The surrounding space suddenly became eerily quiet, with no one daring to speak. The auctioneer patiently waited for a moment, then began to count:
"60 gold taels, going once..."
"100 gold taels!" Ethan Caelan's voice rang out, firm and unhesitant. The room erupted into a frenzy of whispers and murmurs. All eyes turned toward the young nobleman, equally astonished and impressed. They couldn’t decide whether to admire his generosity or be captivated by his striking beauty.
"100 gold taels, going once... twice... thrice! Congratulations, my lord! Miss Lyria Hawke now belongs to you!" The auctioneer's voice boomed, filled with satisfaction.
Ethan gently inclined his head toward Leo and softly instructed,
"Return to the Imperial Academy and fetch the gold."
Elias hesitated, glancing up at Ethan, his eyes reflecting concern. In a low voice, he said,
"Your Highness, be cautious of deceit."
"I intend to buy her," Ethan replied firmly, his tone unwavering.
Elias had no choice but to bow and quickly leave the room to retrieve the gold from the Imperial Academy.
Lyria Hawke was promptly escorted by the auctioneer to Ethan's table. She stood before him, her posture graceful but her eyes betraying her fear and humiliation.
"My lord, Miss Lyria Hawke is now yours. Please deliver the gold and claim her," the auctioneer said with a smug expression, as if he had just concluded a lucrative deal.
Ethan smiled gently and spoke:
"I've already sent someone to fetch it; the gold will be here shortly, not a tael less."
At that moment, Lyria Hawke knelt before Ethan, bowing deeply.
"Thank you, my lord, for redeeming me. From now on, Lyria Hawke will serve you with all her heart," her voice trembled, filled with resignation.
Ethan stepped forward to help her rise, his eyes filled with compassion as he looked at her.
"Miss Lyria, there's no need for such formalities," he said softly, his tone tender, as though trying to reassure her.
When Lyria looked up at Ethan, her eyes seemed to brighten. She had never seen a man so beautiful before. He appeared noble and pure, utterly different from the libertines she had encountered in the pleasure quarters. She found herself momentarily entranced, as though she had just fallen under a spell.
Valerius Evander and Elias Dawnfire, standing behind them, were once again taken aback as they watched Ethan unhesitatingly spend 100 gold taels to redeem a courtesan.
Elias chuckled softly, his tone admiring with a hint of jest:
"Your Highness, Ethan truly have an eye for beauty. That woman is as stunning as a celestial maiden. If Ethan hadn't acted first, I might have wanted to buy her as a servant for my manor."
Valerius Evander turned to Elias, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Ethan treat the money I gave you like grass, using it to redeem a courtesan for his pleasure. Ethan, you've gone too far."
"Your Majesty, Ethan is a prince of Aria; surely 100 gold taels wouldn't be difficult for him to procure," Elias quickly explained, trying to ease the tension in his voice.
"Moreover, this woman was once a noble lady of the Hawke family. She cannot truly be considered a courtesan. His Highness is doing a good deed," Elias added, but all he received in return was a cold glare from Valerius Evander.
"Who knows if she was a noble lady or just a disguised courtesan? You believe the words of a courtesan so easily?" Valerius said with disgust.
"Bringing this courtesan home, Ethan will sooner or later be corrupted by her."
"Your Majesty, His Highness is already 21 years old. Experiencing a little of this shouldn't be considered corruption. After all, when we were 19, we..." Elias spoke nonchalantly.
"Silence! How dare you bring that up?" Valerius snapped, cutting him off, his face darkening.
The matter of him and Elias visiting a pleasure house in their youth was nothing more than youthful curiosity. How could it compare to Ethan using his gift money to buy a courtesan for his amusement?
"I once thought Ethan was virtuous, but now I see he is just as indulgent. I'm truly disappointed," he growled, then ordered decisively:
"Return to the palace."
"Your Majesty, the performances haven't ended yet," Elias hesitated, clearly wishing to stay.
"Then stay and watch," Valerius said, rising to leave without looking back.
Elias reluctantly stood up to follow Valerius but not before casting one last glance at Ethan's group. He smiled knowingly before turning and disappearing from sight.
Ethan Caelan and Lyria Hawke paused in front of a large inn within the city. Ethan signaled to Leo Grant to retrieve a bag of gold from their luggage and place it in Lyria's hands. His voice carried a hint of distance as he spoke:
"My lady, I can only help you this far. From now on, you must take care of yourself."
Lyria's eyes reflected a deep sadness as she gently shook her head, her voice soft but resolute:
"My lord, I am already yours. Even in death, I vow to follow you."
Ethan sighed. Although he bore the title of prince, his current status was nothing more than a hostage. He couldn’t even decide his own fate, let alone that of Lyria Hawke.
Resolutely, he said, "Lady Lyria, I cannot take you with me. Farewell." With that, he turned and walked away.
Immediately, Lyria knelt at his feet, her voice choked with emotion, tears streaming down her face:
"My lord, I am all alone now. My family is scattered, and I have no one left. If you do not take me in, I will kneel here until you agree."
Ethan turned back, hastily lifting her up, his heart overwhelmed with pity. If he had the power, he would surely take her with him. But now, he couldn’t even make decisions for himself.
"Lady Lyria, it's not that I don't want to take you in, but my circumstances also prevent me from making my own decisions."
At this moment, Cassian Lightwood spoke up: "Your Highness, there are some positions at The Imperial Academy suitable for women. You could take her there."
Ethan pondered the suggestion. Lyria, a woman alone with such stunning beauty, could easily become a target for ill-intentioned individuals. Taking her to The Imperial Academy would provide her with a safe place to stay. Cassian’s suggestion was not without merit.