It had been several days since my last outing.
“Where are you headed today, milady?”
Anna asked as I dressed to go out, puzzled since no invitation had arrived at the estate.
“The auction house.”
I was planning to look for the tiara.
There was no longer any doubt that I wouldn’t be able to return to my original body. Knowing that, I had to face reality. Shocking as it was, I had no choice but to accept it and adapt to this world.
If I think of it as a second life, one I gained after dying once… it’s not the worst fate.
Even if I was stuck in this bleak situation where those I once knew treated me with cold indifference.
For now, I decided to clean up the mess left behind by the other ‘me.’
If I can take care of that, maybe my circumstances will improve, even a little.
The tiara was a white band set with pearls and tiny diamonds—but its core was the purple diamond at the center.
My father had once acquired a large purple diamond at an auction and had a tiara made for my mother.
Even now, purple diamonds were exceedingly rare. I would recognize it the moment I saw it.
Wearing a black wig and a mask that covered my eyes, I entered the auction house. Red hair would’ve stood out too much.
The host who appeared once I took my seat was also masked—his lower face visible beneath the silver covering.
“Thank you all for being here today.”
The host opened with a short greeting.
“I guarantee that today’s offerings will not disappoint you.”
He spoke with overflowing confidence. I hadn’t expected much, but his tone made me slightly hopeful.
If I could find it here, that would be ideal.
“Well then, let’s begin the auction!”
With that, the first item was introduced. Since I wasn’t looking for an ordinary jewel, I didn’t expect the tiara to appear first.
Might as well enjoy the show while I’m here.
“This diamond was mined in the Southern Continent. Approximately 30 carats…”
Maybe it was because I’d come alone, but this felt different from browsing a jeweler’s shop.
Several jewels were introduced, followed by ceramics and paintings from the Southern Continent.
I had heard this was a jewelry auction—so why were such items being offered? All of them seemed to be from the south.
Just as I was starting to find it odd, the host introduced the next item.
“Our next offering is a young man from the Ksha tribe, a minority group in the southern regions!”
What…?
Something was wrong.
Why is there a person at a jewelry auction…?
Luxury goods might be one thing, but slaves were another matter entirely. Alarmed, I turned to the masked man beside me.
“Why are they auctioning people? Isn’t this a jewelry auction?”
“This place sells goods brought in from the Southern Continent.”
“Goods?”
“Whether people or treasure, everything goes on the block here.”
So that’s why all the earlier items had come from the south?
I had definitely come to the wrong place.
I was looking for a jewelry auction!
There must’ve been a mix-up when I was searching for information. I scanned the room in disgust.
People were watching with interest. I seemed to be the only one who was shocked.
They all knew there would be slaves here…?
Slave auctions were illegal in the Empire of Vadel! This was definitely not a place I should have come to.
Then why am I still here, just watching…?
The man in the black mask beside me was staring intently. Unlike the others, he didn’t seem interested in the slave at all.
He had come knowing what kind of auction this was.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Just curious.”
“?”
A man I couldn’t read at all. I decided to ignore his gaze. Once I left, I’d never have to see him again.
“SOLD! Now then, moving on to our next item.”
The auction proceeded quickly. A boy appeared on stage, his hands bound by chains.
“A half-blood descendant of a shaman. Also acquired from the Southern Continent.”
A shaman?
I was about to stand, but the word made me pause. I looked toward the stage.
Suddenly, the bodies of those seated in front of me slumped. It wasn’t just a few—everyone around me seemed to have lost strength, like they’d gone limp.
Even the host on the stage.
“Though only half…”
He had been speaking mid-sentence when he collapsed on the spot. The boy on stage followed suit.
When I turned around, everyone behind me had lost consciousness.
A descendant of a shaman, and now this…?
Only the man beside me and I remained unaffected.
What was happening? My thoughts ground to a halt. I looked around, startled—at the people, at the black-masked man.
“He doesn’t seem like a half-blood.”
The man muttered to himself as he gazed at the stage, then turned to me—clearly aware of my alarm. His lips curled into a smile.
It was a smile that suited his sharp jawline—undeniably attractive.
“They’re not dead. Just asleep.”
“…”
If he hadn’t done this himself, he wouldn’t be able to explain it so calmly. My lips parted in disbelief.
“But why are you still awake?”
I didn’t even have time to ask before he spoke again.
Why was I still awake?
I couldn’t answer.
How would I know?
There were far too many people in this world asking me things I didn’t understand. Now this stranger, too, was interrogating me.
“No answer, huh.”
The man stood. He was tall—so tall that I had to crane my neck to look up at him. Just as I cautiously got to my feet—
The doors of the auction house burst open. Uniformed knights stormed in.
Uniforms…?
They approached the man beside me without hesitation.
“No suspicious individuals outside, Your Highness.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. We couldn’t detect any trace of a shaman.”
“Check that boy and confirm he’s not the one.”
The man gestured toward the boy collapsed onstage. One of the knights answered immediately.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I flinched.
Your Highness…? Did he just say—?
The man reached up and placed his hand on his mask. He was going to remove it.
Surrounded by his own people, the man pulled off his mask.
His handsome face was revealed—and though I had never seen him before, I recognized him the moment I saw his red eyes.
Scarlet eyes, the mark of the royal family. He was Killian Daireien, the half-brother of the Second Prince.
Gray hair, crimson eyes, and a presence both beautiful and powerful—he was the First Prince, just as I’d heard.
Even as knights and a robed man approached the collapsed boy, the First Prince did not move from where he stood in front of me.
“I heard one of the rebels I’ve been tracking would come to this auction to rescue the shaman’s child.”
He tilted his chin toward the stage as he explained.
“So I burned incense meant to lull ordinary people to sleep. I figured whoever stayed awake would be the one.”
Incense that puts people to sleep…?
Then why hadn’t I fallen asleep?
I held my breath, his words sending chills down my spine.
“But you’re the only one who didn’t sleep. How do you expect me to interpret that?”
His eyes gleamed coldly.
He was clearly suspicious of me.
I shook my head frantically.
“It wasn’t me!”
This was a disaster. I had never met the First Prince before, but I’d heard plenty about him.
The Mad Prince. Brilliant with a sword, but infamous for his violent tendencies.
People said his brutality in killing enemies was unmatched.
“I just came looking for a tiara. Look at what I’m wearing!”
I pointed to my luxurious green gown in a panic. What kind of criminal would show up in such a conspicuous outfit?
“Even if you’re not a shaman, maybe you’re connected. Could there be nobles linked to them…?”
His murmured suspicion filled me with dread.
Why this misunderstanding…?
Shamans were not treated well in the Vadel Empire.
Though scattered across the continent like minorities, a large number resided in the empire. Yet they had always been shunned.
The empire believed them cursed for offering humans as sacrifices.
That resentment led to countless conflicts. Long ago, the shamans even tried to establish their own kingdom within the empire—only to be crushed.
Most lived quietly now, but some still turned to crime, fueled by resentment.
The First Prince was known to be especially merciless toward such people.
He reached toward his belt—then chuckled coldly.
“Oh. I didn’t bring my sword.”
My breath caught.
He was going to draw his sword?!
If the auction house hadn’t banned weapons, he might’ve already had a blade to my throat.
“Bring it.”
He instructed one of the knights nearby. There was no question what he meant.
“I have nothing to do with shamans!”
“You may not be one, but you’re certainly suspicious. Can’t you see? You’re the only one left standing.”
“I don’t know why! You aren’t asleep either, are you?”
“I prepared for the incense, of course. You didn’t.”
So that was why.
A sigh escaped me.
All I wanted was to find a tiara—how did it come to this?
I could cry.
The First Prince, watching my increasingly panicked expression, spoke calmly.
“If you’re not suspicious, prove it.”
But how could I prove I was just an ordinary person? That moment was long gone.
When everyone else fell unconscious, I should have pretended too!
“If I reveal my identity… will you believe me then?”
“No.”
He replied without hesitation.
“I still have to find out why you’re the only one unaffected. I investigate anything suspicious to the very end.”
He’s insane…
Revealing who I was wouldn’t change a thing.
