"It seems there aren't many allies for you here."
Lin Gui's eyes were half-closed, his voice carrying a hint of weariness.
It was quite different from the outside, where many minor nobles and wealthy merchants had greeted her; in this venue where the top power-holders converged, the gazes cast toward Elvia were only filled with distance.
Upon hearing his words, Elvia merely picked up the black tea offered by a maid with grace, taking a shallow sip with impeccable poise.
She formed a stark contrast with Lin Gui beside her, who was nearly slumped into his soft seat.
She leaned over slightly, pressing close to Lin Gui's ear.
She whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"In here, there are only four parties."
"The Eldest Princess's faction, the Second Prince's faction, the Third Prince's faction, and... me."
"I am different from them."
"My mother was merely a Top Courtesan Dancer at a comedy theater, whom my father took an interest in on a whim because of her beauty."
"On my maternal side, I wasn't left even a shred of political resources."
"Everything I have today was fought for by myself through various means."
"And as for my father..." Mentioning that King Carter, there was no expression of filial affection on Elvia's face, only a cold indifference.
"He probably can't even remember exactly how many children he has, let alone me, the 'daughter of a courtesan.'"
"The merits I risked my life to establish didn't even earn me the qualification to freely step into the core area of the Royal Palace."
"The last time I saw him was for the matter of the Umbral Tree Flower."
"That old man, who is so sick he's nearly dying, made a personal promise to survive."
"He said that whoever can find that damn flower to extend his life will be the next King of Carter."
Lin Gui was slightly stunned.
This was because he knew very well that the Umbral Tree Flower was currently lying quietly within Elvia's travel bag.
"You don't want to be the monarch?" he asked.
Elvia smiled, a smile tinged with a touch of complexity.
"I do; who wouldn't want to be the ruler of a nation, standing above ten thousand people and wielding absolute authority? But... it's already too late."
Her gaze swept across the well-dressed power-holders in the venue who possessed heavy auras.
"Almost all the figures with any standing in the Carter Royal Capital are present, but look at these people; how many are truly still loyal to my 'father'?"
"During the time I was away from the Royal Capital, that incompetent King has long been thoroughly sidelined."
"The promise he made from his sickbed is already worthless."
Just then, the lights on the auction stage focused.
The obese Duke Joseph walked up, his face glowing with vigor.
As the primary organizer of this auction, he delivered the opening remarks.
His few humorous yet complimentary words immediately drew rounds of echoing cheers and applause from the audience.
Many nobles and figures with real power responded with smiles, creating a heated atmosphere.
The auction officially began.
One by one, radiant items were carefully brought onto the stage by slaves with graceful figures.
Staggering, sky-high prices were called out without hesitation by people in different seats.
Each fall of the gavel was accompanied by a small stir and discussion.
Elvia remained seated throughout, her back straight and her etiquette flawless.
A faint, formulaic smile graced her face.
However, deep within those beautiful eyes was a cold tranquility, devoid of any trace of a smile.
She watched as the people of those three factions remained distinctly separated.
They sometimes tested one another and at other times carved up interests in tacit agreement.
Meanwhile, she was all alone.
Now, even the powerful adventurer subordinates she once relied on most had all betrayed her.
The playable cards in her hand were down to just a few low-tier adventurers whose loyalty was uncertain.
Additionally, she had that civilian intelligence network which was spread wide but difficult to translate directly into martial force.
An unspeakable sense of isolation quietly welled up in her heart like a cold tide.
She smiled, coldly watching this game of power.
She watched as items were settled with the fall of the gavel amidst the cheers and competition of the various factions.
She seemed like a complete outsider, isolated from this prosperity and clamor.
Suddenly, she felt a weight on her shoulder.
Elvia turned her head and discovered that Lin Gui had somehow leaned against her shoulder and fallen into a deep sleep.
His breathing was even, and his heavy dark circles were even more obvious at such a close distance.
What on earth did this guy do last night to be exhausted like this?
Subconsciously, Elvia wanted to use her finger to push his head to the other side.
Her fingertips had just touched his slightly cool forehead when her movements froze.
She looked at Lin Gui's defenseless sleeping face.
She saw the weariness between his brows that wouldn't dissipate.
Suddenly, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
She revealed a faint smile that was different from all her previous smiles, carrying a trace of genuine warmth.
This smile seemed to instantly dispel the coldness in her eyes and the isolation surrounding her.
She gently retracted her finger and sighed silently in her heart.
Forget it... he is my husband in name for a week, after all.
I'll let you... take advantage for a bit.
Just then, a new item was presented on the auction stage.
It was a mask of ancient design, swirling with a strange magical luster.
The patterns on the mask seemed capable of absorbing light, making it impossible to see clearly what lay behind it.
"The next item is the Legendary magic item, the 'Mask of a Thousand Illusions'!"
"It can perfectly alter the wearer's appearance and aura, and cannot be seen through by anyone below the Epic Rank!" the auctioneer announced loudly.
A flurry of whispers immediately broke out among the audience.
This kind of artifact for life-saving and disguise was always a hot commodity.
Although the Mask of a Thousand Illusions was of the lowest grade among Legendary items, it was still a Legendary item, after all.
Several nobles began to bid, and the price rose rapidly.
500,000 gold coins, 530,000 gold coins...
However, just as the price reached a peak and the bidding slowed for a moment...
"1,000,000 gold coins."
A clear, calm female voice carrying an unquestionable power rang out from the back row.
Immediately, the entire venue fell silent.
Every gaze—including those of the Third Prince, the Eldest Princess, the Second Prince, and their supporters in the front—turned in unison toward the source of the sound with shock, scrutiny, and disbelief.
Princess Elvia was sitting upright in the back row, with a sleeping man still leaning on her shoulder.
That faint smile remained on her face, though it seemed somewhat different from before.
She gracefully lowered the bidding paddle in her hand.
Rate on N.U.
