TCML 10

Chapter : 10

This Time, I’ll Change the Male Lead

“Alright, alright, it’s come up to a thousand Lotts. Is there anyone willing to go higher?”

At the host’s question, silence hung over the crowd. From the start, the amount had been so high that no one dared to make a move.

Assuming the same, the host raised the gavel.

“Then sold for a thousand Lotts—”

“Two thousand Lotts.”

Hundreds of eyes immediately turned toward me, and I covered my face with my fan.

“What? Two thousand Lotts?”

“Y-Yes, it’s gone up to two thousand Lotts. Anyone else?”

A murmur of astonishment broke out here and there, as if no one had imagined it.

“Three thousand… Lotts.”

It was the same voice that had first called out a bid. I had expected them not to back down easily, but to raise it by a thousand Lotts?

“Wow, three thousand Lotts?”

“Exactly, at this point, there’s no way the other side will back down.”

Even as laughter bubbled up, there was a strange tension between me and that someone.

So that’s how far it would go…

“Then sold for three thousand Lotts—”

“Five thousand Lotts.”

“Gah!”

“F-Five thousand Lotts?”

The hall erupted instantly with shock and admiration.

Even the gaze of the boy, who had been frozen the entire time, reached me.

‘What if I took off my mask…?’

Looking through the fan at his eyes left my mind blank.

His solid build, unthinkable for someone wandering the streets, aside—the way he looked at me…

‘No wonder he’s popular.’

If the crown prince was like the blazing sun, Messis felt like a drifting moon.

A presence as powerful as light and darkness ruling the sky.

“Damn it.”

I could neither give up nor raise the price higher, sensing the sharp glare of someone sizing me up.

After a brief hesitation, he spoke in a firm voice:

“Eight thousand Lotts.”

I was certain this would be the last. If he really was Karl’s subordinate, there would be a set budget—he wouldn’t spend beyond it at will.

“Up to eight thousand Lotts. Anyone willing to go higher?”

“Then I…”

I waved my fan lightly and spoke again.

“Ten thousand Lotts.”

“Gah!”

The hall fell into an unbreakable silence.

Caught between the curious eyes of others and the sharp stare of that one person, I urged the host.

“What now? Hurry and close the sale.”

“Ah, y-yes.”

Finally, the host swallowed dryly and spoke.

“N-No one willing to go higher?”

With a dumbfounded expression, unable even to imagine that the slave in front of him was worth ten thousand Lotts—or even more.

“Then… this slave is sold at ten thousand Lotts!”

Bang, bang, bang—the gavel echoed.

In the pouring sunlight, the boy’s eyes met mine.

‘Messis.’

Time seemed to stop for a moment…

‘A name meaning darkness.’

Was it my imagination that the boy’s lips curved slightly?

“Please wait here a moment, Your Grace.”

I was led to a small room to sign the contract.

“Would you care for some tea? I’m not sure it will suit someone of your taste, but it’s a rare import from the Eastern Continent.”

Even through the mask, I could sense his excitement at the unexpected windfall. He must have assumed the money would naturally end up in his hands.

“You even travel to the distant Eastern Continent? Where do you usually go?”

I raised the elegantly presented tea and asked.

“Uh… well, haha.”

The merchant seemed hesitant, moving his lips as if weighing his words. Operating an illegal slave market, he was cautious and on guard.

“Why so cautious? I even had my personal servants wait outside—they can’t come in. And all the slaves are masked, so they can’t see your face anyway.”

“It’s to maintain secrecy, Your Grace. I ask for your understanding.”

“Well, I do like someone who handles business meticulously.”

I gave an intentionally warm smile.

“How about it? I mean, I’d like to do business with you again.”

“Business again…?”

“Who knows? Next time, I might even pay a hundred thousand Lotts.”

“Yes, yes. Indeed. In my six years running this market, I’ve never met someone as bold as Your Grace.”

When money was mentioned, his guard relaxed, and he twitched his cheeks greedily.

“We’ll likely only remain on this island until the end of next month. The royal surveillance has become too strict… we’ll need to lie low for a while.”

“Surveillance has tightened?”

“Alas, rumors say that His Highness the Crown Prince is preparing a large-scale purge, so everyone ran away in panic. Our guild is the only one left on the island.”

Just thinking of the Crown Prince made him tremble, rubbing his hands along his trousers.

“As you know, getting caught by His Highness means your head is as good as gone.”

I realized this was useful information. If Hyperion himself was intervening, it meant a complete eradication…

“Then your guild will have to flee soon as well.”

“Ah, this is only for your ears, Your Grace…”

He lowered his voice, glancing around cautiously.

“The final market will be held next month, on the third Saturday, at 2 p.m., in the western alley.”

“The third week of next month, western alley.”

“If you visit then, we’ll have the best ones ready for you.”

“Where will you be until then?”

“Not all our dealings are at the slave market.”

So they deal in other things besides slaves. With a guild this large and organized, that makes sense.

“Good. I’ll remember that day.”

I took a sip of tea to hide my laughter.

He fills his belly with others’ lives but values his own.

Pretending to agree politely, I still felt disgusted.

“Oh, why is it taking so long for such a distinguished guest to arrive?”

The merchant glanced at me, and at that moment, the door opened.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

A masked man entered and bowed.

“Someone insisted on keeping this slave until they were satisfied.”

‘Someone insisted?’

As I thought, the atmosphere shifted.

It was the same strange presence I’d felt when meeting Hyperion for the first time, sending tension through my whole body.

“Come in!”

It was the boy who followed—the one called Messis.

“…”

I watched him closely.

The color of his eyes behind the mask made him feel like a lifeless doll.

“First, you should greet your master!”

The merchant kicked at him, but the boy didn’t respond.

‘Why isn’t he resisting?’

The Messis I knew could break the merchant’s neck even with cuffs on…

“See? He’s good at enduring punishment.”

The merchant, excited by the big deal, brandished a whip.

“I’ll show you once, Your Grace.”

Just as the harsh leather was about to strike the boy’s shoulder—

“Wait.”

I stopped the arm.

“Who gave you permission to touch him?”

“…”

“From now on, he’s mine.”

The boy’s gaze slowly reached me. If emotions had been in those mechanical eyes, he might have looked beautiful.

For now, I was satisfied just to have drawn that much attention.

“Sorry if that was unpleasant, Your Grace.”

“When can I take him?”

“Since he’s a slave of unknown origin, it takes about a month to create documents disguising his status.”

‘Hmm… a whole month?’

I hadn’t expected to take him immediately, but this was much longer than anticipated.

“Why does it take so long?”

“To avoid any problems, please understand, Your Grace.”

Seeing my displeasure, the merchant bowed deeply.

“Once you sign the contract, we’ll prepare him as quickly as possible.”

“Alright. Even if the paperwork takes time….”

I slowly scanned Messis standing in front of me.

His pale skin, hollow yet clear eyes, long lashes—

Even behind the mask, his silhouette reminded me of a wax doll.

“I want to see your face.”

I said without looking away from him.

“Right now.”