Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination, sexual violence, emotional abuse, animal cruelty and death, and death.

Auren watches from her cage in the atrium of Highbell Castle as six of the king’s “saddles”—women who are enslaved and sexually exploited—attempt to entertain and satisfy King Midas, ruler of the Sixth Kingdom of Orea. Auren, who is a saddle herself, wonders whether the gods enjoy watching these proceedings through the enormous glass-dome ceiling, through which she can occasionally see the stars beyond the thick clouds and ice that usually obscure her view.

Though Auren is the king’s favorite saddle, she is often left to simply watch his sexual exploits rather than participating. Now, she sits comfortably in her gold cage, dressed in gold silk and lounging on a gold cushion as she watches the scene with simmering jealousy. Everything in the castle is made of gold, from the floors and clothing to the knights’ armor and a lifeless pet bird. Midas enjoys flaunting his magical power to turn anything he wishes into gold.

Suddenly, Midas becomes bored and sends the saddles back to the harem wing of the castle.