Chapter 14
Slave Trade
The body, covered in wounds and tightly bound, was trapped in a box, unable to do anything.
"How much does a Lupus slave go for these days?"
Luise Ideana asked the head of the Vittel Merchant Group, leaving the slave behind.
"Well, as you know, the atmosphere regarding slaves has changed somewhat these days. Outside the Ideana County, there isn't much slave trading."
The head merchant said with a troubled expression.
Ideana, located in the frontier, still firmly maintained the slavery system for the Lupus Clan, but in the central regions, the treatment of the Lupus Clan was gradually improving.
That didn't mean the treatment of the Lupus Clan had become as good as ordinary people, but slavery had become a sensitive issue.
This was because the contributions made by the Lupus Clan in several wars could not be ignored, and resistance had also intensified.
Therefore, the Vittel Merchant Group was cautious about slave trading.
"Even a small amount is fine. The condition is like that anyway..."
"Do you have a reason for suddenly selling a slave?"
"...He's defiant and an eyesore."
Luise spoke harshly in a calm voice.
It was strange.
To say such things with an expression that looked like she was about to burst into tears.
Like Eclaus, his father read the atmosphere and didn't ask further.
"Do you want us to take him away immediately, Miss?"
Luise couldn't bring herself to speak, so she simply nodded.
"The price we can offer right now is only 50 Della."
The head merchant didn't forget the basics of trading even in this situation.
He quoted an absurdly low price as a test.
50 Della wasn't even half the market price.
Roughly the price of a well-fattened pig.
Even considering the poor condition of the Lupus, it was practically giving it away.
Even a young lady who didn't know the ways of the world would realize it was a low price.
But.
"Okay."
Luise agreed without haggling.
Willard stared intently at Luise, who bit her lip.
"Are you really... selling him?"
As a merchant, he usually didn't ask again once a deal was made.
There was no point in making the other party suspicious of the deal when it was a profitable one.
But for some reason, he felt he needed to confirm with Luise one more time.
Then, Luise closed her eyes tightly and clenched her fist.
"Take him away immediately."
Seeing her struggling to control her wavering heart, Willard didn't ask further.
"Understood, Miss."
Then the knights lifted the lid of the box to close it again.
"Ugh...! Ugh! Ugh...!"
The bound Lupus spat out a hoarse voice through the gag, but the knights kicked him inside and closed the lid.
While the lid was being nailed shut, the merchant group paid the slave price of 50 Della.
Luise Ideana received the 50 Della with trembling hands. Such a small amount of money that it could be held in her small hands.
Once the transaction was completed, porters dragged the large box onto a Vittel family carriage.
"Then, we'll be on our way, Miss."
Willard greeted Luise and moved away.
Eclaus, who was following his father, stopped for a moment. For some reason, he felt like this deal shouldn't be made.
He glanced back at Luise Ideana.
That day, Eclaus learned that there were people who cried without shedding a single tear.
That such sorrow couldn't be diluted by tears and only deepened.
He couldn't take his eyes off Luise Ideana, who had her head lowered.
Was it right to leave her alone like this? Was it right to accept this deal, knowing everything but pretending not to know?
Then, Luise, who had been casting down her long eyelashes, raised her eyes.
Eclaus was startled as if he had been caught peeping and quickly turned his head away.
Realizing that he had dared to stare rudely at a noble lady, he hurried away.
But.
"Excuse me...!"
A slender voice caught him.
Eclaus, who was trying to run away, had no choice but to stop in his tracks.
"You're Willard Vittel's son, aren't you...?"
Luise, who had approached him, was quietly looking up at him.
"...Yes, Miss."
"I heard that the Duchy of Leicester treats the Lupus Clan well..."
She said in a small voice.
Until just now, she had been speaking calmly even with an expression that looked like she was about to cry, but now her voice was completely soaked in tears and trembling.
"...That's true within the Empire. It's the only territory where slavery has been officially abolished."
Eclaus answered her sincerely.
Thanks to the Duke of Leicester, who was quite progressive and reformative, the treatment of the Lupus Clan had improved in the Duchy of Leicester.
Then, Luise grabbed his sleeve.
"Could you send that child there?"
"Excuse me? But slave trading is prohibited there. We can't sell that Lupus..."
"I'll pay the price."
Luise returned the money she had received earlier to his hand and even added the emerald ring she was wearing.
Eclaus waved his hand in embarrassment, but Luise stubbornly pressed the price into his hand.
Eclaus couldn't refuse her desperate request.
"May I ask why?"
Originally, it was taboo for a merchant to ask the reason for a noble's secret request. It could lead to involvement in dangerous matters or offend the noble.
But Luise's appearance was so desperate that he broke the taboo and asked. So this was the first mistake Eclaus made.
And as if to point out that mistake, Luise quietly looked at him.
"Don't worry, it's not like he's involved in a crime or a spy. I guarantee that..."
Eclaus didn't ask to hear that kind of answer.
But that was all the answer he could get.
So he took the Lupus slave to the Duchy of Leicester.
At that time, Eclaus Vittel didn't know how that would change history.
That day, the Vittel Merchant Group, which had bought the slave for money, handed Shed over to the Leicester Ducal family to be used as a servant.
Shed, who had survived quite tenaciously, made contributions and became a squire, a knight, and was even adopted as a son after saving the life of Duke Leicester.
The first Lupus to even obtain the title of Duke.
Shed Lester was very favorable to the Vittel Merchant Group, which had been the starting point for all this success.
'He wouldn't know that Luise Ideana made such a request.'
Shed believed that he had reached the Duchy of Leicester, where there was no slavery, thanks to the charity of the Vittel family. The Vittel family had never revealed that it was Luise's request.
Ideana fell into ruin on charges of treason just a few months after Shed left Ideana.
Getting involved with such a traitorous family would only make things difficult for Shed, and if the Leicester family knew that Ideana had deliberately sent Shed, they would have kicked him out immediately.
'Besides, the deceased Luise Ideana seemed to have unspeakable circumstances...'
Although she was a traitor, Eclaus wanted to uphold Luise's will because of her last appearance.
'Of course, that's all an excuse.'
Eclaus dryly ridiculed his sentimental thoughts.
'Above all, it's more beneficial for our merchant group to keep it a secret.'
Shed is a powerful man with funds, an army, and vast territories.
It's very useful for such a Shed to think that he 'owes a debt' to Vittel.
The reason why Shed turns a blind eye to Eclaus Vittel's occasional provocative remarks is all thanks to that.
Anyway, what's important now is not that, but that woman, Liana Serpens.
'So, she reminds me exactly of the young lady of the Ideana family.'
Luise Ideana met her death due to the Ideana County's treason.
It's certain because it's the result officially recognized by the Temple.
But, Liana certainly resembles Luise.
Aside from the hair color, if Luise Ideana, who was fifteen years old, had lived and grown up beautifully, she would look exactly like that.
'The reason why Duke Leicester is so persistently pursuing that woman is probably because of that face...'
A maid who resembles the young lady who abandoned him.
"Interesting."
Eclaus's eyes narrowed.
Whatever the case, it's clear that that woman is someone who can shake Shed Lester.
That means that she could be used as a useful card someday, or perhaps she could become an inconvenient variable in future transactions.
The schedule for the Ideana trip has already been disrupted because of that woman.
Eclaus, who was slowly stroking his chin, got up from his seat and opened the safe next to the bed.
There were several thick money pouches inside the safe.
"That woman. Investigate her."
Eclaus took out one of the money pouches and threw it on the table in front of his attendant.
Information is important for all transactions and investments.
"Understood, Young Master."
The attendant bowed his head and put the money pouch in his arms.
"And Young Master, the medicine you requested is ready. It will be transported directly to Ideana."
The attendant, who had taken the money pouch, reported on other progress.
A satisfied smile spread across Eclaus's face at the attendant's words.
"Excellent."
Eclaus said, locking the safe and taking the key.
"Make sure to keep the medicine a secret."
"Of course. The Hawks will be moving directly."
"Always much appreciated."
Eclaus smiled, thinking of his 'Hawks'.
He called the informants who moved for him in various parts of the Empire and abroad 'birds'.
The Larks conveyed secret stories from taverns, inns, and red-light districts, and the young Sparrows, running barefoot through dirty alleys, scraped together rumors scattered like grains of millet on the streets and informed him.
The Crows, with their black insides, weren't easily tamed, but if you threw them something shiny, they went crazy and faithfully did as much as they were paid for.
The well-trained and loyal Hawks hunted their prey accurately with their sharp eyes, and the Seagulls brought precious news from across the sea.
Information about Liana Serpens would also be brought by the 'Vittel family's birds'.
"Then, I'll be on my way."
The attendant put his hand on his chest to show his obedience and went outside.
Eclaus sat back leisurely at the tea table and looked out the window.
Just in time, knights led by Shed were returning in the distance.
Eclaus rolled his eyes and checked the time. It was almost the end of the morning.
"It seems I won't be leaving for Ideana today either."
Eclaus shrugged his shoulders and took a sip of tea.
He didn't like it when plans went wrong because it was troublesome, but he wasn't so inexperienced that he would be shaken by it.
"Well, shall I think of it as the price for watching something interesting?"
He fiddled with a coin with his fingertips, watching Shed Lester, who was bringing the woman in on horseback, from afar.
