Enslaved by the Crown: The Weakest Slave Has the Strongest Ability

Eldrin closed the journal at once and straightened.

”Yes, my lady.”

He offered the book back with both hands.

The girl accepted it, glancing briefly at the worn leather cover before tucking it beneath the books she already carried.

”So you’re the new assistant.”

Eldrin inclined his head.

”Yes, my lady.”

She studied him for a moment, as though committing his face to memory.

Then she spoke as casually.

”I’m going to be here for a while.”

She looked toward one of the reading tables near the windows.

”Would you bring me a pot of jasmine tea...”

Her eyes drifted toward the tray sitting beside another desk.

”...and a slice of honey almond tart?”

”Yes, my lady.”

Eldrin turned to leave.

”Oh...”

He stopped.

The girl rested one hand lightly against the journal.

”And one more thing.”

She looked directly at him.

”Don’t read books from the Duke’s private collection.”

There wasn’t any threat in her voice.

Only simple advice.

”They’re not meant for servants.”

A small pause followed.

”...It could get you killed.”

Eldrin blinked.

”I didn’t realize....”

She shook her head before he could finish.

”You don’t need to explain yourself.”

”It won’t change anything.”

Then, almost as an afterthought.....

”Just don’t let it happen again.”

She walked toward a reading table by the window and opened the journal as though the conversation had already ended.

Eldrin stood there for another second before quietly bowing.

”Understood, my lady.”

The estate kitchens occupied a separate building behind the eastern wing of the manor.

Unlike the silence of the library, this place never seemed to rest.

Steam drifted from enormous copper pots.

Servants hurried between long wooden tables carrying trays, baskets, and polished silverware.

The air smelled of butter, roasted meat and freshly baked pastries.

Eldrin waited patiently until one of the kitchen maids noticed him.

”The library?”

He nodded.

”Lady Ennessa requested jasmine tea and a honey almond tart?”

The maid smiled knowingly.

”Yes” eldric replied.

She poured tea into a white porcelain pot before carefully placing a slice of tart beside it.

”She studies for hours.”

”Always forgets to eat.”

Balancing the tray carefully, Eldrin made his way back.

So...

Lady Ennessa.

At least now he had a name.

The rest of the afternoon passed quietly.

Books came and went.

Visitors arrived, borrowed volumes, exchanged a few words with Rowan, then disappeared again.

Eldrin learned where atlases belonged.

How the catalogues were arranged.

Which shelves contained legal records.

Which held travel journals.

By the time sunlight began fading beyond the tall windows, his legs ached from walking the endless aisles.

Yet...

He found he didn’t mind.

The library possessed a strange peace.

One that made the outside world feel very far away.

As Rowan finished returning the last floating stack of books to their shelves, Eldrin finally spoke.

”Master Rowan?”

”Hm?”

”This afternoon...”

”I accidentally picked up one of the Duke’s books.”

The old librarian paused.

”So I’ve heard.”

Eldrin hesitated.

”...What exactly is the Duke’s private collection?”

Rowan rested both hands atop his walking cane, thinking for a moment before answering.

”It isn’t really a collection.”

”It’s a record.”

”A family record.”

He nodded toward the upper floor.

”The third level belongs exclusively to House Korrandis.”

”For generations, every head of the family has kept a personal journal.”

”They write about politics.”

”Trade.”

”Wars.”

”Negotiations.”

”Sometimes their failures.”

”More often their successes.”

”They aren’t history books.”

”They’re firsthand accounts.”

”The sort historians would happily kill to read.”

Eldrin’s eyes drifted toward the staircase leading upward.

”So they’re forbidden?”

”They’re private.”

Rowan corrected him gently.

”There’s a difference.”

He smiled faintly.

”And yes...”

”If a servant is caught reading them...”

He shrugged.

”The punishment would likely be severe.”

A brief silence settled between them.

Then Rowan added, his tone becoming just a little more serious than before.

”So do yourself a favor, Caiden.”

”Stay away from the third floor.”

”The books up there have caused enough trouble already.”

The library closed shortly before sunset.

One by one, the last visitors returned their books and disappeared into the evening. Master Rowan wished him a pleasant night, and before long, Eldrin found himself walking through the streets of Solmere alone.

The city looked different after dark.

The crowds hadn’t disappeared. If anything, there were more people than before.

For a brief moment...

It almost felt like an ordinary city.

Eldrin kept walking.

His thoughts, however, remained fixed on numbers.

Twenty thousand bronze coins.

The figure refused to leave his mind.

A single meal cost four.

Even if he somehow saved every coin he earned....which was impossible, it would still take years.

He needed more than work.

He needed work that paid well.

He slowed before a row of storefronts.

A tailor.

No.

A bakery.

Already had enough workers.

A blacksmith.

Impossible.

He had neither the strength nor the experience.

His eyes continued along the street until they settled on a building farther ahead.