My body froze for a moment. My ominous premonition had come true. He was in the middle of finding a new victim with brown hair and green eyes.
"I'm saying that I didn't come here to do useless things like cracking down on illegal potions."
He curled his lips and narrowed his eyes. It was a smile that might look affectionate to a stranger.
"I am well aware that the potion was part of the Count's plan."
'But why are you saying you are taking me away?'
Suddenly, he turned his gaze to the shelf.
"It is truly impressive that you produced such results all by yourself. I really want to praise you."
He scanned my combinations one by one, his eyes shining.
"From what I hear, it doesn't seem like you received a proper education."
I just listened to him quietly. I couldn't get a sense of what on earth he was trying to say.
"Highly impressed by your abilities, I would like to invite you to become a researcher at the Magic Tower."
“Researcher?”
"I assume you have heard of Magic Tower's researchers."
Of course I knew. Their existence wasn't well known because there were only a few of them, though.
"How dare you call me a researcher? I am nothing but a sinner."
"I remember all the innocence you shouted in front of the Count."
"It meant that both of us were guilty."
"As I mentioned earlier, that doesn't really matter."
The way he cut off the conversation made me feel that I had to give up on my dream of going to prison.
Eon took a small scroll from his bosom. It was an object that exuded magical power. As he unfolded it, unknown characters caught his eye.
"Miss Selinia, please sign."
“What is this?”
"This is a contract.”
"It doesn't look like a simple contract to become a researcher at the Magic Tower."
I couldn't know the contents, but no. It was even more suspicious precisely because I couldn't know the contents. I spoke while glancing at him.
"I don't even know what's written there."
"I see. It would be proper to inform you of the contract details first."
Surprisingly, he readily agreed to my words.
"This is a subordination contract. The master of the contract can see through everything about the subordinate, including their present and past. Furthermore, they can convey their own moods and thoughts to the subordinate."
His purple eyes glowed with a reddish light.
"A subordinate can also feel the master's moods or thoughts, but this is limited to what the master intends to convey."
"So, as a master, you can command servants just by thinking about them."
“You can do that.”
"A servant, or rather, a subordinate, cannot have any secrets from their master."
"Yes, that is correct. That is the essence of the contract."
The saliva going down my throat was bitter and heavy.
"In that case, the owner of this contract is..."
"Of course, I am Eon de Grannois."
Eon spoke without hesitation. There was no need to even ask who the subordinate was.
"Isn't that a very unreasonable contract? I will refuse."
I turned my head to the right and spoke. It wasn't courage. It was simply an instinct, like running away when you see a beast chasing you.
'If I sign that contract, I will surely end up in a miserable state before dying.'
"It seems there is a misunderstanding..."
Eon's fingers touched the edge of my cheek. His fingertips were cold, but the movement of his hand turning my face toward him was gentle. I was confused by that contrast, but his subsequent words immediately calmed my agitation.
"I did not explain the contents of the contract to seek your consent."
I looked at him with a half-distorted expression.
"I merely informed you to follow formal procedures. I hope you haven't misunderstood."
He held out his pen.
"No ink is needed. Your breath will take its place."
To think my breath is replacing ink. At this rate, it really felt like selling my soul to the devil. No, wait. Even when you sell your soul to the devil, you receive some kind of price. This murderer doesn't even offer that, so this was worse than a contract with the devil.
Selinia de Hyrn.
It was the moment when even the last letter of the bluish-tinged name was written on the contract.
'Eh.'
An indescribable foreign sensation welled up from deep within my chest.
"Do you feel nauseous? Or are you dizzy?"
Eon asked without changing his expression at all. He wasn't saying it out of concern for me. He was merely observing my reaction as if he were watching a mouse in a laboratory.
"It might feel awkward at first, but you will soon get used to it."
Looking into Eon's eyes, which had turned red, I realized that this was his emotion.
'So... what on earth is this?'
It was an emotion faded and was hard to recognize, like words written in an old history book. It felt as though I would only be able to discern its original form if I swept away the thick dust piled upon it and wiped it carefully.
It was a feeling I didn't particularly want to know.
***
It took less than an hour to pack my bags. Whether it was at the Count's instruction or not, there wasn't even a slight murmur in the mansion. I left the mansion as if I were a guest scheduled to stay until today.
"Miss, please take care of your health."
Despite my objections, only Mary came out to see me off to the carriage.
"Alright, go ahead and go in."
Fearing that Eon might target Mary as well, I hurriedly finished my greetings. Just like that, I left the place I had considered my sanctuary. The familiar buildings grew further and further away. And finally, a landscape I had never seen before unfolded before my eyes.
'I wonder if it's near the hunting grounds.'
It wasn't like I was going on an outing, and frankly, I didn't care about the scenery outside. Nevertheless, the reason I had kept my gaze fixed out the window ever since getting into the carriage was the murderer across from me.
An existence I couldn't help but be conscious of, no matter how hard I tried not to look straight ahead. Whether it was due to the cramped space or that damn subordination contract, a stinging cold pierced my entire body.
'Should I call it survival? Haa, this is driving me crazy.'
My chest felt tight, and my heart was beating faster and faster. I felt like I would suffocate or faint if I stayed like this.
'Yeah, let's just say it.'
I opened my mouth.
"A carriage? You're more romantic than I thought."
I thought that if I met a murderer, I would be speechless and freeze right there. Reality was a little different. I was the type who would leave my brain out and just babble on when faced with a reality I couldn't handle. Unfortunately, I only realized this fact after meeting Eon.
It was impossible to tell whether I wanted to deny reality or if fear had paralyzed my reason. It seemed to be a kind of defense mechanism.
"I thought you could cast a teleportation spell or something."
"There is no need to rush, is there? Besides, with such a beautiful young lady by my side, it would be nice to spend some leisurely time in the carriage."
Eon smiled, his lips curving into an arc. It was only his mouth that was smiling. His eyes were still lusting after only a part of my body. No matter how much he pretended to be an ordinary person, he could not fool me, who knew the original story.
I stared blankly at the mark engraved on the inside of my wrist. It was a mark resulting from the subjugation contract with Eon. It was truly a brand stamped on a slave.
Did Eon make subordination contracts with other people as well? If so, it made sense that the protagonist's party could not find any traces of murder.
"If the master of the contract orders death, must the subordinate commit suicide?"
"Well, I’ve never thought of such an order. But isn’t killing someone just too terrible?"
Naturally, he lied.
"It’s troublesome if I go to the trouble of creating a subordinate only for them to die. It’s much more fun to have them alive than dead."
Correction. Eon hadn't lied; he had told the truth. Even though his lips hadn't even touched mine this time, I felt my whole body freezing cold.
"A dead person quickly loses their luster. For instance, those beautiful eyes, which seemed to hold the lush greenery, wither away."
Eon slowly fixed his gaze on me. I felt his eyes were like a tongue sucking on a hard candy. Even though I knew that his persistent clinging wouldn't do any good, I opened my mouth again.
"It seems the technology is still quite lacking. I know of a place where they even transplant cadaver eyes—though to be precise, it is the cornea, not the eyeball."
At this point, words began to flow out without passing through the brain. This was because the brain had no room to participate in the conversation, as it was preoccupied with more important thoughts.
"That is an interesting story. In that case, it would be possible to preserve a human corpse as if it were alive."
While my brave mouth dealt with the murderer, I examined the carriage door. The doorknob hanging from the inside was a simple design that opened with just a tap of the hand.
'Will I be able to escape from the carriage?'
It was not that I was unaware that jumping out of a moving carriage was dangerous. Still, it was better than being dragged away by Eon like this. Besides, the carriage was currently traveling on a hill above the hunting grounds. Here, I could hide from Eon.
If there was one thing weighing on my mind, it was the subordination contract. Recalling the explanation, it seemed like he would be able to find my location quickly even if I escaped.
'No. I can't take those words at face value.'
He was someone who lied as easily as breathing. He might have just said it to scare me. It was better to just try than to get scared and do nothing.
“Miss Selinia”
Suddenly, he called my name. I looked at him.
“Miss Selinia?”
He wasn't simply calling me. It was meant as a warning.
"I know exactly what you are thinking. Don't act rashly."
Seeing the smile on Eon's lips, it was certain.
"Master of the Magic Tower, you know what I'm planning to do, right?"
"If you are talking about that foolish thing, I naturally expect it to remain just Miss Selinia's imagination. After all, you are a wizard, not a knight."
"That's right. Physical work isn't my specialty."
As I said that, I quickly came up with a number in my mind.
'One, two, three.'
It was a spell I chanted to get rid of the fear within me.
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