CHAPTER 16: Moving forward

[A/N: Shout-out to [Jeneth_Pallalos] this chapter is dedicated to you thanks for the power stone!]

After the accident in the bathroom, the maids returned to their work and tasks while Barnaby prepared the things that I would be needing for the departure to the Freya Kingdom. I did my checklist so all of the things that I would need are organized, the same for the things that I want to buy at the auction

After several hours we finally departed to the Kingdom of Freya and arrived after a day, Big Brother Schlain tried to talk to me but our conversation didn't last since I kept my answers short. I think Big Brother Schlain noticed something was different from my behavior so he didn't bother me

All I could think about the whole trip was my dream the other night, it's almost a decade since Shaun and I broke up but why am I feeling like this? I know that I have the right to be angry but even if it's a little, I still love him...

Memories of my life on earth with Shaun flowed inside my mind and nostalgia instantly rushed in

Shaun was my childhood friend, my parents and his are also close friends, I grew up with him being on my side and I looked at him as my ideal Big Brother. Time passed and by the time I started high school the ideal Big Brother figure turned into a crush

I questioned my sexuality at that point and concluded that I was gay, I first came out to my Mom as she is the one who I always confide in and she immediately accepted me for who I am. By the I turned 16, I finally came out of the closet, and my Dad hugged me tight, he said that even though I am gay I'm still his only child and he will cherish me

My crush turned into love and I made up my mind to confess. Shaun looked surprised when I told him my feelings and to my happiness, it was reciprocated. Shaun then started courting me with the permission of our parents and we officially became a couple after a year

Years passed and I finally graduated from college as a summa cum laude, we celebrated at our house with Shaun and his family and that night was when he proposed to me which started our engagement. After several months of being engaged, Shaun became aggressive, he always kisses me and leaves hickeys on my body, he always wanted to make out. One time he told me he wanted to have sex. He said he wanted to be my first but I immediately refused

Not that I don't want to have sex with him but because I want my virginity to be taken after our wedding, I do not want to have pre-marital sex, I am one of those people who wants to consummate after being married. I explained my reasons to him in a way that he won't be offended but he just ignored me and walked out of the room

That was the start of the change in his attitude towards me, he became cold, the Shaun I knew slowly turned into a stranger. All the things that would make someone doubt their lover were completely in my line of sight but I was dumb, I trusted him completely which resulted in me being hurt. For 12 years, I loved him, so much, but in the end, he cheated on me

If I had agreed to have sex with him before...

Maybe...

Just maybe...

He will still be by my side...

But no, I am a different person now

I came to this world to find my true love

I need to accept it...

Shaun's happy face then appeared on my mind, behind him was me smiling, but another person, a woman, was hugging him and he was hugging her waist, he kissed the forehead of the girl before kneeling down and also kissed her big tummy which was a sign that there was life is inside it, he then muttered to the girl

"I love you..."

A single tear then rolled down on my cheeks, and my mind was now clear. My heart pounded wildly as if it wants to come out of my chest and a smile adorned my face, finally...

It finally happened...

I have moved on and...

I am ready to fall in love again

❄❄❄

"Are you ready?"

Big Brother Shion asked when I came out of my room, we stayed at a luxurious inn for nobles

I nodded in response and we went downstairs to meet up with Big Brother Schlain and our parents before we proceeded to the carriage and went straight to the Auction House

We arrived after 30 minutes and the moment I stepped inside, a chill ran down my spine. My gaze instantly fell on a man in his mid 40. Father seems to have noticed where I was staring since he immediately spoke

"That's Prime Minister of Gyes of the Kingdom of Freya, he leads the large territory of Gyes that is responsible for maintaining relationships with different kingdoms or empires in addition to that he's known to be a great Sword General and rumors says that he is close to being a Sword King"

Father continued explaining the identity of the Prime Minister but I didn't remove my gaze from the man, something feels off...

My danger perception immediately reacted, and I knew this man is dangerous

Suddenly the Prime Minister gazed back at me, my breathing immediately stopped and fear enveloped my whole body, I started to slightly shudder but it was unnoticeable since everyone was chattering with each other and they aren't paying attention to their surroundings

I immediately activated [Mind of Serenity] which made me compose myself immediately, I started to think fast

'This man is strong, he might be able to discern my emotions'

I activated [Emotion Removal] and slowly stopped myself from shuddering

Since I didn't express my feelings and always stayed emotionless for the past years, I became good at controlling my expression. I smiled at the Prime Minister, just a tiny curl of my lips, and bowed my head down before I turned my head to stare at other people

Thanks to Presence Detection, I monitored how the Prime Minister stared at me before he averted his gaze, I instantly breathe a sigh of relief

The Auctioneer then started to walk towards the stage and clapped his hand 3 times that got everyone's attention, before he coughed and spoke

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Nobles and Adventurers! May I say that it is the highest honor for me to be here tonight!" he said and his voice reverberated inside the whole Auction House

'His voice is relaxed meaning he isn't shouting, but it is loud. Sound Magic?' I thought

"I presume all of you esteemed guests have gathered here today for one reason only..."

The Auctioneer paused before he signaled the servants beside him to push the cart covered in cloth

"For the chance to obtain one of the rare and valuable items in this auction!"

The cheering of the Adventurers then echoed inside

"Yeaaah!"

While the nobles simply clapped

"But before we begin, if everyone in the audience would kindly turn to face the North, please join me in welcoming a few exceedingly important figures who have blessed us with their presence..."

"Prime Minister of Gyes, who is also well known to be a Sword General!"

"The Archduke & Archduchess of the Hyperion Empire!"

"Next but certainly not the least, the man who made this event possible, please give a round of applause for Sir Christian Miller!"

After the introductions, the cart that was covered with cloth was finally shown to the bidders

"A rare ore found on the mountains of Karina, it was identified by a master artificer as an ore that can handle an attack of monsters Ranking from B to A if it is made into a weapon! The bidding will start at 50 gold!"

The Auctioneer announced enthusiastically, and the people inside the Auction House raised their numbers and shouted different biddings

"Snow do you want to buy that?"

Big Brother Schlain asked

"That ore is good especially for making a sword, and since you are gonna start being an adventurer why don't you bid for that?"

Big Brother Shion also asked as he explains, I shook my head in response and my two Big Brothers only sighed in response. I don't want that ore of course, because I also don't plan on using a sword

Father then spoke "Well this is only the first item, the day is long so we can have our time here buying the things that we want. This is only the beginning," he said and patted my head

Mother also looked at me that time "If you want something just tell me okay? I'll buy all the things you want!" she said energetically

"I understand Mother" I replied which made them fall into silence

"R-Right" Father stuttered

'I shouldn't have spoken! Embarrassing!'

The first item was successfully sold to an Adventurer and the second item was auctioned right away

Father was right, the ore is just the beginning. There were more weapons and even several rare artifacts ranging from the price of 1000 gold to hundreds of platinum coins

Father himself bid on a few of them, the same goes for my two Big Brothers. While Mother bid on pieces of luxurious jewelry

I was already getting bored since there wasn't anything that caught my interest and most of the things that were auctioned were things that I don't need

"Our last item for today is a bit special..."

The Auctioneer said as he carried a box made of glass and only half of it can be seen since it was covered by a cloth

"This item is found on the territory of Crystal Phoenixes, a Rank S monster..."

The people inside the Auction House all gasped in shock when they heard the information

The Auctioneer wore some kind of red gloves and the gloves glowed an orange color, he then lifted the cloth and opened the glass box before he held the item inside

"The bidding starts at 50 platinum coins!"

Some of the adventurers grunted when they heard the price while some hesitated to start their bidding the same goes for the nobles

"Anyone?" The Auctioneer asked

I stared at the item intensely, it was a silver-white rod with intricate patterns, it was releasing some kind of white smoke and even from the distance I was in, I could feel the freezing temperature exuding from the rod

I nodded in understanding when no one started to bid, first, the price was too high, second is the information they had about it is lacking, finally, the auctioneer needed to wear some kind of glove to hold the item so it's suspicious

But not for me, when the item was held by the Auctioneer, a blue screen appeared in front of me and Shiro immediately spoke

[Glacial Domination is reacting towards the item called [???] ]

[Your magic attribute is compatible with the item [???] ]

[Owning the item [???] will expand your skills and abilities]

[The System recommends buying the item [???] ]

My lips curved up and I immediately told my parents

"I want that final item please..."

Father & Mother instantly raised their bidding numbers and simultaneously said

"1000 platinum!"

The Auctioneer almost slipped at what he heard but immediately regained his composure

"T-The F-Final item is s-sold to the Archduke and Archduchess of Hyperion Empire!"