MMFHRK-Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Slave, or Plaything?

…

Regarding a slave’s duties, Lilinai had already undergone specialized training.

Slaves of different tiers were responsible for different kinds of work.

The slaves of human kingdoms were roughly divided into three categories.

The lowest tier of slaves mostly engaged in physical labor; slightly more respectable ones worked as servants or errand-runners; and the higher tier were mostly educated, serving as attendants, guards, or roles along the lines of butlers. Beyond these, there were also slaves who specialized in a particular skill to satisfy their master’s needs: performers, cooks, even bedmates.

Though she had drifted homeless for 3 years, she had after all once been a noble, so when she was first sent to the slave trading house, Lilinai still carried something of a noble’s bearing. Add to that an appearance outstanding enough, and when Misite trained Lilinai, she cultivated her as the highest tier of slave, with all the skills taught being butler-type ones.

And Lilinai lived up to expectations, fetching her a good price.

Though it never occurred to Misite that the buyer’s reason for purchasing her had nothing whatsoever to do with any of the above.

“Please follow me, Miss Lilinai.”

As she left the dining hall, Lilinai met Aoleila, who had come on orders to familiarize her with the mansion.

Lilinai decided to take this opportunity to gather a bit more information.

They set off together.

Lilinai tried striking up a conversation with the maid. The other party held no wariness toward her, and the two of them soon fell into talk.

According to Aoleila, this castle-styled mansion had been bought by Airiya from a wealthy merchant—who in turn had obtained it from an old noble through debt claims. Aside from Lilinai and Airiya, the mansion also had roughly a dozen maids. They mostly lived in rooms on the first and second floors and were responsible for maintaining the lower portion of the entire mansion.

And from the third floor up—that is, the “tower” portion—was Airiya’s personal domain.

“Lady Airiya draws a very clear line between public and private, and she strongly dislikes being disturbed or having anyone intrude into her private space.” Aoleila cautioned Lilinai. “Without permission, no one may enter the tower. Lady Airiya is extremely sensitive about this, so please keep it firmly in mind, Miss Lilinai.”

“I will.”

Lilinai answered cautiously.

Soon, with Aoleila’s help, Lilinai had a firm grasp of the mansion’s layout.

Afterward, citing the need to clean up the dining hall, the maid left ahead of her.

Once the maid had gone far enough away, Lilinai followed the corridor to the front entrance.

In front of the mansion was a courtyard of moderate size, its fountain shimmering under the summer sun. Looking outward, she was surrounded on all sides by green hills and clear waters, and the hill behind the lakeside even had a waterfall. It seemed the rumors about Witches did contain some truth: at the very least, it really was far removed from the mortal world, or rather, situated out in the untamed wilderness.

“…”

Lilinai glanced back at the tower above the mansion and swallowed.

Since earlier, Airiya hadn’t come looking for her. So did that mean she…

Thinking this, she started walking toward the area beyond the courtyard.

But at the same time, the collar on her neck began to grow slightly warm.

The closer she got to the gate, the more the collar on her neck tried to pull her back. By the end, she could no longer move her feet, and could only stop, brace her hands on her knees, and pant rapidly.

“So this really is as far as I can go.”

Lilinai sighed.

By the looks of it, Airiya had issued her an order forbidding her from leaving the mansion.

With the slave collar restraining her, hoping to leave the mansion while Airiya wasn’t paying attention was a pipe dream.

Unless the collar came off, she could only leave this place when her master actively lifted the command.

“Is there any opportunity that could get her to take off this collar…”

“Miss Lilinai.”

Just as the purple-haired girl was pondering, a maid suddenly came to call her.

“Lady Airiya requests that you go to the study on the fifth floor of the tower. Please hurry.”

“…All right.”

The girl nodded.

Airiya hadn’t used the collar to forcibly command her, so it seemed this wasn’t a matter requiring her forced cooperation.

Considering that she had no leads whatsoever on how to escape for the time being, Lilinai decided she might as well take things one step at a time.

——————————

The Witch’s study looked no different from any ordinary study. There was no classic crystal ball, no magical instruments for stargazing, and certainly no bizarre skull or pumpkin decorations—there were only books here, wooden bookshelves and long tables. The scent of ink and paper drifted through the air, instinctively making one feel calm and relaxed.

The only unusual thing was that this study was very large, occupying at least most of the floor, its bookshelves arrayed row upon row as far as the eye could see.

Airiya reclined on a lounge chair. Seeing Lilinai enter, she set down the book in her hand and beckoned to the purple-haired girl with a smile.

“Come here, Miss Lilinai.”

Lilinai approached reluctantly, but quickly discovered that this wasn’t easy.

The passages between the other bookshelves were extremely narrow, and she had to walk with the utmost care to avoid knocking a shelf over. The open space in the center of the room was, at this moment, packed solid with piles of books. Many books had been tossed casually to one side, and Lilinai noticed that some of the shelves had been emptied.

Airiya sat in her chair, studying the girl closely.

She hadn’t changed out of her nightdress. This always gave Lilinai a bad feeling.

“Don’t be startled by this mess.” She pointed at the books on the floor. “They were in the middle of taking inventory and cataloguing. I told them to pause. Because right now, I want to be alone in the study—together with Miss Lilinai.”

“…What do you want me here for?”

Lilinai asked warily.

She always felt that Airiya was up to no good.

The white-haired Witch girl fell into thought, though it was equally possible she was only pretending to.

“As I recall, when Misite was introducing you, she positioned you as a high-tier slave of the butler and attendant sort.”

After a moment, Airiya said with a soft laugh.

“Oh, don’t misunderstand. In my eyes, your standing is far below those maids downstairs. But you came at no small price, my adorable Miss Lilinai. Although I don’t lack for money, I also don’t like letting people profit off me for nothing—that in particular is something I can’t tolerate. So I intend to first test whether you’re worth your selling price.”

Lilinai gave a scornful snort.

“In your eyes, aren’t I nothing but a plaything?”

“You certainly are.” Airiya’s voice cooled a shade. “But even a plaything has to provide sufficient emotional value. And my requirements for emotional value go well beyond mere physical enjoyment…”

Pausing a moment, Airiya’s smile returned.

“…Of course, if that’s where Miss Lilinai’s ambitions lie, I’d be very happy to accept. What do you say?”

“Ugh…!”

Lilinai’s face flushed with shame.

Once bitten by a snake, one fears birdsong everywhere.

She had only been “defiled” the one time by accident, but this disgrace would probably cling to her for the rest of her life.

She sighed, tugged at her nightdress, and made an effort to forget yesterday’s bout of disordered passion in the carriage.

“Fine. So what are you testing?”

The Witch smiled faintly.

“Just sort through all these volumes on the floor and organize them by category. For Miss Lilinai, who was once the young master of the Kaoenxier family and received a noble’s education, this shouldn’t be anything difficult, right?”

“…Fine.”

Lilinai agreed through gritted teeth.

“Was once”—that was how the Witch put it.

She knew why Airiya deliberately brought up her identity, and knew this would by no means be the last time the other party mentioned it.

To the Witch before her, every drop of her anger, shame, and regret was without question a fine wine that brought delight.

Never mind.

Avoid her sharp edge, and endure for now!

Until she found an opportunity to escape, she had to swallow her humiliation and bear the burden.

Pressing her lips together, the girl gathered up her skirt slightly, knelt to the floor, turned around, and buried herself among the books scattered across the ground.

Not noticing in the slightest that behind her, the Witch was staring at her pale nape and licking her own fingertip.