Evernight Palace, the Supreme Throne.
Lucia rested her chin on her hand, quietly watching the Black Water Mirror before her.
Within the water mirror, a fine spectacle was unfolding in the Eternal Feast Hall.
Her little pet, Lilia, was sitting on a chair larger than herself.
Her little legs swinging, she was presiding over an auction with great aplomb.
When that pure gold chamber pot was carried onto the stage.
Lucia’s finger, propping her cheek, gave a light tap.
When Duke Varian tremblingly shouted the astronomical price of ten thousand Magic Crystal Coins.
A flicker of genuine amusement appeared in her blood-red eyes.
For the first time in three hundred years.
This soul from another world always managed to bring her something new.
She had thought the little creature would use the most primitive method to tear at her enemies.
Dragging those nobles out one by one for torture and interrogation.
That would have been effective, but boring, no different from squashing bugs.
Yet Lilia had chosen this method instead.
A public execution under the banner of “charity.”
Using the most high-sounding reason to force those sanctimonious hypocrites.
To empty their own coffers to buy back their own scandals.
And to force them to squeeze out smiles and shout, “How wise Lady Lilia is.”
Soul-crushing.
Truly interesting.
“Your Majesty.”
A wraith-like voice sounded from the shadows beneath the throne.
The old steward of the Evernight Palace materialized without a sound.
“You… seem pleased.”
“Passably so.”
Lucia’s gaze did not leave the water mirror.
“This little kitten is smarter than I expected.”
The old steward looked into the water mirror.
At that tiny figure whose tail was practically wagging with excitement over the high price.
He then glanced at the fleeting smile that had just graced his Majesty’s face.
He bowed and retreated back into the shadows.
In the Throne Hall, only the clamor from the water mirror remained.
…
Eternal Feast Hall.
“Ten thousand Magic Crystal Coins.”
When Duke Varian squeezed out that number, the noisy hall fell deathly silent.
All the nobles, men and women alike, turned their heads in unison toward the large, portly figure in the front row.
A young noble couldn’t hold it in; the fine wine he had just sipped sprayed out with a pfft, choking him until his face turned crimson.
Varian felt all the blood in his body rush to his face; he had never been so humiliated in his entire life.
Lilia seemed completely oblivious to his distress.
Her little gavel came down heavily on the table! Thump!
“Ten thousand Magic Crystal Coins! Our esteemed Duke Varian has made a bid! Any higher? Meow?”
Her voice was sweet and crisp, echoing through the hall, each word a slap to the faces of all the nobles with guilty consciences.
The hall below fell silent, each person burying their head low, afraid of catching the eye of that little maniac.
“Ten thousand Magic Crystal Coins, going once!”
“Ten thousand Magic Crystal Coins, going twice!”
Lilia deliberately drew out her tone, savoring the feeling of controlling the entire room.
She grinned, looking at Varian’s face, which was practically dripping with misery.
“Really, no one else wants it? Meow? Such a ‘memorable’ treasure, if you miss this chance, it’s gone for good!”
Beneath the table, Varian’s hand clenched the velvet cushion of his chair so tightly his knuckles ached.
Just as Lilia was about to bring down the gavel for the third time, a thin, weak voice sounded from a corner.
“I… I bid… ten thousand and one hundred.”
Swish!
All heads turned once more, landing on the pale-faced young viscount.
Draco’s distant nephew.
That golden chamber pot was the very “congratulatory gift” he had sent years ago to curry favor with Draco.
Now, he had to buy it back himself.
Otherwise, he would become the laughingstock of all Asra’s high society by tomorrow.
Lilia’s eyes instantly lit up.
Oho? Someone dares to compete with the shill?
This is too interesting!
Her head swiveled back and forth between the young viscount and Duke Varian.
Her face wore an undisguised, mischievous grin of someone enjoying the show.
Varian’s face turned completely dark.
He had to raise the bid.
This was the task assigned to him by that little maniac!
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he almost roared.
“Twenty thousand!”
“Wow!”
Lilia exclaimed exaggeratedly, clapping her little hands together forcefully.
“As expected of our Duke! Truly rich and powerful! Such loyalty to Her Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon! Meow!”
With this flattering cap slammed onto his head, Varian’s face flushed a liverish purple.
As for the young viscount, he completely collapsed into his chair, his face ashen.
“Twenty thousand Magic Crystal Coins, going once!”
“Twenty thousand Magic Crystal Coins, going twice!”
“Sold! Meow!”
Lilia’s little gavel finally came down with a crisp sound, also pronouncing the “death sentence” for Duke Varian.
“Congratulations to our Duke Varian! Successfully winning this ‘legendary’ family heirloom!”
She smiled until her eyes were mere slits, her tail wagging happily behind her.
Two City Guard soldiers.
Immediately lifted the glittering golden chamber pot.
Marched in step over to Varian.
And placed it with a heavy thump on his table.
A tightness gripped Varian’s chest, and a metallic, bloody taste rose in his throat.
He had spent a full twenty thousand Magic Crystal Coins to buy back a chamber pot.
Once this got out, his very name, Varian, would be forever linked with a chamber pot.
Lilia paid him no mind.
She was already eagerly moving on to the next item.
“Alright, alright! Everyone, quiet! The exciting part is still to come!”
She lifted the red cloth from another tray.
A bizarrely shaped black dagger lay quietly upon it.
The blood-red gem embedded in its hilt emitted a sinister aura.
“Wraiththorn!”
Lilia read from the list.
“It is said that those stabbed by it will have their souls eternally gnawed by the wraiths within, unable to live or die!”
“An absolute must-have for home, travel, murder, and silencing witnesses! Meow!”
The moment her words fell, a gaunt marquis with a goatee sitting below the stage.
His body gave a violent shudder, and the wine glass in his hand fell to the floor with a crash, shattering to pieces.
He recognized this dagger!
It was the very weapon he had used not long ago to “dispose of” a business rival!
He had covered his tracks perfectly at the time, so how… how did it end up in the hands of this little maniac?!
Lilia’s head turned, precisely locking onto that marquis.
She grinned at him, revealing two sharp little canine teeth.
“This treasure, starting bid, fifty thousand Magic Crystal Coins! Now, begin! Meow!”
She raised her little gavel.
But this time, she did not look at the terrified marquis.
She lifted the gavel, its head passing over the crowd.
Slowly pointing toward Duke Varian in the front row.
Within those heterochromatic eyes, one gold, one blue.
Was nothing but an innocent yet cruel amusement.
Your Grace, it’s your turn to perform.