Slave Auction House (1)

At Riya’s entrance, the banquet hall fell into momentary silence, but as the music resumed, the lively atmosphere quickly returned.

Something similar had occurred at the Empire’s Founding Festival, but the reaction now was much more intense.

The weight the imperial royalty carried inspired not just reverence, but even fear.

“I told you you’d need me, didn’t I?”

Riya turned her gaze to me as she stared in the direction Marquis Boyan had disappeared.

“Young count of the kingdom, honorary noble of the empire, war hero, and lately, a tycoon who’s amassed a huge fortune.”

She counted off my recent achievements on her fingers, one by one.

“… No wonder you attract pests like this.”

She smiled sweetly, but her expression was icy cold.

It wasn’t meant as reproach to me, but rather a warning to the young noblewomen hovering nearby.

“Hoho. But don’t worry. With me by your side, who would even dare to approach you?”

Indeed, Riya was right.

Since her arrival, not a single noble dared to send glances my way.

Some cast longing looks at times, but the moment Riya turned her gaze upon them, they hurriedly turned away.

‘Still, this is much more comfortable.’

At least I could finally let out a breath.

Without Riya, I would have had trouble not only at this banquet, but also at the future social gatherings and birthday celebrations I’d have to attend.

There was no guarantee someone like Marquis Boyan wouldn’t appear again.

“By the way, where is Duke Gale…”

“I’m here.”

Just as I was about to move to fulfill my purpose for coming here, Duke Gale approached me first.

He must have realized we were here thanks to Riya.

“It’s good to see you again, Your Grace.”

“Thank you, Count Vanhart. Thanks to you, my reputation is intact.”

“It was nothing.”

After he said that, he deeply bowed to Riya, who was quietly standing at my side.

“I greet Her Highness the Princess, sun of the Empire.”

“Hoho. Please, feel free, Duke.”

Riya replied with a soft smile, but she showed not a hint of interest in the duke.

Her eyes clearly conveyed that he should leave now if the greetings were over.

“Your Grace, may I speak to you in private for a moment?”

“Hm? Weren’t you spending time with Her Highness?”

“I was, but there’s something I’d like to discuss briefly.”

After that, I glanced at Riya, and though she frowned slightly, she nodded her head.

I stepped out onto the balcony, made sure no one was around, and then spoke to Duke Gale in a low voice.

“Are you aware of the regular demi-human auctions held in Shioten?”

“… Hm. That’s quite a sudden question.”

“I can’t believe Your Grace wouldn’t know about this.”

“You’re right. I’ve been keeping an eye on it for a long time.”

Duke Gale glanced at the silent Riya beside me.

Riya simply nodded to him, her face calm.

“There’s no need to feel particularly ashamed. It seems to be happening all over the continent.”

“I appreciate you thinking of it that way.”

For the duke, it was probably a rather shameful matter.

After all, the kingdom’s ugly secrets had now reached the ears of the Empire’s princess.

But that was precisely my intention.

By bringing up this topic in front of Riya, I was making sure he’d have to act.

“I didn’t expect you to bring up such a difficult issue.”

“We can’t just keep turning a blind eye forever. And I’m sure you’re aware—the empire is recently pursuing policies that favor demi-humans.”

“That’s true.”

“To align with the current trend, it would be best to actively eliminate these illegal auctions. The time for that just happens to be now.”

“… Hm.”

He looked deeply troubled.

Of course he was.

There were surely many nobles involved in these auctions.

Otherwise, no one would let them continue while being fully aware.

“So, what is it that you want?”

At last, seeming to have made up his mind, Duke Gale asked with a serious expression.

From the beginning, this had been his only real choice.

As long as Riya was by my side.

“I’ll explain it to you in detail now.”

I smiled and laid out the plan I’d been preparing.

All the costs involved in this matter would be claimed from Duke Gale.

* * *

‘What’s going to happen to us now?’

A young elf girl shuddered as she hugged her little brother close.

It felt like a nightmare.

Who would have imagined their peaceful life could be shattered so suddenly?

‘Mother and Father must be so worried…’

At the very least, she wanted to get her younger brother out of here somehow.

But that was impossible.

Even the many adults, who’d been kidnapped along with her, were only left hopeless, shedding tears.

‘Wretched humans.’

The elf girl, Titiana, bit her lower lip in frustration.

She’d heard tales, but never imagined humans would move so covertly and mysteriously.

The Kingdom of Lavantara is broadly divided into three races: elves, dwarves, and beastkin.

Each of these groups appoints a head, and from among the three heads, one is chosen as the king who rules the nation.

Perhaps due to their reverence for nature’s way, they did not possess surnames like humans, instead living in vast villages formed in the mountains.

Though called a kingdom, the reality was closer to a confederation of tribes.

They lacked proper systems, and even if they tried to fortify themselves, it was difficult to prevent stealthy intruders.

Elf girl Titiana, too, had gone out to pick fruit with her brother when she was kidnapped by humans.

There must have been elf soldiers on patrol nearby, but the humans’ skills were truly ghost-like.

“Come out!”

As she comforted her trembling brother under the dim tent, a rough-looking man came in.

He dragged the trembling demi-humans out from beneath the tent, washed them clean, and dressed them in flashy clothes.

She wanted to tear off the cumbersome garments immediately, but she couldn’t with her little brother with her.

If she didn’t obey, they’d surely beat her mercilessly, just as they had on the way here.

“Number 7, 7! Where’s number 7?!”

After that, they were locked in a room with other demi-humans.

At the humans’ call, one after another, the captives were led outside.

‘Please…’

But Titiana did not give up.

Among elves, she had an especially keen sense of hearing.

Hoping for even the slightest chance, she focused all her attention on the sounds outside.

“There are a lot this time, huh?”

“Zervisia put in some effort for us. Said they couldn’t help for a while and helped us score big this time.”

It was the voices of the men who had been watching them.

For a moment, Titiana thought she’d misheard.

‘Zervisia?’

There was no way she didn’t know that name. It was the current elf king’s son.

Why would the king’s son be involved in something like this?

Of course, unlike in other countries, the king’s son does not become king in Lavantara.

But that didn’t change the fact that he was the noblest elf in the land.

And he’d sided with these despicable humans?

“But wow—one guy is buying all of them, isn’t he?”

“Right? Just how much money does he have…?”

Just as she heard this, someone yanked sharply on her collar.

“Number 14! What are you doing?! Do you know how many times I called you?!”

Not by her name, Titiana, but “Number 14”.

An unfamiliar designation, and she hadn’t noticed, distracted as she was by the sounds outside.

“S-sister!”

“It’ll be alright, kere.”

Even as she was dragged out by the man, Titiana comforted her brother.

Biting her lower lip until it bled, she was pulled outside, where countless masked humans stared at her.

As merchandise.

‘No…’

The people looking at her all shouted something.

They were probably calling out her price.

It was well known that humans used demi-humans as slaves.

500.

1,000.

2,500.

As the number of gold coins climbed, one man—who had quietly watched until now—raised his paddle.

“10,000.”

Suddenly, the noisy voices of the people bidding went silent.

‘What’s this?’

Titiana was puzzled by the sudden change in mood.

The man who raised his hand wore an ornate mask.

It was so elaborate it covered not just his face but all of his head, to the point of looking monstrous rather than elegant.

“That guy again!”

“Just how much money does he have?!”

“Damn it. We can’t let him have every single one. These elves are rare… 11,000!”

A man shouted desperately, but the man in the ornate mask calmly raised his paddle again.

“20,000.”

At those words, no one could say anything.

20,000.

Spending 20,000 gold on just one slave?

If it had only been once, people would have written him off as a madman.

But he had already bought fourteen slaves—elves, dwarves, beastkin, without discrimination.

“N-now, is there anyone else? If not… the lot goes to guest number 48!”

The auctioneer wiped the sweat from his brow, clearly experiencing this for the first time.

Normally, they would have intervened to prevent one person from monopolizing the auction.

But the amount he bid was just too sweet to refuse.

Who could say no to a man who tossed out tens of thousands of gold at once?

‘Who in the world is he?’

That’s what everyone in the auction house thought. At this point, he couldn’t be just some famous noble or merchant.

And all of them were now hoping the man’s money would run out.

After all, nothing was as disappointing as going home empty-handed from an auction.

But—

All thirty-two demi-humans auctioned off that day were sold to that one man.

* * *

I let out a sigh as I took off my mask. The auction had lasted late into the night, leaving me exhausted.

But I wasn’t in a bad mood. In fact, I even felt refreshed.

“Spending money can be fun.”

Even more so when it wasn’t my own.

Not a single coin spent at this auction was mine.

Duke Gale had obtained inventory directly from King Leogart and given me permission to use the state treasury.

So, I could literally spend without restraint.

What noble, what merchant could possibly win against the national budget itself?

‘It’s money we’ll recover anyway—he must have agreed cheerfully.’

By now, Duke Gale’s people would be trailing everyone leaving the auction house.

Soon, they’d dig out exactly who was behind them.

All the vast proceeds the sellers gained from trafficking demi-humans would be recovered.

“Jade, have you brought everyone safely to the mansion?”

“Yes. They’re all gathered in one place. They refuse to be separated.”

The mansion, long abandoned by people, had become crowded in an instant.

Not only with the rescued demi-humans, but also with the Thieves’ Guild members disguised as staff, the whole place was in an uproar.

“… You look good in that butler uniform.”

“Thank you. I think this is my true calling.”

At Jade’s easy smile, I gave a small laugh.

“Where’s Riya?”

“She went ahead to comfort the demi-humans.”

To comfort them, huh…

I felt sorry to say it, but I couldn’t take those words at face value when it came to Riya.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep