Favored By The Villain

her eyes like a prisoner waiting for sentencing.
And then, the moment she had been dreading occurred.

“2,000 gold.”

“And we have 2,000 gold! Anyone else?” The host addressed the now silent audience.

Levisia knew that she had lost.
She turned to Pel and leant in close, her fingers cupping her chin.

“Can we go swoop down on their house now?”

* * *

Lidan laughed after he made the successful bid of 2,000 gold on the necklace.
He dropped his card on his table and linked his fingers together.

“Not a chance, Levy.”

Elizabeth, who was sitting next to him, sighed under her rose-embroidered mask.
She couldn’t believe her idiot brother had raised the price by 500 gold at the final hit.
A raise of 100 gold would have been enough.

“How could a stupid fool like you be part of the Imperial bloodline?” She folded her arms and shook her head.

“I’m the stupid fool, Liz? I beg to differ.
I’d say that if you pay the right price for something you want, then you’ve won.”

It was a silly answer from a silly man.
Elizabeth pressed down on her temple.

“So, what are we going to do now?” she asked.
“You’ve got the necklace, which is what you wanted.”

“I suppose I can give her back the necklace… But before I do,  there’s something I want to check.” Lidan sat up straight in his chair and peered over the balcony.
His eyes fell on Levisia and her black mask, as well as the man next to her.

Pel’s mask was identical to Levisia’s except his was white rather than black.
The way they were together, and the way they kept whispering together, it raised questions.

“This is unpleasant…” He muttered under his breath.

He had been curious about how she came in possession of a necklace made from Roycal’s bones, but now he was more curious about her friend’s identity.
Together like that… He wondered about their relationship.

And there was something oddly familiar about the man that Lidan couldn’t quite place his finger on.
Lidan cupped his chin and stared deeply at the two.
Then, when Pel rose from his seat, Levisia stood up with him.
The two of them left together.
Sure, lots of people left in the middle of an auction, but these two were different.