Arianne's eyes twinkled as the carriage began to move. "You're not disappointed, are you?"
Michael met her gaze with a faint smile. "I wouldn't dare say that aloud."
She laughed, light and genuine, before turning her gaze to the window for a moment. The city lights painted soft reflections on the glass.
"Have you ever been to a private auction like this before?" Michael asked, shifting the conversation.
Arianne turned back to him and nodded. "A few. Not often. Most are terribly boring, truth be told—but tonight should be different."
"Different how?"
She shrugged lightly. "Well, it's not hosted by my father directly. He's just sponsoring part of it. The actual goods come from several parties. Mercenaries. Traders. Even adventurers returning from outside the kingdom. That's why the items can be… unpredictable."
"Unpredictable?" Michael raised a brow.
