I scoffed inwardly. Jesse rose without comment, already heading for the exit. I followed, biting back the million questions building inside me.
Outside, the market noise swallowed us again, but my thoughts were loud.
"You come here often?" I asked flatly as we turned down another alley.
He didn't look at me. "Does it matter?"
"It does when the courtesan bows and calls you Your Majesty like she's seen you naked."
Jesse gave a soft laugh, which only irritated me more.
"Focus," he said. "Dragon scar. That's our next lead. And something tells me we're not the only ones looking for him."
And just like that, I was reminded.
This was way past the usual politics.
Someone was poisoning nobles. Using the court as their playground.
And Jesse even after all his teasing. He was hunting them like a wolf on the scent.
"Let's go get what I came here for," Jesse said, his voice dropping low as we left the courtesan house behind.
"Where to now?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant like my heart wasn't still racing from that encounter with Lana.
"The underground auction," he replied.
I raised a brow. "Of course. Why not just tell me everything at once. I don't even mind a list at this point."
He glanced sideways at me, lips twitching into the faintest smirk. "Just try your best to keep up."
As we turned down another shadowed alleyway, a sweet smell drifted to my nose. It was sugar and warm glaze. I slowed my steps and glanced to the side. A tiny stand was tucked between two buildings, lit by a flickering lantern. A wrinkled old woman stood behind it, humming softly while she arranged piles of colorful candied sweets on trays.
I stopped. "Wait. Let's get something."
Jesse blinked, then followed my gaze. "Candy?"
"Yes. You said we were undercover," I said, walking up to the stand. "This is what people undercover do, right?"
The woman beamed at us. "Try the honey ones. My grandson calls them 'stars on the tongue.'"
I picked out two and handed one to Jesse. He looked at it like I'd just offered him poison.
"Don't tell me you've never had one," I teased.
He stared at it for a second, then bit into it. His expression didn't change much but the way his eyes flicked in surprise gave him away.
"…It's not bad," he muttered.
I grinned. "Not bad? That's the highest compliment from a royal."
We kept walking, the sweetness lingering on my tongue and easing the tension between us—just a little.
By the time we reached the auction entrance, the atmosphere between us had changed again. Guards stood discreetly at the archway, and the thick stone walls muffled the voices inside.
The auction was already in full swing.
"—One million kisa!"
"Three million!"
The room was lit by crystal chandeliers, casting sharp reflections on the display case in the center. Inside it sat a diamond the size of a clenched fist, catching light and scattering it like a prism. The crowd was a blur of silk robes, shadowed faces, and heavy perfume.
"Twenty million," someone called coolly from the balcony above.
A collective gasp swept through the room.
"Wow," I whispered. "Truly the world of the rich…"
Jesse didn't respond—he was scanning the crowd, eyes sharp and calculating.
This wasn't just about rare gems or greattreasure. He was definitely here for something specific. I was getting even more curious as to what that was exactly.
We were ushered through a narrow passage, and Jesse flashed something small and metallic to the attendant at the stairwell. The man's eyes widened slightly.
"A thousand apologies, honored guest. This way."
They took us upstairs to what I could only assume was the VIP section. The lighting was warmer, more opulent. Plush seats lined the balcony, overlooking the auction floor below. Only a few others were up here, each of them draped in silk or fur, their faces half-shadowed but undeniably powerful.
Jesse settled into his seat with quiet authority, and I sat beside him, trying not to look too out of place.
We kept watching as the auction progressed—rare artifacts, forbidden tomes, even enchanted weapons—things that should probably never be for sale.
Then the room fell into a hush.
The announcer, a pale man with rings glittering on every finger, stepped onto the stage with a dramatic sway. "Next item: a one-of-a-kind relic recently smuggled from the old empire ruins. The Blood Serpent Amulet—rumored to be linked to ancient draconic rituals, and—if the legends are true—capable of amplifying one's core powers tenfold."
A gasp rippled through the room.
Jesse leaned forward, eyes glinting. "That's the one."
The bidding began.
"Five million kisa!"
"Ten million!"
"Twenty!"
The numbers climbed fast. Jesse waited, silent and calm. Then—
"Thirty million," he said, voice firm.
A nobleman across the balcony shot him a look and raised a hand. "Forty."
Jesse didn't blink. "Fifty."
The noble smirked. "Seventy."
The crowd murmured. The tension was thick, electric.
I leaned closer. "Who is that?"
"Lord Harken," Jesse murmured without taking his eyes off the stage. "Corrupt and very greedy. Has some connections to Baron."
I frowned. "It seems you really need that amulet."
He just looked at me deeply and continued bidding.
"Eighty-five million!" the noble called again.
Jesse gave a slow exhale. "Five hundred million."
The room fell dead silent.