2019.3.16 Typo Correction
“F-Father… Please. D-Don’t sell me… Don’t sell me!!”
The next morning, I, Alicia Garland, chose an outfit that was more conscious of my work attire than usual.
The navy blue jacket had a high neckline, and I wore a knee-length tight skirt, white knee-high socks that reached above my knees, and black leather shoes. My combat readiness was complete. I then slung my favorite black crocodile leather bag over my shoulder.
My room at the Raymond Mansion is next to Hal’s private room, but recently, my personal belongings have increased, and I’ve also taken over the adjoining room on the opposite side.
After tidying myself up, I went to the dining hall and found Lady Shakura there.
“Good morning, Mother Shakura.”
“Good morning, Alicia. You look beautiful today, as always.”
As Lady Shakura and I were chatting, a maid brought in the dishes. This morning’s breakfast consisted of pancakes with plenty of maple syrup, a soft-boiled egg, a fresh green salad, and coffee.
Afterward, I went to work at the Raymond Trading Company, had a morning meeting with Gaspar, and then meticulously read the documents I received. Before I knew it, it was noon. I quickly ate lunch and waited for the carriage from Baron O’Claire.
“Miss Alicia, the carriage from Baron O’Claire has arrived.”
“Thank you.”
As I was preparing for the acquisition negotiations at the secretarial desk in Hal’s office, the receptionist informed me of the carriage’s arrival. I quickly locked Hal’s office and went to the entrance. A well-worn, two-horse carriage was parked there.
“Are you the buyer? You’re a rather young girl, but are you sure you can handle this?”
“My name is Alicia Garland. Regarding this matter, I have been fully authorized by Gaspar, the Head of Slave Acquisitions at our company, so you need not worry.”
“…Is that so? Then, please get in.”
“Thank you.”
The man driving the carriage looked like a gentle guy with a slightly yakuza-like aura. The carriage that carried me departed from the Raymond Trading Company, passed through the commercial district, and was heading towards the lower town area where ordinary citizens lived. According to the driver, it was the legitimate wife, Berta, who insisted on turning her illegitimate sisters into fallen slaves. Because she disliked the sisters and adamantly refused to set foot in the Baron O’Claire’s mansion, the negotiations for the slaves were to take place at the cheap apartment where the sisters lived.
The carriage then arrived at the dilapidated apartment where the sisters lived. The apartment building was a three-story brick structure. At first glance, it looked like a decent building, but it was reportedly over a hundred years old and had deteriorated. As the carriage pulled up to the entrance of the apartment, a thin man who looked honest from a distance came out. He had short brown hair, gaunt cheeks, and dark circles under his eyes. Although he was dressed in a noble-style suit, it was worn out and misshapen, reminding me of my father before he died.
“Nice to meet you. I am Alicia Garland from the Raymond Trading Company. Are you Baron O’Claire?”
“Indeed, I am Claude Constant von O’Claire, but are you sure you can handle this, being such a young girl?”
“Our company’s acquisitions are calculated based on an appraisal sheet, so you need not worry.”
“I understand, I understand. Then, please follow me.”
Baron O’Claire, who was also concerned about my appearance, eventually became convinced and led me to the room where the sisters lived. Although it wasn’t apparent from the outside, the interior walls were stained and dirty, the bricks on the stairs were worn down, and trash was scattered along the hallway walls, creating a scene that could only be described as a beast’s den.
“This is the room. Please enter.”
The Baron stopped in front of a room on the third floor of the dilapidated apartment and forcefully turned the door handle, which was hanging precariously, with a *clatter, clatter*, opening the door with a *creak*. The room we entered was the living room. The door at the back seemed to lead to the bedroom. It appeared that the toilet, bath, and kitchen were shared facilities. In the center of the room was a well-used wooden table with evident signs of daily life, accompanied by four chairs. Two of the chairs were occupied by girls with peach-colored hair; these were presumably the sisters up for sale. The girl sitting in the chair on the right had fluffy peach-colored hair and was looking down, crying. I remembered the despair I felt when I heard my father was going to sell me to a slave trader, and I assumed she felt the same way.
On the other hand, the girl in the left chair also had peach-colored hair, but it was straight and silky. She glared at me as if I were a snake or a poisonous spider. I understood her feelings all too well.
“Violet, Michelle, the slave trader has arrived, so we’ll have you appraised immediately.”
As soon as he entered the room, Baron O’Claire introduced me not by name but as a slave trader, which was disheartening.
“…Y-Yes…”
The girl on the right, sitting and crying, responded in broken sentences.
“…”
The girl on the left remained silent, continuing to glare at me.
“The slave trader, the girl on the right is the elder sister, Violet Barrie, 15 years old. The one on the left is her younger sister, Michelle Barrie, 14 years old. I apologize for the haste, but please begin.”
According to the documents prepared by Gaspar, their mother was Marina Barrie, who was Baron O’Claire’s concubine but recently passed away from illness. They were introduced with their mother’s surname, Barrie, suggesting that Baron O’Claire had not even acknowledged them.
“Baron O’Claire, do you have a desired selling price?”
“If I can reliably turn these sisters into fallen slaves and dispose of them, that’s all I care about… However, I would like to get 100 gold coins for each sister (equivalent to 10 million yen).”
As this was my first time handling slave acquisition, I had several types of appraisal forms provided by Gaspar. They included the “Noblewoman’s Appraisal” form, which I had been evaluated with myself previously; the “Young Lady’s Appraisal” form for daughters of fallen wealthy families; the versatile “Townswoman’s Appraisal” form; and, just in case, the “Country Girl’s Appraisal” form for daughters of impoverished farmers used to reduce the number of mouths to feed. I was also told that these appraisal forms were for girls of marriageable age and were further divided by age and gender. Judging from their appearance and demeanor, it seemed most appropriate to use the “Townswoman’s Appraisal” form rather than the “Noblewoman’s Appraisal” form.
Although I felt I didn’t need to make the trip for a case of this magnitude, Gaspar likely considered that the other party was a nobleman of the Imperial Realm, a Baron. The maximum purchase price limit I was internally informed of by Gaspar was 50 platinum coins (equivalent to 50 million yen) if they were judged to be of noblewoman status; 100 gold coins (equivalent to 10 million yen) if they were beautiful and lady-like; and 50 gold coins (equivalent to 5 million yen) for an ordinary townswoman. This meant that price negotiations with Baron O’Claire would likely be necessary.
“Based on my initial assessment of their appearance, reaching your desired selling price seems difficult, but I will do my best to evaluate them.”
“Is that so? If you’re trying to take advantage of me, I won’t forgive you!!”
“From my observations of Violet and Michelle here, I infer that they have not received any training befitting noblewomen.”
“Th-That’s true…”
“In that case, the appraisal will be based on that of a common townswoman. By the way, will you perform the ‘acquisition appraisal’ here?”
“That’s my intention.”
“The ‘acquisition appraisal’ involves checking for any bodily flaws and the presence of a hymen, so they will ultimately need to be completely undressed. I was thinking of conducting the appraisals one by one in the adjacent bedroom, but what do you say?”
“I have no objections, but naturally, I will be present.”
“Yes, I understand. Shall we begin with the elder sister, Violet?”
“F-Father… Please… D-Don’t sell me… Don’t sell me!!”
As soon as I declared the start of the ‘acquisition appraisal,’ Violet suddenly stood up from her chair, crying, and clung to Baron O’Claire. It was a scene of despair I had seen before, and one I had experienced myself, which made my eyes well up.
“I won’t let you lay a hand on my sister!!”
Michelle then stood up and blocked my path, spreading her arms.
“Fools!! It is I, the head of the O’Claire family, who has decided to sell you. Violet, hurry to the bedroom!!”
“…Yes… Father…”
Thus, Violet slowly, with a snail’s pace, walked toward the bedroom, followed by Baron O’Claire and me.
Thank you for reading.
Episode 16.5-3 Violet ① △ is scheduled for release at 0:00 on June 6th.
