"2,100!"

Just as that guy flicked his head impatiently and strode toward the microphone to bid, a cloaked figure in the auction house corner called out.

"2,200!"

"2,300!"

After a brief hush, the hall erupted again with escalating bids. Once the first dared to try, others quickly followed.

After all, treasures from Diwu’s Vault were rare across the continent. Paying extra for this Stardevouring Staff made sense. Who knew—maybe it held undiscovered powers, a real bargain.

After nearly fifteen minutes of bidding, the staff’s price hit 7,300 gold coins, nearly matching the earlier "Darkgold Rampage Bear King." Fewer voices joined now at such heights.

"Typical Little Yiyi," Lilith murmured. "Everything you like costs a fortune."

Her hand, already tousling my hair, slid down to gently stroke my pale pink wings. Again and again, her touch sent warm shivers through me.

My body trembled slightly. I fought the Contract’s soothing pull, wanting to dodge her hand—but feared she’d sulk and refuse to buy the staff. So I endured the electric tingles from my wings, face flushed, silent.

Staring at the Stardevouring Staff... I felt a strange pull. Hard to explain—just deep liking. Anyway, Lilith’s coin, not mine. Waste it? Not my problem! Almost... ugh, close call... nearly got a headache again.

Seeing my flustered look, Lilith grinned wider. She pinched my wing firmly once more before rising to approach the microphone.

Ugh... for this staff! I’ll endure!!

"7,300! Any more? 7,300 once!"

"8,000!"

Lilith’s voice rang out, calm yet certain, after scanning the quiet hall.

I noticed Liliane in the next booth glance at her—mouth moving but no sound. The first item’s loss had burned caution into her.

Others followed suit, remembering Lilith’s earlier trap. No one wanted to repeat that mistake. Besides, as Spiritsoar Kingdom’s Crown Princess, she wasn’t worth crossing.

Silence fell thick after Lilith’s bid.

"8,000! Once!"

"8,000! Twice!"

"No more bids? Then—"

Just as we both relaxed, thinking the Stardevouring Staff was ours, a familiar voice cut in from the corner.

"8,500!"

The cloaked figure.

"9,000!"

Lilith flashed me a reassuring grin, then coolly eyed the cloaked bidder. "10,000!"

"10,500!"

"12,000!"

"12,100..."

She’d only raised a hundred this time—after always adding five hundred. Clearly bluffing.

"Oops~" Lilith caught herself, switching her "don’t worry" sign to a victory V. "12,500!" she called lazily.

...

"12,500! Once!"

The cloaked figure fell silent.

"12,500! Twice!"

Liliane in the next booth just parted her lips—no words came. That first-item sting haunted her. What if she bid and Lilith backed out? Paying so much for a useless staff... even as Third Princess, she’d avoid that loss.

"12,500! Thrice! Congratulations to our guest in Booth Six—winner of the Stardevouring Staff!"

"Phew..."

Watching Lia slam the auction gavel, I sighed quietly. Worth the price? Maybe not. But I got this beloved staff—and tricked Lilith. So happy... crap, got carried away... headache... it hurts... damn Contract...