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Chapter 17
The Value of a Life
"Take them all prisoner!"
The commander's voice thundered through the underground corridor.
Royal knights moved swiftly through the ruined slave market, dragging wounded smugglers and slave traders into chains.
"Illegal slave trading… human trafficking… conspiracy with criminal guilds," one knight muttered as he tied a rope around a captured merchant's wrists.
"Every one of them will face imperial judgment."
The underground casino that once buzzed with gambling and illegal deals now looked like a battlefield.
Broken tables.
Burned carpets.
Shattered stone walls.
The smell of smoke still lingered in the air.
Near the corridor entrance, Alex sat against a broken pillar while a healer worked quickly beside him.
A soft green light flowed from the healer's hands, slowly closing the wounds on Alex's arm.
"How are you feeling, Your Highness?" the healer asked gently.
Alex exhaled slowly.
"…Better."
The potion's side effects still burned through his muscles, but the healing magic was easing the pain.
Beside him sat his younger sister, Princess Aurelia.
Her small hands rested nervously on her lap as she watched the healer work.
For a while she said nothing.
Then finally—
"Alex…"
Her voice was soft.
"…Why did you do this?"
Alex glanced at her.
"What do you mean?"
"You went to the market to buy something."
She gestured toward the destroyed underground hall.
"And somehow we ended up fighting criminals in a slave market."
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"You almost died."
Alex scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Well…"
"That's a long story."
Aurelia folded her arms.
"I'm listening."
For a moment Alex looked toward the busy knights capturing criminals.
Then he sighed.
"Alright."
"I'll explain."
---
"I came to the market looking for someone."
"Someone?" Aurelia repeated.
"Yes."
"A girl named Selene."
"Why?"
Alex leaned back slightly.
"Because she's valuable."
Aurelia blinked.
"…Valuable?"
"Yes."
"She has the potential to become one of the greatest merchants in the empire."
His sister stared at him in disbelief.
"You went into a slave market…"
"…to recruit a merchant?"
Alex shrugged.
"Something like that."
The healer chuckled quietly.
"That sounds like something only you would do, Your Highness."
Aurelia sighed deeply.
"Alex…"
"You really scared me today."
Her voice softened.
"When I saw that fireball flying toward you…"
She paused.
"I thought…"
Alex gently patted her head.
"I'm fine."
"You even saved me."
Aurelia's cheeks turned slightly red.
"I didn't mean to use magic like that…"
"It just… happened."
Alex smiled.
"Well, it was impressive."
---
A few minutes later, Commander Roland Drake approached them.
His armor was slightly scratched from the fight, but his posture remained firm.
"Prince Alex."
The commander bowed slightly.
"All criminals in this facility have been captured."
"The underground slave market is now under royal investigation."
"Good," Alex replied.
Roland continued.
"I will report everything to His Majesty."
"Your Highness may return to the palace now."
Alex nodded.
"Thank you, Commander."
Roland turned to the knights.
"Prepare the carriage."
---
Not long after, Alex sat inside a royal carriage leaving the ruined slave market behind.
The streets of the capital slowly stretched ahead.
Merchants shouted prices.
Carriages rattled across stone roads.
Children ran through crowded alleys.
Yet inside the carriage…
The atmosphere was completely different.
Quiet.
Heavy.
Uncertain.
Across from Alex sat Selene Virelia.
Her hands were folded neatly in her lap.
Her posture straight.
Her eyes lowered.
Her parents had been escorted to another carriage by the knights for safety.
Which meant—
This conversation was meant only for them.
For years Selene had studied people.
Merchants.
Nobles.
Traders.
Slave masters.
Every one of them had a reason to buy slaves.
Some wanted servants.
Some wanted labor.
Others wanted something far darker.
But this prince…
She couldn't understand him.
Alex leaned lazily against the carriage window.
His expression relaxed.
But his eyes were sharp.
Watching her.
Studying her.
Finally he spoke.
"So."
Selene lifted her head slightly.
"What is your name?"
She hesitated for a moment.
"…Selene."
"Selene Virelia."
Alex nodded slowly.
"That's a good name."
He rested his chin against his hand.
"Tell me something, Selene."
Her shoulders stiffened slightly.
"Yes… Your Highness?"
Alex's gaze sharpened.
"What is your family worth?"
The question struck her like a blade.
"…What?"
"I asked a simple question."
"How much are your lives worth?"
The carriage suddenly felt smaller.
Colder.
Selene looked down again.
Her fingers tightened.
She understood the meaning behind the question.
This wasn't about money.
It was about value.
Most slaves would remain silent.
But Selene wasn't most slaves.
After a long pause—
"…Thirty thousand."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Thirty thousand?"
She nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"That is the value of my family."
Her voice grew steadier.
"My father managed long-distance trade routes."
"My mother handled financial ledgers."
"And I…"
Her eyes hardened slightly.
"I studied commerce and negotiation."
"If we were free merchants…"
"Our combined work could easily generate thirty thousand gold coins."
The prince watched her carefully.
Then suddenly—
He smiled.
"Interesting."
He reached into his coat.
Three metallic objects appeared in his hand.
Slave seals.
The magical devices that enforced obedience.
Selene's breathing slowed.
Those seals meant control.
Pain.
And death if disobeyed.
Alex examined them calmly.
Then—
Snap.
The first seal broke.
Her mother's.
Snap.
The second followed.
Her father's.
Both magical restraints shattered instantly.
Selene's eyes widened.
"…What are you doing?"
Alex leaned back again.
"I freed your parents."
"But not you."
He held the third seal between his fingers.
Selene's seal.
She stared at him.
Confusion.
Shock.
Suspicion.
"Why?"
Alex spoke calmly.
"You said your family is worth thirty thousand gold coins."
"Yes."
"Good."
He placed the seal back on the table.
"Then you will earn that money."
Selene froze.
"…What?"
"You will work for me."
His voice was simple.
"You will manage my businesses."
"You will generate profit."
"And the first thirty thousand gold coins you earn…"
He tapped the table lightly.
"…will be the price for your parents' freedom."
Silence filled the carriage.
Selene stared at him.
Her mind spun.
This wasn't slavery.
It was something else.
A contract.
But Alex wasn't finished.
He lifted the seal again.
"And this one…"
"…requires another fifty thousand."
Selene inhaled sharply.
"Fifty thousand?"
"Yes."
"When you earn that amount…"
"I remove your seal."
"Total cost."
"Eighty thousand gold coins."
Selene slowly clenched her fists.
"Why?"
Alex shrugged.
"Because I think you can do it."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You expect a slave to earn eighty thousand gold coins?"
"I expect Selene Virelia to earn it."
He leaned slightly forward.
"After all…"
"You just told me your family is worth thirty thousand."
Selene's heart pounded.
He had turned her own words into a challenge.
"…And if I refuse?"
Alex chuckled.
"Then you remain a slave."
"And someone else buys you tomorrow."
The answer was calm.
Cold.
Logical.
Selene fell silent.
For the first time she realized something.
This prince wasn't kind.
He wasn't cruel either.
He was something far more dangerous.
He was practical.
Finally she spoke again.
"And my share?"
Alex smiled.
"Ten percent."
Her eyes widened.
"Ten percent of every profit."
Selene stared at him.
Most merchants barely received two percent.
Ten percent meant—
He was treating her like a partner.
Alex slid a document across the table.
"This is your contract."
Selene read every line carefully.
Every clause.
Every condition.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Finally she looked up.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
She took the pen.
For a long moment…
She simply stared at the paper.
Then she signed.
Selene Virelia.
Alex signed beneath her.
Alex von Voldigord.
Two signatures.
One agreement.
Selene folded the document carefully.
"…You're not afraid?"
"Of what?"
"That I might betray you."
Alex laughed softly.
"Selene."
"If you become powerful enough to betray me…"
"…then my investment succeeded."
For the first time—
Selene smiled.
A small smile.
But genuine.
Alex leaned back.
"Well then."
"Welcome to my company."
Selene looked out the carriage window.
The capital moved as usual.
Merchants shouting.
Crowds walking.
Carriages passing.
Yet she knew something had changed.
Her life.
Her future.
Her destiny.
And she looked back at the prince.
"…Your Highness."
"Yes?"
"I will earn that money."
Alex smiled.
"I know."
Because somewhere deep in the empire…
The future Queen of the Black Market had just taken her first step.