Number One Peninsula, backstage of the slave auction house.
"Let go of Her Highness! Are you looking for death? Her Highness is a Celestial Dragon!"
Even with her arms bound by heavy chains and being dragged forward by two men, the beautiful young woman kept her chin lifted high, her posture filled with ingrained pride.
She glared at them with naked hostility, her eyes sharp and threatening.
"Her Highness is the Arrogant Emperor's woman! You are all dead! Dead! Darling will come and slaughter every last one of you!"
"This little beauty has some bite."
"Hehehe, Disco really struck gold today. First a mermaid, and now such a fine human woman."
"Heh, maybe we should have some fun with her before the auction?"
The guards and attendants accompanying the slave merchant looked her over greedily, their gazes filled with undisguised lust.
"What nonsense are you thinking?" the slave merchant snapped coldly, casting them a sharp look.
"Do you think you are qualified?"
He sneered and warned them sternly, "This is a top grade slave that Disco personally ordered special handling for. She must be sold for a high price later."
The woman's threats were completely ignored.
Words like Celestial Dragon or Arrogant Emperor's woman were dismissed as the ravings of someone who had lost her sanity.
Slaves brought here often broke under pressure, spouting nonsense to escape reality.
They had seen true World Nobles before.
Those figures never traveled alone.
They wore strange hairstyles and insulating masks, surrounded by attendants, riding obedient slaves like beasts.
This woman, although arrogant and fiery, lacked all of that.
No attendants.
No masks.
No grotesque symbols of nobility.
The idea that she was a Celestial Dragon was laughable.
Click.
An explosive collar snapped shut around her neck.
"You commoners!" the woman screamed, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You dare put a device meant for controlling commoners on Her Highness!"
Shalria clawed at the collar around her throat, shock etched across her beautiful face.
"You lowly fools!"
She had seen these collars countless times before, fastened around the necks of her own slaves to prevent escape.
She had personally watched rebellious slaves have their heads blown apart for daring to displease their masters.
Never, not even in her worst imagination, had she thought she would one day wear such a symbol of humiliation herself.
"Her Highness will kill you! Her Highness will kill all of you!"
Her delicate body trembled violently with rage and humiliation.
She raised her chained hands, trying to strike the man in front of her.
"You little slut, you still want to hit someone above you?"
A guard behind her ruthlessly seized her arm, forcing it down.
Slap!
The slave merchant raised his hand and struck her across the face without hesitation.
"You dare hit Her Highness?" Shalria collapsed onto the floor, staring blankly ahead.
She had been struck.
By a commoner.
She looked up at the man who once would not have even been worthy of her attention, teeth clenched as she hissed, "You are courting death! Her Highness will definitely…"
"Hmph, lunatic," the slave merchant interrupted, sneering.
He stepped forward and planted his foot on her abdomen, grinding down mercilessly.
"Do you still think you are a World Noble Celestial Dragon?"
"I showed restraint with that slap," he continued coldly.
"If I ruined that pretty face, how would I sell you for a high price?"
"Her Highness…"
Shalria stared up at him in a daze.
At that moment, reality finally crashed down on her.
She, Shalria of the Roswald family, a World Noble Celestial Dragon, had become a slave.
She, who had once sat above these money hungry merchants, watching them bow and scrape.
Now she was merchandise, something they planned to auction off.
She would stand on the stage like the slaves she once bought, openly assessed, openly chosen, and eventually owned.
"No… no… no…"
Shalria shook her head violently, clutching her temples as terror overtook her.
"Her Highness is a World Noble Celestial Dragon! How could Her Highness be kidnapped and sold by you commoners! Her Highness does not want to be a slave!"
The slave merchant looked down at her with contempt.
"Since you are already here, it is no longer your choice."
"I do not want to be a slave… Her Highness does not want to be a slave…"
Shalria's body trembled as she curled inward, her former arrogance deflating like a punctured balloon.
She had never known what it felt like to be powerless, to have her fate decided by others.
"There are always slaves like this, clinging to worthless pride," the slave merchant said with satisfaction as he watched her break.
He loved this moment more than anything, seeing arrogant people collapse into fear.
"Accept your fate early. That is the smart choice," he advised mockingly.
"Try to show your value on stage later. High priced slaves are treated better. Buyers cherish what costs them more."
He chuckled.
"Except for the Celestial Dragons you dream of being. Those nobles never care about money. To them, Berries are nothing but useless paper."
"Lower your voice," a guard whispered.
"Do not let the slaves hear you."
The merchant glanced at the silent figures in the cage and scoffed.
"What does it matter? Do masters ever take slaves seriously?"
He opened the cage and gestured coldly.
"Take her inside. Add more chains. Make sure she does not harm herself or damage that face."
"Yes."
Clang.
The cage door slammed shut.
"Looks like today's cut will be good. Let's head to Peninsula Twenty One for drinks."
"Heh, your treat?"
The merchants and guards left, switching off the lights as they went.
Light was not to be wasted on slaves.
…
"I do not want to be auctioned…"
"I want to go home…"
The room became a dark, airless holding pen, filled with quiet sobbing and despair.
"The Walking Super Special Auction, Disco!"
Cheers erupted outside.
"This one will be incredible!"
The auction house roared with excitement and laughter.
…
Shalria sat numbly on a wooden crate, staring at the chains on her wrists and the cold collar at her throat.
"Her Highness… becoming a slave… auctioned by commoners…"
Even now, she could not accept it.
In the past, she had watched auctions with amusement.
Now she was the one awaiting sale.
Fear, collapse, and disbelief crushed her heart.
"Do not be afraid…"
A familiar voice spoke beside her.
"Miss Shalria…"
The voice trembled with fear, yet tried to sound steady.
___
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