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Translator note: Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Julius and Chloe's adventure, drop your comments below!
Chloe grasped the chain extending from the handcuffs that bound my hands with magical locks, and we left the slave arena.
Outside the dimly lit, stone-built slave arena, a clear blue sky stretched out.
It probably hadn’t been much time since dawn. Although my sense of time was numb, I could infer that it was likely early morning. The front of the circular building was an open area, with rows of trees and houses with orange roofs.
There were no signs of people. In the early morning, there probably weren’t many people peculiar enough to visit the slave arena, besides Chloe.
“Sorry, I can’t remove the handcuffs. If Julius-san is actually a dangerous person, it would be a problem for me.”
Looking up at me, Chloe apologized with a somewhat regretful expression.
I didn’t respond, as there wasn’t anything particular to say.
The vision in my one eye was still somewhat blurry. Although I could see better when looking at things up close, I wondered if it would ever fully recover. Chloe seemed to have bought me thinking I was strong, but with my unfocused left eye, it was questionable whether I could lead a decent life.
“The distance between the slave arena to my house in the main shopping district is a bit far. I was thinking of taking a carriage back, but when I asked, the carriage driver said he’s scared of the slave arena and ran away. So, let’s use a return key.”
Muttering to herself, Chloe took a golden key from the simple cloth bag hanging from her shoulder.
“This is a return key. It’s an excellent item that allows me to return to my alchemy room in an instant. Unfortunately, it’s disposable and quite expensive, so I prefer not to use it often. However, since I don’t have the hobby of strolling around town while chaining Julius-san, let’s go ahead and use it.”
After a long explanation, Chloe turned the key in midair.
Then, with a clinking sound, an invisible door appeared. Beyond the opened door, another world unfolded.
It was not a very spacious room.
At the back of the room, there was a large black cauldron. In the foreground, a long chair, a counter table, and a trunk were placed haphazardly. Several lamps shaped like fruits adorned the room.
In a corner, bookshelves were lined up, filled with thick books. Though slightly blurred, perhaps owing to more colors than at the slave arena, the shapes of objects were clearly visible.
“Julius-san, please have a seat. Since you’re tall, it’s easier to talk when you’re seated,” Chloe said.
Chloe dragged a single-seat chair over and placed it in the center of the room.
Since there was no reason to refuse, I sat down.
As I narrowed my eye to get a better look, peering at her with curiosity, Chloe misinterpreted it as a glare. She rested her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest.
It seemed like she was trying to exude a somewhat imposing demeanor.
However, she looked more like a wild rabbit trying to act tough, and I couldn’t help but smile at her attempt.
According to Chloe’s explanation, the Seigrit family was a duke’s household accused of wrongdoing by Chloe’s sister, leading to its subsequent abolition.
Although I had been a general in the Dystiana Empire, invading the Astoria Kingdom, I wasn’t well-versed in the affairs of nobles from other countries. I had been stationed near the border, occupying towns, but reinforcements sent to other battlefields faced setbacks, and the conquered lands were retaken. It was a repeating cycle.
After seven years of wandering the battlefield with Helios, there was no sign of the war coming to an end. Frustrated by the Emperor’s reproachful letters questioning how much longer it would take, I crumpled them up and set them on fire repeatedly. Both our forces and weapons were spread too thin, with insufficient numbers. Despite knowing that my intervention could lead to victory, in the end, it only resulted in a small expansion of our territory.
It was a foolish strategy to not concentrate forces in one place and systematically capture each country. The areas surrounding the Dystiana Empire were all enemy nations. By neglecting the defense of certain territories, they were invaded, and the captured lands were taken back. While the central nobility of the empire lived in luxury, poverty-induced instability was more evident near the borders.
The internal situation in the Astoria Kingdom might not differ much, but the soldiers on the battlefield were better coordinated than those in the empire, simply because they were well-disciplined knights. Still, the name of Duke Seigrīt was unfamiliar.
I, too, carried the title of Duke, but in my case, it was merely a nominal distinction. I was nothing more than a slave of the empire.
Chloe, despite being the fiancée of the first prince Cyril Astoria, had been imprisoned and abandoned in the capital three years ago. She spoke of it casually, as if it were someone else’s story, and her demeanor was painful to witness.
Considering Chloe’s new status as my owner, I had thought about killing her so-called sister and Cyril Astoria. However, Chloe expressed no desire for revenge.
In that case—What should I do?
While immersing myself in a bath, Chloe delicately washed my hair, and the pleasant sensation of her fingertips made me close my eye and contemplate.
I didn’t like being touched by others, but Chloe’s small, slender fingers somehow felt comforting and acceptable.
When was the last time I slept in a proper bed?
In the encampment, I often slept against Helios’ belly. Although I had my own room in the ducal estate, I rarely returned there. In the slave arena, I sometimes dozed off while sitting on the rough ground, but the constant threat of danger made it impossible to get a decent sleep.
Chloe’s bed was soft and warm, and a strong drowsiness overcame me. Chloe seemed upset, but it didn’t seem like she truly minded. She must be a good person.
When I woke up, a red prosthetic eye occupied my once-vacant right eye socket.
There was no pain or discomfort, as healing magic had been applied to mend the strained skin.
I blinked a few times, and in an instant, my vision became remarkably clear.
The prosthetic eye seemed to enhance the vision of my left eye, which had lost its clarity.
Chloe’s figure, reflected in my now-clear vision, was indeed charming.
She wasn’t a beauty in the conventional sense—neither striking nor enchanting—but she had a modest, cute appearance, like a subdued spring flower.
Chloe was my master, the one who had bought me, and I was her slave.
Such an innocent-looking woman was my owner.
In reality, Chloe was innocent. She didn’t seek revenge, didn’t adopt an overbearing attitude towards me, and instead, she took care of me meticulously. Having lived a life where one either took lives or had their life taken away, I felt a bit bewildered by her caring demeanor.
Chloe restored what was lost—my missing eye and even Helios, whom I thought I would never see again.
On the day Chloe bought me, I had accepted my death.
I considered my life as one that had died once. Although I was willing to sacrifice it for Chloe, who kept insisting I should cherish my life, I had started to think a bit more about that lately.
Despite being okay with dying at any time, living a little longer with Chloe didn't seem like a bad idea.
However, when I sensed that Chloe was considering selling me to the merchant and the persistent woman clinging to me, I felt irritated.
Chloe, who is usually a good-natured fool, seemed unusually grumpy today. I couldn’t figure out the reason for her sadness, so I found myself alone in Chloe’s room, contemplating why she was feeling that way.
If possible, I just wanted to be by her side without doing anything.
Chloe was too kind for her own good, and I worried that she might be deceived by someone. By buying me, she might get involved in troublesome matters. Most importantly, listening to Chloe’s pleasant voice as she talks made me feel at ease.
I enjoyed observing her changing expressions and bustling movements.
Ah, perhaps—I treasure her.
This is the first time I’ve felt affection for someone other than Helios. I used to dislike those who shared my form. Chloe may look like me, but she is not the same. I can’t explain it well, but that’s how I feel.
When I went to check on Chloe, who still hadn’t cheered up, I found her curled up on the long bench in the alchemy room, fast asleep.
I heard a small, distressed voice, and I leaned over to see her face.
“No… No… Help…me…”
I furrowed my brow at the desperate voice.
Her long eyelashes glistened with tears. Her delicate shoulders and arms were trembling.
“...Chloe.”
Kneeling beside the long bench, I called her name.
Her eyelids twitched, and at the corners of her eyes, tears gathered and flowed down her cheeks.
I knew that she sometimes struggled in her sleep, feeling uncomfortable. However, seeing her cry was a first.
She must have been through something painful. A girl from a reputable family chosen as the prince’s fiancée, abandoned in the city alone. It was unlikely that she could remain unharmed without any issues.
If she ordered me to, I could easily eliminate those who caused her pain.
Cautiously, I touched her cheek, using my fingertips to wipe away the tears. I licked the wetness off my fingers.
I felt an urge to kiss her.
Lusting after a vulnerable woman was absurd.
Placing my hand on her forehead, I shook my head.
I need to wake up Chloe. Let’s talk as usual and communicate properly. I’ll stay by her side, as long as there’s a contract, always.