Stolen by the Rebel King
Chapter 45: Symphony of a New Dawn

Chapter 45: Symphony of a New Dawn

"And here it is!"

All eyes immediately turned to the stage, glued as the auctioneer revealed the star of the show.

Compared to the previous flashy items that had been auctioned off, this piece was much smaller. Even though it was still covered by a piece of blue velvet, it was carried out on a small tray. The item couldn’t be bigger than the size of a human palm.

Daphne frowned, her curiosity now heightened.

"And this is the star of the show?" She commented, "It’s so... so... small."

Eugene had been sipping on a small glass of wine when Daphne had spoken. Upon hearing her words, he choked a little on his drink, coughing in surprise.

"Well, My Lady," he said slowly after he finally caught his breath, "it matters not what size it is but how useful it can be, is that not the case?"

Originally, Daphne had her hands placed on the marble railings and had been looking eagerly over at the stage. But at Eugene’s words, she looked back slowly, an eyebrow raised. He caught the look she gave him, only giving a shrug in reply.

She snorted a little ungracefully, knowing fully well that both of them were no longer thinking about the item about to be auctioned.

Men. Why was it that they only ever used the wrong head to think?

"Now this piece," the auctioneer started, "is a little different from the others. As our regulars might know, each item will usually be introduced, along with the history as well as how we might’ve acquired the item. Yet, the next item we’re about to show will not have its acquisition history revealed."

Even with the charmed mask and the distance between them, Daphne could see the smirk that curved the auctioneer’s lips.

"If you want to know how we got this, we could tell you, but then we’d have to kill you."

A collective murmur began to spread through the theater, the patrons gossiping among themselves on what the item could be. Anticipation was practically fizzling through the air as if it were electricity. Daphne, too, was unable to escape getting infected by it as well.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, please pick up the enchanted spying glass by your seats. It will help you admire this beautiful piece better."

Daphne obediently did as told, picking up the looking glass that was placed on the side table in between hers and Eugene’s armchair. Magic had been used on it so that when Daphne peered through, she could see the auctioneer and the item presented on the stage like she was standing right beside them.

"May I present to you, the Symphony of a New Dawn!"

The item was small but the moment the cloth was pulled away to reveal the ring, the crowd gasped in awe. Daphne behaved no different.

The silver ring glistened with an ethereal allure, drawing the eye to its mesmerizing centerpiece. Nestled within a delicate silver setting, an oval-shaped rainbow moonstone captured the essence of celestial beauty. Its iridescent surface shimmered with a kaleidoscope of colors, dancing with a mystical glow that seemed to emanate from within.

At the heart of the ring, the moonstone held secrets untold, revealing flashes of pearly blues, serene greens, and hints of delicate lavender. With every movement, the stone seemed to shift and change, captivating the imagination and inviting one to explore its otherworldly depths.

Accentuating the moonstone’s captivating presence, two icy aquamarines, shaped like glistening raindrops, adorned each side of the center stone. Their pale, crystalline beauty contrasted against the moonstone’s vibrant hues, evoking a sense of icy elegance. The aquamarines exuded a tranquil aura, reminiscent of the calm depths of a pristine ocean.

The silver band itself was a work of art, its surface intricately engraved with delicate patterns reminiscent of swirling currents and ethereal clouds. The craftsmanship revealed a fusion of strength and grace, complementing the enchanting gemstones it cradled.

It was a piece of jewelry that whispered tales of enchantment and offered a glimpse into a world where dreams and reality converged.

"That is beautiful..." Daphne muttered, staring fixedly at the ring. She wasn’t sure why but that ring seemed to call out to her. She had never felt that way for any item, much less a luxury object such as a piece of jewelry.

"The Symphony of a New Dawn is said to have been handmade by the first king of Reaweth, King Rowan Verimandi, for his wife, Queen Bethany-Anne Verimandi. It was their tenth wedding anniversary gift and the queen had worn it ever since receiving it until the day she passed. It was then passed down the family as a prized possession for many generations until its recent acquisition just a couple of decades ago."

The smile that the auctioneer wore turned nearly sinister.

"The bidding price for the Symphony of a New Dawn starts at 10,000 gold! You may start bidding."

Daphne’s eyes nearly rolled out of her skull at the price.

"Ten thousand?!" she cried out in shock.

She had been tempted, just a little, to attempt to bid for the item. The previous items were sold for a price not too far away from its starting price and Daphne had a brief spark of hope at first. It was quickly crushed when the bids started to come in, the price quickly rising.

The price had already risen to 40,000 gold when Eugene spoke.

"Do you want to bid for it?" he asked.

"No, of course not!" Daphne spluttered. "It’s too expensive."

"All the items that are auctioned are," Eugene stated in a matter of fact. "If you fancy it, I am sure His Majesty would be more than pleased to acquire it for you."

Daphne’s eyes twitched at the mention of that man. While he was indeed generous enough to gift her a new jewelry set, she wasn’t sure he would blow a fortune on one small ring just because she asked for it.

"70,200 gold!"

"70,400 gold!"

"Raise to 80,000!"

The crowd was becoming unhinged. Every second that passed by simply brought the price higher and higher. Until eventually, Daphne was slumped in her seat, defeated.

"Forget it," she muttered. "It’s not meant to be."

"Doesn’t hurt to try," Eugene said with a shrug. Then, he raised his voice and spoke into the clear quartz on the side table. It glowed right as he spoke, amplifying his voice. "200,000 gold!"

The crowd was quiet for a brief moment the moment Eugene had stated his price. Daphne, on the other hand, jumped up where she sat.

"Are you crazy?" She hissed once she was sure the glow of the clear quartz had died out. "That is way too much money spent on one small piece of jewelry!"

"It seems like you are unaware of the history of the ring," Eugene mused, "and the history of your own kingdom."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Daphne asked, wrinkling her nose in annoyance.

"King Rowan and Queen Bethany-Anne were the first people to use crystals and precious stones to control and amplify their magic. During their lifetime and even for centuries after, they were known as the parents of magic," Eugene explained. "If this ring is made by the parents of magic, do you really think it is something as simple as just another ’small piece of jewelry’?"

Daphne bit her lip, deep in thought. She understood the heavy price tag now after Eugene’s explanation. Only, if this was something the first king of Reaweth had made for his wife, how come she had never heard of this ring before? Furthermore, it was said to have been passed down for generations, how did it end up here when it should be with one of the members of Reaweth’s royal family?

"Unfamiliar with the tale, are you?" There was something about Eugene’s smile that caused Daphne great discomfort. It was almost as if he was mocking her for not knowing something that he knew even though it should’ve been her field of expertise.

"200,000 gold going once!" the auctioneer called out, excitedly watching the crowd to see if anyone would raise the price even further up.

There were a few murmurs here and there but no one spoke up.

"200,000 gold going twi―"

"500,000 gold."

As though everyone had been brainwashed, they turned to the speaker in perfect synchronization, all in search of whoever it was that had been crazy enough to fight the price of 200,000 gold.

A man sat at the very center of the theater on the first floor had been the one to call out the newest price. He looked utterly relaxed, as if the exorbitant amount of money he had just thrown out was nothing more than a bronze coin that was thrown into the bowl of a beggar.

"My my," Eugene said with a laugh. Light danced in his eyes menacingly, reminding Daphne of a child that had just found their new favorite toy. "How interesting."

He picked up the clear quartz again and said, "600,000 gold."

Eugene was quickly shut down.

"1,000,000 gold."

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