110 – Slave Contract (1)
I believed.
I believed in Alicia.
She was my first subordinate and the first person to take my dream seriously.
The person who wholeheartedly supported my dream of one day rising to the throne, even against my brother and father.
Alicia was the only one who devoted herself to me without any ulterior motive, and she still is.
Of course, we had nothing at that time.
So even if we helped each other, there was almost nothing material we could do.
As friends who were ignored and despised, we became each other’s greatest support.
That was enough.
I was truly fit to be a king.
Alicia, with her exceptional academic talent, was only unrecognized by the stupid Eugenian men.
What we needed was to trust each other and support each other.
That was all we needed, and as soon as that was in place, we began to soar.
While my brother indulged in pleasure, luxury, and debauchery, I trained in magic and swordsmanship, biting my lip.
Alicia relentlessly studied magic with stolen books and the allowance I provided.
As a result, I was able to overthrow my corrupted brother.
When my brother, consumed by inferiority, challenged me to a duel, I decisively defeated him and turned public opinion in my favor.
When the former king, my father, stepped up for a rematch and was defeated, he could no longer stubbornly resist.
I became a princess and was appointed as the royal consort. I gave up pretending to be crazy on that path. Instead, I used the weaknesses I had carefully gathered since childhood to preemptively overthrow the rebellious noble families and make the remaining families who were not yet under the control of Palana kneel and serve as my subjects.
One of them was Eugenia. At that time, Alicia’s recruitment into Martop was confirmed, so she held a position within Eugenia where she could have a fairly influential voice.
Now that we had reunited through our relationship as master and servant, we were in a position that no one could ignore.
I couldn’t help but think that I must indeed have a discerning eye for choosing my subjects.
Since then, Alicia and I became even closer.
It was not a simple relationship between a king and a servant.
Some expressed concerns that I favored Alicia too much.
Every time that happened, I couldn’t help but feel incredulous.
Alicia would ask if they could even compare to those worthless bastards.
She was a loyal subject who was possibly more precious to me than my own life.
She had supported me since the time when I was nothing.
Of course, I could only favor her.
Until now, I had never doubted Alicia’s moral qualities and character.
After gaining power within Eugenia, Alicia used that influence not for revenge, but to help the children who were abandoned or expelled.
She secured funds and instructed the establishment of orphanages.
The orphanages helped the children expelled from Eugenia to at least have basic necessities and provided them with job opportunities.
As a result, there were almost no more children freezing to death in the winter.
They had enough to eat and were raised with strong muscles, so their productivity actually increased compared to the times when they were treated like expendable goods.
The expelled children were no longer just troublemakers involved in theft and robbery in the back alleys.
They became valuable beings who filled the labor shortage in the north.
Although the orphanages always operated at a deficit, considering the increase in productivity, it was practically in the black.
That’s why I believed.
I believed in Alicia.
I wanted to believe in Alicia.
“What are you? Speak clearly. You didn’t say anything about going to Elvengard. So how did the elders here recognize your face?”
“······.”
Alicia stood frozen in my interrogation, trembling uncontrollably.
She couldn’t offer any explanation.
I want to believe it isn’t true.
I want to trust Alicia.
Every detail and evidence pointed to Alicia betraying me and hiding Eugene.
Who could have known?
That I would be betrayed by the rabbit I loved and cherished so much.
That our bond, nurtured for almost a decade, would be shattered like this.
Come to think of it, after returning from the South, Alicia had stopped using her libido suppressor.
She had become much prettier and natural compared to her emotionless demeanor before.
Alicia’s transformation wasn’t a result of stopping the suppressor.
It was because of love.
She had embraced a man in her heart and changed like this.
And it wasn’t just any man, it was my man.
The Queen’s man taken away by her subordinate.
Alicia was no different from any other rabbit after all.
Essentially the same as those rabbits driven by lust.
At that thought, tears flowed endlessly.
I never even dreamed that I would lose my most cherished and beautiful subordinate like this.
“Ha······.”
What should I do with Alicia?
During my stay in the South, I was consumed by this dilemma.
And soon, I reached a conclusion.
The course of action was clear.
“I have filled Alicia with magic binding spells and confined her in the iron-barred carriage at the back.”
“Haah, you did well.”
“But, my Lord. Do you really intend to torture Alicia? No matter what happens······.”
“Betrayal is unforgivable, regardless of who commits it. This is a perfect opportunity to set an example. Royal Guard, are you willing to become a substitute for Alicia?”
“No, my Lord. I spoke out of turn.”
“Leave now.”
“Yes.”
Bowing in apology, the bodyguard took the reins and rushed to the front of the procession.
It was time to return to Pallana.
Just as I said.
If this procession safely arrives in Pallana, I will have to torture Alicia to extract all the information.
And if it is confirmed that Alicia tried to intercept my man, I will demote and punish all the key figures of Yevgenia.
Of course, if they arrive ‘safely’.
“What, what?! The door of the iron-barred carriage is open!”
“Escape? How?! She must have been restrained!”
Chaos ensued.
Alicia had escaped and jumped out of the carriage.
Watching everyone scurry around in a state of emergency was quite amusing.
“Well, as planned.”
Because this is all my doing.
This procession was never designed to arrive safely in Pallana.
Inside the iron bars.
In a corner, there would be a sharp protruding nail through the wall.
Alicia would have used it to destroy the magic restraints and then cut the iron bars with wind magic before jumping out.
It’s no wonder everyone realized it late, as I had blocked everything with a barrier.
Everything was leading to Alicia’s escape.
“hehehe. I can’t bear to hurt that cute child.”
I declared that I would take her to the torture chamber and make her confess everything before punishing Yevgenia.
Innocent Alicia would have believed everything and been terrified.
So, she couldn’t help but escape.
“My lord, Lady Alicia has escaped! The situation is······.”
“Hmm. Then we must track down the fugitive now.”
Pushing aside the flustered bodyguards, I got off the carriage.
The plan was to give Alicia some time and then pursue her.
Alicia would have tried to cover her tracks by masking her scent and scattering her footprints······.
It’s impossible to defeat me with that.
The guards can’t handle the residual magic, but I can.
Alicia is in the palm of my hand.
As it is, Alicia will probably go to Eugene to ask for help.
It’ll be over when I ambush them at the final destination.
“Hmph. Huh. Is it this way… Huh?!”
Pushing through the grass.
It was a moment when I pretended to chase Alicia’s residual magic and acted nonchalant.
A sharp sensation stimulated my instincts.
Squelch!
I quickly stepped back.
An invisible air pressure passed through where I had just been, knocking down several trees next to me.
“Wind magic?”
I didn’t sense any magic fluctuations in the surroundings.
It’s too powerful.
And the fact that my senses were triggered means it’s not magic but a physical attack.
“hahahahaha! I tried to dodge it because it looked like I could! As expected, your reaction speed is sharp!”
“Assassin…”
“Nice to meet you! Paladin King!”
What emerged from the grass was none other than a pale-faced young man with a long sword on his shoulder.
Well, considering his age, he should be called an old man…
Transylvia.
He’s definitely a bloodsucker known by that name.
The guards drew their swords and blocked his path.
“I’ve become interested in the Frost Style that has recently been passed down only to the Paladin King! I’ve heard that it’s a beastly swordsmanship that uses the entire body, right? At that level, it seems more like body arts than swordsmanship! Anyway, I’ve come to ask for a swordsmanship duel!”
“There’s no time for that. If you want that, come back to Palana officially later and I’ll accompany you at any time.”
“Formalities are unnecessary. I just came here to exchange a few sword blows and I’ll be satisfied and leave.”
“Get out of the way! We’re in a hurry to pursue a prisoner!”
“Then, wouldn’t it be better to end the duel quickly?”
The words do not get through.
Facing the ever calm attitude of Transylvia, teeth grind together.
Thanks to that guy’s appearance and the scattering of magic, the magical traces in the vicinity have become a mess.
It has also become even more difficult to pursue Alicia.
If time continues to pass like this, I will really miss Alicia, and I will not be able to chase her.
Which is faster, killing the assassins and giving in to that guy’s demands for a duel?
“Damn it.”
No matter how much I think about it, the latter is overwhelmingly faster.
What Transylvia demanded was not a matter of life and death, but a swordsmanship duel.
If a battle breaks out, I cannot guarantee the survival of the guards, but in a swordsmanship duel where magic is sealed, I can quickly defeat her.
“Guards. Step back.”
“My lord?! Do you really have to listen to that rude guy?”
“This is the quickest way to end this. If you want, I can make you realize your place.”
“hahahahaha! As expected, you are so valiant! Like a mad princess who crushes the prince and king with force and ascends to the throne!”
“…”
Pushing aside the guards, I stepped forward.
It might be fun to see how long that laughter will last.
I drew my sword and silently locked eyes with Transylvia.
“Show me what a Frostblood like you, who has come so close to the state of unity with the Sacred Blade, is capable of.”
My sword has undergone the most improvements among the Frostbloods.
Although the Frostbloods have not yet fully blossomed into the unity with the Sacred Blade.
Now, it is more practical and sharp than ever.
Even a dead body like a vampire.
I believe I can crush it with my sword.
“Oh. You’re a strange herbivore. It feels like I’m facing a wild beast.”
“…”
Transylvia lowers herself with a sly smile.
At that moment, a chill runs down my spine.
From Noble mtl dot com
Why is that?
For many years, he had accumulated notoriety by tormenting the weak, yet he was nothing more than a body without any talent.
How is he emitting such a fierce energy like that?
“Well, it’s not strange for a body to emit energy when it has lived for so long.”
Dispelling distractions, he strides forward with determination.
He quickly suppresses the vampire.
And then he pursues Alicia.
“hahahahaha! You beastly woman! Try to entertain me for once!”
I vow like that.
Carelessly, I brandish my sword.
“Darkia’s Oath.”
“······!”
At that moment.
The vampire’s atmosphere changed abruptly.
An intense energy, unimaginable from a long-dead body, began to emanate.
“Iron Bloodstorm Strike!”