Isekai Tyrant

Chapter XIII - Indifference

Wait.

I observed the collar around his neck. Brown hair and brown eyes...

Wasn't this Andre from my dream?

Andre is Cadmael's valet. He was a skillful slave purchased by the late empress to serve Cadmael since he was a child.

Andre was once a young noble from a small country that was laid to waste by the Leonhart family during a war. The country hence became under the jurisdiction of the Leonharts.

Since Andre had a collar to bind him, he could only display undying loyalty at the threat of overwhelming pain. The collar was hidden until it was unnecessary when Cadmael became emperor.

Andre's specialty was assassination. During an errand sent by the emperor, Andre met Roselle and Alastair and they offered him a chance to break free from servitude. After much convincing, several events happened and Andre agreed after he fell in love with Roselle. He played a pivotal role in Cadmael's downfall.

I know because Yumi kept screaming at night at his betrayal against Cadmael. My ears twitched at the memory.

I wouldn't call it 'betrayal' since his loyalty has always been fake in the first place, but whatever.

I eyed him warily. The more I did, as a modern person the more I felt uncomfortable with his presence.

A human being should never be under the possession of another human being.

Back on earth, slavery had become condemned but I was aware that it still happened secretly in remote parts of the world. To see it openly displayed like this is challenging my worldview.

"Lead the way." I sighed and dabbed the blood with a handkerchief. It must be important for him to ignore me like this.

Andre bowed in acknowledgement and did as he was told. I followed him.

On the way, I found the head butler waiting for me outside the room. Our eyes met and he gave an understanding bow. My head throbbed further in pain at his reaction. I scoffed at him in return before leaving.

Andre and I did not speak a word as we walked. Similar to my experience with the head butler, any servant we met would give me formal greetings and bent their bodies in accordance to my passing. Amidst the quiet grand hallways of the palace, the maids knelt down in reverence. With each step I took, I surveyed my surroundings and felt a strong sense of déjà vu. It felt like the streets of the neighborhood I used to walk at night as I went home. Familiar but cold.

My mind was dazed from the phenomenon until I arrived at the imperial office. Andre held the door open and I stepped inside. What awaited me was another expressionless man with similar features to Duke Leonhart.

"This servant greets His Majesty, the glorious sun of the Augustin empire." He saluted with the same formal greeting the duke did. His gaze was piercing and his tone was courteous but it was clear he didn't even attempt to mask a deep loathing beneath his eyes.

The third male lead, the prime minister Caiden. The cool genius son of Duke Leonhart and cousin of Cadmael. Despite being cousins with the enemy, Caiden was a close friend of Alastair. Their high statuses made them meet each other often since they were children. This friendship further solidified at the imperial academy.

Caiden has long disliked Cadmael because of his pretentious self and long occuring schemes against them. If it wasn't for Cadmael seizing the throne by force, he most likely would've been the prime minister of Alastair instead.

Because Cadmael was often at war, he barely devoted time in managing the empire. At his place was Caiden. He was assigned to the position despite his protest by the pressure of his father.