re

capital city before he even entered its gates.

ocession moved through the main

o

ryw

sprayed water into elaborate marble pools. Golden banners f

sive. Wastef

neutral as citizens lined the roads

y stared. Their faces were thin. The

was impossi

lothing carried a basket nearly larger than herself. Several childr

jaw tig

hness. It was obvious that King Valir ruled to monopolize resources, to fatten himself and his cronies, instead of leading the people to pros

ressed. "Trying to blind visitors with

s they think it makes

them look

tugged at G

sturbing the pattern became. Luxury concentrated around the palace while poverty sp

ms to recognize the signs: King Valir i

Military parades. S

ple cam

nside him. Another ruler who tr

massive and obsidian –Grey thank the Moon Godd

n delegations. Just arriving right before the Werewolf Kingdom was the Kingdom o

he Ronas they wanted before the auction. Valir made the system as such so that most Ronas would stay inside the kingdom. After all, in the K

captive and manipulation. The younger the R

rt of Ronas. In a way, he pitied those girls. He was afrai

inent. A Sultan Prince from the South also appeared carrying numerous c

the auction. Each delegate could only bring restricted number of personnel. Each delegate appeared with

gold and one kingdom heirloom. He thought it was enough. Yet standing t

lined up in front of each delegate.

epted no

ted was information. And a solution.

ion of the palace. As he stepped on the glittering marble floor, he looked right and left, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Ronas before the auction

palace," the servant said after observing Grey

e

rd. Because his mo

most outgoing werewolf. For scouting, he chose Red, a quiet red-haired werewolf that had a knack for spying and hiding. Red would scout the entire palace and scout an emergency

rhaps he could talk to a Rona or two so that when the auction cam

on his chamber

aid from the other side of the door, "The royal

n't need to sneak around if the

dders will at

sig

in

rvant

hopes you enj

ted that

diplomat had picked Grey up from

t brown yet whitening hair. Exactly th

dric bowed elegantly. "We a

delivered the exact same gr

princes, dukes, and wealthy mer

tential competitors.

grounds while enthusiastically de

he enchanted fountains

dn't have much information from the servants. The only information he could get was that there was one de

them toward the conservatory. N

ht reflected from crystal walls. Flowers bloomed in every imaginable color.

cture but by the s

drifted through the air. Butterflies fluttered

ng forests of his kingd

ions immediately quieted. Every

Ro

had died before she could tell him more stori

ervatory. Walking through gardens. Reading beside fou

the arrangement a

noticed th

ully monitored pathways. The way

Cages. Expensive, gold on

r taste in his mouth. Was my

couldn

lessing of sight could find the village. Every Wolf King that sought a Rona bride knew this. They had always been respectful and only brought one Rona at a time. The Earth Goddess also gave the blessing to humans, elves, and even tro

e King exactly because he traded the Ro

He was displaying them. Like exotic anim

bles openly stared. Evalua

couldn't deny the irony. He

buy

ence hardl

on, aren't they?" Lor

at him. "The

inked. "O

moved on, sensing Gre

us Ronas. There were fewer than he expect

arcity explained why kingdoms, nob

ed near a fountain. Their attenti

Blue eyes. El

ed around her. Even Grey recognized her

les

t Grey. "Excellent

ly. "Lady Celeste is consid

rifted through the air ar

erf

d why kingdoms coveted her

dress. Surrounded by roses. Hundreds of them. Crimson

re

Rose

ssive. Equall

lly sell for?" Grey as

ore than some kingd

ned blank. Inside, he w

fail

ngdom simply co

ot for any Rona

d his silence

d slightly

ed deeper into t

ss famous. Less extraor

paying clos

e highest tier, then the middle t

green blossoms. Vines danced playfully around

ey's interest. "T

the most beautiful, yet

bloomed wherever she s

t of ability hi

ialty?" G

red plants

or Lady Sage inside his mind. With this kind of ability

w. Golden flowers bloomed around her like sunligh

ontinued, "She special

possessed the prestige of Celeste.

d capable. Use

istic. At least until he asked the

c hes

rible

named

. Marcus swore under his breat

half the kingdom's

one

n

red at S

n B

he dip

e to pay that amou

e starting bid. If other delegate

cou

kingdoms. Kingdoms that hadn't spent deca

looke

uldn't afford Celeste. He couldn't afford Serena. A

. Not without sacrificing resource

rfaced. The auction suddenly felt much more dangerous

Bids he couldn't match.

ed but Grey bare

to identify overlooked talents. Less p

he noticed a young woman knee

sn't surrounded by admire

e seemed en

ale skin. Si

opped nearby. One per

d. He found

tion effortlessly. This on

he girl stood and disa

o

ment p

oward another display. Grey dismissed th

s the growing certainty that he wo

eception hall. Wine flowed freely. Nobles mingled

felt like a game to them. A competition. Entertainment

ey accepted one though he had no intention

ed across

investments. At nobles boasting about fo

nswered. "We'

imaced. "

or

here believing a solution existed. They assumed a Rona could be purchase

d his budget. Every promising option attracted wealthier b

ting Fig Tr

gdom wa

salvation was far beyo

ed whether he had already failed. Not because he l

he lac

ngdom, gold mattered m

n l