"Lady Liana? You know her?" Tali looked surprised.
The elfâs identity was extremely special. Even the Saous Merchant Guild had paid a hefty price just to dig up information about her.
Know her? Liana knew her all too well.
The true main heroine of this story.
The fourth imperial princess of the Elven Royalty, Sephirena Tiael, and the strongest member of the protagonistâs party in the early stages.
But why was she here?
"... "
Liana suddenly recalled what Tali had said earlier.
One more weekâSephirena was supposed to be transferred to Angus territory.
That was, indeed, where the protagonist was supposed to meet her.
"Iâve only heard of her," Liana said stiffly.
"Lady Liana, are you feeling unwell?" Loraviel noticed the way Lianaâs face had slightly tensed and assumed it was because of Sephirenaâs overwhelming magic presence.
That was partially true.
But the real reason?
Liana didnât dare to move.
Didnât dare to do anything.
She was terrified of disrupting the natural course of eventsâafraid that some buyer who was originally supposed to purchase a different slave might now end up with Sephirena instead.
"Are you here to kill me?"
Sephirena stepped down from the bed, the clinking of chains echoing as she moved.
Her hands and feet were shackled.
But she stood before Liana so naturally, as if the restraints meant nothing.
"Are you... here to kill me?"
Liana took a step back.
If she had known Sephirena was here, she wouldnât have come within a hundred meters of this place.
Loraviel stepped between them, shielding Liana.
"Apologies. Please keep your distance from Lady Liana."
Liana blinked.
...Was Loraviel protecting her? Voluntarily?
Liana took a deep breath and quickly calculated.
If Sephirena was here, then the best course of action was to do nothing.
"It seems Iâll have to visit your main branch instead," Liana said, casting one last glance at Sephirena. "I dislike disobedient slaves."
"I understand." Tali nodded. "Would you like me to contact the Saous main guild? If we find a suitable slave for you, weâll have them sent immediately."
"No need. If I require one, Iâll visit myself." Liana cut off any further discussion.
But there was something she wanted to say to Sephirena before leaving.
She gently pushed Loraviel aside and stepped closer.
"Lady Liana, sheâs dangerous," Tali warned.
"I know."
Liana didnât stop.
Instead, she leaned in and whispered into Sephirenaâs ear.
"Fourth Princess of the Elven Forest... I pity you."
A flicker of shock passed through Sephirenaâs crimson eyes.
How does she know?
"...How do you..."
Liana didnât explain. She simply continued:
"I know how stubborn elves are. Even without food or water, you wonât die for at least a month. And if someone medically maintains your condition, that time will stretch even longer.
Youâll slowly waste away, drowning in pain and suffering."
"There are plenty of people in the slave market who enjoy that kind of thing. So do yourself a favorâstay here and think about whether you really want to die.
If, in three years, you still want death, Iâll grant you a painless one."
It was just an empty promise.
After today, she never planned to see Sephirena again.
Goodbye forever, main heroine!
After all, she was destined to meet the protagonist anyway. If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
There was no need for Liana to get involved.
That wasâ
"What... is this?"
Liana stared at her own wrist.
A thin red thread had suddenly appeared.
A red thread of fate.
Tied to Sephirena.
"...What the hell is this?"
"The contract is complete," Sephirena said smoothly.
"I hope you wonât break it."
Wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
YOUâRE A ROYAL ELVEN PRINCESSâDID YOU REALLY HAVE TO PULL SOME SNEAKY SHIT LIKE THIS?!
"What happens if I break it?" Liana asked, voice wary.
Sephirena smiled.
"In three years, Iâll find you, eldest daughter of the Venus family."
"...And then?"
"Then Iâll kill you."
FUCK. BOXED IN.
"T-That wonât be necessary," Liana stammered, cursing herself for ever thinking she needed a slave.
"Lady Liana, are you alright?" Tali rushed forward.
Even she hadnât expected Sephirena to be capable of casting magic, despite the restraints that should have nullified it.
This was the power of the Elven Royalty.
Terrifying.
Liana exhaled sharply.
She waved off their concerns.
"...Then remember our deal, Lady Sephirena."
"Phew."
As soon as Liana stepped out of the Saous Merchant Guild, she let out a deep breath, feeling thoroughly annoyed.
She hadnât expected to run into another main heroine here.
She just wanted a slave, but somehow ended up selling herself.
"Lady Liana, are we heading back now?" Loraviel asked.
"Yeah."
Right now, it was best to just hide in her room for a while.
"...May I stop somewhere for a moment?" Loraviel asked hesitantly.
Liana thought for a moment. "You did well today. Go ahead."
"Thank you!"
Liana sat inside the carriage and watched Loraviel head toward a post office.
About ten minutes later, Loraviel returned.
"Apologies, Lady Liana, for making you wait."
Liana waved it off dismissively.
But thenâ
"...I forgot to tell Tali something. Wait in the carriage for me."
She stepped down, circled around the buildings, and entered the post office Loraviel had just visited.
Inside, a clerk was organizing envelopes.
"Hold it."
Lianaâs voice made them freeze.
"...Lady Liana?" The clerkâs fingers stiffened mid-motion. (Why is my luck so bad today? Itâs almost closing time, and now I have to deal with HER?!)
"Hand over Loravielâs letter." Liana didnât bother with pleasantries.
The clerk tried to play dumb.
"...Iâm not sure what you mean?"
"Loraviel is my maid. I know she was here. Thereâs no point in pretending."
The clerkâs face twitched.
This was seriously the worst luck ever.
A minor mistake had already forced them to stay late for work.
They didnât mind overtimeâit came with extra pay, after all.
But why did it have to be HER?!
"...Apologies, Lady Liana, but even with your statusâ"
"You should think carefully about who youâre refusing."
Lianaâs voice lowered.
"I only want Loravielâs letter right now. But if you make me waitâ¦"
A slow, sharp smile.
"...I canât promise thatâll still be the case."