The evening haze clung to the cobbled streets as Leo, masked and hooded, walked silently through the bustling market. Traders haggled. Children chased one another. Lanterns flickered like sleepy fireflies.
His gaze lifted toward the castle on the hill.
"So that's the royal seat… All I have to do now is get in. Find him. Kill the king. Simple."
But something gnawed at him.
"Why are there no guards? No patrols? It feels… wrong."
His thoughts were cut short by a hand grabbing his leg. He looked down.
It was a frail elf woman—dirty, bruised, eyes swollen from tears. "Help me..." she whispered.
Before he could react, a voice rang out. "Hey! You worthless piece of garbage!"
A stout man approached, stomping over and kicking the girl hard in the stomach. She cried out.
Leo turned away, uninterested.
The man sneered at the elf. "You left me when I was enjoying myself? You're weak and useless. Just like the rest of your kind."
Leo paused. His eyes narrowed. He saw Eno's face—broken, helpless—overlaid on the girl's.
He clenched his fist... then kicked the man straight into a fruit stand.
Gasps rose from the crowd.
"You little—!" the man growled, summoning four burly servants. "Get him!"
Leo didn't even flinch. In seconds, they were all laid out on the ground—groaning, unconscious.
Now pale, the man stuttered, "I'll file a report to the Holy Knights! I know a captain! You're finished!"
Leo stepped forward, shadows crackling underfoot.
"Should I kill you?" he asked flatly.
The man collapsed to his knees. "Please! Don't! Take her! The elf is yours—I'll break her contract! Just don't kill me!"
He tapped his seal and reassigned the elf's bond to Leo.
Leo's eyes darkened. "Stupid. Who said I want to be her master? Break it."
"I can't. You'll have to file it at the Holy Knight Headquarters..."
Leo exhaled. "...You. Get out of my sight or I'll change my mind."
He turned to the elf and gently helped her up.
Her body was badly injured—starved, scarred.
He took her to a healer and paid three gold coins for urgent treatment. Then he bought her fresh clothes, booked a room at a quiet inn, and let the hot springs ease her wounds.
She slept deeply.
When Leo tucked her into bed and turned to leave, she stirred and caught his hand. "Please… don't go..."
He froze. Her face... for a second, it was Eno's.
Leo slapped himself. "No. I can't be distracted. I made a promise to Jack."
The next morning, the elf woke to a clean bed and warm sunlight. Her body was wrapped in fresh linen. A robe lay nearby.
Leo was seated in the room, arms crossed.
She gasped and fell to her knees. Tears welled in her eyes. "Master… thank you. I'll never forget this kindness."
Leo looked away. "It's nothing."
"What's your name?" he asked.
"I am Sylren Elowynn, Master."
He flinched. "Sylren."
"If you don't like it, you can call me anything, Master."
"STOP calling me master," he snapped. "I'm not your master. I just helped you because…"
He trailed off, Eno's face flashing in his mind.
Before he could speak, Sylren removed her robe and stepped toward him.
Leo jumped. "What are you doing?"
"You saved me. I belong to you. I've heard that men… want our bodies. If that makes you happy—"
"No," Leo cut in sharply. "Put your clothes on. I have no interest in women's bodies."
She grabbed his hand. "Am I not enough? Will I disappoint you?"
Leo turned away. "Don't worry about that. Just… get dressed."
She obeyed. Then her stomach growled loudly, and she blushed.
"Sorry, Master."
Leo sighed. "Come on. Let's eat."
At the restaurant, Leo ordered the cheapest dish for himself and the finest for Sylren.
"Master… why are you eating this? Why give me something so expensive? A slave doesn't deserve this."
"Just eat. Stop complaining. Don't overuse that little brain."
Tears brimmed in her eyes. She clutched his hand.
Leo watched silently.
She eats like Eno. Smiles like her. Even her laugh is… why? Why her?
His mind drifted to a memory—sitting across from Eno at a diner. She ate like there was no tomorrow. He stared quietly.
"What?" she had asked.
"Nothing," he had replied with a shy smile.
Now, Sylren looked up. "Master… what is it?"
"Nothing."
Later, Leo booked two rooms at the hotel. He escorted Sylren to hers, wished her goodnight, then retired to his own and took off his mask.
But not long after, a knock came.
He rearmed and opened the door.
Sylren stood there, soaked from rain.
"Why aren't you sleeping?"
"This is my first time in a big room with a soft bed... I'm not used to it."
Leo's heart ached. She grew up in cages. Bought. Traded. Survived hell.
"I'm scared of sleeping alone," she whispered. "Can I sleep with you?"
"…Fine."
She laid down. Leo sat on a chair beside her.
"You don't want to share the bed with me?" she asked nervously.
"It's not right."
"But I don't mind."
"Why are you acting suspicious? What do you want?"
"N-Nothing! Sorry… it's just… you're wearing your mask, even at night. Do you not trust me?"
"No."
Sylren's voice cracked. "…Oh."
"I don't trust anyone."
A pause.
"But you can sleep here. I'll stay nearby."
Moments later, lightning flashed—and Sylren leapt into his arms. "Ahh!"
"...It's fine," Leo said. "Go back to sleep."
"Sorry…"
---
Letting Go
At dawn, Leo took her to the Holy Knight headquarters.
"Why are we here, Master?" Sylren asked nervously.
Leo replied flatly, "I'm breaking your slave contract."
Her face twisted. "W-Why…? Do you hate me…?"
"No. But I don't have the right to own what the gods created."
"But I want to stay beside you."
"Why?"
"Because you're kind. I want to repay you."
"There's no need."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
Sylren cried and hugged him. "I think I'm falling for you, Master. I know I don't deserve you. But… can I have a chance?"
Leo didn't answer.
He walked her back to the hotel.
"I'll be back," he said at the door. "Wait for me."
"Please… come back safely, Master."
The door closed behind him.
"If I come back… no. I won't."
---
Meanwhile…
Inside the castle, the king met with his advisors—unaware of the shadow now walking toward him.
Far across town, in a quiet room, Sylren kneeled beside the bed.
She clasped her hands and whispered, "Please… protect him. Bring him back."