Chapter 73: A scary society

Chapter 73: A scary society The golden lights of the candles illuminated the auction hall filled with nobles; Abrielle’s eyes darted around the room, disgust evident in her eyes at the so-called nobles who pretended to help society when they were the ones making it worse. Human trafficking and slavery were major issues headline in The Dragon and the Priest, which the FL advocated against, but it was a hard battle when it seemed like a tradition embodied in their society. Even the royal family tried several times to stop it by making the trade illegal but the nobles went ahead to fund places like this spends hundreds of gold coins. Despite her resentment for the trade, it was good for world-building, and it might be of advantage to her today. Her eyes fell on a girl with distinct features of golden brown skin and sharp silver eyes known to the wandering clan of magic users. They didn’t have a distinct kingdom of origin and travelled around the continent. Rumours had it they were from another continent. What made Abrielle more certain of the girl was the snake tattoo on her exposed arm, just as how she envisioned the hermit witch. What were the odds that she would find her in a slave auction as goods? This made Abrielle suspicious because the hermit witch was a very sly and powerful character in the book. The first girl was brought up, a little girl barely 14 years old with tender features. "The starting bid is 100 gold coins to a virgin from a noble home that lost their wealth." The host declared. The hall was turned into complete chaos as all the perverted, disgusting noblemen wanted to get their hands on their new plaything. The princess knew this was a norm in this society, but seeing it with her eyes how people dressed so demure and classy were acting like rabid beasts to get a little girl just to destroy her. It disgusted her to the core. "One thousand gold coins," the price went as high as that because of the girl’s tender features. That was an exorbitant amount and the bidder was a young fellow with a red mask, he had distinct handsome features. The younger ones, at times, are the most disgusting. It wasn’t part of the plan, but the dear princess could not sit still, although she might not be able to save all the slaves unjustly sent into slavery. Looking at those clear brown eyes, she was forced to act. "One thousand five hundred gold coins." She raised her number, increasing the bid; the man in the red mask didn’t like the fact his next prey was being taken from him and increased the bid. "Two thousand gold coins," Abrielle clicked her tongue that girl was one expensive slave, "we have two thousand from the gentleman in a red mask. Is there a three thousand?" The man in the red mask had a smug smile thinking no one was ready to take the bid higher. Abrielle was about to raise her card for three thousand but was beaten by a deep voice that seemed familiar, but she was sure she had never heard it before. "5 thousand gold coins." It was more than double and it left her stunned at how rich the person was. It was VIP, but even the high noble would not spend that much on a sex toy when they had several; it made her more wary, and she took a major decision, adamant about saving the girl. "10 thousand goin coins." Abrielle declared and the hall went silent at the price even the host could not believe it. Evelyn was even stunned; she knew her lady was a spendthrift, but 10 thousand on a single slave was too much. You could get an estate at the same price. "Your Highness, the prince will have to approve before spending such an amount of money." She informed Abrielle, "It is fine. I will just use my dowry then." Abrielle confidently said. The host seemed to have gotten over the shock. No one could beat that price, not even the mysterious VIP. "Is there a higher bid?" The host asked, but most of the bidders here didn’t even have that much. This was the auction house’s lucky day. "Going thrice," the host started counting although he doubted anyone would want to beat the bid. Whispers were heard among the audience as they were curious who was such a lavish spender. "Going twice," the host counted his eyes subconsciously going to the VIP areas, but at last, that was the winning bid. "Going... Then sold to the stunning lady with silver hair at 10 thousand gold coins." The host declared joy filled in his face. Abrielle was in a bad mood knowing how much she had spent. She might not be a saint but something in her heart while seeing those innocent eyes just didn’t let her ignore the girl. Unfortunately, she didn’t have more coins to save the rest; she knew what fate had been installed at them. A life filled with pain where they are not ever allowed to end their life as they would wish for death and never get it. This noble are no different from ghouls that destroy souls. The girl glanced at her new mistress with fright in her eyes; Abrielle could only imagine what she had gone through to look that broken. The girl was moved to the back, and other goods auctions started. Missing their best good, the other nobles fought for the rest toe-to-toe like rabid animals, and weirdly, the mysterious VIP didn’t bid once. Abrielle’s target seemed to be the last, as all other ’ goods’ were auctioned off first. "Final last but not least, a beauty from the wandering clan. She is a bit feisty but, with a strong hand, can be calm. The starting bit is 500 silver coins." Abrielle wanted to laugh at the cheap price. It seems the hermit witch was not infamous at this point in the plot. Abrielle wondered how she was able to leave this auction house in the original plot, but regardless, she was sure that was the target she must get.