" My private life isn't open for discussion, Grand Magus Izalyn!" I fired immediately, and she fell silent, quietly taking her seat.
" Your private life stops being private the moment you step into the auctioning ground. Everyone knows the House Of Pleasure is a public house, and many people saw it when you publicly claimed the girl. So, there's nothing private about it anymore!"
Pyrrha blurted rudely from her seat, and I shot her a deadly glare. She's been getting on my nerves lately, something she dare not do in the past.
"The transaction you made is too extravagant for an ordinary human. This will attract the attention of the Bureau of Taxation and Balance," Lycan King Alfred of the Bloodmoon pack stated briefly.
" Are you trying to threaten me with the Bureau? If I'm not mistaken, you were also trying to claim the girl with a huge amount of money that day. Does my victory in the game trouble you, King Alfred?" I growled slightly, irritated by the barrage of questions.
Alfred shot me a glare, and I met his gaze with an intimidating stare of my own.
" Enough!" Pyrrha banged the table loudly.
"Did we come here to discuss a lowly girl from an auctioning ground?" she yelled angrily.
" Comport yourself, Pyrrha. This is not the place to yell around. This isn't your Palace Of Nirvana!" Empress Naida of the Merclan fired at Pyrrha, shutting her up in an instant.
" Your Highness, we are just concerned that the transaction you made will attract the Bureau of Taxation and Balance. This will make them start suspecting the House of Elysium. Over the years, we have been laying low and doing things discreetly. We all know the Bureau has been looking for ways to take everything away from us. Just a little mistake, and they strike! We can't afford to make any mistake," Naida said calmly, her soothing melodic voice suddenly subsiding the tension between us.
The Bureau of Taxation and Balance has existed since the beginning of time. It was founded to maintain balance in this world full of mystical beings and magical powers.
Their aim is to keep balance and protect the commoners from the oppression of the Royal family.
The Bureau has the power of immunity against the royal families and me. Thus, we can't do anything to them.
Aside from me, the Bureau is the second most feared in Faeloria. Once prosecuted by the Bureau, they have the power to overthrow the royal families and seize their wealth.
" I'll take full responsibility for my actions and will not implicate the House of Elysium nor the Order, so rest assured," I declared with authority, and the whispering and murmuring amongst them ended.
" Your lordship, if I may ask. Why are you willing to spend so much on that girl? Everyone knows you dislike women, and you try as much as possible to avoid them. So why go through such lengths for a human girl nobody knows where she came from?" Alfred glared at me with a sly smirk etched across his face.
I know where he is driving at, he wants the Order to put their eyes on Kimberly and start investigating her, but I won't let that happen. If the secret of Kimberly exposes, things will go wrong for me.
" I like her. Is that enough reason?" I fired rudely.
" Enough about that girl. Let's talk about the main reason for this meeting. Grand Magus, please, let's hear the pressing matter at hand," Empress Naida said, her voice dripping with a very unusual calmness.
Women of the Merclan exude a calming aura, as serene as water itself, that surrounds them. Whenever they speak, this aura emanates, cooling the atmosphere around them.
Grand Magus Iza stood once again to address the meeting.
Izalyn is a very powerful witch who practices dark magic, she's also the leader of the Witches of Ambergris.
Her extremely white hair cascades down her shoulders, and her aged face wrinkled.
" A lost relic was found in the North Sea," she began and brought out an old-looking chest, placing it on the conference table.
The chest, weathered by time and bearing intricate carvings reminiscent of ancient symbols, emanated an aura of mystery. Its wood, which looked like it was once rich with color, had faded to a dull patina, hinting at the countless years it had spent buried in the depths of the Lost City of North Sea.
As the lid creaked open, revealing the interior, a soft glow spilled forth, illuminating the room with an ethereal light.
Inside lay a mesmerizing sight—a gleaming stone, nestled within the confines of the chest. The stone, cut in a manner that resembled the delicate intricacies of a fish gill, shimmered brightly from the chest..
Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that the stone was not singular but part of a pair.
As Grand Magus Iza gently lifted the stone from its resting place, the stone cast a brilliant light that illuminated the room.
"This is the long-lost twin shard, a very rare and powerful stone. When its other pair is combined, the Order shall wield unfathomable power, and even the Bureau will have no authority against us. The other pair is said to be hidden in the South Sea. My Lord, may I request permission to search the South Sea for its counterpart?" she asked, bowing respectfully.
" You will do no such thing. The South Sea is out of bounds. If there's nothing else, let's end the meeting!" I declared, and Izalyn took her seat dejectedly.
Nadia sighed in relief while the other members began to sulk and murmur amongst themselves, clearly displaying their displeasure.
" My daughter's coming-of-age ceremony is in two days' time. I'd like to invite all members of the Order to this grand banquet in my Palace of Nirvana," Pyrrha announced excitedly, and immediately everyone dispersed, exiting the conference room.
" My Lord, are we attending the coming-of-age ceremony? Queen Pyrrha is very cunning, she may have some tricks up her sleeve. I don't think attending the banquet is a good idea, considering your current situation," Kai suggests as we got out of the conference room and headed to the lobby where Kimberly is seated, waiting for us.
" I know she's definitely up to something, but don't worry. With Kimberly by my side, I'll be safe."
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