Swindling the Lamp Out of a Noble Lady’s Fair Clutches

Noah's eyes stayed locked on the vintage oil lamp as it was carefully brought onto the stage and placed on the display pedestal.

There was nothing flashy about it.

In fact, it looked rather simple compared to the other items that had been shown earlier. 

The lamp was made of a dark, copper-like metal, and faint carvings ran along its surface—swirls, symbols, and patterns that looked almost like a forgotten script.

And yet, something about it made Noah's heart beat differently.

The host of the auction raised his hand to draw everyone's attention.

"This item here," the man began with a practiced voice, "is a rather special piece. While it may not be powerful or valuable in the way most of you might expect, it has a story behind it."

The crowd fell silent.

"This lamp was retrieved from a Zero Order Labyrinth," the host explained, "located adjacent to the 4th Order Labyrinth that His Majesty, King Alexander Ifrit, personally cleared many years ago."

A soft murmur spread through the crowd. Anything that had even a whisper of connection to the king was enough to spark interest.

"This lamp was the final reward from that minor labyrinth," the host continued.

"It gives off a soft, steady light without ever needing oil. That's all it does. No Odor. No burst of power. No hidden tricks. But—" He smiled. "It was claimed by the king himself. Which, as you all know, gives it both value and meaning."

Noah wanted to badmouth his father a bit for allowing House Dreyhall to put this thing up for auction.

If he had known such a thing existed and was rotting away in the royal treasury, he would have retrieved it long ago with his own hands, without having to pay a single coin for it.

In the end, he sighed and listened to the host's explanation.

"This Zero Order item has artistic value too," the host added. "If you look closely, the carvings are incredibly fine. Some believe they were made by the lost craftsmen of the Third Era. Some other historians even believe that this item was from–"

Some additional information was provided about the item. In the end, the auction began.

Wealthy merchants raised their hands. Nobles leaned forward. Every one of them wanted something that had once belonged to the king—even if it was just to brag about it later or gain a small bit of royal favor.

Noah raised his hand quietly and placed his first bid.

But the numbers kept climbing fast.

One merchant offered double Noah's bid. Then a noble added a bit more. Another merchant raised it again. They were all chasing the king's shadow, hoping that owning something he had once touched would bring them closer to the royal circle.

Damn it. I shouldn't have given that useless Emeric my money.

Noah gritted his teeth. His bids couldn't keep up. He had already spent most of his money on Emeric's antiques—useless trinkets the shallow prince had wanted just to show off. Now, Noah didn't have enough left to fight for this.

He tried again. One last bid. But even that was brushed aside.

It turned out that Noah didn't need to regret giving Emeric his money, because the final price had exceeded his peak wealth by a long shot.

The amount was still nothing compared to what the 2nd Order items had sold for, but it was perhaps the highest price a Zero Order item had ever fetched in Rankaal's recent history.

In the end, the lamp was sold to a tall, elegant noble lady with wavy auburn hair and bright green eyes. She sat near the center of the hall, surrounded by a few ladies-in-waiting and a group of quiet attendants.

*Sigh* I guess I'm still helpless in a lot of ways even though I'm a prince. 

Noah slumped back in his chair. He was frustrated.

but then… an idea struck him.

'Wait a minute. I am a damn prince. And only five years old at that. Aren't these my advantages?'

He looked down at his small hands, reminded himself of who he was, and smiled. He had come up with a pretty doable idea.

As the auction ended and a round of polite clapping followed, the mood shifted. The stage lights changed to softer tones, and the next part of the gala began.

Music filled the hall—light and joyful tunes played by famous artists. Singers and dancers from all over the Rankaal Kingdom were getting ready backstage.

The nobles in the capital really knew how to party.

Noah, however, had other plans.

He slipped down from his chair and made his way through the crowd, weaving between tables and silk gowns, until he reached the noble lady who had won the lamp.

He stood near her for a moment before tugging gently at her sleeve.

She turned and blinked in surprise when she saw the little prince looking up at her.

"Oh my," she said. "Your Highness?"

"You're really pretty," Noah said in a soft voice, eyes wide and innocent.

Hmm. Pretty indeed. That's a nice cake.

The real Noah thought to himself.

The noble lady laughed gently and bent down slightly. "Why, thank you. Aren't you quite the charming one."

Noah smiled. "Can I sit with you for a while?"

She nodded, waving a hand at the cushion beside her. Noah climbed up and sat beside her.

They talked for a little while—mostly about the performances, the food, and the funny dancers Noah had seen last week in the palace. He made her laugh more than once, and soon the lady was looking at him like he was a sweet younger cousin.

Then Noah pointed to the box beside her.

"Is that the lamp you won?"

"It is," she said proudly. "Quite an interesting little thing, isn't it?"

"Can I see it?" Noah asked.

She opened the box and showed him the lamp. The soft glow from within made his eyes sparkle.

He stared at it with wonder, some of which was real while the other part was over exaggerated. However, the strange pull inside his chest stirred again, which was genuine. He reached out gently and brushed a hand over the carvings.

Then he paused and looked down, face suddenly a little sad.

"What's wrong?" the noble lady asked softly.

Noah looked up at her with a quiet voice. "I just… I never got anything from Father."

Her smile faded a little.

"My mother… she died when I was born," he said, eyes looking far away. "So… Father doesn't really… notice me much."

The noble lady didn't know what to say.

"I thought maybe this lamp," Noah said, "since it was something he found himself… maybe it could be my gift from him. Something to remember him by."

He looked at her, eyes big and hopeful. Like the eyes of a pitiful cat who had gotten drenched in rain and came back home.

"Can… can you give this lamp to me? I'll give you the money next month. When I get my allowance. I promise."

The lady chuckled softly. "Oh, Your Highness," she said, reaching out and ruffling his hair. "You don't have to do that."

She pushed the box toward him.

"It's yours."

Noah blinked. "Really?"

"Yes," she said with a warm smile. "You've already given me a story I'll never forget."

Noah grinned and hugged the box carefully.

The music changed again in the background, signaling the start of the couples' dance. But Noah was done for the night.

He politely said goodbye, thanked the lady, and walked out of the hall with his prize in hand.

The lamp glowed softly inside the box as he made his way back to the palace.

He held it close, feeling its warmth, and the quiet pull in his chest never stopped.

Something was about to burst out of his chest. And he intended to find out what.