- Fantasy Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence
- FLDI Chapter 18
Chapter 18: The Half-Elf Girl, Anna Karenina
“Honored Sir, your total comes to 120 gold coins. Since you’ve spent over 100 gold coins, you will now be a VIP member of our Habs Trading Company. Here’s your card. Show it during your next visit, and you’ll receive a 10% discount,” the servant said, his tone filled with even more respect.
120 gold coins was a large transaction, and he couldn’t afford to be anything but extremely courteous.
“Thank you.”
Thor nodded and, with Raine and the others, left the premises. As for the serfs and the female slaves, they would be taken care of by the knights. After all, managing hundreds of people was beyond the capacity of just the three of them.
The total cost had exceeded 100 gold coins because of the higher price for the 20 female slaves Thor had selected. He had chosen the most attractive women from the three batches.
One of them was worth as much as five gold coins, while others were priced at a minimum of 50 silver coins, including the half-elf girl. Unlike the others, the half-elf appeared rather plain, and she had visible injuries, which significantly lowered her value.
However, Thor wasn’t concerned about that.
The half-elf girl’s potential as a mage was worth far more than her appearance.
Her magical talent outweighed any superficial qualities.
Truth be told, if it weren’t for his need to have some attendants for his future territory—and a bit of visual appeal to brighten his surroundings—Thor wouldn’t have bothered buying any of the other female slaves.
His sole focus had been on acquiring the half-elf girl.
Back at the camp, Steve and Raine led some knights to bring in the serfs and female slaves.
Even after leaving the slave market, most of the slaves remained dull and lifeless.
The female slaves were slightly more responsive, but not by much.
However, one among the group, a plain-looking girl, had a flicker of light in her eyes.
“I need to find a way to escape!”
“But the slave contract is still in that man’s hands. What should I do?”
Anna’s mind raced with thoughts of escape, growing more anxious by the minute.
A recent accident had led to her capture by slavers. To avoid detection, she had used magic to conceal her true appearance. However, the spell would only last seven days, and once it wore off, her identity as a half-elf would be exposed, with dire consequences.
Escaping from the slave market had been impossible.
Her only hope had been that someone would buy her, giving her a chance to flee.
But now that the opportunity had arrived, Anna was left speechless.
The person who bought her came with hundreds of knights.
Escape? That seemed like a joke.
But if she didn’t escape, her magic would only hold for another three days.
Once it wore off, her half-elf identity would be revealed, and hiding it would no longer be an option.
The mere thought of some nobles’ twisted desires sent a shiver down Anna’s spine.
That was a fate she absolutely wanted to avoid.
As her mind raced in panic, a figure entered the room.
“Sophia!”
“Alice!”
“Karin!”
Raine called out.
Anna’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly rose with the other two girls.
“Master needs the three of you. Follow me!” Raine ordered without taking his eyes off them.
“Yes!” the other two girls answered with excitement, while Anna’s eyes widened in surprise. She even considered casting a spell to check if her disguise had failed.
But there was no time for that.
Raine led the three of them to where Thor was waiting.
“Sir!” Raine said respectfully.
“Let them in,” Thor replied calmly.
“Yes, Sir!”
Raine nodded and gestured for the three girls to enter.
Anna, filled with nervousness and unease, followed the others, who seemed pleased as they walked into the room.
“Master!” the two girls greeted eagerly.
“Master!” Anna, though flustered, quickly followed suit.
“Rise. From today on, you three will serve as my personal maids,” Thor said, casting a brief glance at Anna before speaking gently.
“Yes, Master!” they all responded, with the other two girls beaming with joy.
The difference between being a maid and a slave was enormous. While slaves were mere playthings, maids held a higher status.
Becoming a personal maid for such an important figure promised a much better future for them.
For Anna, who had been filled with anxiety, her heart suddenly lit up with a glimmer of hope.
She realized this might be her chance to retrieve her slave contract.
As a personal maid, she might have opportunities in the coming days. And as for her concealment spell, acquiring the materials needed to cast it again would be easier now that she was close to a noble.
Even if it took some time, it would be worth it.
“Prepare a bath for me,” Thor said, breaking her train of thought. “Alice, get the bath ready. I’ll need a bath tonight.”
He added warmly, turning his gaze to Anna.
[TN: I think Anna is using fake name.]
“Ah!”
Anna was startled by Thor’s voice, not immediately understanding what he wanted.
“What’s the matter?”
“Is there a problem?”
Thor asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
By now, he had figured out that Anna was a half-elf. From what he knew, half-elves were usually very beautiful. The fact that this one looked so plain likely meant she had used some kind of concealment magic.
Knowing this, Thor couldn’t resist teasing her a bit.
“No, no problem at all!”
Anna’s face flushed, and she quickly bowed her head in response.
“Good, then come along.”
Thor said no more and headed for the bath.
With her cheeks bright red, Anna hesitantly followed, feeling the envious stares from the other two girls.
She felt her face burning as she made her way into the bathroom.
Inside, as Thor removed his heavy armor, revealing his bronzed, muscular physique, Anna, inexperienced and flustered, blushed deeply. Her hands trembled as she held the towel.
Thor, however, paid no mind to her reaction.
His thoughts were elsewhere, focused on how to win over this girl.
Unlike the knights who swore an oath of loyalty, the half-elf girl, though his slave, had not truly submitted to him. Gaining her loyalty would not be easy.
Forcing her into submission was out of the question.
Not only was it something that Thor, as a person from another world, found hard to accept, but it would also create significant long-term problems.
He needed to find a better way.
(End of chapter)