It Seems That the Slave Girl Is Actually a Count's Daughter. - Episode 4: The White Cat Witnesses

Episode 4: The White Cat Witnesses 

As soon as we left the slave merchant’s shop, the Guild Master made a quick escape. He claimed he still had work to do. I figured I should head home as well. I needed to introduce her to Shiro, who was keeping watch at the house. 

As I walked, I saw a hill gently rising in the distance. It was lined with rooftops in a variety of colors. Each house had a unique roof, almost as if they were competing to stand out. 

This was the city’s high-end residential area. Among them, I headed straight for a house with a lapis-colored roof. Being a Platinum-ranked adventurer had its perks—I might not live in a mansion, but I did own a house. 

“I’m home.” 

“This is… Master’s home…” 

“Welco—wait, who’s that woman?!” 

Shiro came running over. Its already sharp feline eyes were narrowing even further. For the record, Shiro was male. And no, our relationship wasn’t like *that*. 

“Wh-What!? T-The cat… it spoke!?” 

Startled by the unexpected situation, she backed up a step. She was covering her mouth with her hand. 

Shiro was a summoned beast, so talking was second nature to him. Of course, I was his summoner. After a brief explanation, she seemed to understand. 

“Summoning magic… Master, you can use all sorts of magic, huh?” 

Well, yeah, I can use various spells. But swinging an enchanted sword is usually a more efficient way to avoid collateral damage. So I tend to avoid flashy magic unless necessary. 

“Nice to meet you! My name’s Shiro. So, Master, who is she?” 

Shiro tilted his head. His green eyes were flicking between us with curiosity. 

“My slave.” 

“A slave!? I never knew you were into that kind of thing, Master…” 

Shiro’s jaw dropped in disbelief. Meanwhile, she removed her cloak to greet him properly. From beneath the hood, silky silver hair—slightly tinged with blue—spilled out and swayed gently. Smiling gracefully, she bent at the waist in a polite bow. 

“Sir Shiro, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” 

“Hey—wait! You’re showing too much!” 

At his panicked shout, she gasped and quickly covered her chest. Her face turned red as she shot me a glance. 

Don’t worry, don’t worry. I didn’t see anything. 

Meanwhile, Shiro had turned away. He looked like he’d witnessed something he shouldn’t have. Apparently, he was more innocent than I thought. 

Once inside, I had her sit in the living room while I sat across from her. First things first….. 

“What’s your name?” 

“…A slave’s name is decided by their master. I have no name.” 

She lowered her gaze to the table as she spoke. 

“Hmm?” 

She avoided eye contact. 

Technically, it was common for a master to assign a slave’s name. But if they already had one, it was usually best to use it to avoid confusion. 

“So, she’s nameless, huh?” 

Shiro was still recovering from his earlier shock. He started grooming himself—probably as a way to cope. Was it really that traumatic? …Honestly, I kind of wanted to see, too. 

“Yes. So please, give me a name of your choosing.” 

She lifted her face and looked at me. 

“Alright, then… Pamela.” 

“…Huh?” 

“Pamela. That’s your name now.” 

She froze completely, staring at me in disbelief. Did she really think I hadn’t figured it out? 

Too naive. 

“Why…?” 

“You thought I wouldn’t notice?” 

“…You’re mistaken. That is not my name.” 

I see. So she planned to deny being Pamela Jérôme Reinach, the count’s daughter, huh? 

“Oho? So she’s someone you know, Master?” 

Shiro grinned mischievously. His green eyes narrowed into crescent moons as he leaned in toward Pamela. 

“Maybe she’s actually some noble’s runaway daughter?” 

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 

Pamela looked away, her voice trembling. She clenched her fists tightly on her lap. She looked like she was about to cry. 

Now, what should I do? 

I had definitely seen through her act. Ideally, I’d like to sit her down for a long talk about what had happened. 

Or… was she seriously just here to make a baby with me? 

Because honestly, I was hoping to enjoy my free-spirited lifestyle for a while longer.

“Master, you shouldn’t bully Pamela.” 

Shiro shook his head from side to side, as if I were the one cornering her. 

“You are the real culprit here! Anyway, I’m calling you Pamela from now on.” 

“…Yes.” 

Good, good. She accepted it, albeit reluctantly. 

Now, I’d somehow ended up turning a count’s daughter into a slave. What was I supposed to do with her? Could I actually just use her like a normal servant? 

“What kind of things can you do, Pamela?” 

At my question, Pamela finally raised her head. 

“I can do laundry, cleaning, cooking… and serve you at night…” 

“I-I see.” 

Crap. I walked right into that one. 

Shiro’s eyes and mouth curled into mischievous crescent shapes as he stared at me. No, that’s not it! I didn’t buy her with any weird intentions! 

Well, at least she seemed capable of handling basic household chores. I could do all of it myself, so technically, I didn’t need her. But if I told her that, she might feel useless. 

…………The Reinach Count must already know about this, right? If he didn’t, the Guild Master and the slave trader wouldn’t have cooperated. She wouldn’t have just run away from home, would she? I’m trusting you on this, Pamela. 

That aside, this must be a major headache for Count Reinach. His wife hadn’t collapsed from the shock, had she? Should I write a letter or something? No, Pamela or someone else probably already took care of that. It was best not to get too involved with nobility. 

“Alright, let’s go shopping for dinner. We’ll also need to buy you some clothes. The icehouse is empty, so this is perfect timing.” 

“I shall accompany you, Master.” 

“Pamela, call me *El* from now on.” 

For some reason, having Pamela call me “Master” made my insides squirm. I should be used to it. But this time, it felt different. 

…Wait, why is Pamela turning bright red? Did I say something weird!? 

“Understood, El-sama…” 

She spoke slowly, savoring the name. Her voice was filled with an almost dreamy affection. 

Uh… was I moving too fast by making her use a nickname? For a sheltered noble lady, this might have been too much. 

No, if she were truly sheltered, she wouldn’t have pulled such a bold move earlier. 

I couldn’t be fooled by appearances. Inside, Pamela was probably smirking like, “Heh… just as planned.” 

“Reeeeee! This is so frustrating!” 

For some reason, Shiro bit my sleeve in a fit of jealousy. Stop that, it stretches! 

After finishing the tea Pamela had made—it was really good, by the way—I put her cloak back over her. 

She really had been trained as a proper bride. 

This was serious. 

…What the hell should I do?