Chapter 15: Blackened

"This young man is the last and most prized possession for this festivity! Look at his dazzling face; the body underneath those clothes must be spectacular, too, right? He's also extremely knowledgeable and useful in many ways. He has more glory to you than guts if you take him. Quite a genius at medicine, too! I shouldn't say anything more; you all seem ready for the bid. Starts at 300,000 silvers!" 

That young man, Ett, recognizes him immediately, that earing and those eyes with that kind of hair, she is not mistaken. Who would have thought this was what was happening to him before he became famous all throughout the land and empire. 

Starlight cerulean eyes that seem lifeless, hair in the likeliness of a rising sun, and that ordinary wooden ear piercing. The catalyst of the future who will make Ett resort to killing two nations just to warn him, raising her paranoia, but then she is stopped. The damages were 60%, though. But at least it was less than 100%. 

The one who stopped her was the Grand Strategist, Moran. The young child that's about to be sold for one week. That's why he must have hated the Adiand Empire and its royalties. There was a text in which he fled to another country, stayed there, and met the male lead by chance. 

Ah, chance. Was this also what we call chance? To meet him here? 

The host said he was a genius in medicine. Ett needs to remember it. But in this era, physicians are sought after, especially those youngsters with great medical potential. 

"400, 000 silvers!" 

A maid shouted; beside her was a carriage that looked like from an affluent family. When the curtains were revealed, it was an aged lady. She whispered again, and the maid shouted, "600,000 silvers!" 

"600,500 silvers!" 

"750, 000 silvers!" 

"900 silvers! I mean 900,000 silvers!" 

"950, 000 silvers!" 

"100 gold!" 

Damn, how was he this magnetic? 

"2,000 golds!" 

"Oh my, oh my! 2,000 golds! Who would like to beat Mrs. Peringerine's bet?" 

Ett never thought that little Moran would be this 'loved' by the crowd, especially older women. Was there something she didn't know about his profile? 

"What a lolicon." 

Was there even a masculine derivation of lolicon? 

"Mister, can you do me a favor?' 

"You don't know me." 

What a grumpy uncle. At least in this favor, it's regarding money; there's profit. 

"Save that kid. He looks like he'll be roped." 

The uncle looked at Ett wide-eyed as if telling her with his eyes that he didn't have that kind of money. 

"Just estimate and bid the highest. I'll pay and give you handsomely for your courtesy." 

"You?" 

Ett held her tongue. Does this guy think she has no money? Ett thrust out from her hidden sleeve 13,000 gold coins and gave them to him. 

"Is this enough? You can keep the change." 

This is part of the OG villainess' personal savings, not from the royal treasury. Besides, she shouldn't feel sad knowing she lost a grand. This is her investment in the future. 

"You!" 

"Don't shout. That's why I'm whispering." 

This stupid oaf. 

"Ehem. Fine. This much is…more than enough." 

Now, the uncle is curious about her identity. One thing he's sure of is that this girl might be from a nobility. 

"No one~?" 

The host asked. 

"Then this year's most beautiful and handsome---" 

"8,000 golds!" 

Mrs. Peringerie paused, fanning herself, and looked at the uncle beside Ett, who was sweating profusely; she seemed aggravated. 

"Oh, what a hefty price! Who else? Who else?" 

The maid looked back at her master. 

"Hmp." 

Although the young man is cuter than the rest, that's too much pay. 

"Going once? Going twice? Thrice! Sold! Wonderfully sold! Congratulations to the buyer!" 

The uncle seems happy, but the host seems to have moneygasm. 

"Ohohoho! I won! Eh? EH?! Where is that kid?" 

The uncle looked at his surroundings but was unable to find Ett. The child completely disappeared without a trace. 

"Buyer! Come to the stage, please!" 

"Oh." 

He scratched the back of his neck, still confused and dazed. Then the handsome sum she's saying is the gold that remained untouched? Just who was that kid? 

"There there, customer, we are happy to meet you. You've made the right choice picking this young lad." 

"Yes. Yes." 

Ugh. This host is such a snake; even if his tongue is that of a human, it's still a snake. Just look how happy he is. Looking at the frail young man before him, the uncle sighed. He wondered if the child knew this young man, but it seemed she just paid him out of pity or maybe because of his dashing looks. After all, nobles like beautiful things the most. 

What medicine? Heh. 

"Let's go, junior." 

"Y-Yes." 

Taking the young man down and giving the money, they carefully weaved their way to a safe place. That madam, just now, it seems like he would be dead cause he stole her soon-to-be property. Sigh, why was he involved in this place when he was just here to watch. 

"T-Thank you. I- I will surely work hard." 

"…" 

The uncle sighed again, whispering, "It was not me who saved you; the money I bought was not mine but the child who was gone. She asked me to free you, and that was it." 

The young man's eyes glimmered. 

"Re-Really? But where is she?" 

Ah, look at this boy, such a pure soul. Do you want to thank her? This uncle is touched!

"Yeah. Now, I can't find that little girl. She must have done it on a whim. Talk about noble children." 

"Nobles…" 

Moran mumbled as his eyes darkened. 

"My life belongs to her. What does she look like?" 

"Hmm, seems like a regular brunette with brown eyes. It's nothing too special; it's just how she spoke like a noble." 

Moran frowned, feeling wronged; that description needs to be more specific. 

"She threw me away." 

The uncle laughed awkwardly. 

"Not like that. Maybe that noble little lady has her own reasons." 

Why is she even defending that rude brat? 

"Is it because she is a noble, and I look like this?" 

 What?

The uncle ruffled Moran's hair as he laughed heartily, "Looking like what? Nobles are either eccentric or predictable. That brat is eccentric. Don't be bothered too much. She must have done it on a mere whim. That's how most nobles are with their money." 

"Noble…" 

Moran mumbled again as if it would become his mantra, making the uncle frown slightly. 

"Come on, let's go to my place first to clean you up." 

"Ye-Yes." 

"Don't worry, I'm not a nasty person." 

"I know." 

The uncle grinned. 

"That's good to know." 

That deepened spark in Moran's eyes faded when they entered the uncle's place. 

"Alright, child, you should first sit here. I'll prepare a bath for you." 

"Mister, why are you so kind when you are not the one paying me?" 

Moran asked. 

The uncle rolled his eyes. 

"Why, was there a saying that because I'm just a commoner, I can't help you?" 

"…" 

The uncle laughed. "Relax, child, I'm all alone here. You can stay here if you want after the week due or you can get out if you want. That brat had left me 13,000 golds with 10,000 to free you. The remaining 3,000 gold is yours." 

"Eh? What about mister?" 

"I didn't help much. I just went out to watch. So you take it." 

"Mister… no, let's split it. You're too kind to me." 

Moran was about to cry; he was touched by this person's warm welcome. 

"Enough. Just wait for me to get some water so you can bathe. And you can call me Fenar." 

Moran nodded obediently, quietly, watching Fenar move to the other room where the lavatory might be. His eyes curiously roam around. This was a simple house with a simple design and a few things. 

Fenar said he was living alone. Was it that his family left, or was he the one who left? There are picture frames to know if that's the case. 

"Maybe he didn't get married." 

Moran wondered. Looking at the giant heads of the deer, bear, eagle, and other animals, he figured Fenar was a hunter. These were like prizes to hunters, and they were proud to show whether to their visitors or for self-satisfaction. It's only a one-story house. Where the kitchen and the dining room are one. 

He sat obediently near the window, looking outside. This place was secluded, and few people had passed by. A quiet environment with few residents that are far from each other. It was different from that musty, moldy, and horrible bed that he was caged in. There were no windows or lights, and the door was thick like a hundred-year-old tree.

"This place is nice." 

Moran muttered, feeling happy before getting nervous and looking at the lavatory. Fenar… he isn't like the rest of his master, is he? He clutched his clothes, legs trembling. 

No, for a whole week, he must endure; after getting half of the money, he will escape. But if the owner is not that cruel, then he will work his ass off to the best of his capabilities to survive. 

Before Moran came here, he really wanted to die. It's making him crazy to live every day, knowing he is powerless; without any money, he is nothing. Money, money, money. The world is all about money. He can never be hungry or low like this if he can have money. He bit his little finger. A small trail of blood trickled down his finger. 

Moran subconsciously licked the blood, sucking his finger like some kind of lollipop while biting his finger again and again. All he could think of was money, making money to survive for another day. He doesn't want to suffer like this; he doesn't want to die poor. Money…. 

"Alright. You're done. Oi! What's wrong with your finger? What are you doing?!" 

Moran snapped back to reality and looked at his finger; his lifeless eyes were dispelled as he smiled brightly, his aura turning innocent and pure. "I'm sorry F-Fenar. I thought I would be left alone forever." 

"Goodness, child, I was just away from you for a while, and you're like this. You must have suffered a lot." 

Moran lowered his head. 

"I'm sorry." 

"What are you sorry for? You didn't do anything bad." 

"Yes." 

Yes, he didn't do anything wrong. So, why? No, let's not question it. I'm tired.

"Go on, take a bath first. Can you do it, or should I help you?" 

Moran's whole body immediately turned ice cold, and they backed away, smiling nervously. 

"I-I can do it by myself." 

Such expression did not pass by Fenir's eyes. He became empathic with Moran's situation. Such an indescribable experience caused this child to be so cautious just by simply accompanying him. 

Life is really an entire grey of darkened shades.

"Then call me when you're done. I will wear the new clothes although they will be big, at least you have one. I'll put it on the doorstep. Let's buy you clothes together after I cook our dinner tomorrow." 

"A-Alright." 

"Then you go ahead." 

***

That night, one of the rooms slowly opened. Slow steps went to the kitchen; the bright moonlight perfectly hit the kitchenware. Taking the knife that shines like the sharpest of swords under the light, the slow and careful footsteps paused.

Slowly, the door opened. Cautious not to wake the person up, he took his time turning the door's knob, minding to not make a creaking sound or he'll be found out. 

In the bed, a person snoozed deep in slumber, not knowing the person nearing him with a knife. He lay flat on his bed, breathing equally without any change, completely open. 

The person from the shadows raised the knife; its glinting edge was a blink of an eye before it stabbed the person's heart on the bed. He topped the person, and a grin appeared on his lips. 

The swooshing sound of a knife that waved through the air hit the sleeping person's chest.

"Urk! Gahk--"

Their eyes were wide; disbelief and horror appeared on his face. 

"Urh…uk!" 

With a skillful slit in the throat, Fenir died. Even in death, his eyes were finding a reason.

Why?

Moran knew it too well. "Why? Because you just watched. Is that good enough to let you close your eyes?"

 The dead man can't reply.

"Hah, now all I need to do is bury this big body." 

Moran's eyes were without any emotion; his innocent facade was gone. He covered Fenir's face with the blanket, wrapping him up. 

"Now, I'll make this my new home~." 

Finally.