The auditorium was dark and silent, the only place that has a light was the stage. Sitting down in the middle row with Nash, Ashleah took a deep breath and held her cardboard sign with the number of 53.
As for her two personal knights, Kian was outside. Dressed as the coachman of their carriage, Gab was sitting at the last row. Why? Because when Ashleah sends her signal he can quickly go and run off to Kian.
Slowly getting consumed by silence, Ashleah's heart began to beat rapidly. Thoughts that never even dared to cross her mind earlier are now showering non stop.
Nash glanced at Ashleah with his worried expression, eyebrows were creased lightly pursing his lips. He knew that this would happen. Lifting up his hands, his fingers slowly touch the excess hair of Ashleah that can be seen and slowly tugged it to her left ear.
Wide-eyed, Ashleah looked at Nash. A small yet reassuring smile crossed his lips, his eyes were looking at hers like it was comforting her.
"Ah, you're getting cheeky, aren't you?" She again looked back at the stage, Nash chuckled lightly. The both of them were trying to light up the atmosphere, even if its just for them.
And then suddenly, a man started walking to the stage. Wearing a black mask with blue designs on it, he showed every one a smile. His shoes tapped the wooden stage as he wandered his eyes around the auditorium.
No one, literally no one dared to talk. It felt suffocating for Ashleah, but then the man chuckled and clapped his hands for about 3 times before talking.
"Oh my! We have a lot of customers for today. Let me enlighten you, our dear customers. Tonight is a big night! We're going to offer you a lot of good products, oh. Our regular customers do get that right?"
Almost half of the audience chuckled because of what the man said. The man on the stage smirked and raised his hands to his right.
"Let's welcome our first product for the night!" As soon as he said that, a woman got pushed from the side, her feet weren't tied, as for her wrists were tied on her back, a white cloth placed on her mouth.
Men started clapping, she was horrified. 'Is this how they treat women?! No way in hel—' She blinked, and sighed deeply. Ashleah knew that suddenly raging here can cause much more trouble.
The woman was wobbling as she slowly walked to the center of the stage. Kneeling down, the woman didn't even budge to look up.
The man with a mask looked pissed, he quickly held the woman's hair tightly, making her whimper. Looking up, finally seeing her face the wild beasts (men) started whistling. Loving the view of the beautiful woman with tears flowing down her porcelain face.
Her golden eyes wandered around the room, she felt like she was suffocating. She couldn't hear anything, the men started bidding from silver coins to gold coins for her.
"20 gold coins!"
"35 gold coins!"
Men continued to debate for the woman, Ashleah slowly squeezed her hands on top of her chest as she felt tears were going to drop one by one sooner or later.
The princess felt sorry for she can't do anything but stare as they get harrased by noble men. Even though she was called Princess, men were still a lot privilege than any other.
"150 gold coins!"
"150 gold coins? Is that it? No one's going to bid higher? Going once, going twice. Sold to the man who bid 150 gold coins!" The man exclaimed, as he quickly pushed the woman's head back on the ground.
The auction continued.. and continued.. Not until a young boy got pushed onto the stage making the men whistle loudly. Some even started clapping.
Nash, Gab and Ashleah's widened as they saw a young boy guessing he was almost 10 to 12 years old. The bidding quickly started with gold coins, Ashleah scoffed and puts her number up making Nash freeze on the spot.
"1,000 gold coins!" She exclaimed as she slowly bit her lips, 'I'm not happy with this anymore!' The princess thought.
"2,000 gold coins!" Another man exclaimed, making Ashleah's eyes burn with flames as she gripped onto her number.
"100,000 gold coins. Now!" Gab slowly stood up as he finally heard the signal word. Getting out of the building, he sent Kian a big thumbs up.
Inside the auditorium, everyone was speechless. 100,000 gold coins for a young boy? But the man was marveled.
"100,000 golds? Going once, going twice! Sold to our biggest bidder for the night!" Ashleah smirked. They never thought that this would be their last night.
The auction continued, not until a young man ran to the stage, making the man with a mask frown. But what he heard from the young man made him stop from his tracks.
"W-We need to stop the auction for today everyone!" He quickly said, trying to walk away. But everyone started to ask questions.
Before he can even walk away, the two large doors from both sides of the auditorium opened. 'Ah, finally.' Ashleah thought as she giggled softly.
Kian was in front with Gab, proudly wearing their Imperial Knights uniform, they started walking to the stage, other knights surrounded us.
"The emperor himself has sent me here to arrest Marquess Ryth for his crimes! Selling and abducting commoners are breaking the law! As for everyone here, will be given their own punishments from the emperor himself." Kian loudly said. Ashleah started clapping with a proud smile on her face.
"W-Well then! Get her too!" The Marquess pointed Ashleah, with gritting teeth he didn't know that he's really dead for disrespecting an Imperial Princess.
"How dare you point your filthy finger on her highness?" grabbing his finger, Gab was now livid. Ashleah's eyes widened as she quickly removed her mask and the cape that was covering her hair.
"Oh no, Marquess Ryth. I am deeply sorry for taking you by surprise." She showed everyone a fake smile, looking around their faces were shocked.
"The princess?" His voice were trembling as his eyes finally held what Ashleah was waiting for to see. The Marquess Ryth finally felt like he couldn't do anything.
"For disrespecting her Imperial Highness, I think that you're going to get more in trouble, Marquess Ryth." Finally, Nash showed up making them quiver in fear.
If there's anyone you should fear in the high society of nobles that is Nash's family. Do something wrong to them, the Deoncan family won't wait for karma to get you. They themselves are the karma.
"Let's get this done with shall we? Outside now." Her cold expression sent down shivers down their spines. Going down the stairs of the auditorium, Ashleah's heels tapped unto the wooden stage. Looking down at the Marquess who was earlier standing in front of the stage with pride and joy. She smiled.
"Oh dear, weren't you happy earlier Marquess?" He turned his head, avoiding her deadly stare.
She then stood up straightly and walked to the backstage and saw almost hundreds of women in different ages crying and thanking the knights.
"Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings!" The knights said in sync, bowing in perfect 90 degrees, making the women kneel down the ground as she heard their sobs.
'I finally did something.. to help them.' Tears that she's been trying to hold was now dropping one by one. Sliding down to her cheeks and dripping down to her chin and her black cape.
"Y-Your highness! Thank you so much—" The woman's body was shaking. Ashleah kneeled down to them and sighed, still tears streaming down her fair white skin.
"Please, do not thank me. It is my duty as your Princess to save people in need. Do not lower your heads and look at me. You are still human, we may be different in status but I do not like it when they treat you like animals." Slowly, they looked up and cried.
Her eyes landed on the young man. He was crying silently on the side. Standing up, she walked to the young man and softly embraced him.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was late. Your princess was late." She cried out, making everyone cry even harder.
"No, Princess wasn't l-late." The boy sniffled while hiding his face between Ashleah's neck. "P-Princess saved us." The boy continued to cry.
Children started to surround Ashleah and hugged her, making her smile widely. 'I can't erase the bad memories they had here, but I will try my best to help them recover from the pain. I will do everything.' Ashleah thought as she closed her eyes and hugged the children.
Kian, Gab and Nash was proudly looking at Ashleah. The little girl that was always fragile from the outside, yet kind, soft, and amazing in the inside has finally grown up.
She continued to learn new things every single day. Kian wipe a single tear that fell from his eye. He's been there ever since the Princess was born. He was raised to protect the Princess.
Gab smiled softly and tapped Kian's shoulder. So, there is a brighter future for the Empire.
Knights were smiling proudly as they saw their Princess being so down to earth.
Now, they didn't see her as a candidate for just being selled off to another country and get married. They were seeing the future Empress of Genry.