Chapter 1 (Part 6)

And through the utterly absurd auction for something called Slave Mate, he had to walk up to the woman named Sienna Onyx who won him.

“Um, well. It’s humble, but please, would you sit here?”

Just as the urge for rebellion was rising, Eden heard a thin voice. Lowering his eyes slightly, he saw Sienna Onyx, with her back awkwardly bent, extending both hands toward a plainly designed sofa.

“…Alright.”

It seemed she had been using strange honorifics for a while, but since it was a symptom often seen in those directly facing him, he decided to point it out later. After all, he would have to face her for two weeks, whether he liked it or not.

Recalling the contract terms that required him to follow any reasonable command of the bidder, he slowly walked over and sat on the sofa. Sienna, who had quickly followed to sit opposite him, stood up again and headed toward a small cabinet.

“It’s humble, but I’ll offer you tea, coffee, or something to drink!”

“I know it’s humble, forget the tea and coffee. I’d rather have some alcohol.”

‘How did he know there was alcohol?’

Sienna reluctantly took out the brandy she had hidden at the top of the cabinet. It was expensive…. Swallowing tears of regret, she poured the drink, and the dark amber liquid shimmered brilliantly in the crystal glass.

“Asconian brandy, I see.”

Eden, picking up the crystal glass Sienna had set down, swirled the brandy in his mouth before speaking. It was quite a good drink and hard to come by, he hadn’t expected it to appear here.

As the high-proof alcohol warmed his chest as it slid down his throat, a languid sigh escaped Eden’s lips. He didn’t drink often, but on a day as absurd as today, he couldn’t help but take a sip.

“…So, what’s the reason you bid for me, Sienna Onyx?”

He had no intention of complying with any unreasonable demands, but since he was being treated to a drink he liked, he thought he might as well hear why she spent as much as 300 million Er to win him.

“Pardon?”

Sienna, who had been blankly admiring the movement of Eden’s Adam’s apple from across, straightened her back stiffly and stammered.

Being alone in a room with a man like this, especially one who perfectly satisfied her aesthetic sense, was a first for her. Perhaps that’s why scenes from the steamy pulp novel she had spread out on her desk just last night kept occupying her mind.

She couldn’t control the strange thoughts that kept springing up on their own. He seemed to be saying something, but she couldn’t focus because of his firm, thick chest glimpsed through his slightly unbuttoned shirt.

Fortunately, before her gaze could drop any lower, the Duke’s voice caught her attention. However, as she hadn’t heard his question, she was flustered, and Eden, looking at her somewhat pitifully, spoke again.

“I asked what you intended to do by winning me.”

“What to do…?”

The way he asked made her feel like some kind of stalker. Sienna, bristling, tried to look Eden straight in the eye but then lowered her gaze again. Her courage wasn’t enough to glare at a high-ranking noble.

He looked extremely displeased. Although the reason was unknown, seeing him in handcuffs suggested he had been forced onto the auction stage, and it was understandable he would be displeased not knowing what she might do after winning him for the hefty sum of 300 million Er.

‘But why on earth should I be the one tiptoeing around after paying 300 million?’

Even though she nodded inwardly at the understandable situation a hundred times, she couldn’t help but feel increasingly wronged. In fact, from Sienna’s perspective, it was as if she had been forced to buy something unnecessary for 300 million.

Sienna bit her lip once and straightened her back even more. Clearing her throat quietly, she couldn’t meet Eden’s eyes and instead looked around his chin.

“I’ll think about what to do from now—yes, I will.”

Though her attitude was confident, she ended up stammering at the end, and Sienna closed her eyes tightly. And what was with the strange honorifics that kept slipping out since earlier?

She had taken etiquette classes as a required liberal arts course during her undergraduate years, but studying only for exams proved useless in daily life. Embarrassed and ashamed, Sienna’s ears turned red.

Meanwhile, Eden’s brow furrowed in disbelief at her words.

“You’ll think about it from now on.”

Blatantly eyeing his body, her response was as bold as her gaze. As Eden’s voice lowered, Sienna, who had been sneaking glances at him, quietly pulled out the magical contract from her bosom. It was a timid protest, asserting her rightful claim to use him since they had a contract.

And when Eden noticed the contract, a small, incredulous laugh escaped his lips. He had vaguely sensed it at the auction house, but the small woman before him seemed to have an unprdecreeable side.

“I’ll look forward to seeing what you’ll do with me.”

“I mean, it’s not about doing something, actually….”

She felt as though something was going wrong. She only wanted to assert her rights, but from the look of things, it seemed as if she had announced she would do something shameless to him.

Of course, having spent 300 million, she wouldn’t refuse the chance to do something shameless if it arose, but given the contract clause about using him in a wholesome manner, that couldn’t possibly be the case. Sienna, flustered, tried to explain, but Eden spoke faster.

“And you’ve been using strange honorifics since earlier; if that’s the case, it’s better not to use them at all.”

“…….”

While Sienna, whose temples were flushed red, was left speechless, Eden stood up without hesitation, as if he had finished speaking. A large shadow cast over Sienna and then slowly receded.

Until Eden entered the room assigned next to hers, Sienna remained frozen in place with a face full of mixed emotions.

***

“Unfair…”

Until this morning, she hadn’t had any interest in the opposite s*x, but now she felt she was being looked at with eyes full of misunderstanding, like a stalker, pervert, or creepy follower. This was really,

“Unfair…!”

Sienna pounded her fists on the bed in frustration. To think she had to spend two weeks with such a person, no, such a man. The remaining two weeks seemed more daunting than the three years she spent pursuing her doctorate.

“Can’t even graduate!”

Phew—

“Wasted 300 million!”

Phew—

“Misunderstood in strange ways!”

Phew—

Every time Sienna hit the cushion in frustration, the Mandrago on the nightstand sighed in response as if sympathizing with her.

Was it a problem that I stared blankly when the door first opened? Did that cause the misunderstanding? Or was it because I gazed too intently at the chest exposed between the open shirt while he sat on the sofa? That’s what happens when you read racy novels every day!

Outside the open window, the sun had already set. Sienna, who no longer had the energy to struggle, lay quietly and sighed as she noticed the twilight spreading low.

So, a whole day flies by like this. It’s a time when she should be buried in her lab conducting experiments all day. She must graduate….

Even if not just for the sake of graduation, she really wanted to complete the magic potion she was researching. Since she had obtained the sign of the Mandrago, she decided to visit the lab first thing in the morning.

“…Ah, the Duke.”

Then she suddenly remembered. Today was the first day, and it seemed fine since they met inside the dormitory, but there was a condition that during the contract period, she must always accompany the Duke except when sleeping.

“Ha, really.”

A deep sigh escaped from between Sienna’s teeth as she raised her arms over her eyes.

“Do I have to be in the lab all day with Duke Felice? Can I even breathe properly?”

It’s not just about feeling pressured and having to watch her manners, but she worried that she might ruin her experiments because her eyes kept drifting to his face. Her worries continued to spiral.

Her younger brother, who should be the target of her venting, still hadn’t shown his nose. Right after parting with Eden, she tried to contact him via the video sphere, but couldn’t get through, which only increased her frustration.

Duke Felice. An imperial decree. Why am I caught up in such pointless matters….”

For Sienna, who pursued a peaceful life nestled in a comfortable space, this was too great a trial.

Above all, having to repeatedly show failed experiments in front of his eyes was shameful just to imagine. Eden Felice was not only renowned as the greatest warrior of the Empire but was also considered a tremendous magician who might have become the master of the Magic Tower if he were not of noble birth.

‘It seems you’ve been wasting magic power since earlier, if that’s the case, it might be better to just drop out.’

Perhaps due to the Duke’s criticism heard during the day, she vividly imagined hearing such words while he watched her experiments. Sienna writhed in agony. To have won someone close to a grand magician at an auction, and to be able to command him to do whatever she wanted….

“It’s like having an assistant, isn’t it? One who might even be more skilled than me!”

At the sudden thought, Sienna removed her hands from her eyes and sat up abruptly.

This wasn’t something to merely despair over. She could legally make use of Eden Felice in her experiments to create magical potions. Helping with the preparatory process needed for experiments was, after all, a wholesome act based on the Empire’s social consensus!

Sienna’s dark green eyes began to brighten gradually. The Duke’s large hands and immense strength would be useful for breaking and grinding gnome tree branches, and his abundant magic power would be ideal for operating experimental magical tools that required a lot of magic.

Even the simple magic spells used for handling potion ingredients might be reduced from needing five recitations to just one if performed by Eden Felice.

Thinking that there might be progress in the otherwise bleak experiments thanks to the unexpected 300 million slave, no, slave mate, a corner of Sienna’s heart filled with overwhelming hope. Sienna brushed her disheveled blue-gray hair down and clenched her fist tightly.

“In this case, I’ll make sure to use him thoroughly so that the 300 million won’t go to waste.”