitting the item.

"This item is from a far North country! It's said it was gifted to an empress when she first ascended the throne! Not only is it one of a kind, ladies and gentlemen- it's imbued with protective holy magic from the grand pope himself!" 

Paddles start raising, more than before.

A hair pin shaped like a flower, diamond strands strung over two black pearls, the petals studded with smaller diamonds, with leaves of gold. It didn't outmatch any of Athanasia's jewelry back in the palace..hmm.

He motions to the man standing outside the curtain, and he raises the paddle for ten thousand. A disgruntled woman who's wiping her sweat from her uncovered forehead raises her paddle higher, bidding for fifty thousand. 

They go back and forth, the rest of the people watching them, until the red haired man, tired of this game, ends it. He raises his bid to half a million. 

The other woman collapses in her seat- defeated, and her lipstick is smeared on her nose from shouting. Athanasia, delighted, rubs her hand against her thigh and feels the dagger there. 

The rest of the auction continued, uneventful, as swords and staffs, magic items, potions sold at ridiculously high prices. Then, as always, it ended.

At the yearly auction, famed for its anonymity-there were masks covering the faces of all the people attending, but everyone could tell who this young lady was, with her eye catching blonde hair and plain black mask that matched with her companion's. 

She didn't have to hide herself, everyone made way for her as she made her way to retrieve her item.

 Her imperial highness, Princess Athanasia. 

They were hardly adversaries to her in wealth or status, she had it all. She may not flaunt it, her humbleness did her well in the social circles, but they knew they would bend their heads in front of her even if she didn't will it. 

It exceeded expectations, and she was tenfold of what most men died trying to become.

They could see the tall man accompanying her, their arms linked as they walk down to accept the hair pin. Athanasia can see their questioning eyes behind their fans, and masks, and she lets them think as they wish when she asks her companion to help her. 

"Can you help me with this?" Eyes widen at the two, and people are left to wonder their relationship, knowing only two men, the duke and the emperor, were close with the princess. 

The man slid the pin into her hair, it fit in perfectly with the rest of her ensemble.

But did the emperor allow them to pursue each other? Would they be hearing of an engagement party? It wasn't odd for someone of his standing to be able to, seeing as the princess was of age to be married... a duke would be a wise partner for the princess. 

However that could also mean the slight chance the princess would marry into the ducal household instead of the duke marrying into the royal family. 

Quite frankly, had there been another successor to the Robane house it would have been no trouble for him to step down as head and pass it on, but the problem was, he didn't have one.