"I will take her as my personal slave," I hear someone say.

My eyes shift to Boqin. His head is wrapped in a bandage. There must be no medical tube nearby. He's still in pain but what is most striking about him is the malice in his eyes. Why is he still here? He should have been barred from entering the hall! Isagani said that he is the most cruel when it comes to treating slaves. That is why I orchestrated that show! So that he won't be allowed to take me as his slave!

"I will make sure I'll f*ck her every day until she gives birth to my child."

Sinag gets up but both Dakila and Isagani's hands go to his shoulders, stopping whatever it is he planned to do.

"It's my right as a Fuhuan," Boqin adds. "This goes further than a yearly tribute. Being a Nayan, she will be up for bidding and no one could stop that. I believe you know that no one could match my financial capabilities?"

"Let me do it. I beg all of you. Jade, please, don't do this." I hear Migo say.

But I glare at him. I'm certain he won't survive this. Female Nayans are treated better than males. And with his mentality, right now, I can't bring myself to allow him to become the slave. I won't be able to forgive myself!

"I won't accept him. I will take the Nayan girl," the Uranus man insists. "As the law suggests, a Nayan woman must give birth. Not even the previous Aubade could stop that."

"Whatever she is, I am al—"

"Migo, shut up!" I yell at him. I am both angry and afraid. "You had no idea. Please, let it be. Let me go."

"Through a sacrificial move? No, take me instead."

"Stop being stupid and listen—Ah!"

I scream in pain, and I fall to the ground. I reach for my neck. The Uranus man is towering over me. He's holding another knife. It has the same hilt as the one the Rajah used on me. It has signs of blood. Warm blood spills between my fingers and I realized he branded me nonchalantly.

"You ass—" Migo screams and thankfully, Renz and Cielo are holding him down. "Let go of me!"

"The Nayan's being rude. She doesn't know that she is lower than a Hirayan. Ah no, she's not even a Hirayan! Branding her will be the most fitting punishment."

A smirk forms on Boqin's lips. He's enjoying his abrupt ascendance over me as if he has forgotten his show of fear earlier. Then he grabs my fingers away from my neck and shows them to everyone. I can feel it. The gash is deeper and uglier, more pronounced.

"Now, she's mine!" Boqin declares victoriously.

Sinag stands up from the dais, no longer halted by his aides. Migo finds strength and is able to escape from Renz and Cielo. They both move towards me and I feel blood drain from my face. They can't come here! They can't! But before Migo or Sinag could reach me, a group of men encircles me, together with Boqin.

"My, my, I can't believe this is going to be such an ugly affair."

I feel relieved. But that voice! It is very familiar! From the shadows, a beautiful man comes forward. His hair is long and up to his waist. It is braided and orange, too strange to be a natural hair color. He's wearing a white robe accentuated with random orange lines that fall to his ankles.

"I am Ruther pri Saturn and I will contest Pri Uranus' ownership of the Nayan woman," he says languidly.

Ruther pri Saturn walks nonchalantly towards me and the men surrounding us give way for him. He looks down at me and I stare back. His hair and clothes are different, but I am certain that it is him! He kneels before me and tilts my head to study the marks on my neck. He's not showing any signs of recognition.

He shakes his head. "Pri Uranus, you should take care of them. Hirayans and the other islanders are meant to be reformed on Fuhua. They might be slaves, but they are not someone you use for your own pleasure. Most especially, you are not to sow worry on the island's Leaders."

"And I can see that you are still the f*cking hypocrite, Pri Saturn," Boqin spits the word at him.

Ruther Pri Saturn smiles, but it is a mocking type of smile. "What can I do? I am your rival to be the next Ruler," he stands and stares at him. "And we both know who's the most financially capable between us."

The two stare at each other and it's Sinag who interrupts their staring contest. "No one is to take this woman away from Hiraya."

Ruther Pri Saturn smirks at the Rajah. "You might have forgotten the law, my dear Rajah. When you stepped down as Aubade, you might have been rusty, eh? Let me remind you that the Island's Leaders cannot reject when a citizen of his Island is to volunteer. More so, if the citizen is a full-blooded Nayan. I bet the girl knows that and uses it rather than asking Isagani here to call her name as a tribute and avoid all the drama." He glances at me and smiles, "Perhaps, she's hoping you won't choose her dearest friend as Tribute."

The Rajah is about to respond when Ruther Pri Saturn points at the strange little boxes at the corners of the hall with his fan. "Also," he starts. "You might have forgotten that this is being broadcasted? I'm certain you will not like the repercussions if you continue to disagree."

Then Ruther Pri Saturn's eyes shift to the Rajah's drawn sword and add, "Ah! The ancient weapons. Will you keep that away from my sight? It's hideous. It might be deadly here, but I'm sure you know that it is a toy compared to Fuhua's weapon? Surely, you have not forgotten that as well?"

Sinag makes no move to hide his sword. Isagani steps forward and says, "As usual, you are as glib as ever, Pri Saturn, always knows exactly where to hit a person."

Pri Saturn takes a dramatic bow at him and says, "Of course, my dear friend. How I missed you! You should come back to our Cluster, instead of wasting your talents here."

"And you are as annoying as ever," Isagani adds.

Isagani whispers something to the Rajah's ears, and Rajah's eyes lose focus. From the corner of the room, Laya is darting away from the scene. A container of darts hangs around his waist.

Then Isagani says, "I guess we can end the tribute ceremony? We can talk about the price after everyone calms down."

"I think so too," Ruther pri Saturn agrees. "Even if there's no reason to talk about the price anymore, whatever Pri Uranus bets, I will take a step higher than that."

Bagwis comes forward and when he supports and ushers the Rajah back to his seat, Ruther pri Saturn smirks. He looks strangely proud of Isagani but Isagani hates that look.

Then, Ruther Pri Saturn shifts his attention back to me and commands someone to take me with him. He did not even bother offering his hands to me.

I glance at Migo, just in time to see Laya hit him at the back of his head. He falls, still, his eyes find me.

Like the rest, I feel like this will be the last time I will see him, so I smile and mouth, "Be safe."