Star woke up slowly on the silk sheets. Soft morning light filtered through the barred windows of the holding room. For a brief moment he thought he was still in his tent by the forest road. Then the weight of the golden chains on his wrists brought him back to reality. He sat up and looked down at himself. The Syndicate had changed his clothes while he slept. He now wore a thin, elegant silk outfit that clung to every curve of his body. The fabric was light blue and almost transparent in places, leaving little to the imagination.

It’s such a thing that they could just naked me when ever.

His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He tugged at the garment but it refused to cover him properly. The suppression cuffs on his wrists glowed with a faint dark light whenever he moved.

"Jezebel," he called softly, hopefully. "Jezebel, please answer me."

Silence pressed down on him like a heavy blanket. He tried again, louder this time. "Jezebel! Are you there? Say something!" The thought of Jezebel shutting off that way was not enticing him one bit.

Still nothing. The warm presence that usually filled the back of his mind remained completely cut off. Only a faint echo of emptiness answered him. Star’s hands trembled slightly. He had never felt so alone since waking up in this world. The cuffs were doing their job too well.

He stood up and walked around the room. The carpets felt soft under his bare feet. Everything looked expensive yet designed to keep him trapped. He tried to summon a small spark of light with his skills. Nothing happened. The runes on the cuffs flashed and a dull headache bloomed behind his eyes.

The door clicked open. A young woman entered carrying a tray. She wore a similar silk outfit and had a silver collar around her neck. Her eyes looked tired and empty as she set the breakfast down on a small table.

"Eat," she said quietly. "You need to keep your strength up. They don’t like it when assets look weak."

Star looked at her closely, the collar! She most certainly is a slave. "Who are you? How long have you been here?"

The maid glanced at the door before answering in a flat voice. "My name is Lila. I have been here for eight months. Rule one: always obey. Rule two: never try to escape. Rule three: look beautiful at all times. Break any of these and you will be sent to the lower cages. The food is drugged lightly to keep you calm. Eat it anyway."

She turned to leave but Star stepped forward. "Wait. Please. Is there any way out?"

Lila gave him a sad smile. "Not for someone as valuable as you. They have been talking about you since you arrived. The Silver-Haired One. Just eat and prepare yourself. Handlers will come for you soon."

She left and locked the door behind her. Star stared at the tray. Fresh fruits, warm bread, and sweet tea waited for him. He ate slowly, forcing every bite down. The food tasted good but he could feel something extra in it, something that made his body feel slightly warm and relaxed against his will.

Two hours later the door opened again. Captain Ravel entered with four handlers. They all wore neat uniforms with the crimson collar symbol on their chests.

"Time for your daily maintenance," Ravel announced. "Come along nicely."

They led Star through the luxurious hallways. Other beautiful captives passed by, all moving with downcast eyes. Star kept his head high even though his heart raced. They took him into a large bathing chamber filled with steam. Marble pools glowed with soft magic lights.

"Strip," one female handler ordered.

Star hesitated. The handlers waited patiently but their eyes showed they would force him if needed. He slowly removed the silk garments and stepped into the warm water. Multiple hands went to work on him. They scrubbed his skin with fragrant oils, washed his long silver hair until it shone more, and trimmed his nails. Every touch felt clinical yet deeply humiliating. They treated him like a prized horse being prepared for sale.

After the bath they moved him to an evaluation room. Bright lights shone down on a raised platform. A man with glasses and a magic orb scanned him from head to toe.

"Remarkable," the appraiser muttered as numbers floated in the air. "Natural beauty stat is off the charts. Skin quality perfect. Mana affinity unusually high for someone so delicate. This one will easily fetch top bids. Potential as a companion, pleasure slave, or even political tool is enormous."

Star stood completely naked under the lights. His fists clenched at his sides. "Stop talking about me like I’m not here," he said through gritted teeth. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The appraiser ignored him and continued. "Body measurements ideal. Soft curves in all the right places. Face symmetry literally perfect. Our clients will be pleased."

One handler tried to adjust Star’s posture for better measurements. Star stepped back sharply. "Don’t touch me."

Ravel sighed. "Hold him."

Two strong guards grabbed Star’s arms. He struggled but the suppression cuffs made his strength feel weak. They finished the measurements and draped a new set of revealing silk robes over him. This one was even thinner than before, with golden threads that sparkled when he moved.

"Small act of defiance noted," Ravel said with a smirk. "Cute. But save your energy for the auction. Madame likes fighters. It raises the price."

They led him back through the facility. Star saw more of the operations this time. Rooms where captives learned how to please future masters. Training halls where beautiful slaves practiced dances and seductive movements. His stomach turned at the sight.

**

Back in his holding room, Madame Velvet waited for him. She sat gracefully on a purple chair, legs crossed, looking every bit the powerful businesswoman.

"You look much better after maintenance," she said with an approving smile. "Come sit with me, darling."

Star remained standing. "What do you want?"

Madame Velvet laughed softly. "Straight to the point. I like that. In two days we will hold a special underground auction. Only the wealthiest clients. Nobles who want exotic pets. Powerful adventurers seeking trophies. Even some high-ranking monsters in humanoid forms and some very shady people. You, my dear Silver-Haired price, will be the centerpiece."

She stood up and walked closer. Her fingers lightly traced his jawline. Star forced himself not to flinch.

"Behave well," she continued in a sweet voice. "Smile for the buyers. Show them that pretty face and those soft curves. If you perform nicely I can offer you guaranteed protection. Luxury rooms instead of cages. The best food. Even small freedoms. Some of my best assets live very comfortable lives with their new masters."

Star met her eyes. "And if I refuse?"

Velvet’s smile turned sharper. "Then we make things less pleasant. The cuffs can be adjusted to cause pain instead of just blocking power. Or we can send you to the lower levels where clients with rougher tastes go. But I don’t think you want that. Someone as delicate as you would break quickly."

Star felt anger rise inside him. "You track people like animals. You sell lives. Do you even care what happens to us after the auction?"

"I care about profit," Velvet replied calmly. "Beauty is currency in this world. Your beauty especially. You should have hidden it better if you didn’t want this life. But here you are. Use it wisely. Play the part and you might even find a kind master. One who will dress you in fine clothes and show you off like a precious jewel."

"I had a life," Star said, his voice shaking but growing stronger. "Friends. Goals. I was getting stronger. You took that from me."

Velvet tilted her head, clearly amused. "And yet your beauty is what made you worth taking. Think about that. Resistance is charming for now, but remember your place. The auction is your stage. Shine for me and life will be easier."

She left the room with a satisfied look on her face.

Star sat alone on the edge of the silk bed. The room felt too quiet. He stared at the floor for a long time as memories flooded his mind.

He remembered waking up in Greenhaven forests after his reincarnation. How confused and weak he had felt. How Lena had helped him and Rian had been kind. Those early days when everything felt new and full of possibility. He thought about the time with Gorzod too. Even that rough situation had been different. At least there he had some control. Here he felt like nothing more than meat on display.

His beauty had always been a problem. People stared. People wanted. People took. He had once wished to be beautiful and now that wish had become a curse that followed him everywhere.

He tried reaching for Jezebel again. "Jezebel... if you can hear me, please... just give me a sign."

No response. Not even a flicker this time. The silence felt deeper than before. A heavy wave of despair washed over him. He curled up on the bed and pressed his face into the pillow. Tears came silently. He cried for the freedom he had lost, for the friends he might never see again, and for the version of himself that had enjoyed quiet days on the forest road.

Later that night Star stood in front of the full-length mirror. The silk robes clung to his slender frame. His silver hair glowed softly under the magic lights. He looked beautiful. Delicate. Valuable.

He touched the glass with his fingertips.

"Beauty is what brought me into this mess," he whispered to his reflection. His voice sounded small in the empty room. "But maybe... whoever buys me will be kind enough not to manhandle me too roughly."

He kept staring at himself, searching for strength in the same face that had trapped him here. The golden chains on his wrists caught the light as he lowered his hands.

The auction was coming. Two more days of this silk prison. Star closed his eyes and held onto the small spark of resolve deep in his chest. He would survive this. Somehow. But his determination was dwindling, A lot.