Chapter 135: Auction

After Enya sat back down, she looked at Sharon with an innocent expression and asked.

“Big Sister Sharon, I’m curious, what exactly do they sell at this Auction? Can you give me a little hint in advance?”

“If I told you what’s at the Auction, where’s the fun in that? Why don’t you go see for yourself, Ain. But I can guarantee they’ll all be good things—who knows, maybe I can even make a little money off you.”

Sharon laughed and volleyed the question back without giving specifics, simply saying that whatever Enya saw, she’d be sure to want to buy it.

But Enya could already make a guess at what might be there.

“Now I’m a little excited.”

“If you’re interested, Ain, that’s the best outcome.” Sharon covered her mouth and smiled, her long, beautiful eyes narrowing into slits.

Suddenly, as if she’d remembered something,

She stood up from the sofa and said, “Ah, I’m really sorry, but I just recalled some important matters I need to attend to, so I can’t keep you company, Ain.”

“The Auction is still being prepared and should be starting soon, so I must ask the two of you to wait here for a while. If you need anything, there will be servants waiting outside—just tell them whatever you want.”

“When the Auction begins, I’ll send someone to notify you, Ain.”

After saying this, Sharon showed a look of reluctance, but had no choice but to leave. Her moist, peach blossom eyes lingered on Enya.

“I’m really sorry, Ain.”

“It’s nothing, Big Sister Sharon. You’re a busy person, and the fact that you’ve taken so much time out of your schedule to see us already makes me very happy. Please, don’t worry about us.”

“Well then… I’ll take my leave.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Enya replied calmly.

Their eyes met, sparks flying, but in the end Sharon simply lifted her skirt and curtsied slightly before walking out of the reception room.

As soon as the door closed, Enya shed the façade of the poised female scholar, her face relaxing into a lazy, unguarded posture.

Sophia had witnessed the entire exchange and was utterly stunned.

This is just too strange!

Enya also noticed the confusion on Sophia’s face.

She pulled out a black Magic Crystal carved with complex magical runes.

After Enya gently set the black Magic Crystal down on the coffee table, a pale gray light quickly washed over the entire room.

Sophia immediately felt her connection to the outside world was cut off, and any outside attempts to spy into the room were also blocked.

The Elven Lady looked at Enya.

Enya straightened her back, her eyes silently fixed on Sophia, saying nothing—just watching.

That gaze made Sophia unconsciously straighten her posture, feeling a sensation reminiscent of being watched by her own teacher, the Elven Saintess.

Sophia lowered her head, eyes falling on the plates of fruit on the table. After a while, unable to bear the silence, her rosy lips moved as she spoke softly.

“Senior, why are you staring at me…”

“My lady, did you learn anything just now?” “Huh?”

“You saw everything that happened, right? Did you learn anything?”

“Umm…”

Sophia was a bit bewildered.

What just happened?

Her senior and that human woman named Sharon had just talked about things Sophia didn’t really know or understand.

Sophia felt like it was just ordinary chit-chat, some daily trivialities.

But now, her senior was asking her if she’d learned anything from those conversations, making her feel just like when the Saintess punished her to copy scriptures and then suddenly asked for her thoughts afterward.

She could only steel herself and answer.

“Senior did all that to make her lower her guard?”

“So naïve, hahaha.” Enya grinned mischievously.

Who says, just because I ask if you learned something, there must be some profound meaning behind it?

She laughed as she spoke, her tone playful.

“I was just teasing you.”

Sophia blushed beneath her veil.

“You’re too tense.”

“Sorry.”

“No need to apologize, my lady. We’re in the middle of an adventure.” “Understood.”

Sophia nodded, only half understanding.

Enya’s smile faded.

She leaned back against the sofa, her right leg crossed over her left beneath her gray robe, head tilted back as she stared at the ceiling, letting out a long sigh.

Her thoughts wandered—

It was the same kind of situation, yet Sophia looked totally at a loss. Maybe I really am innately gifted?

Enya had once been in Sophia’s shoes, watching someone else perform the act of cozying up to others, and that person had asked Enya the same question: had she learned anything?

And Enya, just from watching once, had mastered the art of social maneuvering.

She stopped reminiscing.

Enya’s gaze fell on Sophia, afraid this naïve lady hadn’t understood, so she thoughtfully explained.

“You were thinking a lot just now, weren’t you?”

“Yes…”

Sophia froze a moment, then admitted that, after seeing Enya and Sharon talk, she’d considered all sorts of possibilities.

Enya raised her eyebrows and smiled.

“The more normal a person seems, the more they make others overthink when they break routine. And the more someone overthinks, the more mysterious and significant that person seems in their mind.”

Put simply—it’s all about putting on a show.

Enya couldn’t help but smile slyly as she spoke.

“This place called Golden Town probably has goals similar to the Mist Archbishop Order, and that woman named Sharon is no ordinary character either.”

Sharon couldn’t see through Sophia’s veil—she only knew she was an elf.

Sharon also couldn’t see through Enya’s motives.

Enya first acted brash and direct, then switched to cunning and reserved, leaving Sharon unable to pin down what kind of person Enya really was.

Behind Sharon, the “Golden Town” organization definitely wanted to kick the Mist Archbishop Order while it was down, and they seemed fairly confident now.

An enemy’s enemy isn’t always a friend—in fact, they might even be a future enemy. But for now, there was a chance to become allies.

That was the choice between Enya and Sharon.

Trusting in Sharon’s intelligence, she would never let an unknown threat linger while she and Tulius were at each other’s throats, allowing a mantis-stalking-the-cicada to snatch the prize. Enya was sure Sharon would try to rope her in.

Next, Sharon would surely test Enya’s depth.

“She’s an enemy of the Mist Archbishop Order?” Sophia was beginning to understand.

So her senior was planning to join the enemy of their enemy, and wait for an opportunity?

Brilliant, brilliant!

Now that she understood, Sophia still didn’t quite get how her mysterious and inscrutable senior’s act had just unraveled a bit in her heart.

Yet, she found her senior seemed even more approachable this way. After all, not only could she do makeup, she also knew how to dress up…

Wait a minute!

How does she know how to do that?

Sophia suddenly realized something was off. She stared wide-eyed at the female scholar reclining on the sofa, eyes closed in rest.

Enya wore a half-black mask, but even the lower half of her face was beautiful and delicate.

Her rosy lips glimmered like crystal, making one want to taste their sweetness, to feel their warmth, softness, and fragrance.

Sophia didn’t look for long before quickly turning her gaze away. She lifted her hand, pressing her finger to her lips and gently pursing them.

Was Senior lying to me before?

She hadn’t actually been disfigured—she just said that so I wouldn’t look at her?

Following this line of thought, Sophia felt she’d hit on the truth. Her senior was still as inscrutable as ever…

But also kind of mean!

Thinking back to how lively her senior had been while chatting with Sharon, Sophia felt a little sulky, but couldn’t find the words to say to her senior.

After a long moment of thought, the Elven Lady looked up and spoke to Enya across from her.

“Senior, can we go buy some clothes afterward? I want to see what human clothing is like.”

“Hmm? Sure.”

Enya opened her eyes and glanced at Sophia when she heard the request, agreeing without hesitation.

Still, Enya noticed that she’d just killed two birds with one stone. It seemed her lady now carried a hint of jealousy.

Ah, I am so sinful!

Enya chided herself, then closed her eyes again to rest, telling herself she was guilty, but with no intention of changing.

Some things are just instinct—you can’t change them!

Before long, there was a knock at the door.

Enya opened her eyes and, seeing that the plates of fruit had been cleaned out by her lady, couldn’t help glancing at Sophia’s stomach.

She asked with curiosity,

“If Nina finds out I made you fat, do you think she’ll beat me up?”

“No way!”

Sophia, as if poked in a sore spot, jumped up and spoke much louder than before. Seeing how lively she was, Enya couldn’t help laughing.

“That’s good. When this is all over, let’s go eat something delicious.” “Okay!”

Speaking of good food, Sophia perked up—she loved the food of the human world. As a Gold Elf, she was able to eat meat.

But in the Elven Kingdom, where Forest Elves were the main race and the Gold Elf Royal Family had all but become vassals of the Church, their customs had gradually faded away.

“I want to eat roasted whole lamb. Is that okay?” “Of course~”

Enya covered her mouth and laughed.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was another knock. Enya picked up the black Magic Crystal from the coffee table, and the barrier around them dissipated at the same time.

“Honored guests, Miss Sharon asked me to inform you that the Auction is about to begin. Please allow me to escort you.”

“Coming, coming.”

Enya, in a good mood, walked briskly toward the door.