He Who Covets the Abandoned Bride (10 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 47

Adrian offered a light greeting, then quickly lifted his head to look at the Emperor and Empress.

The Emperor, ruler of the great empire Harkin, looked down at his son with satisfaction and smiled before welcoming him.

“Well then, it seems fortunate that you’ve returned this time without any serious injuries.”

The Empress beside him merely smiled in agreement. But when Adrian met her gaze with a look that silently asked, “Don’t you have anything to say?” she reluctantly spoke up.

“Welcome back, Your Highness.”

After receiving this brief greeting, Adrian rose to his feet. He then addressed the Emperor about the unpleasant matter that had occurred during his absence.

“I heard that while I was away, the First Princess of Fitzroy caused quite a commotion—apparently annexing Wessex into the realm of Fitzroy.”

At this, the Emperor frowned disapprovingly and retorted,

“So the Margrave of Fitzroy claims he was granted that territory as a new fief. He even declared that all members of the Wessex royal family would be made slaves and sent them as a gift to his nation. And their future children will also become slaves—how barbaric can one get?”

Most nations on the continent of Dambernant supported slavery. In fact, in past times when wars were frequent, one common pretext for war was securing slaves.

Of course, Harkin also had slaves. This stemmed from fierce wars long ago against Fitzroy, during which prisoners were captured and enslaved. Additionally, those convicted of grave crimes were sometimes reduced to slavery.

They mostly labored in the empire’s work camps, shackled hand and foot, performing tasks too dangerous for ordinary citizens—tasks involving high risks of poisoning or death.

If not that, they would suffer and die in confinement, enduring such agony that death would seem preferable.

The one difference between Harkin and other nations was that Harkin did not impose the yoke of slavery upon the descendants of slaves.

It still remained slavery, so Adrian wondered whether it truly mattered to label one system as more or less barbaric than another—but he listened silently all the same.

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