“Nothing?”

　　The answer struck Fren as evasive, and he was just about to press Vanessa when Nefer snatched the container right out of Vanessa’s hand and gulped down the water. Only then did the pain in his throat subside. Nefer wiped his mouth.

　　“Now that I’ve admired your artwork enough, I should get to the reason I came. Fren, about that jewel you asked me to find last time… I’m afraid I don’t think I can get it this time, either.”

　　“Why not?”

　　“An anonymous buyer is snapping up all the stock. Any idea who it might be?”

　　“…”

　　After a moment of silence, Fren gave Vanessa an order.

　　“Vanessa, go rest in your room.”

　　“Thank you, Master.”

　　Vanessa bowed politely and left the room. Passing through a hallway lined with dynamic sculptures that looked as though they might spring to life at any moment, he headed down a staircase with golden handrails, only to pause halfway.

　　Unlike him, the slaves hurrying busily around the foyer wore thick leather collars. He suppressed his presence and approached them.

　　“Did you find him?”

　　“No, not a trace.”

　　“This is terrible. We have to find him before the higher-ups notice.”

　　“Find what?”

　　“Gah!”

　　The slaves almost dropped to the floor, only to relax upon seeing Vanessa’s face. The man at the very front scratched his cheek.

　　“Oh, it’s just you, Vanessa. I thought you were the head steward.”

　　“My, listen to him.”

　　The woman right beside him glared sharply.

　　“Why are you addressing Master Vanessa so casually? He’s not your friend.”

　　“What’s wrong with you? Vanessa is a slave just like us.”

　　“Even so, Master Vanessa is nothing like the likes of us. He enjoys Lord Fren’s undivided favor.”

　　With a triumphant smile, the woman turned to Vanessa for agreement.

　　“Isn’t that right, Master Vanessa?”

　　“No.”

　　Vanessa denied it immediately.

　　“A slave is a slave no matter the circumstances. There’s no need to stand on ceremony.”

　　Yet despite his courteous words, his face was so chillingly, frighteningly beautiful that the slaves shrank back instinctively. The woman who had been flattering him lost her confidence. Undeterred by the sudden hush, Vanessa asked,

　　“So. Why were you all running around so frantically?”

　　“Well…”

　　The slaves couldn’t even meet his eyes, merely glancing nervously at one another. He asked again in a businesslike tone,

　　“I asked why you were running around.”

　　“The new slave who arrived a while ago ran away.”

　　Someone mustered the courage to speak up. One of Vanessa’s eyebrows twitched.

　　“Angel ran away?”

　　“Yeah, I think that was his name.”

　　“What do we do, Vanessa? If the head steward finds out, he’ll be beaten to death.”

　　Vanessa walked past the slaves and checked outside the entrance. Guards were strolling leisurely through the garden. Fortunately, that was proof Angel hadn’t even managed to get past the garden yet. He pulled out a tie and bound his hair into a single ponytail as he spoke.

　　“For now, go back to your quarters. I’ll look for him myself.”

　　“Wouldn’t it be better if more of us… Fine, we’ll go wait in the quarters.”

　　Cowed by a single glance from Vanessa, the slaves scurried back to their quarters. He swiftly ran through what he knew about Angel.

　　Angel had only arrived recently and was unfamiliar with the surrounding terrain, but he was small and agile. Being young, his thinking was extremely simple. The escape plan such a boy would come up with was bound to be obvious. Vanessa immediately went back into the mansion and headed for the top floor.

　　Evading the eyes of the servants and guards stationed throughout the grounds, he climbed onto the roof, staying low as he scanned the garden.

　　At this hour, the gardeners would be checking inventory in the shed. Lowly slaves working under the scorching sun couldn’t be allowed to siphon off the Pronia family’s assets, after all. Angel had likely counted on that.

　　As Vanessa moved across the roof searching the garden, Angel finally caught his eye. The boy was crawling through the bushes toward the outer wall. Vanessa drew an iron needle from his shirt and threw it.

　　Swish!

　　The needle sliced rapidly through the air as he leapt into a nearby tree. Slender fingers that looked as if they had never lifted anything heavier than a spoon tightly gripped the branch.

　　Swinging deftly onto the branch, Vanessa looked down at Angel. Cold sweat dripping from his brow, Angel stared at the iron needle embedded near his shoulder, then gave an awkward smile.

　　“Hi, Vanessa. Beautiful weather today, isn’t it?”

　　Gently landing on the ground like a bird, Vanessa walked steadily toward him. Angel let out a nervous laugh.

　　“Someone scribbled on the wall, so I was just about to wipe it off. Whoever it was sure is gutsy, right? I mean, how are they going to deal with the consequen—”

　　Vanessa raised his arm. Just as Angel reflexively braced to shut his eyes, Vanessa reached past him and retrieved the iron needle embedded in the wall. Angel let out a deep sigh of relief.

　　“I thought you were going to hit me.”

　　Angel stole another nervous glance at Vanessa. The lovely smile Vanessa wore in front of his master was nowhere to be seen.

　　With his face completely blank, it was hard to tell what he was thinking. But since he hadn’t struck him, he didn’t seem angry at least. Angel plucked up the courage to speak.

　　“Come on, Vanessa. Can’t you just let me go?”

　　“…”

　　“I don’t want to live as a slave forever. I’m going to escape from here and join the rebels. So please—!”

　　Angel couldn’t finish his sentence. Vanessa had swung his leg in a sudden kick. The slender leg narrowly grazed Angel’s thigh and slammed into the wall behind him.

　　Startled by the sudden movement, Angel felt his legs give out and collapsed onto the ground. Vanessa squatted down, meeting his eyes.

　　“Do you honestly think you can leave this place?”

　　“I could have! If only you hadn’t stopped me!”

　　“This is the residence of a scion of a distinguished family, one that produced the youngest Elder. Do you really think there wouldn’t be a barrier over the wall?”

　　Vanessa raised his head. Though it was invisible from here, he knew that a mage had personally embedded barrier stones along the top of the wall, one by one.

　　If he hadn’t stopped him, Angel would have been blocked by the barrier as he tried to climb over and fallen. Trembling at the shocking truth, Angel cried out,

　　“That’s ridiculous! To cast high magic over an estate this massive…!”

　　“Why would it be ridiculous? For the Pronia family, this is nothing. But I suppose you wouldn’t know, having only served mediocre nobles in the countryside until now. Go back to your quarters while I’m still asking nicely. Everyone is looking for you.”

　　“No!”

　　Though trembling with fear, Angel refused.

　　“I’m getting out of here no matter what! If I stay, I’ll turn twisted too! I’ll leave this place by any means necessary and join the—!”

　　Vanessa kicked the wall once more. Angel reflexively shut his mouth. Vanessa asked coldly,

　　“Since when did slaves like us have a choice?”

　　“…”

　　Tears welled up in Angel’s eyes at the callous voice, devoid of the slightest warmth. Vanessa continued,

　　“And realistically, what could you even do if you joined the rebels? Moving around in a group will only lead to a mass slaughter.”

　　A flicker of contempt crossed his eyes.

　　“After all, we humans are inferior to the other races in every way.”

　　“…”

　　“Now, then. I assume you have nothing left to say? This is my final warning. Go back to your quarters. If you go now, you can make it back without anyone noticing.”

　　Thanks to Fren’s gentle nature, the Pronia family treated slaves relatively well compared to other households. But they were not the type to turn a blind eye to an escape attempt. They would likely beat him severely under the guise of re-education, then lock him in a cell without giving him a single drop of water.

　　And for failing to keep proper watch over Angel, the other slaves would be thrashed soundly as well. Not that this applied to Vanessa, who enjoyed Fren’s favor, but he had no desire whatsoever to see the slaves he had once shared hardship with suffer.

　　Especially when it came to Genoise. He never wanted to see Genoise get beaten.

　　Vanessa thought of Genoise, who had entered the mansion on the very same day he did, then turned his head away. Angel was still crying. Vanessa felt a twinge of irritation.

　　“Are you still crying? I just don’t get it. What right do you have to be crying?”

　　“…I don’t understand.”

　　“Understand what?”

　　Angel slowly raised his head. His round orange eyes were filled with resentment and betrayal. He spoke in a trembling voice.

　　“You’re human too. So why do you speak so contemptuously of your own kind?”

　　Vanessa nodded nonchalantly.

　　“That’s right, I am. How could I not know that?”

　　He bent down and whispered into Angel’s ear.

　　“But that’s precisely why I hate humans.”

　　“What are you…!”

　　“Let’s stop wasting time.”

　　Vanessa grabbed Angel by the scruff of his neck and dragged him all the way to the quarters. Hauling the struggling boy while dodging the eyes of others was a bit taxing, but his mind was at ease. He was glad to settle the matter conclusively. As soon as he reached the quarters, the other slaves ran out barefoot.

　　“Thank goodness, Vanessa! You found him!”

　　“Vanessa… You really are amazing!”

　　Vanessa turned Angel over to the slaves and advised them to keep a close watch on the boy for the time being. He was just about to leave when he paused and asked,

　　“Where’s Genoise?”

　　“She’s probably peeling potatoes in the kitchen right now. Why? Do you have a message for her? Want me to pass it along?”

　　“…No, it’s fine. Just make sure everyone keeps their mouths shut.”

　　“Okay, will do!”

　　Vanessa went up to his room in the mansion. As he changed into comfortable clothes and lay down on the bed, Angel’s helpless tears came back to him. His face contorted like crumpled paper.

　　“I really hate humans.”

　　I wish they’d all just go extinct. With that final thought, he took a brief rest.