CHAPTER 13: THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

(Evelina’s POV — Aurelis Auction Hall)

The moment I stepped past the golden archway, the sound hit me—soft laughter, clinking glass, and the muted chaos of wealth pretending to be elegance.

The Aurelis Auction Hall was a cathedral of decadence. Crystal chandeliers poured light like champagne, gilded walls gleamed under a haze of perfume, and every conversation shimmered with polite venom.

Everywhere I looked, power moved in silk and diamond—industrial heirs, political puppets, and bored aristocrats with hungry eyes. It was beautiful in the same way a lion’s cage was—if you forgot who was the meal.

I adjusted the black feather mask over my eyes. The silver trim caught the light, sharp and soft at once.

[System: Objective Active—Purchase an item.] [Reward: ???] [Timeline Distortion—Active.]

"Yeah," I muttered under my breath. "I can feel the distortion. It’s called ’people.’"

A waiter passed by with a tray of champagne flutes. I took one—partly for camouflage, partly because surviving Theo Vinter deserved a drink.

The hall buzzed louder near the center.

The Mermaid Tears Necklace.

It wasn’t just jewelry. It was legendary. A crescent of pale blue crystal that shimmered like trapped ocean light, said to grant luck, favor, and hidden routes in the game. In this world, though? It was power disguised as beauty.

It wasn’t just jewelry. It was a key. A lucky charm. A loophole in fate, and who knows what Reward I will get if I get a hand on it. So...I need this necklace. No matter what.

"Evelina," Father’s voice broke through the noise.

I turned slightly, just enough to see him walking toward me—immaculate as ever, a black half-mask glinting under the chandelier. Lucien beside him, mask crooked but charming. Arden, posture stiff as judgment.

And of course—Sera.Wrapped in pale gold silk and attention.

"Let’s go," Father said, his voice calm but firm. "The auction is about to begin."

"Yes, Father." My tone was polite. Too polite. The kind that made you invisible in your own story.

We moved down the grand staircase. They led; I followed—because that’s how it always was.

Sera slipped her hand through Father’s arm, eyes shining like she was walking into a dream.

"Father," she said sweetly, "can I bid too?"

He looked down at her and smiled faintly and warmly. "Of course, my dear. I’ll have the assistant hand you a paddle."

Her giggle echoed like chimes. "Really? Thank you, Father!"

Lucien leaned closer to her, ruffling her hair through his mask. "Hey, if you get confused, just ask us, okay? Some of these auctions go fast."

Sera nodded eagerly, eyes full of trust. "I will!"

Arden placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, voice warm and protective. "Don’t worry, I’ll sit beside you. You won’t accidentally bid on the wrong item."

Their laughter intertwined, light and familiar.A perfect picture.A perfect family.

And me?

I walked a few steps behind—like a shadow that didn’t belong to anyone.

[Reginald Hartgrave—36%][Lucien Hartgrave—11%][Arden Hartgrave—(-3%)][Sera Loraine — -10%]

The numbers hovered faintly before my eyes, blue and merciless.

Father didn’t look back. Lucien didn’t notice. Arden didn’t care.

And Sera—Sera looked radiant. Untouched by the quiet gravity that pulled around me.

I could almost hear the game’s invisible narration: "The heroine and her loving family arrive at the grand auction."

Except the real daughter was just background noise.

Well...it doesn’t matter to me. They can keep their affection. Their warmth. Their scripted love.

I’ll take the necklace.

Because affection won’t save me in this world—but power might.

***

[Auction Hall—Moments Later]

We reached the entrance to the auction chamber. Velvet curtains framed the doors, and chandeliers glowed above us like hanging suns. The air shimmered with perfume, money, and expectation.

Sera slipped through first, laughter trailing like perfume. The others followed, their masks glittering in the light.

I lingered a heartbeat longer—just long enough to catch my own reflection in the glass.

One black feather mask.One forced smile.One unwanted daughter.

And in my reflection’s eyes—something harder than envy. Resolve.

[System: New Episode Begun—THE AUCTION HALL][Objective: Acquire the Mermaid Tears Necklace.][Reward: ???][Balance: 10,000,000,000,000 Credits]

The message flickered across my vision like a prophecy. I exhaled once, composed myself, and stepped into the light.

The Auction Hall opened up before me—a glittering theater of wealth and vanity. Crimson velvet seats. Marble balconies carved with gold filigree. The chandelier above shimmered like a captive constellation.

This wasn’t an event.It was a performance.

And everyone here was pretending to matter more than they did.

Father led the way toward the front row—his presence magnetic, authoritative. Lucien followed, mask tilted rakishly as always. Arden trailed beside him, posture sharp, eyes cold. And Sera, of course, drifted between them like the sun itself—glowing, adored, and centered in every orbit that wasn’t mine.

I followed quietly behind, the echo of my heels almost mocking in the silence.

When they reached the front, attendants guided them to their seats—four of them. Plush. Perfect.And me?

There was no fifth.

I stood there, watching the polished wood gleam under the stage lights. An empty aisle. No one moved.

Sera’s soft voice broke the tension. "Oh—sister, I should get up. You can—"

Arden’s voice sliced through hers, sharp as glass. "No need. She can find her seat somewhere else."

The words hit with surgical precision—casual cruelty disguised as etiquette. Father’s head turned slightly, his tone dipping into authority. "Arden."

A warning.

Arden froze, his jaw tightening—but he didn’t apologize. The silence between them thickened, brittle and heavy. Father finally looked at me, voice gentler this time. "My dear... can you—"

I smiled faintly, a quiet curve of lips that didn’t reach my eyes.

"Do not worry, Father." My voice was steady. Cold silk. "I know my place."

I turned before anyone could respond and found another seat—toward the middle rows, half-shadowed by the balcony’s light.

No one stopped me.No one followed.

[Reginald Hartgrave — +1% → 37%][Lucien Hartgrave — +1% → 12%]

Affection points flickered above their heads like meaningless numbers.Too little. Too late.

They’d flinched—but they wouldn’t change. People never do when guilt comes wrapped in comfort. I crossed my legs, folding my hands neatly in my lap, and stared toward the stage.

A hush fell across the room as spotlights dimmed, bathing the hall in a warm amber glow. The host stepped forward—flawless smile, microphone in hand, voice smooth as silk.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his tone grand, echoing. "Welcome to Aurelis City’s most prestigious night—The Annual Grand Auction!"

Applause rippled through the crowd—refined, controlled, hollow.

"The event is now officially open," the host continued, his enthusiasm perfectly rehearsed. "Tonight, we’ve prepared the finest collection of artifacts, heirlooms, and treasures ever assembled. From royal antiques to unique relics of the modern era—each piece tells a story of desire, history, and fate!"

His words danced over the audience like a sales pitch to gods.

"If something catches your eye," he added with a knowing smile, "then by all means—bid without hesitation."

Laughter. More applause.

The lights shifted; velvet curtains parted once more to reveal a new display—a glass case, spotlighted, shimmering.

Inside lay a jeweled dagger, ornate and overdesigned, the kind of weapon that had never seen a real fight. Its hilt sparkled with embedded sapphires, its blade engraved with old noble sigils no one alive could pronounce.

The auctioneer’s voice rang clear: "Starting bid—one hundred thousand credits!"

And then—

[System Alert: Item Detected — Sapphire Dagger of Vassilion.][Reward: +10 to Defense (Temporary), +2% Favorability with Any Characters.]

[Balance: 10,000,000,000,000]

The faint shimmer of the System pulsed once—almost smug.

Huh.So every time an item appeared, I’d get a preview of its potential... and its reward.

Interesting.

But this dagger? Useless. I cannot waste the money.... I have to get my hands on a mermaid necklace.

[System: Item Detected—Seraphine Watch.][Reward: Unlock Passive Skill: "Chrono "Sync"—Temporarily stops time in critical moments.][Effect Duration: 60 seconds per cooldown.]

My eyebrows rose slightly.

"Now that’s useful," I whispered.

A time Stop Device—It can be useful if I land in any dangerous situation. Sixty seconds might not sound like much, but in this world full of knives disguised as smiles? It could save a life.

The bidding began.

"One hundred thousand!""One fifty!""Two hundred!"

I twirled the paddle between my fingers. The price climbed quickly, but my balance? Infinite. Or close enough.

[Balance: 9,999,999,800,000 Remaining.]

"Sold!"

The gavel hit.

[System Reward Acquired—Chrono Sync (Time stoping device) Added in your storage.]

A faint hum passed behind my eyes—cool, sharp. Like adrenaline waiting in the dark.

I smiled faintly. "Now we’re talking."

The next few items blurred together—gems, antique paintings, royal documents no one cared about. All vanity. No value.

Then came the practical ones—the kind that made my survival instincts sit up and take notes.

A compact, high-tech handgun from the new military prototype series—silent fire, fingerprint lock.Bought.

A platinum ring embedded with a micro-crystal chip. [System: Item—Shadow Loop Ring. Effect: Emergency Teleportation (20 Uses).]

Bought.

A bracelet—carbon-black, sleek, humming faintly when touched. [System: Item—Combat Pulse Band. Effect: Trigger Temporary Combat Skill: "Reflex Boost." One Use.]

Bought.

By the time the crowd politely clapped for the next painting, I was already equipped for war. If this game wanted me dead, it was going to have to work harder.

And then—The lights dimmed.

A slow, soft melody unfurled through the hall—haunting, oceanic. The kind of sound that made the hairs at the back of your neck stand up.

The host smiled—a perfect, rehearsed expression—and gestured grandly toward the center stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he declared, "for our grand finale... the crown jewel of tonight’s auction!"

Velvet curtains parted. And there it was.

The Mermaid Tears Necklace.

Encased in crystal glass. Suspended on invisible threads of light. The gem shimmered like a trapped ocean wave—liquid blue and alive. It wasn’t just beautiful. It was hypnotic.

The audience inhaled as one, a chorus of quiet awe.

And then—

[System: Target Item Detected — Mermaid Tears Necklace.][Reward: ??? Anomaly Identified... Processing Reward Data...][Final Reward: Quit the Game and Return to Your Own World.][Balance: 9,999,000,000,00 Credits Remaining.]

I froze.

The world around me blurred—the applause, the chatter, the lights—all dimmed to nothing but the glow of that single blue screen.

My throat tightened.

"Quit... the game?" I whispered.

Return.

To my world.

To reality.

To home.

I blinked once, twice, my heart hammering. My eyes darted back to the glass case—to the shimmering necklace that pulsed like it was alive.

That was it.The exit door.

If I could win this bid—if I could just get my hands on that necklace—Then I could finally leave this place.

This wasn’t just a necklace anymore.

It was freedom.

And I would win it.

No matter who I had to face to get it.