“Are there really this many noble lords going bankrupt?”

Janna whispered in Ribeta’s ear. Janna was a slave practically abandoned by her master, so she was in the dark about nobles’ circumstances.

Ribeta nodded slightly.

There was no need to look far—Ribeta herself was also a slave of a fallen noble family.

It was a chaotic era. Nobles who incurred massive debts and ended up on the streets appeared every other day.

Titles like count or baron remained the same, but they no longer wielded powerful influence as before.

Several families famous enough to be known by name alone had fallen and were falling.

But they say where there are those who fall, there are those who rise.

Even in such times, people who were succeeding brilliantly definitely existed.

Among them, the noble who drew the most attention was undoubtedly……

“Isn’t that Count Ruperto? To make a surprise visit without even contacting us. This is an honor!”

Yes, that very name. Diego Ruperto.

Countless gazes turned toward where the voice came from. People instantly flocked there. Even Ribeta, who had little interest in others’ affairs, couldn’t help but turn her head.

In the crowd that gathered like clouds, a distinct golden color caught the eye. It was a high-purity, clean, bright gold, as if extracted from sunlight on a very bright day.

The same color as Count Ruperto’s hair color in the rumors.

Moreover, the Count was extremely tall, so he protruded from among the people, flaunting his presence.

“There are too many people, I can’t see well…… Ribeta, can you see? Did Count Ruperto really come?”

“It seems so. I can only see his head too though.”

People clamored, somehow trying to approach the Count and speak to him.

Ribeta withdrew her interest from that chaos and turned her head. Slight contempt, fear, and anger rose in her eyes before slowly subsiding.

Why had the Count come here? He wouldn’t be able to obtain the slaves he wanted here.

Count Ruperto was certainly the most famous person in the capital currently, but his fame was by no means honorable.

A beast mad for money who had an incredible nose for the smell of money and would do anything profitable.

A debauched hedonist who used the money he scraped together to indiscriminately buy and devour slaves, male or female, that caught his fancy, then discard them.

He bought slaves that caught his fancy indiscriminately every other day and took them to his luxurious mansion. Sometimes the time to get to the mansion was too precious, so he performed lewd acts in the carriage on the way back.

That Count Ruperto was given the strange epithet of a vulgar and handsome beast.

A beast, not human, who worshipped money and pleasure.

His flawlessly perfect appearance must have played a solid role in creating such an epithet. A man with truly demonic charm who could bewitch people with his gaze alone. Despite his widespread infamy being known to everyone in the capital, people kept falling for him because of that.

Ribeta found people’s psychology difficult to understand. How could they slander the Count at every opportunity, yet look like that, trying somehow to speak to him even once? That sight of rushing to the Count like insects drawn to a sweet smell.

‘I absolutely don’t want to catch the Count’s eye.’

To catch the eye of a Count who indiscriminately bought and even discarded slaves in pursuit of pleasure. Just imagining it made her shudder.

Moreover, the Count had someone he was supposed to marry. For such a person to go around recklessly buying slaves and doing such things… He was a human impossible to accept by her common sense.

Ribeta pressed down her kerchief further. Just then, a resounding voice rang out.

“Don’t come forward! I said step back! You filthy, stupid things.”

“Get these things out of here right now. Block them from approaching the Count!”

At that sound, guards standing watch throughout the exchange rushed over and began dragging out slaves who were peeking toward the Count.

Ribeta frowned at the merciless scene.

Most of the people who had flocked to Count Ruperto weren’t slaves but ordinary people who came to trade and exchange employees. A few slaves had approached closely, but most didn’t dare approach Count Ruperto and only peeked from afar.

Nevertheless, the guards’ hands dragging out the slaves were as rough and fierce as clearing away trash. The rule about not treating workers carelessly was meaningless.

“Didn’t you hear me tell you to get lost, you old hag?”

“Oh my!”

A guard who suddenly appeared grabbed Janna’s hair and dragged her away. Janna was so shocked she couldn’t even scream as she was dragged.

It was a terrible scene, but no one could stop the guard. The other guards just giggled watching Janna being dragged.

Ribeta was about to rush out immediately. But the slave beside her grabbed her and shook their head.

Nothing will change even if you go. You’ll end up the same way.

Those tired eyes were saying that.

Ribeta bit her lip.

That person was right. Even if she went out, it was impossible to rescue Grandma Janna from the guard.

Still, she couldn’t just stay still. If people in the same situation didn’t help each other, who would help them?

Ribeta looked around with bloodshot eyes, then moved quickly.

Shortly after, she appeared with a cleaning bucket in her hands. Pretending to lose her balance, she splashed the water in the bucket on the guard who was dragging Janna.

“What’s this smell! Urgh……”

“Grandma, come this way. Quickly.”

The guard who got drenched in dirty water let go of Janna and dry-heaved. Ribeta took advantage of that gap to hide Janna in the crowd.

Right after, another guard grabbed Ribeta. Ribeta lowered her head.

“I’m sorry. I misstepped…… I’m truly sorry.”

“What? You misstepped? I saw with my own two eyes you splashing water. Where do you get off spouting such lies?”

“Not only did you splash water on me, but you’re lying too? Is this one crazy?”

The guard, disgustingly wet, pulled out the club hanging at his waist. He no longer cared about Janna. That was exactly what Ribeta wanted.

Ribeta crouched as much as possible. She’d get beaten badly, but it was okay. If she could rescue Janna like this, it was fortunate.

Ribeta braced for pain and squeezed her eyes shut. But nothing happened. Puzzled, just before she opened her eyes, a low, clear, pleasant voice burrowed into her ear.

“I wondered what all the noise was about.”

When she opened her eyes wide, right above her, a chillingly handsome man was staring down at her.

Mysterious gray-brown eyes shone like those of a demon or beast.

With a gaze as strange as the color the eyes held, yet simultaneously bewitching. As if existing to bewitch humans. Yet without even a trace of emotion felt within.

I mustn’t keep looking at those eyes. I’ll be devoured by the beast, by the demon.

Instinct whispered. Ribeta tried to lower her head. But her whole body was bound as if she couldn’t move at all. Even lowering her eyes was impossible.

The Count’s long fingers already touched Ribeta’s chin, unable to resist. The Count lifted her chin as it was. Though it wasn’t particularly strong force, Ribeta couldn’t shake off his touch.

“Good.”

The moment the soft glove touched her, her spine tingled. Truly as if captured by a demon.

“I’ll buy you.”

Right now, what did he……

Right after hearing the Count’s words, Ribeta was merely dazed like a child learning to speak for the first time. As soon as she understood the Count’s words, the blood drained from her face.

Count Ruperto was the one person she absolutely didn’t want to catch the eye of. Of all people, to catch that person’s eye…

Ribeta bit her lip hard.

She had no intention of denying she was a slave. Because it was an undeniable truth. Unless a miracle suddenly occurred and the brand carved on her shoulder was cleanly erased. But such things were only possible in dreams.

Those born slaves lived as slaves until they died.

However, even as a slave, there were things she couldn’t give up.

Ribeta wanted to protect ‘herself.’ Even if it meant dying from Melissa’s whip, she absolutely wanted to protect at least that. That’s why she only found work at Sirente Exchange. Walking an hour’s distance each way every day.

Right. This is Sirente Exchange. An exchange that takes as its iron rule absolutely not allowing ‘this kind’ of transaction.

It’s okay. I have justification on my side.

‘Though I don’t know if justification will work on this man.’

Ribeta gripped her collar tightly. Her eyes were fierce and her spirit resolute.