Chapter 455: The Demon Auction House (III)

The moment the private viewing level opened, the atmosphere changed again.

Unlike the crowded hall below, this floor was reserved for people whose names carried weight.

Nobles stood in small groups beside long tables filled with refreshments, speaking quietly while servants moved around them.

Young heirs wore expensive clothes embroidered with their family symbols, while older cultivators stood nearby with calm expressions.

The moment the Crimson Moon Princess stepped out of the elevator, several conversations stopped.

Then one noble after another turned toward her.

"Your Highness, it has been some time."

A middle-aged demon with two thick black horns approached first, his expensive robe was carrying the golden crest of House Zareth.

The princess gave him a polite nod.

"Lord Zareth. I heard your family was dealing with those border disputes in the northern territories. Has the situation settled down?"

He smiled.

"It has, Your Highness. My eldest son returned two days ago, and the reports have been favorable. We were fortunate enough to avoid a larger conflict."

"I am glad to hear it. Your family has enough problems without adding another war to the list."

The man’s smile became slightly awkward.

"Indeed. Your concern honors us."

Another noble approached before the first one could say anything else.

"Princess, you look as elegant as ever. The capital has been talking about the Crimson Moon Family’s return since your convoy arrived."

The princess turned toward him.

"Lord Miren."

Her voice was polite, but there was little warmth behind it.

"I hope the capital has not been talking too much."

Lord Miren laughed nervously.

"Nothing unpleasant, I assure you."

Gray stood beside her, quietly observing.

’Nothing unpleasant?’

He looked at the man’s expression.

’He’s terrified of saying the wrong thing.’

Another noblewoman approached.

"Your Highness, it is a pleasure to see you again. I heard you would be attending the auction, but I wasn’t sure whether the rumors were true."

"They were."

The woman smiled.

"Then I hope you find something worthy of your attention."

"I’m sure I will."

Her eyes briefly moved toward Gray.

"And it seems that you’ve brought a guest."

The noblewoman looked at him more closely.

"An acquaintance," Gray returned her gaze calmly.

The princess corrected him immediately.

"My guest."

The noblewoman’s eyebrows rose.

"I see."

Gray almost smiled.

That same phrase had become strangely common around her. She turned toward him and spoke quietly.

"You are attracting attention."

"You’re the princess, and you’ve brought me, a mere incubus, as a guest. What do you expect would happen?"

"Deal with it."

"Then perhaps I should start charging people for looking."

"Don’t."

"Why?"

"It would make them stare more."

Gray almost laughed at the expressionless princess’s joke.

A young demon with pale silver hair approached next.

"Your Highness, I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you look even more beautiful than when we last met."

The princess smiled politely.

"That sounds suspiciously like flattery."

"Perhaps."

"Then be careful. Flattery becomes irritating when people repeat it too often."

The young noble laughed.

"I’ll remember that."

Gray glanced at him.

The young man noticed the look and gave him a friendly nod.

"I don’t believe we’ve met. Are you one of the academy students?"

"Yes."

"The new one?"

Gray nodded.

The noble smiled.

"Then welcome to the capital. I heard this year’s entrance examination was especially brutal."

Gray’s expression remained calm.

"It was... entertaining."

The noble laughed.

"Entertaining? That is not the word I heard from the others."

A few people nearby laughed quietly.

"Understatement of the year."

Gray smiled faintly, just for the princess to look at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You really did enjoy it."

"I enjoyed surviving."

"That isn’t what you said afterward."

"What did I say?"

"You told me the exam was getting boring."

"I changed my mind..." Gray shrugged his shoulders.

The people around them exchanged glances. A few had clearly heard stories about the entrance examination.

The same story had already spread through the academy and the capital.

The Peak Saint Incubus who had brought down a massive black sword. The strange newcomer who survived against stronger students.

The guest walking beside the Crimson Moon Princess.

Gray could almost feel their curiosity.

Then one of the older nobles smiled and said,

"Your Highness, I must admit, I was surprised when I heard you had befriended a young Incubus."

The princess’s smile disappeared.

"I haven’t heard the word friend used."

The noble coughed.

"Of course. I meant acquaintance."

"Better."

Gray looked at her.

"You really don’t like that word."

"Which one?"

"Friend."

She glanced at him.

"You haven’t earned it."

"Harsh."

"You’ve known me for a few weeks."

"And yet you’ve invited me to a royal dinner, let me stay under your family’s protection, brought me to a private auction, and introduced me as your guest."

Her expression tightened.

"Do not make it sound more intimate than it is."

"I didn’t say anything like that..." Gray smiled.

"You were about to."

"I was thinking about it."

"Again?"

"Again."

A few nobles nearby tried not to laugh.

The princess noticed.

Her eyes swept across them.

The laughter disappeared instantly.

Gray had to suppress his own amusement.

Then...

Her expression changed.

It happened so quickly that anyone who had not spent enough time around her might have missed it.

The faint softness in her face vanished.

Her ruby eyes became colder, and her shoulders instinctively straightened. Even the relaxed way she held herself changed.

Gray noticed immediately.

He followed her gaze.

Someone else had stepped onto the private viewing floor.

Another group had arrived through the opposite entrance.

At its center stood a young woman.

She had long silver-white hair falling down her back, pale violet eyes, and a flawless face that carried the sort of beauty that seemed almost deliberately designed to irritate other nobles.

Her dress was white and deep violet, decorated with silver patterns resembling blooming flowers.

A dark purple jewel rested at her throat.

Two tall guards followed behind her, and both carried the pressure of Monarchs.

Several nobles immediately began bowing.

"Your Highness."

"Princess."

"Welcome to the auction."

The new princess acknowledged them with a gentle smile.

"Thank you. Please, there is no need to make such a fuss. I only came here to see what treasures are being offered."

Her gaze moved across the room, and the moment she saw the Crimson Moon Princess, the smile on her lips became much sharper.

The Crimson Moon Princess was already staring back.

For several seconds, neither woman moved.

Gray looked between them.

’Oh...’

He could almost feel the hostility coming from both sides.

Vessa would have loved this.

The silver-haired princess finally approached.

She stopped several steps away.

"Well."

Her voice was sweet.

"I didn’t expect to see you here."

The Crimson Moon Princess’s eyes narrowed.

"I could say the same."

The silver-haired princess smiled.

"But this is the sort of place I usually attend. I thought you preferred markets where the merchants couldn’t afford to offend you."

Several nobles went silent.

The Crimson Moon Princess’s expression did not change.

"At least the merchants I speak to know how to do business. I don’t have much patience for people who spend more time showing off their family name than choosing what they actually want to buy."

The silver-haired princess’s smile became thinner.

"How strange. I remember you spending half an hour arguing with a merchant over the price of a necklace."

"And I remember you crying because the same merchant refused to let you cut the line."

A few nobles looked away.

One of them suddenly became very interested in the floor.

The silver-haired princess’s eyes twitched.

"That was years ago."

"I know."

"Then why bring it up?"

"Because you brought up the market."

The silver-haired princess laughed softly.

"Still as unpleasant as ever."

"And you’re still pretending to be pleasant. I suppose some things never change."

Gray glanced toward the nobles.

Nobody was moving... it was obvious that no one wanted to be caught in the middle.

The silver-haired princess crossed her arms.

"I heard you finally entered the academy."

"I did."

"Congratulations."

The word sounded so insincere that it practically became an insult.

The Crimson Moon Princess gave her a cold smile.

"Thank you. I heard you applied too."

"I did."

"Then I suppose the academy has lowered its standards."

A few people nearby coughed to hide their laughter.

The silver-haired princess’s smile vanished for a second.

"At least I don’t need three guards following me around every time I leave the house."

The Crimson Moon Princess glanced toward her own guards before coldly looking back.

"At least mine aren’t there to stop me from embarrassing myself."

The silver-haired princess’s eyes sharpened.

"You haven’t changed."

"Neither have you."

"Good."

"Very."

The two stared at each other.

It was obvious this was not a fresh rivalry.

The silver-haired princess finally noticed Gray, and the moment she did, a flash of astonishment crossed her eyes.

In an instant, her gaze moved over him from head to toe.

"Oh my..."

Her lips curled up slighly.