The grand hall of the auction house was in chaos. Murmurs and complaints buzzed through the crowd like angry bees as restless guests shifted in their seats.
Many of them were prominent collectors, nobles, and merchants who had traveled from distant regions solely to attend this highly anticipated auction, drawn by the promise of rare artifacts — especially the mysterious pendant that had been advertised as the highlight of the event.
Behind the stage, the auction house manager, a portly man with slicked-back hair and a perpetually sweating forehead, paced frantically, muttering to himself.
"Where is it? Where is it?!"
Every passing second without the pendant gnawed at his nerves. The staff he sent to search had returned empty-handed, and with each failure, his panic deepened.
Finally, the mounting pressure forced him to swallow his pride and approach the one person he dreaded speaking to.
Lady Seraphine.
