“Let’s wash your hair now. I’ll take off this bandage,” I said.
“Do as you like,” he said with both eyes closed. He seemed to be comfortable.
Though the bathtub felt a little too big for me, it seemed too small for Mr. Julius. I went behind him and started to dampen his dry bandage with my shower head. This was also fitted with a hot spring stone, and warm water would come out with a push of a button. I hadn’t marketed this yet, as it was a bit of a pain to make.
“Let me know if you feel any pain.” I slowly peeled off the bandage over his right eye. Thanks to the water, the bandage slipped off with ease. There was a huge hole where his right eye should be. As it didn’t seem infected or swollen, I assumed this was an old wound.
“Three years ago, my eye was destroyed. I haven’t seen the wound, but since I’m still alive, I guess it healed,” he said.
“I can’t tell if you’re lucky or not. It’s a terrible wound, but it healed up very well. Maybe you have enhanced regenerative abilities?” I asked.
“Slaves can’t use magic thanks to the brand.”
The bath seemed to improve Mr. Julius’s mood. He had become very talkative. I looked for his brand. Behind his neck, under his nape, was a seal that resembled a skull of a beast with two horns. The mark of a slave. His long hair had hidden this seal.
“Regenerative abilities aren’t magic, though,” I pointed out. “It’s a normal human ability where the body tries to heal its wounds. You have a lot of scars, so I guess you’re rather tough.”
“I guess so.”
“I’ll make a beautiful artificial eye for you. Let’s add some kind of ability to it, too. What would you like? Would it make you happy if you can see through women’s clothes?” I teased.
“That would mean I can see through yours too.”
“Oh. Then that’s no good.”
I washed his hair. I shampooed and rinsed it many times until I felt that it was no longer greasy. I used a lot of foam for the wound in his eye, carefully cleaning it as well. He didn’t seem to be in pain, but he seemed slightly annoyed. I paid no heed. An unhygienic body would lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. If I were to fit in a specially made artificial eye for him, the area needed to be well cleaned.
“What color would you like for your eye, Mr. Julius?” I asked. “Since your left eye is blue, how about we choose a different color for your right? An odd-eye look kind of excites my inner child. How about you?”
“Not really.”
“Since your left is blue, how about we make your right red? How exciting. You can add any ability you want. I’m a popular alchemist around here, so an artificial eye that I make is extremely valuable. You should sound happier!”
“Chloe, I thought you weren’t going to do anything unprofitable?”
I froze for a moment, surprised that he called me by my name. I proceeded to use the shower to rinse off his right eye. The overflowing water flowed down the drain. Maybe I should take a bath after him. My clothes are wet anyways, so it might be best.
“The artificial eye is free. Your clothes and food will also be free. You’re mine now, so I’m doing what a master is supposed to do. In exchange…”
“You said that I’d need to work like a dog for you.”
“Indeed. That’s exactly right. You’re very strong, aren’t you? I heard you caused quite a fuss at the Slave Arena. I heard you made a name for yourself in the past war as well, though I’m not too knowledgeable about that stuff.”
Mr. Julius was formerly the general for the neighboring Dystiana Empire. Just hearing the name Black Prince Julius was enough to make everyone in the Astria Kingdom tremble—aside from myself, of course. The Dystiana Empire was massive, and smaller kingdoms like Astria were in constant fear of getting invaded. However, three years ago, when Mr. Julius was betrayed by his empire and sold to the Astria Kingdom, Dystiana had stopped its advances towards us. I wasn’t sure about the other countries, but at the very least, war had ended for our kingdom. I had only learned of these incidents from rumors, as I was in a pretty precarious situation myself at the time.
“You’re blonde and handsome, but you were called the Black Prince because of your black armor and the black dragon that you rode, right? You inherited the title and domain of Duke of Craft at a young age. But you were sold to Astria and ended up at the Slave Arena. We’re alike,” I said.
“Who and who’s alike?” he asked.
“You and me. We’re both unlucky.”
“Is that why you bought me? Out of sympathy?” he spat out.
Because he’d cleaned up well, though he still looked a little haggard, he had regained some of his former beauty. His beautiful golden hair, pale skin, and long eyelashes complemented his high nose bridge and thin lips. He had a glare, and his eye was of a dull color, but he resembled the rumored beautiful warrior to a T.
“That’s obviously not the case,” I asserted. “I bought you because you’re strong. I didn’t want someone that was just above average, I wanted someone that was very capable. Item gathering is rather dangerous, as you can imagine.”
“How dumb.”
“It’s not dumb at all, thank you. We’re both fallen nobility without a leg to stand on. If you just laze around, you’ll be out of money in an instant. I’ll make the money, so I need you to defeat the monsters! I’m counting on you to do your part.”
“Either way, I’ve got no choice but to do as you say,” he said dismissively. He sunk deeper into the bathtub and closed his eyes.
I’m his master, but as I’m washing his hair, I feel like I’m his slave.