Even though the two of them were busy talking, they immediately turned their attention toward the platform when Narina announced the next item.
But seeing how it was not the one they were looking for, the two could only sigh. Seraphina was finding it quite sad and ironic that she didn't want the life vein of her realm to be sold off, but at the same time, she wanted it to be sold off to get it back.
Never in her life did she dream that one day she would have to go through this.
However, she remembered what she was talking to Viktor about before and said, "I don't know the real reason why Vanessa keeps an eye on you, but you could try listening her out. She and Talia had known each other since they were kids despite being rivals. But even to this day, Talia is in touch with her, and she never gets close to anybody like that. Not even from her own realm. Of course, she wouldn't admit this, but this is how it is. She might be a bit extreme and mischievous, but her heart is innocent."
Viktor subtly smiled as he asked, "Are you telling me this because you think I am angry at her? I know she is very close to you but—"
Seraphina gave a subtle pure smile as she said, "I am not telling you to do anything but merely try and learn what kind of a person she really is. After that, you can decide how your relationship with her will be."
Viktor nodded as he let out a faint sigh, "Even at this time, you still have the heart to worry about others. I must say…I could count the number of pure-hearted people I have met like you with my hands."
Seraphina subtly shook her head as she said in a low voice, "You are too kind with your words. If I was really like that, I wouldn't have shut off my realm and prevented my daughters from helping those in need."
"Yes. But you are doing that to respect the wishes of the Holy Godmother's, isn't it? And I know this isn't my place to say, but I also respect the Holy Godmother's teachings. You don't have to feel bad about not helping others since the safety of your realm and daughters comes first. Look at where we are now. Even if you close off your realm, greedy dirtbags will still find a way to take advantage of your realm even if it means destroying it in the process."
Seraphina bit her lip, feeling complicated about it. She had always had an internal conflict about this since she was born to help people, no matter which realm. But at the same time, she also understood the importance of keeping her realm safe, especially now that she was in this situation.
"Then what is my life's purpose if I can't help those who need my help?" Seraphina asked in a sad voice.
Viktor softly chuckled as he patted her hand and said, "Who said you can't help others? You can do it as long as it doesn't end up destroying the things you care most about. It might sound selfish to you but trust me when I say it is the only way we can make sure that we or things we care about don't get hurt. Trust me…I have experienced it the hard way."
Seraphina gave a sympathetic look at Viktor, wondering what he must have gone through to make him say that. She only had a glimpse of his life and thus wasn't fully aware of all the eventful things in his life.
However, she didn't feel that his words were wrong but instead made sense when she thought about her daughters and her realm. But it only made her think how twisted the entire thing was.
Meanwhile, Narin was going on doing her best to market the items the union was auctioning by exaggerating some details here and there to excite the buyers. However, even without her exaggeration, each and every one of the items coming up on the stage were items that could spark conspiracy or something nobody could carry in public. At the same time, all of them were pricey and unique enough to maintain the reputation of this union.
Viktor did notice Seraphina look away when one of the items was the skinned body of a harmless intelligent race being offered as a delicacy due to the medicinal properties and the potential odic benefits one could gain. However, none of the others seemed to get uncomfortable by such a sight.
Viktor could only try and comfort Seraphina to not think too much about it. He felt that someone with her heart surely wasn't suitable to sit in a place like this and wondered if he should have come alone. But then again, she would have been adamant about coming with him. Even if she didn't, he would need her close to maintain his disguise.
"And now that we are almost coming to the end of our action, we always save the best ones for the last. I hope you gentlemen and ladies have saved some money for times like this," Narin said with a coy wink, making some of the people in the hall nod as their eyes shone excitedly.
These people were used to coming to auctions like these and knew that the best items were always sold in the end. Thus those who were on a tight budget would endure by not buying the items that were sold at the beginning but patiently waiting for the last few items.
But only a few could resist the temptation of buying the items that were shown first. Plus, the 'best' items would be definitely pricey enough to even drain the purse of a sufficiently wealthy person.
Narin snapped her fingers as a large opening revealed itself on the platform. Viktor could see that even the upcoming item was not going to be the Fruit of Youth since the opening was too large. This was definitely something bigger than one could carry.
And when the 'item' was slowly being revealed, both Viktor and Seraphina's eyes widened. It was not that they were looking at the Fruit of Youth but something they weren't expecting to see, especially Seraphina, who firmly pressed her lips together.
