A Shadow Cast in Paradise (23 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 14
His body, covered in wounds and tightly bound, was trapped in a crate, helpless to do anything.
“How much do Lupus slaves go for these days?”
Luise Ideana asked the head of the Vittel Trading Company, leaving the slave behind her.
“Well… as you know, the climate around slavery has changed somewhat these days. Outside the Ideana territory, slave trade isn’t as common.”
The company head said with an uneasy expression.
Though Ideana, situated on the frontier, still firmly upheld the institution of Lupus slavery, the central regions were gradually improving the treatment of Lupus.
That didn’t mean Lupus were now treated as well as ordinary people, but slavery had become a sensitive issue.
This was because Lupus contributions in several wars had become impossible to ignore, and their resistance had grown fierce.
Thus, even the Vittel Company tended to shy away from slave trading.
“A small sum is fine. Given his condition as it is…”
“Do you have a particular reason for selling the slave all of a sudden?”
“…He’s too rebellious, and he grates on my nerves.”
Luise calmly uttered these harsh words.
It was strange.
She said such things with a face that looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
Like Eklas, her father also sensed the mood and didn’t press further.
“Do you wish to take him away immediately, milady?”
At this, Luise could not bring herself to speak and merely gave a quiet nod.
“The most I can offer right now is 50 dera.”
Even in this situation, the company head never forgot the basics of trade.
He deliberately quoted an absurdly low price, testing her.
Fifty dera was less than a quarter of the market value—
roughly the price of a well-fattened pig.
Even considering the Lupus’s poor condition, it was practically being given away.
Any young lady familiar with the world would recognize it as a low price.
But.
“Fine.”
Luise agreed without haggling.
Willard stared intently at Luise, who had pressed her lips tightly inward.
“Are you truly… going to sell him?”
As a merchant, he normally never questioned a concluded deal.
There was no benefit in sowing doubt after agreeing to a profitable transaction.
Yet, for some reason, he felt he needed to confirm once more with Luise.
She tightly shut her eyes and clenched her fists.
“Take him away now.”
Seeing her struggle to steady her wavering heart, Willard asked nothing further.
“Understood, milady.”
At that, the knights lifted the crate’s lid, preparing to close it again.
“Ugh…! Ngh! Uuuh…!”
The bound Lupus let out a hoarse cry through the gag, but the knights kicked him back inside and slammed the lid shut.
While nailing the lid closed, the company paid the slave price of 50 dera.
Luise Ideana took the 50 dera with trembling hands—such a small sum it could easily be held in her tiny palm.
Once the transaction concluded, porters dragged the large crate onto the Vittel family’s wagon.
“Then I shall take my leave, milady.”
Willard bowed to Luise and turned to depart.
Eklas followed his father but paused briefly. For some reason, he felt this trade shouldn’t happen.
He glanced back at Luise Ideana.
That day, Eklas learned that some people could cry without shedding a single tear.
And that such sorrow, undiluted by tears, ran even deeper.
He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Luise Ideana, her head bowed.
Was it right to leave her alone like this? Was it right to knowingly pretend ignorance and accept this trade?
At that moment, Luise, her long lashes lowered, looked up.
Startled as if caught spying, Eklas quickly turned his head away.
Realizing he had rudely stared at a noble lady, he hurriedly walked off.
But then.
“Wait…!”
A slender voice stopped him.
Eklas, who had been trying to flee, froze in his tracks.
“You’re Willard Vittel’s son, aren’t you…?”
Luise had quietly approached and was now looking up at him.
“…Yes, milady.”
“I’ve heard the Lester ducal lands treat the Lupus well…”
She spoke in a small, trembling voice.
Just moments ago, she had spoken calmly despite her tearful expression, but now her voice was soaked in tears.
“…That’s true within the Empire. It’s the only territory where slavery has been formally abolished.”
Eklas answered earnestly for her sake.
Thanks to its progressive and reform-minded duke, the Lester lands had improved conditions for Lupus.
Then Luise grabbed his sleeve.
“Could you take this child there?”
“Huh? But slavery is banned there. We can’t sell that Lupus…”
“I’ll pay the price.”
Luise returned the money she’d just received and added her emerald ring as well.
Flustered, Eklas tried to wave her off, but Luise firmly pressed the payment into his hand.
He couldn’t bear to refuse her desperate plea.
“May I… ask why?
Normally, as a merchant, it was taboo to question a noble’s secret request—risking entanglement in dangerous matters or offending their pride.
But Luise’s expression was so desperate that he broke the taboo and asked. Thus, this was Eklas’s first mistake.
As if pointing out his error, Luise quietly met his gaze.
“He’s not involved in any crime or spying, so don’t worry. I guarantee it…”
That wasn’t the answer Eklas sought.
But it was all he would ever receive.
Thus, he took the Lupus slave to the Lester lands.
At that time, Eklas Vittel had no idea how this would alter history.
That day, the Vittel Trading Company, having bought the slave for money, sent Shade to serve as a servant in the Lester ducal household.
Shade, who had survived with remarkable tenacity, earned honors—first as a squire, then a knight—and even saved the Duke of Lester’s life, eventually being adopted as his heir.
The first Lupus ever to attain a dukedom.
Shade Lester remained deeply favorable toward the Vittel Company, who had set this entire success in motion.
‘He won’t know it was Luise Ideana who made that request.’
Shade believed he’d reached the slavery-free Lester lands thanks to the Vittel Company’s kindness—for the Vittel family never revealed it had been Luise’s request.
Only months after Shade left Ideana, the Ideana house fell on charges of treason.
Associating with a traitorous family would only trouble Shade, and had the Lester family known the Ideanas deliberately sent Shade, they would have cast him out immediately.
‘Besides, the late Luise Ideana seemed to have her own reasons she couldn’t speak of…’
Though branded a traitor, because of the last image he held of her, Eklas wanted to honor Luise’s wishes.
‘Of course, that’s just an excuse.’
Eklas dryly scoffed at his own sentimental thoughts.
‘Above all, keeping it secret benefits our company more.’
Shade was a powerful figure, possessing vast wealth, armies, and extensive territories.
That Shade believed he “owed a debt” to the Vittels was extremely useful.
Whenever Eklas Vittel acted provocatively, Shade turned a blind eye—all thanks to this.
But that wasn’t what mattered now—it was that woman, Liana Serpens.
‘She reminds me exactly of an Ideana lady.’
Luise Ideana had perished following her house’s treason—a fact confirmed even by the Temple, so it was indisputable.
Yet Liana truly resembled Luise.
Aside from hair color, if fifteen-year-old Luise Ideana had lived and grown into a beautiful young woman, she’d look just like her.
‘The Duke of Lester’s persistent interest in her is likely because of that face…’
A maid who resembles the lady who abandoned him.
“How amusing.”
Eklas’s eyes narrowed.
Whatever the case, it was clear this woman held power over Shade Lester.
Which meant she could someday become a useful asset—or perhaps an inconvenient variable in future dealings.
After all, even the schedule for the Ideana trip had already been disrupted because of her.
Eklas slowly stroked his chin, rose from his seat, and opened the safe beside his bed.
Inside lay several thick money pouches.
“Look into that woman.”
Eklas pulled out one pouch and tossed it onto the table before his attendant.
In all trade and investment, information was paramount.
“Understood, young master.”
The attendant bowed and tucked the pouch away.
“And young master, the medicine you requested is ready. It will be shipped directly to Ideana.”
Having secured the pouch, the attendant reported on other matters.
A satisfied smile spread across Eklas’s lips.
“Excellent.”
Eklas locked the safe, pocketed the key, and added,
“Ensure absolute secrecy regarding the medicine.”
“Of course. The hawks will handle it personally.”
“You’re always a great help.”
Eklas smiled, thinking of his “hawks.”
He called his network of informants—scattered across the Empire and beyond—his “birds.”
Larks brought secret whispers from taverns, inns, and red-light districts; barefoot sparrows scurried through alleyways, gathering every street rumor like scattered grains.
Ravens, though difficult to tame, worked faithfully when offered shiny trinkets.
Well-trained, loyal hawks hunted their prey with piercing precision, while gulls carried precious news from across the sea.
Information on Liana Serpens, too, would soon be delivered by “the Vittel birds.”
“I shall take my leave now.”
The attendant placed a hand over his chest in deference and exited.
Eklas sat leisurely again at his tea table, gazing out the window.
In the distance, knights led by Shade were just returning.
Eklas rolled his eyes to check the clock—it was nearly midday.
“Looks like leaving for Ideana today is out of the question.”
He shrugged and took a sip of tea.
Though he disliked disruptions to his plans, he wasn’t so rootless as to be rattled by unexpected changes.
“Well, I suppose it’s worth it for such an entertaining show.”
With a fingertip idly tracing a coin, he watched as Shade Lester rode in, a woman seated on his horse.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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