Chapter 2.1 – The Party

Richel widened her eyes as she gazed at the enormous ship. The dazzling lights and splendid music captivated her senses. Although she had occasionally visited the harbor for fresh air, she had never boarded a ship before, making this experience all the more fascinating.  

“Is this your first time on a cruise?”  

“Yes, I’ve only ever seen them from afar.”  

“It was hard to get a reservation, but I’m glad we managed. You’ll have a lot of fun.”  

With an excited heart, Richel followed the other ladies aboard.  

The interior was even more extravagant. Numerous wines and beautiful desserts lined the tables, and a chandelier hung from the high ceiling.  

The most striking feature was at the far end of the hall. Lights from the ceiling illuminated a tiered stage. Richel wandered around with her mouth slightly agape, taking in her surroundings.  

“A lady from the Embris family attending here?”  

“Are you really joining us?”  

People approached Richel with surprised expressions.  

As the number of greetings increased, Richel began to feel uneasy. The atmosphere was somehow different from other parties. The way people whispered while glancing at her added to the strangeness.  

“What kind of party is this?”  

“You’re asking that too late, Richel. You should’ve asked before coming.”  

Just as a faint laughter laced the voices of the ladies, the lights went out.  

「Ah, ah. Can you hear my voice?」  

Footsteps echoed. A faint light illuminated the stage, revealing a person holding a microphone.  

The host, wearing a butterfly-shaped mask, leisurely scanned the crowd.  

「I see many familiar faces. Oh, you’re here again, Sir. How do you keep finding your way back? If you get caught this time, you might really be kicked out. Well, not that we mind since you’re helping us make money.」  

Ha ha ha! Loud laughter filled the hall. Despite the host’s easygoing tone, Richel’s expression grew stiff.  

“What is this place?”  

The ladies only laughed in response. Richel, her face tense, stood up and looked out the window. The buildings and lights had already faded far into the distance. Her heart pounded with unease.  

「Now, shall we introduce our newcomers?」  

The host gestured, and spotlights suddenly lit up various parts of the room. Richel found herself standing blankly under one of the bright lights. In the darkness, she felt heavy gazes upon her. Everyone’s glistening eyes roved over her.  

「Such stunning appearances. Where did they find such people? They deserve a big reward.」  

As the ladies who had brought Richel waved their hands, the host clapped. The hall filled with applause.  

The host began to walk toward Richel. Bowing politely, he greeted her.  

「Welcome, Lady.」  

The butterfly mask glinting in the light was chilling.  

***

The host began to explain.  

「Do you see the stage I’m standing on? It’s the place for courtship. If you see someone you like, don’t hesitate to flaunt your wealth. The highest bidder wins private time with their chosen partner. Oh, but this isn’t an auction. We’re just here to help people find their matches.」  

His casual words flowed effortlessly.  

「We also consider the opinions of those on stage. If you dislike the person courting you, you can refuse. However, you’ll need to pay double the amount they offered. If they’re willing to go that far, what else can we do? You’ll have to step aside. If the feelings are mutual, feel free to head to a private room or a sunbed.」  

The host shrugged.  

「I hope no one here has complaints about the money we take. After all, you came here for fun, didn’t you? If you didn’t like it, you wouldn’t have bought the ticket in the first place.」  

The crowd burst into laughter. One of the ladies, who had been laughing along, turned to the dazed Richel and said,  

“This is a party for finding lovers.”  

“…….”  

“Don’t worry too much. The relationships here are only for this place. Isn’t it wonderful? You enjoy it here, in this moment, and then return to reality. What a great form of entertainment.”  

“But all of you… you’re married….”  

The woman waved her hand behind Richel. A stranger stood there.  

“That’s my third lover I met here. He’s nouveau riche, but he has plenty of money. Perfect for raising my value.”  

“Value…?”  

“Yes. Everyone here wants it. To be sold at the highest price.”  

“…….”  

“You’ll fit in with us better once you’ve experienced this too.”  

Richel’s face turned pale.  

「Let the party begin. Those wishing to court someone, please put on your masks.」  

Most of the attendees donned masks. The hall darkened except for the central area, and people began to move on and off the stage. Famous noblewomen called out prices for young men.  

“500,000 gold!”  

“550,000!”  

「550,000 gold offered. Any higher? Congratulations!」  

Applause followed. Many people went up on stage and called out their bids. The ladies who had brought Richel did the same. Some were chosen by their lovers, while others picked partners themselves.  

「Now, let’s welcome tonight’s star.」  

The host gestured toward Richel. The ladies pushed her forward, causing her to stumble onto the stage steps. The host took her hand and escorted her to the center, asking,  

「How does it feel to be up here?」  

“…….”  

「You seem very nervous. Understandable. Shall we proceed right away?」  

People eagerly raised their hands. 1 million gold, 2 million, 5 million…. The bidding started high and quickly reached the billions.  

As the assistants recorded the bids, the host lowered the microphone and whispered,  

“If you don’t like someone, just refuse. Here, money solves everything. You must have plenty of it, right?”  

Richel lowered her gaze. She wasn’t from a particularly high-ranking noble family and didn’t have much money.  

“No need to be so scared. Compared to the eastern night markets, this is child’s play. Over there, they really turn people into slaves….”  

As the host spoke, Richel blinked. Tears fell onto the stage floor. The host flinched.  

Although it was common for nobles to have lovers, Richel had never considered it. Even if her marriage had been arranged, she wanted to live with mutual respect.  

But now, she stood on a stage meant for finding lovers. People were bidding for her, assigning her a price.  

In despair, Richel shut her eyes tightly. How foolish she had been to blindly follow others.  

How disappointed her husband would be if he found out….  

She wanted to shout and demand to be sent home immediately, but it was a foolish thought. What could she do alone in the middle of the ocean?  

Causing a scene without any power would only get her thrown into the sea. Negotiating with whoever won her seemed like the better option.  

The problem was that she had no money. She had only planned to visit the harbor for some fresh air.  

What had I brought with me? Jewelry? 

As she listened to her price climbing sky-high, Richel considered the brooch on her outfit. It was a gift from her husband, and she hesitated, but if it was her only way out….  

“10 billion gold.”  

A deep voice cut through the noise, silencing the room.  

The host beamed and asked,  

「10 billion gold, is that correct?」  

“Yes.”  

The hall buzzed with murmurs as everyone turned to find the source of the voice.  

「Please come forward.」  

A tall man stepped out. Wearing a hood, he strode confidently to the stage. Richel furrowed her brow as she looked at him. His face was hidden behind a black mask.  

「Does anyone wish to bid higher? No? Thank you for the generous bid. However, may we confirm you have the gold? We’ve had scammers before, you see. With that amount, you could buy a hundred ships like this one.」  

The man snapped his fingers. Something shiny arced through the air. The host rushed to catch it with both hands. A heavy gem landed in his palms.  

「A diamond…?」  

The murmur echoed through the microphone, and the crowd buzzed with excitement. As staff rushed over with magnifying glasses to examine the fist-sized gem, Richel stared at the man. Her heart pounded wildly.

「Confirmed. My goodness, it’s a diamond! And such a high-purity gem at that…. We have quite an extraordinary guest here, don’t we?」  

The host cautiously asked,  

「May I know the origin of this diamond? Not to imply doubt, but it’s always better to be careful. If we were to accept stolen goods and get caught, it would be quite troublesome. Well…. If you have documents with the mining date or someone to vouch for it, that would be ideal. Otherwise, your identity could serve as proof.」  

The man reached into his coat and tossed something. A symbol of two crossed swords fell onto the stage.  

“I am a mercenary of the Northern Empire.”  

「A mercenary? How could a mercenary possess such a gem….」  

“I fought in wars and crawled through the filth.”  

He moved his hand again. Thud, thud, thud. Various gemstones rolled out one by one.  

“After proving my worth, the Emperor granted me a title. When I refused, he arbitrarily gave me territory instead. Every time I wielded my sword, I earned another.”  

The man then pulled out a pouch and turned it upside down on the stage.  

“These are the gems mined from there.”  

Gasps of astonishment erupted from the crowd.