Chapter 12

Any further bids would just spotlight the impressive sums the outsider was willing to spend.

The best move was to quit before the price topped a billion.

It was humiliating.

Reyes forced himself to hide his displeasure and spoke as smoothly as he could.

“…If number 3 wants this boy that much, I’ll yield.”

The dealer, who had been glancing between the two men, let out a cheer.

“Five—five hundred forty million! Sold to customer number three for five hundred forty million!”

The boy was dragged to the side of the hall. The next item came up, and people’s interest quickly shifted to the new goods. Sabina sat for a moment, then grabbed Ashton’s arm.

“I’ll pay. That money.”

“I called out the numbers so boldly, and now you want me to let my partner pay? Are you trying to make me look like a jerk?”

“I didn’t bring you here to spend your money. I just…”

“I know, I know. It’s obvious just looking. It’s because of His Highness the Prince, isn’t it?”

Her transparent pink lips pressed together. That wasn’t it. At first, she hadn’t thought Reyes would be here and intended to come alone. She’d decided to bring Ashton along because she felt embarrassed about being so sensitive in the dressing room yesterday.

But if he misunderstood, there was no need to correct him.

When Sabina stayed silent, Ashton started rambling.

“It’s good to have a male partner to block other men’s approaches. Miss D’Vialis, you aren’t friends with His Highness, but he acts friendly with you, so it must be awkward.”

He raised one eyebrow and grinned.

“Am I wrong?”

“…Think whatever you want.”

Sabina rose from her seat. 

‘Did I say something wrong?’ 

Ashton stood up to follow, asking. Sabina shook her head.

“I bought what I came for. Now I’m leaving because I’m done.”

Her satin shoes stepped noiselessly over the red velvet carpet. Her partner followed without a word, like a trained dog.

Passing through the hall and up the stairs to the owner’s room, someone waited for the successful bidder.

To receive the boy, two contracts had to be signed. One was a mutual secrecy agreement, and the other a sales contract.

“As a foreigner, you may not know, but both contracts are enchanted. If you break them, it won’t be pleasant.”

The owner of Carnival, Don Slafdi (obviously a pseudonym), wearing a mask adorned with jewels and gold leaf, wagged his finger.

“Haha. Truly, Brinita has more magicians than pebbles. You’d never see this in Retona.”

Ashton took a contract in each hand and asked,

“Is a check from Brinita Royal Bank, okay?”

“If you have an account there, that’s best.”

‘Cashing a slave payment check at the royal bank. This is a fully state-sanctioned market.’

On a blank check from the royal bank, the words “54 million” were written in perfect Brinita script. Ashton waved the check and said,

On a blank check from the Royal Bank, the words ‘five hundred forty million’ were written in flawless Brinitan script. Flicking the check lightly, Ashton said,

“There’s something I need to confirm before handing this over and signing the contracts. You broke the boy’s leg.”

“Ah, he tried to escape, so I had no choice. Don’t worry, he’s been treated since the sale. Carnival always has a healer on hand. You never know what might happen… Since you paid so much, I won’t charge for the treatment.”

“How generous of you.”

Don Slafdi just laughed off Ashton’s sarcasm. After all, this outsider was the biggest spender on a single item tonight, and on a completely unexpected one. What a precious customer.

“Well then, shall we go fetch our boy? Only the successful bidder, please follow.”

Ashton seated Sabina on the couch. Silver eyes looked up at him.

“I’ll bring him. Wait here.”

“Alright.”

Sabina answered obediently. She wouldn’t run into Reyes here again. Reyes had already lost twice to Ashton tonight, so he wouldn’t risk coming back to bother Sabina.

Ashton followed Don Slafdi around a corridor, hands behind his back. Through his mask, Don Slafdi kept glancing at Ashton. Ashton deliberately ignored his gaze. Eventually, the Carnival owner couldn’t resist speaking first.

“You seem very wealthy.”

“Well, I’m not lacking.”

His voice sounded oddly indifferent. Don Slafdi sidled closer.

“I’d like to ask you something.”

“Ah, is this why only the winner was asked to follow? To get Miss D’Vialis alone so you could cozy up to me?”

“Well, you’re sharp and direct. I like that.”

Don Slafdi was cheerful. He opened one of many identical doors with a small gold key.

The boy was sitting, leaning against the wall. Ashton walked past Don Slafdi and ceremoniously checked the boy’s leg. The bone was set, and the boy showed no sign of pain.

The boy, who’d burned with rage in the auction hall, now looked powerless after the healer’s visit. Ashton saw that the boy’s pupils were dilated. They must have given him something to prevent accidents during the transfer, like biting his tongue.

“He’s fine.”

Ashton gave a brief assessment.

“You caught that quickly. He’s not unconscious.”

“Did you use Gelopina? The powerful relaxant that leaves the mind clear but disables the body for hours. A bit more and he’d be dead.”

“One dose won’t cause problems. If anything happens, we’ll compensate.”

“This boy will be fine.”

Ashton squatted in front of the boy and studied his face.

“I know well.”

“Have you taken Gelopina?”

“Once.”

“You’ve had an eventful life.”

Ashton shrugged and signed the papers, handing them and the check to Don Slafdi.

“So what did you want to ask?”

The boy looked at Ashton with unfocused eyes. It wasn’t easy, but he seemed to be regaining focus. Don Slafdi cleared his throat.

“What would you have done if His Highness had crazily bid 5 billion? Would you really have gone to 10 billion?”

“I would have.”

“You could spend 10 billion in a day? You really have that much in liquid assets?”

His voice was skeptical, but there was a strange excitement. If true, Ashton was a once-in-a-lifetime mega-wealthy man. Don Slafdi couldn’t miss the chance to connect with him.

Ashton looked away from the boy and stood, turning to Don Slafdi. He removed his mask and grinned.

“If I’d bid 10 billion, I’d have written that number on the blank check.”

“Even knowing the contract’s enchanted?”

“Of course.”

Ashton stepped closer to Don Slafdi and extended his hand. Don Slafdi shook it.

At that moment, Ashton’s face went cold as a mask.

“10 billion, 100 billion. I’d have paid.”

Sensing something wrong, Don Slafdi tried to pull away, but Ashton didn’t let go. Ashton opened his eyes wide and bared his teeth in a grin—a monster devouring a man. Don Slafdi stepped back.

“H-hey…”

“That’s all you wanted to know? I thought you’d have more interesting questions… Disappointing.”

Suddenly, Don Slafdi’s whole body convulsed as if struck by lightning. His eyes rolled back, his body shook violently several times. Ashton didn’t flinch, just held his hand and looked down coldly.

Soon Don Slafdi went limp. Ashton finally let go. The ornate mask fell off and rolled on the floor.

The boy watched this happen. He wanted to ask what Ashton was doing, but couldn’t speak. Ashton’s gaze slowly left the man on the floor and turned to the boy.

“Let’s go. Your owner is waiting.”

With his back to the window, under moonlight, his cool blue eyes glowed…

* * *

To sum up, Sabina safely received the boy.

Without Don Slafdi, only Ashton and the boy walked out to the corridor where Sabina waited. The boy couldn’t walk properly and stumbled, so Ashton carried him on his back.

Knowing from the original story that the boy had been given Gelopina, Sabina didn’t ask what happened and quietly rose from her seat.

“Let’s go.”

On paper, the boy belonged to Ashton, but he had no intention of keeping him. Ashton silently transferred the boy to Sabina. So the boy was led to Sabina’s house and laid to sleep in her guest room.

“Good job.”

As she laid the boy on the soft bed, Sabina’s small hand briefly patted Ashton’s arm. Eyes like larimar looked down at her. Sabina took off her hat. Her fingers fiddled with the brim, oddly uncertain.

“I didn’t mean for you to spend so much bringing him. I don’t know how much you exchanged from Retona, but deducting 540 million from your money must be a burden. If you’ll allow it, I’d like to pay you the full auction price, plus a little extra for your trouble…”

“Shh.”

When she looked up, Ashton was smiling.

“Let’s go. The kid’s asleep.”

He turned first.

Sabina hurried after Ashton. For once, she truly didn’t know what to do.

She was always the one spending money, never the one receiving such a large sum. This was her first experience, and it made her act very differently than usual.