Roulan's eyes sparkled with excitement as she clutched the edge of the blanket, her gaze fixed on the beautiful white flower displayed on stage. "Do you want it?" Kieran asked with a smile. Roulan shyly nodded. The Extreme Yin Flower, paired with the yin dew gifted by Draco, could be used to refine a pill that greatly enhances Yin essence.
Kieran met her gaze, then gave a slight nod, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Go ahead."
She reached for the paddle on the table and took a steady breath. Mei Lin's voice echoed from below, "The bidding for the Extreme Yin Flower shall begin at ten spirit coins."
Roulan raised the paddle; her voice, clear and firm, was projected to the hall below. " Twenty spirit stones."
"Twenty-five spirit stones," A voice came from the floor below, eager to compete for the herb.
"Just bid a hundred spirit stones," Kieran said before Roulan could start a bidding war. Roulan hesitated for a moment. The flower might be rare, but a hundred spirit stones were way above its market price. Kieran nodded reassuringly, and Roulan lifted the paddle, "One hundred spirit stones." Her voice, calm and confident, was projected to the hall.
The crowd gasped again, a wave of astonished murmurs rolling through the auction hall for the second time that evening. Mei Lin blinked, then gave a delighted laugh. "One hundred spirit stones from the upper pavilion—again! Do I hear more?"
But the hall had fallen still, the bid quelling all challengers. "Going once.... going twice.... the extreme yin flower is sold to the guest in VVIP room one."
As the murmurs from the auction hall faded, Roulan turned to Kieran with joy in her eyes. "Thank you, husband," she whispered, her voice soft with emotion. Without hesitation, she slipped into his lap, her bare breasts pressing against his chest as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Kieran caught her effortlessly, cradling her in his arms as she leaned in to press a gentle kiss to his lips. Her touch was tender, filled with affection. He responded with a quiet smile, one hand circling her waist while the other rose to gently stroke her hair, fingers gliding through the silken strands with care. Wrapped in his embrace, Roulan nestled against him, the warmth between them more comforting than anything.
Prince Caleb sat upright the moment Roulan's voice echoed through the auction hall. His eyes gleamed with sudden excitement, the lazy smirk on his lips sharpening into an evil smile.
"That voice…" he murmured, leaning forward, fingers drumming against the armrest of his chair. "It's her. It has to be."
He turned to his subordinate, who stood attentively nearby. "Keep your eyes on that private room. Don't lose track of its occupants—not even for a moment."
The servant bowed low. "At once, Your Highness."
Caleb's smile widened, dark with anticipation. "With the Tower master absent, no one's here to protect her this time." He lifted his goblet, the liquid within catching the light like molten gold. "Let her enjoy her little moment. Tonight, she belongs to me."
Back in Kieran's VIP suite, Roulan slipped into a beautiful green dress that greatly complemented her curves and shimmered like dew-kissed leaves under morning light. Her long hair flowed freely down her back as she made her way to the door, responding to a knock before Kieran could rise.
She opened it gracefully, revealing Sheamus standing there with another polished wooden box in his hands. The moment he laid eyes on her, his breath caught ever so slightly.
"Well, damn," he muttered under his breath, before catching himself and straightening. "You must be Roulan. Now I see why the heavens smiled on Kieran twice."
Roulan chuckled softly, accepting the box with a polite nod. "Thank you."
Sheamus gave her a lopsided grin, scratching the back of his head. "You know, I work in an auction house full of treasures, and somehow, I've never come across one quite like you."
Kieran appeared next to Roulan, wrapping his arm protectively around her waist. Almost as if to say Back off! She's mine.
Sheamus laughed nervously, "Must be nice, having this kind of luck." He gave a half-bow to Kieran. "Anyway, here's your Extreme Yin Flower. Hope it serves you well."
With that, he turned and left, muttering to himself as he disappeared down the hall, "Maybe in my next life…"
Kieran closed the door with a quiet click and turned back into the room, returning to his seat, settling in with a calm breath. But before he could fully relax, Roulan walked over with a teasing sway in her hips and gracefully lowered herself onto his lap, nestling into the curve of his body like she belonged there.
She looped her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder as she murmured softly, "Husband, why can't I access the Sphere anymore?"
Kieran opened his mouth to answer—but before a word escaped, a flicker of violet light shimmered above his head.
With a small pop and a playful smirk, Sindra materialized, sitting cross-legged right on top of Kieran's head. "The Sphere seems to be changing," she said, her voice laced with curiosity and amusement. "Something inside is evolving… and I'm sure it will only be good for us."
She peeked over the top of Kieran's head, eyes gleaming. "You look very comfortable in Master's arms." She teased.
Roulan's cheeks flushed a soft pink at Sindra's teasing, but she still nestled deeper into Kieran's embrace, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the hem of his robe. A gentle silence hung for a moment before curiosity flickered in her eyes again.
"Where's Eir?" she asked, glancing around the room.
Sindra's grin widened mischievously as she leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Down there," she said, pointing under the low table near the divan.
Roulan followed her finger—and sure enough, peeking out from beneath the edge of the table, was Eir. The tiny spirit had her face buried in her hands, her entire body flushed a fiery red, tinting her normally soft aura into something that looked like a little flame imp.
"She's been hiding ever since you three got all… affectionate," Sindra added with a laugh. "Poor thing doesn't know where to look."
Unlike Sindra, whose playful and mischievous nature delighted in teasing and watching Kieran's most intimate moments with open amusement, Eir was pure and untainted by worldly experience, she didn't understand the concept of sex, only that it made her feel warm and flustered when she watched them and sensed the strong emotions from Roulan. Eir had only just begun to explore the world beyond her basic instincts when she bonded with Roulan. Emotions, relationships, and human intimacy were still new and bewildering to her, leaving her easily overwhelmed in moments like these, where she could only hide, red as a flame, unsure of what she was feeling or why.
Sensing the confusion and embarrassment through their bond, Roulan's expression softened. She gently reached out her hand and called out in a soothing voice, "It's alright, Eir. Come here."
For a moment, nothing happened—then, with slow, hesitant steps, the tiny spirit emerged from her hiding place, floating through the air, eyes still cast downward, the blush on her cheeks refusing to fade. She landed delicately on Roulan's outstretched palm, her head bowed low, unable to meet anyone's gaze.
Roulan cradled her gently, offering a reassuring smile. "There's nothing to be ashamed of," she said softly, "You'll understand things in time."