Chapter 04: Toy of the Slave

Seeing his face, Zarniya knew that it was not going to be fine with him to be her master. Despite the mask he was wearing, she could see that he was beyond what she could have handled. 

This slave was never meant for her. 

Meeting his eyes, she felt the gravity of the stares. It was heavy but Zarniya forgot falling on the ground, her knees were soft, yet she felt like she was turned into stone. 

He looked at her hand… 

She knew that he knew she was going to become his master. Her blood was still dripping on the carpet, and no one was attending to her to stop the bleeding. Zarniya could see that he was aware of the situation and her blood would bind him to her. 

Her parlor room which was never used was filled with a rustic smell, it was an uncomfortable scent dominating the room. Despite the pain, Zarniya moved her hand reflexively, hiding it behind her back. His eyes returned to stare back at her eyes which made her forget how to breathe. 

The murderous intent was too strong to ignore. 

She knew she should not be scared; he would be tamed any moment now. Steward Leah was already letting the contract maker draw the magic circle. Guards were surrounding them, if the slave would make a move, he would be subsided. There was no reason for Zarniya to fear the slave… 

Yet, she also knew. 

Power had nothing to do with title or status. It could be a contribution, yes. But they could easily obtain or lose. 

If the person was capable, it was because they were capable. Strong people were born to have it all in the end. Right now, he might be a slave in everyone's eyes, but Zarniya could see that this was not how a slave looked like. He seemed not to be willing to accept this fate and he looked like a person who could attain the fate he envisioned. 

He might be a slave now, and at this timeline, it might be impossible to change his status. However, Zarniya had an extraordinarily strong feeling, he would not die as a slave. 

Zarniya was only eighteen, she never left the kingdom, so she had little knowledge about the world. Because half of her blood belonged to royalty, she had the privilege of knowing how to read and write, but in general terms, Zarniya was a worthless princess. No one paid close attention to her, and she did not pay attention to the system of royalty. 

One of her ways to relieve her boredom was observing. To know people but not to know too much. 

She observed many talented people come and go in this grandiose place; she had one talent… to know how far certain people go for their ambition. Maybe because she did not have ambition herself, that was why she was able to know the other's capabilities. 

One look, she could see, this man was not meant to be chained. 

He was not her slave. 

No.

Zarniya never considered having a slave in the first place. 

She thought she would be gaining companionship at this slave's arrival, but the kingdom had invited someone as dangerous as this man. 

"Princess Zarniya, the first Princess, Princess Felina said that if you would grace her, she suggested that you could name this slave Elizart." 

Zarniya blinked her eyes.

The contract binding was almost done. She had to call him by name. 

The eldest offered a name. 

Zarniya clenched her fists, she felt the pain in her palm that was wounded. 

A name? 

The name was a claim of ownership. 

If the eldest wanted to name him, why did she not just take him? Why was he here if she wanted him anyway? Why was the danger located at Zarniya's palace if this man was not fully hers? Zarniya was a little angry about the eldest suggesting a name, but her timidness did not allow her to manifest the unfairness she was feeling. 

"Yo-You," Zarniya bit her lips the moment she stuttered. "I-I-I…I am named Zar-Zarniya… You… will be… M-Messia-Messiah Eliza-Elizart." 

Zarniya took a deep breath after saying those words in her timid and stuttering speech. 

With that the contract was established, when the white light shone from the ground where the magic circle was drawn, Messiah Elizart's body also brightened, and his back burned when the contract settled on his body. 

Steward Leah's face formed an uglier wrinkle when she heard that Princess Zarniya added another name to the slave, but it was too late to say anything. Since the contract binding was finished, and the sun was setting, Steward Leah finalized everything. 

The royal guard moved forward to Zarniya and gave her keys to the chain for the Elizart. Just liked that… Everyone left the two of them. Not a single person cared about how a frail princess like Zarniya should deal with a brute slave like him.

She stood stunned for quite a while, unable to move since it was just her and him in the space. Eventually, she had to interact with him- 

"Y-You…," she inhaled deeply and waited for his reaction. He did not react, not an inch of movement. 

Did he or not acknowledge his name? No one could guess. But if she was asked, who would willingly become someone's slave? No one in the world would be stupid enough to choose this fate.

He most probably would not acknowledge her. 

"Phy-physician w-will… will heal… you. A-Are you… ble-bleeding still?" 

Zarniya bit her lips. 

She was nervous, she couldn't talk properly. The more she was nervous the more panicked she became and the dumber she appeared to be. 

Sometimes, she talks more than she should. Sometimes she moved more than she should. Although she was not dumb, she was not a genius. How would she deal with him? She had no slightest idea. But sensing that her future would be bleak if he mistreated him the slightest, it was better to be extra careful in accommodating a person like him. 

First, because he was stabbed with a sword, he needed to be mended. 

She did not take a step forward or backward. She remained at where she was standing from the moment she entered this parlor. This was her castle, but it was not hers anymore. Starting today, he would also be living here with her. 

She had to avoid him at all costs, his eyes were telling her how unhappy he was with her presence. Should she negotiate with him? 

She would not be in his way; she could live as quiet as a mouse. He did not have to think of her existing in this same palace. He could live the way he wanted to be. She would try to offer whatever she could so that they could live in peace. 

"When are you going to release me from the chains, Master?" 

Zarniya was stunned. 

He spoke. 

He spoke so normally. 

She stared at his face… his eyes were smiling.

He must be smiling… 

He was dazzling. 

But instead, Zarniya was more vigilant. 

She felt the chills running through her skin. 

He was smiling but there was no happiness in his eyes.

It was cold, very dark, and menacing. 

However, he could speak those words as if he were an affectionate slave. 

Zarniya felt like something cold and creepy crawled under her skin. 

She expected him to be aloof and cold, who would get angry and frown, or maybe he had a poker or stoic face. But she did not expect that it was more sinister when he smiled.

He could control his facial expression, his tone, and his actions. 

He was much more difficult than she already thought. 

"Master?" 

Zarniya trembled. 

His voice was very deep, but he sounded so affectionate. 

It was truly scary. 

"I-I-I-I…" Zarniya could not speak, all she could say was 'I' when she intended to tell him that he was allowed to call her by her name. She did not want to behave like a master at this man at all. If he could perform like this when his eyes were filled with murderous intent…

He must be invincible. 

Invisible not like her who no one cared about existing, but the type of invincible that no one could match up or defeat. 

The best examples were the crown prince and the third prince. 

The third prince was admired for his cold temperament. He had a stoic face, and he rarely showed his emotion, he was hard to read, a complicated enemy. He was strong, so he was straightforward.

The crown prince was different, he was strong, but he was stronger than the third prince… not because he was older but because the crown prince knew when to bend when he had to. A strong enemy was not someone sturdy and impeccable.

An invincible person was a person who could yield in the moment of necessity. After all, a thick wall could still be broken, but a bendable defense would come back up when they adjusted. 

This man was a lot more mature than the crown prince, but they also looked like they did not have a huge age gap. A man who was similar to the crown prince but a lot more mature… 

Zarniya didn't even want to be in the sight of the crown prince since she could not afford to make a mistake in his presence. Now, he was faced with this …kind of person. 

"I…"

"You should breathe. Try to inhale deeply," he said with a concerned tone, but his eyes were not showing any sincerity. Despite that, Zarniya followed what he said. 

She took a deep breath. 

"That's good," he said. "Exhale and relax. Master."

She exhaled but did not relax.

Since she could not speak, she tried to be courageous. She had to set him free. She did not know the condition of his body, he was slashed by the sharp sword of a royal guard, with his distance with the sword earlier, he must have been injured badly. 

He seemed to be angry by the treatment he received. He looked like a ticking bomb. 

Zarniya was so terrified to make a move. She was thinking of releasing him, but she could not even take a step forward to help him. He continued to guide her on breathing, but hearing his magnetic voice was making her more anxious. She was only— Although it seemed like guidance to make her feel relaxed— He was giving her commands. 

That may be Zarniya's illusion, but she felt oppressed by his presence. His eyes deepened as he was staring at her. He liked the fact that a royal like her was foolishly listening to what he was saying. 

Not like Zarniya could do anything. At this point, she wanted to cry without tears. What should she do? What would happen to her? How could she live with a man like this? It was not even an hour since they met but instead of feeling gratified that she received a slave. She felt like a toy… that was given to him. 

"Master, why do you look paler than before?" He asked. "Come here."

Zarniya gulped. 

He was still wearing a mask, however, Zarniya could see that his smile was looking like a sneer. Did he not know? How scared she was of him? He was clearly enjoying her terrified reaction. 

"... Zarniya, come here." 

Zarniya blinked her eyes as her heart shivered with the tone of his cold voice. Did she hear him correctly? He called her name without a title. Or was it an illusion out of fear?

She was taking back her thoughts yesterday that it was not so bad to live with someone. This was a bad, worst-bad kind of idea!