’Damnit...!’
Alistair felt deep rage swirling within him.
Although he had resolved the situation politically, he still felt a burning feeling of hatred within him—one that wouldn’t go away no matter how hard he tried.
He truly despised that naless slave.
That cursed child!
’I thought Amara was simply using him as a tool to get one up on , but then... I saw how she touched his cheeks as they left.’ His mind was in disarray as he rembered that scene. ’Could it be? Could she actually—?’
No!
That was inconceivable!
Amara was a noble lady, one who was considered a great talent within many noble circles.
She deserved soone of considerable status.
Soone like him!
No, he was even superior to her.
That ant she had to pick him over so worthless trash like a naless slave.
’But I don’t like how this makes feel. She favored the slave too much and personally attended to him right after, instead of leaving him with the servants. It’s unforgiveable...’
To think his visit ended so pathetically.
He had promised to kill Rey as a favor to one of his father’s friends, yet he couldn’t even achieve that in the end.
Not only that, but he got humiliated and Rey even got all the attention from the woman he cared so deeply for.
Infuriating!
It was so deeply infuriating!
Although he had won their fight, easily dominating Rey and rcilessly beating him, Alistsir couldn’t help but feel like the loser.
But...
’I won’t forget this.’ He told himself with solemn expression.
’I will definitely pay you back for this and give you so much suffering that you would wish for the pain I showed you today.’
********
’I’m still alive, huh?’
Ray’s eyes slowly opened to a completely different environnt compared to what he was used to.
It was pure white, with a serene atmosphere and an amazing scent wafting everywhere.
He felt a calmness wash over him.
It was surreal.
Despite regaining consciousness, it felt like he was in a pleasant dream.
Everything seed very beautiful, and the comfy bed he slept on made him feel like he was drifting on clouds.
Then, a face popped into his line of sight like a jumpscare.
’What the—?’
The Young Lady who appeared before him sighed in relief, before making a giggle and even grinning mischievously at him, though he didn’t understand why.
He did recognize the girl before him, though.
It was none other than Amara.
"You saved , huh? Thank you..." He muttered, a smile on his face.
"It was nothing, hmph!" She scoffed, once again displaying her prideful side. Before long, however, her expression softened.
"H-how do you feel?"
Rey was silent for a mont. He made sure to deeply contemplate the question before finally answering.
"Frustrated. I’m just too weak."
His honesty astounded her, but it also made her smile at him.
"I feel the sa."
Rey’s eyes twitched a little, and his eyes got clearer with surprise.
"You? Really?"
"It’s true..." Amara sighed, shrugging helplessly. "I really wanted to teach that jerk, Alistair, a lesson for what he did to you. I just didn’t have the strength to do so."
’Alistair, huh?’
Rey registered his na as his eyes turned rather dark.
’You really had your fun with , huh? You beat until I was barely clinging to life... hehe...’ Rey was very pragmatic and treated most things with detachnt.
Even though he had beco a slave and was forced to do degrading things, he never felt an ounce of sha.
He kept doing everything with calmness because he knew it was leading to his eventual goal.
Freedom... and then revenge.
But Rey could not treat this situation with the sa calm sentint.
Sowhere deep inside him, he felt it.
A deep resentnt.
’Don’t worry. I promise to rember this humiliation.’ He smiled quietly. ’We will et again, and when that ti cos, I will give you a taste of my despair.’
After maintaining silence for so ti, Rey returned his attention to Amara.
She had a guilty expression on her face.
Like she wanted to help him more than she was already doing. He felt a tinge of warmth inside him at that mont, but quickly dismissed such useless emotions.
Instead, he kept his senses sharp and focused on important matters.
"How long has it been since... that incident?"
"Only a day. You would have been healed quicker, but your natural recovery and durability cannot currently withstand more external Ether, so it couldn’t be rushed."
"I see. Thanks..."
"That useless brother of mine! Can you believe he won’t sell you to even though it’s all because of my interference that you are alive right now?"
"W-what...?"
Rey was stunned at this discovery.
Not the part where he owed her his life. That part was basically true.
It was the other thing she ntioned.
’She wants to buy from Augustus...?’
"I’ve decided to return to the Academy. I’ve beco too complacent and arrogant due to my talent. It’s my mistake for thinking that every alumni is as weak as my brother. Now I want to beco strong enough to make sure jerks like Alistair don’t bully those I care about again."
"So... you care about ?" Rey chuckled softly, giving Amara a aningful smile.
"W-what? When did I say that?" She blushed violently, smacking him on the head before scoffing and turning away again.
"It’s implied."
"No, it’s not! He bullied my brother too, didn’t he? And no matter how useless that guy is, I still care about him since we’re family!"
"I see..."
Rey didn’t say anything after.
Amara must have felt guilty because of this, so she started rambling on and on. She beca even more talkative than she normally was.
It was a strange sight.
A Noble Lady like her trying to placate a nobody slave like Rey.
If Alistair saw this sight, he would surely cough up blood and try to kill Rey no matter what stood in his way.
"It’s a sha I can’t get past the Curse Technique he used since it isn’t my area of expertise. If only I had so aptitude in Curse or Null Arts... I would get rid of your contract with him and bind you with instead!"
’Oh?’
Rey’s eyes flashed in brilliance.
Just as he suspected, there were ways to get rid of his slave status, and Amara just gave him the answer.
Curse Art or Null Art.
If he could find the appropriate one and have it get used on him, he would be free. But how could things be so easy?
’I can’t do it myself because of the contract. The best I can do is trick soone into learning the appropriate Technique and letting them use it on . Unfortunately, I have no such person. Hmm... this will take so planning.’
Rey’s gaze grew increasingly darker as Amara rambled on about other things.
It seed she really cared about him, but Rey didn’t care much for her sympathy or concern.
In the end, it was all due to her feelings.
Without them, he would be nothing but an object for her amusent—just like the other slaves. Even now, despite how much she cared for him, why didn’t she think of making him a free person?
Instead, she simply wanted a transfer of ownership from Augustus to herself.
’Forget it. I need to know the exact Techniques and Sequences that are applicable in my situation.’ His thoughts continued to flow in deep silence. ’If I can sohow extract this information from Amara... then I can figure the other steps out.’
Naturally, he had to exercise patience when it ca to this matter. He couldn’t have her suspect what it was he was trying to do.
Although it appeared that she was on his side, Amara was a Noble first and foremost. She also greatly cherished her family, regardless of how she felt about each of them.
’I plan to kill Augustus soday, which makes her natural enemy. Although I have no personal enmity towards her, and I do owe her thanks for her help in many areas, I cannot trust her.’ Rey was very set in his ways, and he wasn’t moved despite the kindness he received from the girl before him.
In fact, he was already scheming against her.
’It will take subtle manipulation, but I can do it! I can trick her into helping sohow. I just need to be willing to play the long ga...’
While he was thinking this, he felt a sting on his forehead.
It was from Amara’s finger flip!
"O-ow..." He muttered. "What was that for?"
"You were spacing out again! Did you even hear what I said?"
"No. Sorry..."
’I ssed up. I should be paying attention to her. That’s the best way to ensure I get as much as I want from her—’
"You... what do you think about coming to the Academy with ?"
"What...?"
Once again, Rey was stunned by her question.
"You could co as my personal aide..." She continued, her trembling voice growing louder as she tried to convince him. "It will be quite difficult, considering your status and mixed race, but you won’t have to risk your life in the Coliseum and you could even learn a lot from the Academy."
’Why...?’
"After we finish, I can even use my authority to make you into a free man. You can easily find a well respected job in the Desgarron Household, and I’ll continue watching over you."
’... Why is she going this far?’
Rey could see deep passion in her eyes, and it made his heart palpitate a little.
It felt odd.
Strange.
He reflected deeply on these emotions.
"I’ll do my best to convince my big brother of this, but I want to know if this is what you want!"
"..."
After being silent for an uncomfortable period of ti, Rey finally exhaled deeply, bowing his head as he spoke.
"I... will be in your care."
[A/N: She’s much too young for him as a love interest, but what do you all think about Amara?]
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