[color=lightgray][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/YGxzxVR.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/AVwIuBJ.png[/img][/center]
[color=D0B4EC]Time:[/color] Day  
[color=D0B4EC]Location:[/color] Sorian Park
[color=D0B4EC]Attire:[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/LEHBLRN.jpeg[/url]Dress[/url], [url=i.imgur.com/2SBcciZ.png]Amulet[/url]
[color=D0B4EC]Interaction:[/color] [@Oso] Cassius
[color=D0B4EC]Mention:[/color] [@Helo] Callum  [@Potter] Kira [@Tpartywithzombi] Violet
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[color=00F8FE]“Three-hundred!”[/color] 

Charlotte's gaze locked on the drunk prince, her brow raising. [color=D0B4EC]“Three hundred?”[/color] she repeated softly, though it was not in wonder. Her gaze darted toward him, mouth parted in the faintest, incredulous laugh. The monkey’s cackling did little to steady her pulse.

[color=00F8FE]“And another hundo from the [b]MON-KAAAAY![/b]”[/color]  
                   
Uncharacteristically so, Charlotte let herself grin, lifting her hand in a playful wave toward Callum and his strange little monkey. The gesture had a girlish lilt to it, but the look in her eyes was more intense than her smile betrayed. Her other hand found her hip, shoulders curving into a pose. Even as Callum’s voice rang out to Kira, Charlotte did not flinch. Instead, she clasped her hands together beside her cheek with delight, tilting her head sweetly as though she were the very picture of amused innocence. Her lashes lowered just so, her gaze trained on Callum as he spread his arms wide with his whiskey bottle in hand.

[color=D0B4EC]“Oh, what a lovely idea!”[/color] she cooed brightly.

On the surface, it was coy, harmless teasing, a dutiful jewel playing her part in the spectacle. But beneath it, Charlotte’s chest thrummed with anger that still burned hot, a type of sharp anger she hadn’t entertained in years. 

Her gaze flicked past Callum to the man who had set all this into motion. Cassius. For the briefest instant, her smile faltered. The hurt rushed back in like a tide,  but instead of letting it drown her, she turned her chin and faced the crowd again. Yet her eyes betrayed her, catching on Violet at his side. It was only a fleeting glimpse, but enough to tell that she had been comforting him. She could not help but wonder if the rift between herself and Cassius would now cast its shadow over her relationship with Violet too.

[Color=gold]“A woman, Lord Cassius Damien, and Prince Callum Danrose! Didn't I tell you all, Lady Vikena is as exceptional as it gets!”[/color]

[Color=peru][b]“Four-fifty.”[/b][/color] 

[color=Aquamarine]“550 gold!”[/color]

[color=lightsteelblue]“How about one thousand for the lovely lady.”[/color]

Charlotte’s stomach dropped. The air felt heavy, pressing down on her ribcage as if it meant to suffocate her, though her smile clung to her lips as if stitched there by a needle. 

[i]One thousand.[/i]

Her fingers curled tighter into her skirts until her knuckles prickled, the fabric an anchor as the park fell still. Then the silence shattered into gasps and whispers, but none of it touched her. Inside, her chest burned as if it had been filled with molten lava. [color=D0B4EC][i]One thousand... You would do this, Cassius? After everything? After cutting me open, you come with gold and expect—what?[/i][/color]

Her eyes slid to him again, unerring, finding him even among the sea of onlookers as though the rest of the world had fallen away. The edges of her vision blurred, but he stood clear as day, the word defiance made flesh, every inch of him battered yet unyielding. She tipped her chin, lashes low,  radiating the poise of a woman who had just discovered exactly how dangerous she could be.

[color=D0B4EC]“My, my…”[/color] she breathed, her voice sweet but her gaze [i]daring[/i] him before she turned lightly back to the crowd, voice brightening. [color=D0B4EC]“Such generosity for a worthy cause."[/color]

[color=white]“1000! 1000 for Lady Vikena! Going once… Going twice… Three times! Congratulations Lord Damien, you have won a date with Lady Charlotte Vikena of Vermillion! Please provide your bid to Lady Blackwood, and please do enjoy your wonderful picnic!”[/color] the announcer called.

And in that instant, as she made her way off the stage, Charlotte Vikena looked less like a jewel to be won and more like the storm that could swallow the auction whole.

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