When Leo was six, he finally managed to sneak out of the palace for the first time, dragging his personal servant along after months of relentless nagging.
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The moment he stepped beyond the gates, his breath caught. Towering stone buildings lined the streets, their banners fluttering in the salty wind from the harbor.
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Merchants shouted over one another, hawking their goods, while the rattling of carriages echoed across the cobblestone roads. The air was thick with the smell of sea salt, iron, and sweat.
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Leo's hands were shaking with anticipation to get out of the Rosenhart territory and explore this magical world.
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'This isn't like anything I imagined! It is so alive. I thought that because it was a magical world it would be way different than Earth, but it is just like medieval times on Earth,' Leo thought.
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"Young master, this area isn't safe. We should return." A black haired man wearing a butler uniform spoke from behind Leo. He was his personal attendant, Raymond.
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Leo ignored the cries of his attendant and kept walking, slowly taking in the city.
As he walked, he kept seeing beggars, slaves, and homeless people.
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He was especially shocked by the amount of beggars and slaves in the grand duke's capital city.
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Driven by his curiosity, Leo found his legs moving towards a part of the market that was for slave shops where people could see the slaves.
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The slaves stood in rows, wooden boards hanging from their necks, prices carved deep into the grain.
Race. Gender. Origin.
Leo's stomach turned.
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The ones with the most expensive price tags and obviously rarest, seen by their small number, were the Elven women.
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Even Leo was astonished by their beauty. He had never seen such beautiful women before other than his mother and some noble women who would visit the palace.
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Especially their long ears. Some were blonde haired, some were darker skinned.
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"Hey Raymond, are these the elves you kept talking about?" Leo asked, intrigued by the Elves.
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Raymond's ears perked up at the opportunity to speak about the elves he loved so much.
"Yes! They are so rare to see. To think we would find them in this store. The ones thes-" Raymond couldn't finish his words when a loud voice interrupted him.
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"Welcome, noble scion! Are you interested in the elf women? We have many here. They were captured not long ago after a dangerous expedition by our company into the elven forest. We captured many! But you came late so we only have the wood elves and the rare dark elves. We had some moon elves but they were quickly bought. However, our store in Drakehart may have some left. I can order them for you of course at a higher price!" The man was a fat slave trader sweating heavily under the hot summer sun as he looked at Leo with a greedy look on his face.
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"Uh.. no need. We were just looking around."
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Leo said, clearly disgusted at the thought of buying people. He knew this was the norm of the world but he was trying to get used to it.
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"Well alright, but do come again if you are interested in any products. We also have dwarves!" The merchant said, clearly disappointed.
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'I think it is time to head back. I can already feel eyes on me.' Leo had been feeling them from the moment he entered the shop, an instinct honed by a lifetime of killing
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"Let's go home, young master. Some people have been tailing us." Raymond's posture shifted, casual tension replacing his earlier ease.
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'Aho? Look at him. I knew he was trained from the moment I saw him but not to this extent. To think he can feel a gaze at least 10 meters away from us. He probably had some combat training.'
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"You can feel it too? I know. Let's head back."
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The two of them started walking back, careful to not alert the people tailing them. Suddenly, they heard running behind them.
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As Leo quickly turned around, he saw five men running towards them with malicious intent.
Raymond moved the instant he heard the footsteps.
"Young master, run!"
Steel flashed.
He stepped in front of Leo without hesitation, the blade sinking into his side instead of the boy's chest.
Raymond staggered, coughing, blood spilling between his fingers, yet his grip on Leo never loosened.
"Go!"
A second strike drove him to his knees.
His hand slipped from Leo's sleeve, leaving behind a dark, trembling stain.
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The pedestrians who happened to witness the scene hastily ran away screaming to the guards who heard the commotion and came as fast as they could, seeing Raymond on the ground bleeding while Raymond, even in pain, was pointing at the dark alley the kidnappers took.
Guh!
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"Forgive me… young master," Raymond said, still pointing.
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Leo, who was knocked unconscious when he was taken, woke up tied to a chair in an empty dark room.
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'Damn it! How could I let them take me when I already knew they were following me? Did I lower my guard to this extent? To think I, who was the strongest mercenary who had my guard up all the time even in my hideouts, never underestimating even the weakest enemies, got taken by these fools who couldn't hide their presence. Hahh, I was too relaxed thinking nobody would do anything since I was the genius son of the Duke, but it seems it had the opposite effect.'
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'Who could have done this? Who would be so bold to do this? Some rival noble, or somebody who didn't think they were going to be suspects, like someone from inside the palace! It has to be her, my father's first wife. Ever since my talent exam I felt her killing intent that day!'
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Just as Leo was struggling against the ropes tied to his body, the door creaked open, slowly and deliberately.
The man who entered was one of the men who kidnapped him.
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The man stopped a few steps away.
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He didn't rush. He didn't smile.
He simply looked at Leo as one might look at livestock.
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"Do you know how much trouble we went through for you?" he said quietly.
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Leo tested the ropes around his wrists. Too tight. Too professional.
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"Your blood," the man continued, rolling his shoulders, "is worth more than this entire slum."
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Leo felt something cold settle in his chest, not fear, but fury.
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The man stepped closer and raised his fist.