“You’re correct! You’re quick to catch on!” I applauded him. “In any case, I thought I was going to marry Cyril, but three years ago, there was a graduation ceremony for the aristocratic academy. I was suddenly publicly condemned during the ceremony, and my engagement was canceled on the spot.”
“Canceled?”
“Yes, you’ve heard that right. I have no idea why, but I was arrested in public and thrown into prison! I had my life spared, but my family had fallen, and I was thrown outside of the royal capital, all alone.”
“You look like you wouldn’t hurt a fly. Just what kinda heinous crime did you commit?” he asked, eyebrow raised.
“How rude! I didn’t do anything! My sister Aliza apparently uncovered all the Duke of Sagrid’s wrongdoings. It seems like my father had been involved in some shady business under the table. From kidnapping young girls to human trafficking to loan sharking to murder. Even selling bad drugs to people! It was like I was trapped in some kind of twisted dramedy! I had no idea what was up or down anymore.”
“Was your father really involved in all that?”
“No idea.” I shrugged. “I was suddenly told all of this and thrown into prison. I was then tossed into a random alleyway. My father was executed, and my family had crumbled. I had no idea what was going on. But even so, I must survive. So, as you can see, I became an alchemist and became wealthy all by myself. I’m now a very popular alchemist. Boy, am I glad I’m able to use magic! Nowadays, it’s much more profitable to become an alchemist than a sorcerer.”
For the first time, something lit up in his eyes. Like a cruel flame, it silently flickered in his gaze. “Are you sure you aren’t looking for revenge, Chloe? I can kill every person that you hate.”
“You completely missed the point of my story. That’s not what I want, Mr. Julius. You truly don’t understand, do you? Revenge isn’t profitable,” I replied.
“And is that sisters of yours, who trapped you in this situation, living without a care in the world?”
“Without a care indeed. She’s the crown princess now. It seems like she safely married Cyril—there was a parade announcing their marriage the other day. Thanks to that, my special item, Flower Fireworks, where flowers dance in the sky, have been selling like hotcakes.”
“Your situation isn’t anything special, but don’t you hate her?”
“Is my situation really that common? Do downfalls occur that frequently?”
“It’s a tale as old as time.”
“Hm, and here I’d thought I was the unluckiest girl in the world. How odd. In any case, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have any anger within me. But you see, Mr. Julius, money is the most important thing in the world. Money doesn’t betray you. That’s why I purchased you from the Slave Arena.”
It was scary going there, but I tried my best. Especially after I’d heard I could buy the Black Prince for five million gold.
“And I’m asking if buying me with money is a means for you to exact your revenge. If you command me, I can take Cyril’s head, since he betrayed you as well. If torture is your goal, I can take him back alive,” Mr. Julius said.
“You’re rather bloodthirsty, aren’t you? As I said, that’s not my intention.”
“Then what is it? Why did you purchase me? Do you need me as your male prostitute? After all, with your looks, you probably don’t get much action.”
“No need for your vulgar talk. I choose money over men. I don’t need a marriage partner, much less a male prostitute. How will that benefit me monetarily?”
“Then why did you buy me?”
“You see, for good alchemy, I need good materials. For good materials, I need to fight strong monsters. I’ll have you work like a dog, Mr. Julius. I need you to tag along to defeat monsters so I can freely gather materials from them.”
Mr. Julius looked away before muttering under his breath, “That’s it?”
He had quietly followed me from the Slave Arena, but if he was as aggressive as rumored, I was planning on fitting him with the Muzzle of Subordination which I’d made with alchemy. The Muzzle of Subordination came to mind when I saw a barking dog being fit with a muzzle during my walks. Alchemy is imagination. One can create whatever they wish, granted they have the imagination and determination for it. Of course, aside from human transmutation.
I stood near him.
Mr. Julius is a head and a half taller than me. When I’m near him, he has an air of intensity. Also, he’s slightly dirty.
His dull-blue eye gazed at me with boredom.
“Mr. Julius, now that we’ve established our relationship, please take a bath,” I said.
“A bath, you say,” he replied.
“You’re very unhygienic right now. Let’s clean you up. Let’s heal that wound on your eye, and let’s change your clothes.”
“And if I refuse?”
“I’m your master, so please listen to me.”
“I’ve been a slave for three years. I’ve forgotten how to take a bath. Will you bathe me, dear master?” he teased. He donned a sarcastic smirk on his face.
I frowned. You’re underestimating me because I’m younger than you. I’ve still had my fair share of problems, you know. You’re making a big mistake if you think my face will get all red or embarrassed with your statement.
“That’s fine with me. You’re my slave, so I guess it’s my responsibility to get you cleaned up. Come on, then!”
He looked away and sighed.
You think I’m just some clueless twenty-year-old girl, don’t you? I was in a very noble family three years ago, but that’s all changed now.
“Oh, your handcuffs are in the way, aren’t they?” I said. I put my hand over the cuffs on his arms. “By the name of Chloe Sagrid, I command the handcuffs to turn into a collar.”
The moment I chanted those words, the red mobius strip slipped from his hands and transformed into a collar around his neck. The bright red string turned pitch black. At a glance, it looked like a quality decoration for a person’s neck.