"Fifty thousand gold coins! Is that even possible?!"
In the capital city of Kalia, in the Kingdom of Trawl, a large mansion stood. Inside, Count Brian shot up from his seat, his face filled with shock.
"Come now, Count. Isn't this your beloved daughter we're talking about? Could it be that money is more important to you than your own flesh and blood?"
"Of course not! She's my only daughter! It's just... I simply don't have that kind of money available right now."
"A member of the Dawn Travelers Trading Company, and yet you're claiming you can't even gather a mere fifty thousand gold? What a poor excuse."
"I swear it's the truth! I've been heavily investing in some projects, which is why I don't have the funds right now. Please, just wait until the business is finished. I'll gather the money you want, no matter what."
The negotiation was for Narsha Brian, the Count's daughter, a woman with long, flowing red hair that reached down to her waist and striking red eyes.
She stood a few steps back, observing the situation in silence. Two years had passed since she had last seen her parents. Her mother was shedding tears uncontrollably, while her father was negotiating her release.
It had been two years since she was kidnapped during a carriage ride and sold into slavery. Her parents, who had been consumed with worry for her well-being, now looked gaunt and frail.
Narsha felt a pang of sorrow.
"I need the money immediately. If you can't pay, then the negotiation is over."
Across from her parents stood the man negotiating, one who would not hesitate to take advantage of parents who had lost their child. This man was her master, Karamir, also known as the "Slave Hunter."
Despite being the only daughter of a noble family, fifty thousand gold was an absurdly high price. Even if the Brian family sold their entire mansion, they wouldn't be able to gather that much. It was clear to Narsha what was going on. Karamir never intended to return her to her family. This was just a sadistic game, meant to toy with the emotions of her family for his own amusement.
That's the kind of man he was.
"Well, I guess this concludes our business here," Karamir said, signaling the end of the negotiation. Her father, in desperation, ran toward her and embraced her tightly, tears flowing down his face as if he would never let her go again.
Even Karamir allowed this last bit of mercy, refraining from interrupting the scene.
Narsha buried her face in her father's chest, not holding back the sobs that escaped her lips.
'How fortunate,' she thought.
There were no real tears in her eyes. What she was swallowing down wasn't her grief—it was a smile.
She was relieved. Relieved she wouldn't have to return.
The two years she had spent as a slave had shown her just how much she despised her previous life of confinement. In fact, she had realized something vital. Her place was no longer beside her family, but at the side of her master.
'Mother, Father, I'm sorry,' she thought. 'My body and soul have long belonged to this man. I can't imagine living a life without him now.'
Forgive me, the wretched daughter who sighs with relief while you weep for me.
She softly patted her father on the back, offering some comfort in return.
"I'm so glad. So glad you're safe, Narsha," her father whispered through his tears.
"I'm afraid it's not over, Father. I must leave again soon. Thank you for giving birth to me and raising me."
"Leave? What do you mean? This is your home."
"Of course not. I must go with my master. I'm just a slave, not a noble lady anymore."
"What are you talking about?"
Narsha looked up, confused. Had the shock caused her father to lose his mind? Yet his expression was innocent, as if he truly didn't understand.
Her mother, standing beside him, smiled brightly, looking more content than ever as she dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief.
Something was off.
Looking around, Narsha realized with a jolt that Karamir was nowhere to be seen. He had been sitting on the sofa just a moment ago.
"Father... Where is Master? Where did he go?"
"Master? You don't have to call him that anymore. You're not his slave now."
"Not his slave? But... you didn't have the money. The negotiation was supposed to fall through…"
"He asked for a family heirloom instead. Though it was valuable, how could I compare it to my precious daughter? I told him to take it and leave."
The deal had not failed. It was true. The chains that had bound her soul as a slave had vanished.
She was no longer Karamir's slave.
Narsha's body trembled as she turned her head toward the window. In the distance, she saw her former master leaving the estate with light steps. Their eyes briefly met, and he waved at her with a carefree smile, mouthing his final words.
"Take care, Narsha."
Her face turned ghostly pale. Unaware of her anguish, her father looked at her with sympathy, as if she were the tragic heroine of a sad story.
"You must have suffered terribly all this time. Now, you can finally rest—Narsha?"
Narsha suddenly shoved her father aside and rushed to the window, pounding on it.
"No! No! Don't leave me! Master, please, don't abandon me! Karamir! You bastard! You promised we'd always be together!"
"Narsha! Calm down! Someone fetch a doctor! Narsha isn't well!"
Narsha's desperate screams echoed through the room, but the staff, treating her like a pitiable victim, pulled her away from the window. Her cries never reached Karamir, who walked away with a carefree tune on his lips.
"Yoo-hoo~"
As he left the estate, he casually tossed a gem into the air and smiled, satisfied as a glowing message appeared before him.
[Narsha Brian of the Brian Estate, successfully liberated.]
Narsha Brian, heir to the Dawn Travelers Trading Company, had been kidnapped and sold into slavery two years ago. Though she was born into a noble family, she had survived because of her status and beauty but was forced into a miserable existence as a slave.
She had been saved by a certain man and returned home safely. Though the beginning of her story was tragic, its end seemed to be a comedy, one she would remember for the rest of her life.
And perhaps, Narsha had found a strange sense of peace... in becoming a slave.
Narsha Brian's liberation: 100%.
Reward: 5,000 points.
Item acquired: Crimson Jewel.
Bonus: Increased effect of the [Negotiator's Reward] skill.