It had been exactly a week since she started her business. After the family’s weekly dinner, Sesenia headed straight to the slave market.

Though she was free to go out since starting her business, she didn’t want anyone to know she was going to the slave market. So, Sesenia quietly left with Rohan and Lizbeth, their heads covered with cloaks, and walked to the market.

“Miss, why are we suddenly going to the slave market?”

“For manpower, you could say.”

“But buying slaves is a bit…”

“Right, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Lizbeth vigorously nodded her head.

“But I’m not buying a slave.”

“You’re going to the slave market and not buying slaves?”

“Lizbeth, the Miss must have her reasons.”

Rohan stopped his sister and stuck close to Sesenia.

“Aren’t you worried about the Miss?”

“I am worried, that’s why I’m not saying anything.”

“…What? Really, you’re strange these days.”

Lizbeth shook her head in disgust at her brother, but Rohan’s face only showed firmness, as if he was ready to trust Sesenia in whatever she planned to do.

Yet, Sesenia couldn’t fully trust anyone. She was betrayed by Ian, whom she had believed in. She disliked people. Nonetheless, she felt at ease with these two.

Maybe that was why Sesenia smiled more comfortably than usual as she walked ahead, though she seemed unaware of her change. Only Lizbeth seemed to notice her transformation, smiling in response.

The slave market in the capital of the empire.

The slave market was a place that was legally ambiguous – selling war prisoners as slaves was legal, but selling one’s own citizens was illegal.
When wars were raging, citizens weren’t sold in the slave market. But after the wars ended, there were no legal slaves left. Therefore, those who renounced their status for money or other secondary reasons became slaves and were frequently seen in the slave market.

Particularly, there were covert instances where unclaimed children from orphanages were smuggled into the slave market.

Since these individuals couldn’t prove their status, the country had no way to intervene if they were labeled as war slaves. Slaves had no rights.

Moreover, as the war slaves often looked nearly identical to the empire’s citizens, they couldn’t even defend themselves.

And today, Sesenia had come to this slave market to buy a slave that wasn’t being sold.

“This is not a place for a young lady to be visiting.”

The slave market, accessed through back alleys, was guarded by gatekeepers to prevent any potentially illegal activities. The gloomy guard shook his head at the sight of them.

Sesenia, even during her time as the Empress, disliked the slave market. She had come here several times to uncover illegal activities and shut it down, but each time she ended up only seeing the pitiable slaves.

Despite asking her husband, the Emperor, for help and eventually raiding the place with an imperial decree, the slave traders had vanished without a trace by then.

“It’s a shame you can’t tell the difference between a guest and someone here for leisure.”

“Ha, I don’t know what you heard, but this is not a place for just anyone.”

“Not just anyone. I’m a merchant too.”

“That’s amusing. A lady running a company?”

Nobles, especially young noble ladies, running companies was unheard of. The gatekeeper’s skepticism was warranted. However, Rohan couldn’t hold back and spoke up.

“She is Sesenia of the Iar Company.”

While the company was established to buy and sell goods, it hadn’t made any significant impact yet, so the gatekeeper simply shook his head in disbelief.

“These young ladies nowadays start companies as a hobby, it seems. Quite amusing. You should play such games at parties.”

An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most

One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.

This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:

1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.

It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.

(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)

2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.

The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.

3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.

Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).

Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.

Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.

4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).

5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!