Inside the carriage, Kael looked at Eva, still confused by her presence. The carriage was fit for royalty, with every detail ticulously crafted, resembling the work of the most talented artisans. The polished wood reflected the light of the magical lanterns, while the velvet upholstery made the comfort inside almost surreal.
"Hey, Aunt Eva, why are you here, anyway?" Kael said, breaking the silence while gently swaying with the movent of the carriage.
Eva, distracted as she watched the landscape through the window, blinked and turned to him with a playful smile. "Huh? Didn't the old man tell you?" She shot a refined look at Adalric, who was sitting across from them, relaxed as always.
Adalric simply shrugged with a carefree smile, clearly enjoying himself. "Ah, I just wanted to keep you curious for a little while longer," he said, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
Eva rolled her eyes but grinned as well. "Of course, of course, the typical Adalric, loving to play with others' expectations." She crossed her legs and leaned toward Kael, giving an exaggerated sigh. "Well, the truth is, I initially had no interest in participating in these formal etings or events... frankly, I wanted to tell everyone to dance off. I just wanted to stay with my dear Kael and enjoy our ti together."
Kael blushed, averting his gaze for a mont, while Irelia, sitting across from them, looked like she was about to intervene but restrained herself.
"But, of course," Eva continued, stretching almost lazily, "the old man here convinced it would be a good idea to co. He said it would be useful to buy so new weapons for you guys... especially now that the training is getting more intense. And, of course, I wanted to see you, my Kael. So, here we are," she said with an affectionate and teasing smile at the sa ti.
Irelia crossed her arms, not particularly pleased with Eva's affectionate manner, and threw a side glance at Kael, who was trying to compose himself in the seat.
'I feel like I'm in the wolf's den!!' Kael thought to himself.
Adalric, watching the interaction as if it were a show, let out a low chuckle. "You two have what you need, but rember, this isn't just a shopping trip, it's an auction. Where we're going, anything can happen. Be ready for anything."
Eva radiated mischief, leaning forward with eyes sparkling with motivation. "Oh, it's going to be fun, I'm sure. Especially with my Kael by my side."
Irelia shot another look that seed like she would slit Kael's throat the mont she had the chance.
'I'm going to die if this keeps up...'
The carriage continued on its way, the rhythmic sound of the wheels against the paved road echoing softly inside. Kael, trying to ignore Irelia's refined gaze and Eva's provocative energy, fixed his eyes on the window, watching the contours of the city illuminated by the golden light of the magical street lamps.
When they finally arrived at their destination, Kael was surprised by the size of the place. The building was monuntal, a white stone structure adorned with golden details that shimred under the starlight. Guards in immaculate armor stood at the entrance, holding spears with flags of the Human Empire. A crowd of well-dressed people had already gathered, each one more extravagant than the other.
"We've arrived," announced Adalric, stepping out of the carriage with the calm of soone used to such events. He quickly glanced around and flashed a smile at Kael and Irelia. "Don't get too sensitive. This is just the beginning."
Eva followed shortly after, stretching as if the long journey had bored her. "Ah, how beautiful. They really went all out this ti. Nothing like spending millions on an event to remind us that the Empire is thriving at the expense of the poor." She smiled, but the ironic tone didn't go unnoticed.
Kael stepped down right behind her, feeling sowhat out of place. He adjusted his tie, looking around with curiosity mixed with nervousness. Irelia was the last to step out, adjusting her cream-colored dress with a displeased expression.
"Why does everything here scream 'excessive wealth'?" Irelia murmured, frowning.
Adalric gave a small smile. "Because that's exactly what it is. Welco to the Imperial Auction."
Eva let out a soft laugh. "Ah, but you still don't know the best part." She shot a glance at Kael, her red eyes gleaming with what seed to be pure amusent. "Do you want to know the real reason we're here?"
Kael frowned. "To buy weapons?"
"Partly," Eva replied, leaning toward him. "But what Adalric forgot to ntion is that... we were invited by none other than the Emperor of the West himself."
There was a mont of silence as Kael processed the information.
"The... Emperor?" Kael repeated, a noticeable tension in his voice as he felt a shiver run down his spine. He blinked a few tis, trying to process it, but his mind seed to freeze.
Eva raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by his reaction. "Darling... you look like you just heard a dragon for the first ti. Tell , your mother left you stuck in that forest, didn't she?" The distrust in her voice was almost palpable.
Kael averted his gaze, scratching the back of his neck nervously. "Eh... it's not exactly like that..." He tried to explain but the innocent words slipped out.
Eva sighed deeply, shaking her head in disbelief. "That woman... it's a miracle you're even here. She taught you the basics of society, didn't she? It's like releasing a cub in the middle of a hunting field without teaching it how to escape the predators."
Adalric, who had been watching the interaction with a mischievous grin, decided to add fuel to the fire. "Believe , Eva, he's a real spectacle. Anything new is enough to make him look like he's seen a ghost. And the best part..." He paused dramatically, crossing his arms and shooting a playful glance at Kael. "He doesn't understand even 10% of the aning of his own na! HAHAHAHA!" His booming laugh echoed throughout the surroundings, drawing curious looks.
Kael opened his mouth, feeling subtly uncomfortable. 'Great, now I'm the target of the jokes.' He thought, casting a side glance at Adalric.
Eva, however, didn't seem to find the situation quite so funny. She leaned slightly toward Kael, placing a hand on his shoulder with a look that mixed provocation and a touch of concern. "Kael, darling, this won't do. We're going to need to get you up to speed on reality. Starting now."
Kael just sighed, feeling that this night would be longer than he had expected.
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