The day after their visit to the rear palace.
　Yifa and Lise left the royal capital, Asta, in an early morning carriage and arrived in Proto-Asta before noon.

　When they returned to the Sheikh's official residence, they were greeted by Prince Cecilio with several guards.

''Oh!　Welcome back, Yifa. You didn't find anything out on the road?　Well, if Lizze is here, everything will be fine.
Oh, ha, yes. Hi....

　Yifa replied with a begrudging smile, but nodded her head inwardly.
　Why would he have an escort with him? It may be on behalf of Lise, but was she meeting with someone else?

　The prince says with a smile.

'I have been waiting for you. Now come over here.
Ha, ha...

　I had no choice but to follow along with Lise as I was told.
　I was brought to a room on the second floor of the official residence that looked like a conference room.
　There is a terrace facing a large garden, and the windows are open, perhaps to let the wind in.

　There were several other men in the room.
　The Prince called out to one of them.

'I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Lord Grude. It's her.'
Oh. This is...............................a fine piece of work.

　A middle-aged man with an obese body pulled his face closer and looked at me as if he were assessing me. Yifa couldn't help but pull her face back.

''Normally, I would strip them naked to see if they have skin diseases, wounds, or nutritional status..............................well, that's not really an option.

　The obese man then asks the prince, "You have some learning to do, haven't you?

"You have done some learning, I understand. And that you can do magic.
Yes.
''........It's difficult. It's hard to predict the demand for such value-added slaves and it's hard to put a price on them. But even so, if we were to give an estimate........

　The man had the little boy, who was waiting for him, bring out a piece of paper and a pen, and he filled out something on it.
　He handed it to the prince.

'It must be around here.
...almost as much as I had in mind. Good. Curtis, that's going to be worth it.
Yes, Your Highness.

　The bearded man, handed a piece of paper by the prince, says

"It bears the date and the mark of the Chamber of Commerce, the name of the assessor and the name of the slave. Let Curtis, the tax collector, agree that this is an objective and reliable document of value.

　The bearded man continues.

'The liberation tax will be one-twentieth of the face value.
Mm. Hey.

　The prince called out, and one of the guards opened the leather bag he was holding on the desk.
　Yifa was taken aback.
　What was contained in it was a large amount of gold coins.

''Ah, um, what is this........''

　With unspeakable anxiety, Yifa asked the prince.
　The prince turns to Yifa, smiles and says

'Your release papers, Yifa.
What ... what?
Today, you will be free.

　The prince speaks to the confused Yifa as if to admonish her.

As you know, in both Astylia and the Empire, there is a system of emancipation for slaves, and if you pay your master an amount equal to your own worth and pay the prescribed tax, you will be free. If you pay your master an amount equal to your own worth and pay the prescribed tax, you will be set free.

　The Prince continues.

"Normally, I would have to go through the formalities, but since I'm the head of the executive branch, it's not a problem. And I'll take all the money it takes to free you.
What...?
You will pay a reasonable amount of money to Seika-dono and part of it will be paid to this city as a liberation tax. Formally, you will be considered to have bought yourself back. Don't worry, we'll take care of the formalities. We'll take care of all the formalities here.
It's impossible. There's no way I can do that.

　Yifa says to herself.

''You should have Seika-kun's approval to release him. How can you just go through the procedure on your own...''
I agree.

　The Prince asserts.

'It should be the norm for the wealthy in the empire to reward slaves for their work and eventually free them. Refusing to free a slave who has been paid enough money is not a very honorable deed in the eyes of the world. But........still, if Lord Seika doesn't approve of your release......

　The Prince tells him.

'Then I shall issue a slave requisition in Proto-Asta and force you to buy you from Lord Seika.
What...!　That's not........
The system was originally designed for wartime use, but it could be issued at the will of the chieftain without the approval of the council. It was originally intended for wartime purposes, but it could be issued at the will of the sheikh without the council's approval. All I have to do is buy you again and then let you go.

　Yifa said in a panic.

''Wow, I didn't ask for that!
Lizze told me about you.

　The prince says in a calm tone.

''I, who can't see the spirit, don't understand how terrifying Seika-dono is....... But I can't leave you unattended under a dangerous master if I have to.
.........
And you have suffered in your slavery. I don't ask for the price of freedom at this time. You may enter the palace or not, as you see fit. All I want is for you to live your life as you see fit.

　Yifa asks in a faintly trembling voice.

''In the Empire........freed slaves need an adult guardian. When I'm free, wow, will I be able to return to the academy.......?

　The prince looked away with an awkward look on his face.



　Yifa remembered that her bad premonition had come true.
　If she was released, she would not be able to return to the school.

　That meant that he would be separated from Seika.

''.........Seika-dono said that you could be free in this country depending on your will. To begin with, you didn't seem to have much of an attachment to me.

　The prince's words, which were uttered as if they were a follow-up, shook my heart greatly.

　Just.
　As I thought, I just can't accept it.

I don't want to. I don't want to be freed.
Why don't you.... You don't want to be free. You don't want to live your life. A slave is someone else's responsibility for his life and death. Why would you want to serve a master you don't know?
Wow, I'll decide what I want to do!　My status may not be free, but I'm free to do what I want!
''I have the release papers ready for you, but what will you do? Your Highness.

　The bearded man said in a cold tone of voice.

'I need the slave's thumbprint for this, sir.
"...but Yifa's will is...
Ha! You seem troubled, Your Highness. It's not unusual for a slave to want to be a slave himself.

　The obese man says with a light laugh.

'When put in a harsh situation, people try to protect their hearts and minds, trying to believe that the situation is what they want it to be. I've seen a number of slaves and others who would say things like that daughter. Well, in a way, you could say she's lost her mind.
What do I need to do to bring you back to your senses?

　The obese man shrugged.

'Not right away, I suppose. But when your circumstances improve, you will eventually realize that you were wrong.
Huh...!
Yeah. Hey.

　At the same time as the prince called out, two of his guards held Yifa down.

''No, no!　Stop it!
I'm sorry, Yefa... Thumbprint on that one, Curtis.
Yes. Ink here.
Stop!　Then, or else.........!

　Yifa calls out to the spirits she wears.
　When the time comes, use your magic.
　I thought the experience of being scolded by Seika was for this moment.

　But .

''Don't use magic.''

　The spirits that were about to respond to him.
　All of them suddenly fell silent.

　What appeared in Yifa's astonished vision were countless white butterflies dancing around the entire room.
　A spirit of the light attribute.

　It was a light magic, similar to the wards of the magic wards used by Seika.

　Lizze, who had a severe expression, said.

''If you wield your power here, things won't be a problem for you alone-----well, most likely, there's nothing you can do about it within my [sanctuary].
How could you...
Forgive me. This is going to be good for our country and for you as well.

　Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my left thumb.
　A hot sensation of blood flowing. A small, green glowing bird blurs his vision.
　Yifa quickly realized that it had been cut by something like a blade of wind.

'The thumbprint doesn't matter if it's a blood seal, Curtis.
Oh, that's great, Lady Lizzy. You have some terrifying skills.

　His left hand, held by the soldiers, is gradually brought closer to the letter-lined parchment.
　The fingers, which were gripped so tightly that they turned white, were forced open.

　Yifa involuntarily squeezed her eyes tightly shut.

''Seika-kun........!

　My bloodied thumb was just about to touch the parchment...

　A gust of wind blew in the room.