Trimer

The carriage rattled as they wheeled on the rocky road. Geraldine took a peek in the window to see the vibrant scenery in front of her.

"Bagyoo town is really peaceful," She opened the window to inhale the fresh scent of grass but her eyes are fixed at the tall mountains ahead where the snow is falling non-stop.

As they get nearer to the town, Geraldine changed her carriage into the normal one and sent back her father's carriage so that people would think that she's just a normal girl who wished to live secludedly.

Upon arriving, she immediately searched for a house to buy that is farthest away from the rest of the other houses. Geraldine didn't want to talk to the neighbors as they would only pry for her life, asking why a 14-year-old girl is living alone or where are her parents. She didn't want to trouble herself making up stories to cover her status.

A house that has two rooms with a kitchen and living room situated in the middle of the forest is the perfect house for Geraldine. She immediately purchased it no matter what the cost.

Settling in, she didn't waste any time and arranged all her stuff and list down the things she needed to buy. Geraldine was in a hurry not because she needed to get the poisonous butterfly eggs but to find someone. Someone who would be her own weapon to destroy the Empire.

16th Prince Alexjin Du'Bellay, was taken to the palace at the age of 18. He was born in Bagyoo town and live his life as a commoner but the Emperor forced him to live in the palace after his mother died a day before he turned 18. Alexjin kept himself lowkey and didn't stand out much but that change when he died of old age, servants found his notes about how to progress the Empire and the uses of the black element and that includes the poisonous butterflies. The new Emperor at that time was amazed by his intelligence and soon he was held as a genius and they created a statue of him in every school. The people who once looked down at him regretted that they didn't find out sooner.

Currently, Alexjin is only 15 years old, a year older than Geraldine. In the past, he was sold as a servant to a noble family. He was known to be very loyal and obedient.

Walking towards the market, Geraldine went to take a walk for a while to familiarize the place and the faces of the people and also to see if she could take a glimpse of Alexjin.

After an hour, she gave up and decided to search for him next time and prioritize getting the poisonous butterfly eggs first. Buying all the necessities she needs for a week, she was about to go home when she saw a man arguing about the slave price.

Interested, Geraldine stride towards the crowd and pushed herself in front to see five people kneeling with chains on their neck connecting to their wrist and they look so battered that you can no longer distinguish their facial features.

Geraldine was about to go when her eyes caught a glimpse of a boy with silver hair and bright blue eyes that looks so lifeless. The boy is so thin that you could see his bones and no bulk of muscles to be seen.

Even though his face is swelling and there are bruises and wounds, Geraldine was confident that it was Alexjin and she won't let him go so easily.

"5 gold for that boy," Geraldine pointed her index finger towards ALexjin. The man in his 60's whose breath smelled like there's a rat died in there, walked towards her and gives her a curious look.

"You want that boy? He's so weak and barely does any labor work," He laughed and spit his saliva towards Alexjin.

"I bid 6 gold for that boy too," A fat woman whose face covered with thick make-up stepped forward and eyed Alexjin like she was about to eat him.

"Another bidder, this boy gonna give me wealth ey," The old man laughed and spit again which disgusts Geraldine more.

"8 gold coins," Geraldine bid again, she won't let an old clown get a hand towards Alexjin, her weapon.

"9 gold coins," The woman snickered at her, trying to show her wealth.

"12 gold coins."

"13 gold coins."

"15 gold coins."

"20 gold coins."

Geraldine is now pissed at the woman, she faces her with a tight smile, "I see madam is interested in the boy, may I know the reason why?"

"Hmph, why would I reply to a peasant like you. This boy is handsome I would like him to be one of my toys," She laughed maniacally as she fanned her face, trying to hide her fat chin.

Geraldine looked at the woman from top to toe and observed that the woman indeed has the money but not enough to spend more gold only for a slave. She looks at the old man and smiled.

"200 gold coins for the silvered hair boy," When Geraldine said her amount, the crowd gasp. 200 gold is a high amount of money that could feed a poor family of 5 in a month. Paying a large amount only for a slave is ridiculous to others but not to Geraldine, for her, that 200 gold is worth it.

The fat woman looked at Geraldine as if she was crazy but she didn't want a mere little girl to get ahead of her, with her pride as one of the rich families in Bagyoo town, she would not back down so easily.

"250 gold coins!" A smirked laced on the woman's face, thinking that Geraldine would back away from the high price.

"300 gold coins," Keeping her calm, Geraldine looks at the woman who's sweating terribly as if she was drenched in the rain.

"You little b*tch!" The woman was trembling, her face showing worry about the high price but her pride is still intact as she didn't want to be seen as poor by the people surrounding her.