Chapter 7-4
1538 Words
About thirty minutes later.
Selena emerged from the changing room first.
The organizers had prepared a champagne-gold strapless gown for her. The design remained opulent, perfectly accentuating her figure and complexion.
Her hair had been restyled, the wine stains completely removed, and replaced with a fresh updo. Her makeup was also retouched, leaving no trace of her earlier disarray.
Save for her gaze, which had grown even colder and more menacing, she appeared to have fully regained the graceful poise of a princess.
Head held high, she walked back to her seat under the watchful eyes of her close friends and some of the guests.
Many nodded approvingly, murmuring quiet praise. The princess truly possessed innate elegance, they thought, recovering her composure so swiftly.
Serena felt the admiring gazes around her, and her mood lifted slightly.
"Hmph. At least when it comes to grace and beauty, that b***h can't hold a candle to me."
Just then, the door leading to the dressing room on the other side of the banquet hall swung open.
A ripple of commotion followed, drawing the guests' eyes toward the entrance.
It was Ella emerging.
The host had prepared a moon-white, figure-skimming gown for her.
The design was simple yet sophisticated. Without any superfluous embellishments, it relied solely on precise tailoring to perfectly outline her slender, upright figure.
Her long hair had been freshly styled. A single pearl hairpin secured it into a loose, elegant bun, with a few strands gently cascading down her neck.
The hairstyle remained simple, yet it carried the requisite dignity and grace.
No heavy makeup, just a light touch of color. This simple yet perfectly applied makeup accentuated her clear eyes and delicate features.
At the neckline of the gown, the Heine family crest remained pinned in place. Against the moon-white fabric, it appeared even more antique and dignified.
If her earlier pale green cotton-linen dress had made her seem like a country girl who had wandered into the city by mistake, then this moon-white gown, now fully revealed, showed the quiet, cool elegance within her.
It was a beauty stripped of all artificiality—pure and unassuming, yet carrying an unreachable sense of distance.
In an instant, her saintly radiance eclipsed the nobility of the ladies around her. After all, how could fireflies compete with the moon's brilliance?
Ella didn't deliberately lift her head or straighten her back; she simply walked calmly, her steps composed and steady. Yet that goddess-like aura, radiant as if illuminated from within, instantly drew the attention of the entire gathering.
All traces of the earlier awkwardness were gone. Now, she carried herself with a luminous grace that drew every eye.
"Good heavens... how could she be this beautiful?" someone murmured in awe.
"Is... is this the same person? Was that earlier figure really her?"
"Only she could transform this simple gown into the aura of a sacred goddess."
"Far more captivating than Princess Selena. She possesses an indescribable... beauty."
"Shh! Keep your voices down! What nonsense are you spouting..."
Whispers spread like a tidal wave, eyes brimming with astonishment, admiration, and disbelief—far surpassing the attention Selena had received upon her return moments before.
Serena stood rooted to the spot, feeling all the blood rush to her head.
She watched the figure approach slowly, observed the shifting expressions around her, and heard the murmurs of praise. A complex mix of emotions churned within her.
Why was she, the esteemed princess of the werewolf clan, being overshadowed?
Why could someone more beautiful than her exist?
Why wasn't she, with her higher status, the center of attention?
Jealousy, mingled with earlier humiliation and rage, burned fiercely within her, threatening to consume her reason entirely.
Serena dug her nails deep into her palms, silently vowing, "I swear, the humiliation I suffer today, I will repay tenfold."
Ella seated herself with nonchalance, even sparing a nod of greeting toward Selena nearby.
At this very moment, Ella's gesture struck Selena as nothing less than provocation and mockery.
Selena turned her head away, refusing to look at Ella. Her hand trembled slightly as she lifted her goblet, rage boiling within her.
Turning her head, she whispered an order to a werewolf maid beside her:
"Investigate! Use every means at your disposal to uncover the truth about that Catherine Darles! I need to know who she really is! Where did she come from? Her entire past! Now! Immediately!"
The maid bowed her head in acknowledgment and slipped silently out of the banquet hall.
Selene downed a large gulp of wine, her gaze darkening as she fixed it on the auction podium.
The charity auction was about to begin, but her mind was now utterly consumed by jealousy and rage....
The charity auction was a key segment of this evening's banquet.
The items up for auction were primarily donations from various families.
Naturally, the organizers imposed no restrictions on the specific items donated. However, for the sake of each family's prestige, the donated items were almost invariably of immense value.
Any family whose donated item proved too ordinary would inevitably face ridicule and scorn from the others.
Thus, this charity auction became a battleground for the families to showcase their strength and wealth.
The banquet host stepped onto the stage at the opportune moment, announcing the imminent start of the charity auction segment and redirecting everyone's attention back to the main event.
Auction items were presented one by one, predictably consisting of jewelry, antiques, and artworks — all of substantial value.
Bidding was exceptionally fierce—after all, items eligible for auction here required no discerning eye, only deep pockets.
Soon, it was time for the next lot.
A server carried a transparent glass case containing a plant, potted in a small, delicate container.
The plant itself was modest in size, standing about ten centimeters tall. Its leaves were slender and elongated, displaying a unique silvery-white hue that shimmered faintly under the lights.
The auctioneer, an eloquent middle-aged vampire gentleman, took the glass case and glanced at the label, a hint of confusion crossing his face.
But his professionalism quickly took over. With a playful tone, he remarked:
"The next lot, well... is a bit unusual." Clearing his throat, he smiled at the audience. "This is an... ornamental plant. Generously donated by Ms. Catherine Dares, representing the Hain family."
He deliberately emphasized "representative of the Hain family" and "ornamental plant," his tone dripping with sarcasm.
A low murmur of laughter rippled through the audience. Many eyes turned to Ella once more, now tinged with contempt.
At a charity auction where bids routinely reached hundreds of thousands, donating a mere "ornamental plant"? It seemed both pitifully cheap and utterly perfunctory.
"Typical small-town mentality—utterly unfit for the stage."
"Such an item surely wasn't prepared by the Hain family. Probably that woman's own decision. What a disgrace to the Hain name."
"Exactly. How could the Hain family choose such a narrow-minded woman as their representative? Utterly reckless."
The murmurs of disapproval flared up once more.
Serena listened to the whispers, a cold smile curling her lips. Lisa, standing beside her, seized the moment. Her voice was low, yet clear enough for nearby ears:
"Oh my, is this all the Hain family donated? A pot of grass? Are they here to do charity, or just to go through the motions?"
Another companion snorted in agreement, "Probably some local specialty? After all, they're from the sticks---nothing impressive to offer."
The third companion chimed in, "Maybe they think this grass is precious? Where they come from, just having enough to eat is a luxury. A pot of grass could be a family heirloom."
Their mockery drew murmurs of agreement and snickers from nearby attendees.
The auctioneer seemed slightly embarrassed, but the proceedings must continue.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and announced, "This plant... it certainly has a unique charm, with its silvery sheen. It would make a lovely decorative piece for the home. So, the starting bid... shall be set at five hundred. Is there any guest interested?"
No one below the stage raised a bid card.
Many faces wore mocking smiles, waiting to see this "grass" go unsold and thoroughly humiliate the representative of the Hain family.
Ella remained quietly seated, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her water glass. Her gaze remained calmly fixed on the stage, seemingly unaffected by any emotion.
Soon, seeing no bids, the auctioneer prepared to declare the lot unsold.
At this sight, Selena and her clique wore smug expressions, even shooting defiant glances at Ella, their faces brimming with schadenfreude.
But just then...
The heavy, carved doors of the banquet hall slowly pushed open from the outside.
A figure leaning on a black wooden cane entered at a measured pace.
This person was none other than Margaret, the elderly woman who had visited the Thorn Garden just days prior.
Today she wore a deep purple robe embroidered with silver runes, her hair meticulously combed, her expression solemn.
Her arrival prompted several elder-level figures present to rise and bow in respect.
Margaret's gaze, however, bypassed them entirely, settling instead upon the silvery-white plant.
Then, her somewhat aged voice echoed throughout the banquet hall:
"I bid... ten million."
- Writer
