I Became a Slave to the Man I Abandoned Novel (Completed) - Chapter 131

“…I”

Khalid’s voice choked, unable to easily open his mouth. “I… I have no right to tell you what to choose…”

Nox replied in a languid voice, “You know that well.”

Khalid held Nox’s hand tightly, looking at him pitifully. Nox did not say whether he had accepted the Emperor’s request or not.

He simply permitted Khalid to kiss the back of his hand. Khalid slowly pressed his lips to Nox Rainerio’s hand. His lips were dry, chapped, and a little rough. Nox looked down at Khalid’s head and thought, What kind of person am I in your head? What about me makes you cling so desperately? The ‘me’ in your head has already been torn to shreds and ruined by your own hands. Nox reached out and caressed Khalid’s cheek.

“Bring me the Emperor’s left arm,” Nox commanded.

“…Yes.” Khalid bit his lip tightly as Nox’s palm caressed his cheek. Then he pressed his lips to the inside of Nox’s palm, as if pecking it.

The Emperor’s left arm. Both men knew well what that meant: the Emperor’s left arm and strategist, Ellerdine Weiss.

‘There’s no man as troublesome as him,’ Nox thought, his gaze briefly shifting sideways as he fell into contemplation. It’s usually thought that one should counter a strategist with a more brilliant strategist. But Nox didn’t think that way. Such a person deserved to be torn apart, cut up, and burned.

With overwhelming force that no one could defeat.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“Yes…” Khalid looked up at Nox.

“Young Master.”

Nox smiled at him like in the old days. Foolish Khalid. A foolish man clinging to the person he killed with his own hands. Nox was ready to destroy everything.

Including himself.

***

Nox Rainerio steadily expanded his business, participating in numerous parties. The noble faction, especially those gathered under Marquis Andelass, welcomed this. To those who had lost power after the fall of the noble faction, Nox willingly dangled bait, and those in difficult circumstances couldn’t ignore it. With funds provided by the Emperor, Nox gradually swelled the noble faction’s coffers, steadily increasing their influence.

While Nox was doing this, the Emperor’s faction questioned the Emperor’s intentions, but Feltion (the Emperor) couldn’t bring himself to answer. How could he admit that he’d done all this just to sleep with Nox Rainerio?

As if to mock him, Nox began to firmly establish himself at the center of the noble faction, thanks to Marquis Andelass actively gathering the dispersed nobles. Of course, those who had joined the Emperor’s faction, wary of the Emperor, couldn’t be won over again. No, Nox had no intention of recruiting them in the first place.

What Nox truly desired were not loyal nobles, but rather those who would be utterly lost without him—pawns who couldn’t betray him, who would fall into ruin if their tie to him was severed.

The man he was going to meet today was one such noble: Count Elinapoke. He was originally the owner of a large jewelry store, but after the current Emperor ascended, all his connections were severed, and he could no longer secure gem supplies, forcing his store to close long ago.

‘He must be struggling to survive,’ Nox thought, stepping out of his carriage and appraising the seemingly luxurious Count’s mansion.

Dalton Elinapoke, Count of Elinapoke, was known not only for his jewelry business but also for importing and collecting exotic animals from overseas.

“Welcome, Your Grace,” Count Elinapoke’s butler greeted him, and Nox followed him towards the reception room.

Most of the path to the reception room was decorated like an indoor garden, with rare-colored birds and small animals occasionally appearing between the foliage before scurrying away.

On his way to the reception room, Nox paused, his gaze meeting a red bird’s eyes. Then, the bird spoke, “Hello.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s a mimic bird. It seems to have learned words from the servants coming and going,” the butler explained.

Nox nodded, quietly observed the bird, then walked past it. When he reached the reception room, Count Elinapoke, who seemed to have arrived earlier, was waiting. He rose to greet Nox.

“W-welcome, Your Grace!”

“Thank you for such a warm welcome.”

“Ah, haha.”

The Count nervously wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers and extended a hand. But Nox merely glanced at it, then turned his head and sat down.

Count Elinapoke awkwardly withdrew his hand and quickly sat in his own chair. Nox felt no need for pleasantries. He knew the Count wanted to get straight to business.

Nox subtly nodded towards the back, and one of his accompanying servants placed a set of documents on the table before stepping back.

“W-what is this…?”

“This is a contract to supply your establishment with a certain quantity of diamonds,” Nox stated.

The Count’s face brightened, then quickly hardened. He was already struggling just to maintain his mansion and his closed jewelry store. And what about the animals he kept? He needed money to feed them! Money!

Nox, as if knowing his thoughts, smiled and pushed another contract across the table.

“I will provide you with the funds to purchase jewels.”

“Y-Your Grace, really?”

“If you wish, I can even connect you with nobles who deal in other precious stones, not just diamonds.”

“M-My Duke,” the Count’s face lit up. But Nox had another reason for being so generous. He wouldn’t give something away for free just to build an ally.

“However, instead of interest, I wish to receive two-tenths of the total sales from your jewelry store.”

“A-Are you saying you wish to acquire a share?” the Count asked, seemingly caught off guard. Nox whispered to him, “Yes, if my shares are involved, I’ll have no reason to cut off your supply of jewels.”

“T-that may be true, but…”

Nox sweetly whispered. The Count was already in a desperate situation, but the mention of two-tenths of the total sales wasn’t something he could simply accept.

“If it troubles you, there’s nothing to be done. I’ll simply find someone else…”

“Ah, no, no! Your Grace!” The Count desperately clung to him, then called a servant to prepare a pen.

The Count began to ponder. Perhaps two-tenths during the recovery phase would be acceptable. But after everything returned to normal, that amount would surely feel like draining blood.

“Just sign, and everything will be comfortable,” Nox’s words were soft and sweet. The Count recalled his current predicament. He had nothing in his hands now anyway. He believed it was better to grasp this lifeline than to collapse with nothing.

Thus, after meticulously reviewing all the documents, he signed. Nox smiled satisfactorily and rose from his seat.

“Please, have a cup of tea before you go.”

Nox shook his head, saying, “No, I’m busy.”

“Ah, I see, you’re a busy man.”

“And I’ll convey your name to those who own other gem mines, so you can handle the rest yourself.”

At that, the Count looked at Nox as if he were the one who had pulled him out of a pit of despair. “T-thank you for just paving the way. How can I ever repay this kindness?”

Nox glanced past the speaking Count, then, as if it were nothing, said, “Well then, there’s something I’ve become interested in.”

“What interest, Your Grace?”

“You import quite a few animals from overseas, don’t you, Count?”

“Indeed, I used to. Ah, is there perhaps an animal you’re looking for?”

“Something like that. Could you do me a small favor?”

The Count, looking puzzled, nodded. “I’ll grant any favor.”

“I want beasts. Especially fierce ones,” Nox stated.

At this, the Count looked at Nox with a peculiar expression. Typically, one would acquire small birds or pets—creatures that were beautiful and posed no threat. But fierce beasts?

‘Of course, there are people who prefer such animals,’ the Count mused to himself. Nox simply looked at him, his expression silently warning against further questions.

Under Nox’s gaze, the Count’s mouth inexplicably felt dry, and he subtly averted his eyes.

“The beasts from the Sandes region are famous for their ferocity. It’s a place where wolves, bears, lions, and cheetahs are hunted.”

“I see.” Sandes, Nox repeated the region’s name. The Count began to feel an odd unease about this Duke. Though he hadn’t forgotten that Nox was his benefactor, the one who had extended a lifeline.

He quickly brought up another topic, hoping to ease the tense atmosphere. “Speaking of which, His Majesty the Emperor’s first anniversary of his ascension is coming soon. Will he hold a hunting festival as he always does?”

He realized, belatedly, that mentioning the Emperor’s name in front of Nox Rainerio was ill-advised. “Ah,” the Count thought, and fell silent.

The atmosphere grew even colder. Nox Rainerio’s chilling gaze swept over him once. The Count froze, feeling as if he were turning into an icicle.

But soon, a dry voice spoke, as if giving him a pass this time. “Well, I suppose so.”

“W-will you participate?”

“Perhaps.”

“I-I see. I’ve detained Your Grace, a busy man, for too long.”

“I’ll take my leave now.”

The Count personally escorted him to the front gate. Nox departed in his carriage, and Count Elinapoke wiped away his cold sweat, letting out a sigh.

“Somehow, he seems even more meticulous than Marquis Andelass.”