"One thousand one!"

Suddenly, I heard Liliane’s voice, laced with disdain, drifting softly from the neighboring private room.

After a brief silence, astonished gazes from the crowd instantly shifted to her booth.

One thousand gold coins was no small sum—utterly unimaginable for ordinary folks. Yet someone still raised the bid, sparking both shock and curiosity… Who’d spend so much on this wristguard?

But when they spotted Liliane by the window, wearing a charming smile as she gazed at the shimmering auction item, all prior interest vanished. When the third princess of Spiritsoar Kingdom wanted something, who dared compete?

Sitting quietly on the wooden chair, I saw Master standing before the microphone. Her face instantly darkened.

I set down the dragon-patterned fruit gently, tiptoed to her side, and whispered, "Um… Master, this is too expensive. Maybe we should—"

"Fifteen hundred!"

Ignoring my plea, she hesitated briefly, then shouted the price straight into the mic.

Her tone crackled with anger—understandable. Just as her purchase neared, a rival interfered. Who wouldn’t be furious?

"Fifteen hundred! Once!"

"Three thousand!"

Gasps erupted across the hall. This price was six times the starting bid. Even with a fifth-tier magic crystal embedded, buying it now was pure loss. Such extravagance shocked even royalty.

Holding her hand, I felt her trembling slightly. Liliane had forced the price to three thousand—far beyond Master’s expectations.

"Damn it… the Crimson Dragon can’t wear this. It’s useless for her…"

I heard her mutter under her breath. Then she gripped the mic tightly, teeth gritted, and raised the bid again.

"Three thousand one!"

At this price, you could buy a magic item amplifying power threefold.

Onlookers sighed, watching the two feud. Everyone knew the Crown Princess and third princess clashed often—driving up a trivial item’s price made sense. But if the first auction sold this high, later prices would soar too. No one wanted that.

"Huff…"

After shouting, Master slumped onto the chair beside me. Despite ice-attribute magic crystals cooling the room, she wiped sweat from her brow with a handkerchief.

"Master… such a high price…"

"It’s fine, Yiyi. I don’t lack coin. Honestly, something I’m buying for you—how dare she—"

"Big sister’s so stingy, adding just a hundred? Five thousand!"

Incredulous shouts rose from below. Liliane smirked at us from her booth, her voice leisurely as she quintupled the starting price. Master’s relaxed expression froze instantly.

Though she claimed not to care about money, her heartache was obvious. Five thousand gold coins—no small sum even for royalty. If I recalled right, it equaled five days’ taxes from a mid-sized city. And this was only the first item. How would she afford the rest?

"Damn it… Yiyi, stop pulling me! How could I lose to her—"

Seeing her fists clenched, ready to charge, I tugged her sleeve and whispered, "Um… Yiyi thinks the third princess is goading you, Master."

Her angry glare stiffened. She pouted at me. "Hmph. I’d never fall for such tricks. Don’t underestimate me, Yiyi."

Righteously indignant, she pinched my wing.

"Punishment for doubting me."

A tingling sensation shot through my wing. I went limp, collapsing into her arms. I glared fiercely while fighting the Contract’s urge to snuggle against Master. Seriously—trying to help, and she pinches my wing… so good… ugh… damn Contract…

"Third sister, how extravagant—spending five thousand gold on a wristguard. You win. Take it. But I’d love to see how you’ll put this five-thousand-gold trinket on your Crimson Dragon."

Huh…?