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

The cell door opened again.

Eldrin lifted his head.

For a moment, he couldn’t make out the figure standing beyond the doorway. His vision was still hazy, and the dim light from the corridor only made the room seem darker.

Then he recognized the familiar voice.

”Let’s go, child.”

Master Rowan stepped inside.

Eldrin tried to stand.

His legs immediately gave way.

Rowan caught him before he hit the floor.

”Slowly.”

Rowan slipped Eldrin’s arm over his shoulder and helped him upright.

The movement sent pain through Eldrin’s ribs.

He clenched his teeth.

His entire body felt wrong.

His arms were heavy. His legs barely responded when he tried to move them.

”You can barely walk.” Rowan said.

They made their way out of the cell.

The butler was waiting outside with two guards.

His expression remained as emotionless as ever.

”Master Rowan.”

The butler looked at Eldrin.

”The boy said he was kidnapped.”

Eldrin gave a small nod.

”Yes.”

”Now....” Butler says,

”The Gala preparations require additional hands. seven days of extended service.”

”Fourteen hours a day.”

Eldrin stared at him.

”Fourteen?”

”That’s...”

Eldrin stopped himself.

He knew better than to finish that sentence.

The butler turned toward Rowan.

”He will not be permitted to serve guests or approach members of the nobility. His duties will remain limited to archive work, preparation, carrying materials, cleaning, and other tasks assigned by the staff.”

”Good,” Rowan said.

Rowan started walking.

Eldrin followed.

After a few steps, Rowan spoke again.

”Boy.”

”Yes?”

”You need to take better care of yourself.”.

”I didn’t exactly plan on getting kidnapped.” Eldrin replied.

”I’m not talking about that.”

Rowan stopped.

Eldrin looked at him.

The old man’s expression had lost its usual indifference.

”Nobody here is looking for you.”

Eldrin remained silent.

”You’re a slave in a foreign country. If someone decides you’re an easy target, most people will simply look the other way.”

There was no cruelty in Rowan’s voice.

That somehow made the words worse.

”You need to learn how to defend yourself.”

Eldrin looked down.

”I know.”

”No.”

Rowan continued walking.

”You know that you should. That’s different.”

Eldrin followed him.

After a moment, Rowan added,

”I’ll find you something to read.”

Eldrin looked at him.

”A manual.”

”For .....Basic self-defense.”

Eldrin almost smiled.

”You’re giving me a combat manual?”

”I’m lending you one.”

”There’s a difference?”

Eldrin let out a quiet breath that almost became a laugh.

It hurt his ribs.

He immediately regretted it.

They continued down the corridor.

For a while, neither spoke.

Then Rowan’s voice became quieter.

”The Gala starts soon.”

Eldrin looked ahead.

”You keep your eyes down.”

Eldrin nodded.

”You don’t listen to conversations that aren’t meant for you.”

Another nod.

”And don’t talk back.”

”Ever.”

Rowan stopped again.

”Because people become careless when they’re surrounded by things that have no consequences.”

Eldrin frowned.

He wasn’t sure what that meant.

Instead, he started walking again.

Rowan continued.

”There are people here who’ve spent their entire lives learning how to speak to nobles without offending them.”

Eldrin sighed.

”You’ll stay in the archive and reception areas. Carry documents. Sort manifests. Help with whatever needs doing.”

Rowan glanced at him.

”Try not to make it complicated.”

Eldrin nodded.

For once, he intended to listen.

By the time they reached the upper levels, the estate had already begun to change.

The quiet routes Eldrin had grown accustomed to were gone.

Servants hurried past carrying boxes of wine, folded cloth, polished silverware and bundles of flowers. Guards stood at intersections that normally remained empty.

The entire estate seemed to be preparing for something much larger than a simple celebration.

Eldrin stopped for a moment.

A pair of servants rushed past him carrying a wooden case.

Behind them came another group carrying rolled banners.

He looked at Rowan.

”What exactly is happening?”

Rowan didn’t stop.

”The Gala.”

”I know that.” Eldrin replied.

”Then you know what’s happening.”

Eldrin stared after him.

Sometimes Rowan was impossible to talk to.

The celebration wasn’t going to be small.