Black and White were equally surprised. Zora had never had close dealings with Tianxiang Comrcial Bank. If this arrangent was rely because of what happened earlier, it felt a little too much.
The waiter maintained a respectful smile and explained gently, "Princess Consort, Prince Kael is a distinguished VIP of the Comrcial Bank. As his consort, you naturally qualify to enter the VIP box."
Zora paused for a brief mont. She truly had not expected to be borrowing her nasake husband’s influence.
That man... given his status, it was indeed reasonable for him to be a VIP of Trading Hall.
After the waiter withdrew, the corners of Zora’s lips curved slightly, her smile as graceful as a blooming lotus.
"I only have a VIP box, not a first-class seat," she said softly, glancing at Serestia. "I really do envy you."
Serestia’s face instantly darkened, the smugness from earlier completely shattered.
Under the gaze of the surrounding crowd, she felt as though her cheeks were burning.
anwhile, elsewhere in the crowd, Crown Prince Philip, who was maintaining rather a low-key position while watching the entire drama happened so far, looked at Zora in shock. "That Crippled bastard brother of mine is a VIP here?"
He truly hadn’t known that Prince Kael held such status within the Comrcial Bank. Even as a Crown Prince, he went through his father’s recomndation to enter the VIP box. Just what kind of influence did Kael wield?
He suddenly felt like there was sothing fishy going on. Did Zora know about it? Is that why she accepted Kael as her husband despite knowing he was a cripple? He couldn’t help but wonder.
"The auction is about to begin," Zora said as she turned to Nigel and Rose. "Let’s go in together."
Rose’s eyes widened in surprise. "I can go too?"
Zora smiled and nodded. "Of course."
Rose bead instantly. The VIP box was practically legendary in her eyes. She never imagined she would one day sit inside one.
Without further hesitation, the three of them followed the waiter upstairs.
As they left, the rest of the people in the hall gradually took their seats.
Serestia stared at Zora’s retreating figure and stomped her foot hard, her face twisted with resentnt.
She had planned to humiliate Zora today. Instead, she had made a fool of herself.
*
Under the waiter’s guidance, Zora and the others entered the VIP box.
Located on the second floor, the box overlooked the entire auction hall, offering an unobstructed, commanding view. The space inside was spacious and elegant. The seats were soft and comfortable, inviting relaxation the mont one sat down.
On the table in the center were fragrant tea, exquisite pastries, and three neatly arranged auction catalogs, ready to be browsed.
Rose looked around in amazent. "The treatnt here is really different. This is so much better than sitting downstairs."
She had attended auctions before, always seated in second-class areas. Back then, she hadn’t felt anything amiss. Only now did she truly understand the gap.
Nigel nodded in agreent. "This VIP box is refined and comfortable. Compared to the noisy hall, it’s far more pleasant."
Zora smiled faintly. "The number of VIPs at the Comrcial Bank is very limited. Naturally, the arrangents are flawless."
She had to admit that the Elysia Comrcial Bank truly understood how to do business.
Such a clear hierarchy skillfully stirred people’s desire to rise higher. Once soone tasted this kind of privilege, they would inevitably crave a higher status within Tianxiang.
Otherwise, Serestia would not have been so smug over rely obtaining a first-class seat.
Serestia sat stiffly in her seat. This was the first ti she had ever been able to sit in the first-class section of the Auction House.
It should have been a mont of pride.
Yet the mont she thought of Zora calmly sitting in a VIP box above everyone else, a wave of anger surged through her chest. Why did that woman get to sit there?
Back then, she had been one of the very few chosen from the imperial city to take the academy’s assessnt and successfully beco a student. When she returned this ti, she had fully expected to be the center of attention.
Instead, all eyes were on Zora.
When she inquired further, she learned that Zora had even received an invitation from the Academy.
As a student of Imperial Academy, Serestia understood all too well what that invitation represented. It was a recognition reserved for only the most outstanding talents. The thought alone made her seethe.
What she found most unbearable, however, was sothing else entirely.
Zora was married to Prince Kael.
How could this be?
Inside the VIP box, Zora casually picked up an auction catalog. She had not had the chance to browse it earlier and was now checking whether there was anything she needed.
At that mont, Rose suddenly looked at her and asked, "Miss Zora, do you know why Serestia deliberately targeted you?"
Zora raised an eyebrow. "Because I received an invitation from the Academy?"
Rose nodded, then shook her head. "That’s only part of it. There’s another reason, one that’s... more personal."
A hint of confusion appeared in Zora’s eyes. Aside from this, she truly couldn’t think of any past grudge between herself and Serestia.
Nigel seed to realize what Rose was referring to and smiled helplessly.
"Because of what?" Zora asked.
"Because Serestia once admired Prince Kael."
The words struck like a stone dropped into water.
Zora’s eyes widened slightly. Of all the possibilities she had imagined, this was not one of them.
Serestia... liked Kael Moonstone?
Rose continued, "Back when Prince Kael was still whole, there were many won in the imperial city who admired him. A genius like him was rare, after all."
"Back then, the Emperor had even intended to betroth Serestia to Prince Kael. Coincidentally, she had always liked him, so many people knew about it. But Prince Kael refused."
"For the past three years, the Emperor ntioned Prince Kael’s marriage to her more than once, yet he never agreed."
As she spoke, Rose looked at Zora with a slightly complicated expression. "Until you appeared. When the Empress proposed your marriage to him, Prince Kael actually agreed."
That was what shocked everyone the most.
For years, Prince Kael had shown no interest in marriage, ignoring all suggestions from the Emperor. Yet when it ca to Zora, he not only agreed but personally arranged a grand and flawless wedding.
Anyone could see how much he valued her.
Faced with such a contrast, how could Serestia possibly accept it?
A trace of surprise flickered through Zora’s eyes. Seeing Nigel nod in agreent, she knew Rose was telling the truth.
It seed she had underestimated Kael Moonstone’s charm. There were far more won in the imperial city who admired him than she had imagined.
"So that’s how it is," Zora said with a faint smile.
Rose looked at her and smiled as well. "Still, it has to be said... Prince Kael truly has remarkable judgnt."
Only now did Zora truly understand why, among so many people in the imperial city, Prince Kael alone stood apart.
She smiled faintly, though she did not realize that Rose herself also harbored complicated feelings toward Kael Moonstone.
Thinking of him, Zora’s expression softened slightly. She wondered how he was doing now.
Lowering her gaze, she focused on the auction catalog in her hands. Page after page revealed an impressive array of items.
Weapons, dicinal herbs, cultivation manuals, martial techniques—almost everything a cultivator could desire was present. It was clear that the Auction House had prepared thoroughly for this event.
Her purpose in coming was simple: she wanted a suitable weapon.
However, after scanning through most of the catalog, she still had not found anything that truly caught her eye.
Ordinary weapons were beneath her notice. If nothing suitable appeared, she would simply have to wait and search elsewhere in the future.
Just as she was about to give up, her gaze suddenly froze on the final page.
There, illustrated in pale blue ink, was a sword.
Ice Sword!
Its description was concise yet enticing: hair-splitting sharpness, peerless edge, a blade suffused with icy cold. When wielded, it could amplify cold-attribute damage in battle.
A rare treasure.
The corners of Zora’s lips curved into a faint smile. It seed she had finally found what she was looking for.
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