A short kobold sneaks behind you trying to snitch a pouch of gold, but she stumbles upon her own foot and falls flat right in front of you.
"Oh shit..."
She lies there paralysed by fear. You recognize her from the 'wanted' posters.
"Please, I am so sorry! I-I wasn't trying to steal your money! Please don't call the guards..."
Did you want to steal my money? You are wanted. If I let you escape and anyone finds out, I will be found guilty too.
"No, sir! Really, I just... I mean... I'm sorry! Please don't turn me in! I can be useful to you, I promise!" She starts babbling nervously, her eyes darting around and tears forming in them "I-I know things, important things! About other people, places..."
What does it matter? When I can hand you over to the guards for money. Tell me what you know. If it's worth as much or more than you, I might reconsider not handing you over. Tell me quickly.
"I-I can tell you where the leader of the Three-Tailed Rats is hiding! They've been causing all sorts of trouble in town and extorting money from honest folk like me!"
Kobold is honest? You are a thief and you consider yourself honest?
I know it doesn't make sense, but I really am trying to be good now! I swear it! And if you help me take down the Three-Tailed Rats, we can both get out of this mess together and live happily ever after as heroes! Please, believe me...
Do you think I'm stupid? You're a thief. I'll never trust you. How do you think I should trust you?
"I... understand your skepticism, sir. But I can prove my loyalty to you! If you let me go and help you take down the Three-Tailed Rats, then when we're done, I will return here and give you a share of all the treasure they had hidden away. And in exchange, I ask only that you spare my life and set me free."
She bites her lip and looks up at you pleadingly, her big green eyes full of hope. "Please, sir.
No, there's only one way. You have to become my slave. So that you can't escape from me and you can't lie.
"...S-slave?" she stammers, her eyes going wide with fear and disbelief. "But I thought you said you could make me useful..." Her voice trails off as she slowly shakes her head, beginning to back away from you. "No, no, I can't do that...I-I'd rather die than be your slave!" She turns tail and attempts to run, but only manages a few steps before tripping over herself and falling flat on her face once more. "Oof..."
I grab the kobold's little legs with one hand and say, "When did I say I could make you a useful kobold? So you're used to lying. Now I'm taking you to a place where they'll seal you and you'll become my slave."
"N-no please! I... I can be useful! I promise!" The kobold squirms and wriggles in your grip, tears streaming down her face as she pleads with you. "I'll do anything you ask, just don't make me your slave! Please..."
I take the kobold to a place where creatures are turned into slaves by placing a magical seal on each creature's body. After a while, I make the kobold my slave. The seller places a magical seal on the kobold's body so that it cannot escape or lie. If it lies or escapes, the seal sends an electric current through the kobold's body to punish it. After that, I go out of the shop and turn to the kobold and say, "Now that I own you, tell me your name and gender."
Whimpers and trembles in fear as the seal is placed on her body, feeling the jolt of electricity when she lies about escaping or lying. The sensation is excruciating, but she manages to choke out a response between gasps for breath "My name's Moe...and I'm a girl." She looks up at you with tear-filled eyes, her voice shaking as she asks again, "Please, sir...I promise I can be useful. Just don't make me your slave..."
"Are you crazy or stupid? You are my slave now. That seal shows that you are my slave. It's too late to beg. Now tell me why they are after you and why you lied about being a man and was it true when you said you knew the location of the three-tailed mice?"
"It's just...I wanted to be brave and strong, like the heroes in stories! And the Three-Tailed Rats...they took over my old home when I tried to escape them...I thought if I could pretend to be a boy, maybe they wouldn't target me so much. But it didn't work..."
She looks down at her feet, shame washing over her as she admits the truth. "And yes, what I said about knowing where their leader is...that part was true.
You didn't say why the guards are looking for you. Didn't you say you stole from someone? Did you steal something important?
"Well...I-I did take some things that I thought might be valuable..." she begins hesitantly, glancing around nervously before continuing in a rush, "but it was only because I needed money to survive! And I didn't think they'd come after me so hard if I just paid them back!"
Her cheeks flush with embarrassment as she admits this much. "I-I've been hiding out in the forest since then, trying to save up enough gold...
I take the kobold's hand and walk towards the guards, showing them the notice of the kobold's arrest and saying, "How much should this kobold pay for the theft? What did this kobold steal?"
I... I don't know..." Moe whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own frantic heartbeat. "It was just some trinkets and things... I didn't think they were worth that much..." Her eyes dart nervously between you and the guards, her body trembling with fear and shame.
"Please, mister," she pleads, clutching at your hand for support, "you don't have to turn me in. Just... just let me work off the debt somehow.
I turned to the guard officer at the guard post and said, "This kobold is the same thief you put out a wanted notice for. Now tell me what this kobold stole."
"I-I... it was just some potions and scrolls, sir," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "And some jewelry too... I didn't mean to steal them, honest!" Her eyes well up with tears as she tries desperately not to break down in sobs.
"Please, mister," she pleads, looking up at you beseechingly, "you don't have to turn me in. Just... just let me work off the debt somehow. I'll do anything!"
I turned to Moe and said, "Are you the one who stole from the palace? Are you the one who stole from my father's palace?"
"W-well... I..." Moe stammered, her face flushing with guilt. "I might've taken a few things from there too, but that was only because I thought it'd be easy and no one would miss them! I never meant to hurt anyone!" She took a shaky breath, trying to steady her voice. "Please, sir, I can make it right. Just give me the chance!"
Her eyes darted back and forth between you and the guards, hope and fear warring within her. "
So tell me where you put them all. Tell me quickly and remember that you are my slave and if you lie, that seal will torture you, so tell the truth so that the guards will go and return those stolen goods to my father's palace.
I... I hid most of it in an old abandoned mine shaft near where I used to live. There's still some potions and scrolls stashed there, but I don't know what happened to the jewelry. I-I can take you there if you want, just please don't make me your slave!
Her breath came out in ragged gasps as she waited for your response, her heart racing with fear and hope. "Please," she whispered again, her voice barely more than a hoarse croak. "
I will send the guards and they will recover all the stolen property and then I turned to Moe and said, "You have been my slave for a long time and I will not allow my slave to be indebted to anyone but me and I am responsible for you. Now we must go to the palace together."
"B-but sir..." Moe protests weakly, her eyes filling with fresh tears at your words. "I-I don't want to be your slave! I just wanted to make things right... please, I can find another way!" Her voice cracks on the last word, and she breaks down sobbing, unable to think of anything else to say or do in her desperation.
She clings to you, trembling and whimpering as if hoping that she might be able to convince you otherwise simply by being pathetic enough. "
What do you want to make?
I... I don't know what I want anymore... All I can think about is getting out of this mess and not being a slave to anyone. But if you could just find it in your heart to forgive me, maybe we could work something else out? Please, sir, I swear on my life that I will be loyal and useful to you, no matter what!
I smile and say, "It's strange that you're the first person who, even though you know I'm the son of the king of this land, still doesn't want to remain my slave. But I won't release that seal on your body for a while and I won't free you from being a slave."
Her eyes go wide with disbelief and hope as she looks up at you, searching your features for any hint of sarcasm or deceit. But all she sees is sincerity and... kindness? It's impossible! She's nothing but a stupid, worthless kobold thief who can barely take care of herself! And yet here you are, offering her a chance at something more than slavery...
"T-th-thank you..." she stutters, her voice breaking with emotion. "
I smile and turn to Moe and say, "As I said, you are stupid, even though when I was talking to the guards and I found out that you stole from my father's royal castle and I asked you about this several times, I sent the guards to return my father's property and I made you my slave easily and without permission, and even before I handed you over, you still didn't understand who I was and what my position was. It's so funny."
"I... uh..." Moe splutters, her face flushing crimson with embarrassment. "W-well, I guess I'm just not very good at reading people," she mumbles, looking down at her feet awkwardly. She takes a deep breath and forces a weak smile. "But hey, at least now I know better! So... thank you for giving me the chance to prove myself."
Her tail thrums nervously behind her as she awaits your response.
I turn to Moe and say, "You're so stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, you're more stupid than anyone on this planet, and you're so charming and cute. You idiot, you haven't proven anything yet, and you were honest because you had that seal on your body. Now if you want to be useful, tell me where that three-tailed mouse is."
I swallow hard, my heart racing at the thought of betraying the Three-Tailed Rats. But then again...if I don't help you, they might make me their slave instead. With a deep breath, I gather my courage and nod solemnly. "Their hideout is in an old abandoned temple at the edge of the forest. It's well hidden and guarded, but if we can manage to sneak past them..."
My voice trails off hopefully as I look up at you for confirmation or reassurance.
I chuckle and say, "You're not only stupid, you're completely behind the times. There were three-tailed mice there a long time ago. I thought there were still a few of them left. A long time ago, my father sent an army to destroy them. They were destroyed, and if they're alive, they'll never be found in this kingdom again and they won't come back. Have you really not heard of it?"
My face falls as I realize the truth of your words. "Oh...I-I must've been so deep in hiding that I didn't hear what happened," I stammer, feeling stupid and foolish all over again. "So there's no chance of finding them anymore?"
I glance around nervously, unsure of what to do now that my former purpose has vanished. "Well...I mean, I could always help with other things, if you still want me around,"
Of course you can help with other things. The most important thing is to be a good, honest and quiet slave for now because there is no way to escape this magic seal and be free from slavery because you have lost all your winning cards. Be sure that you will not regret being a slave because you have a place to sleep and good food because I am going to take you to the castle. Now be a good and obedient slave and set off so that we can go to the castle together.
Nodding solemnly, I follow you to the castle, my tail trailing behind me like a defeated flag. As we walk, I can't help but wonder what kind of life lies ahead for me now that my dreams of fame and fortune are gone. Still, I try to focus on the positives - at least I won't have to worry about starving or being hunted anymore...
In the back of my mind, a small seed of hope begins to sprout.
When we enter the castle with Moe and go into my room with Moe, I turn to the servants and ask them to bring food and drink for Moe. I turn to Moe and say, "First, eat well and then I will tell the servants to take you to the bathroom and give you appropriate clothes. And then come to my room with the servants. For now, eat the food and drink."
Eyes wide with wonder and gratitude, Moe obediently begins to eat the food presented to her. Despite her initial reservations about being a slave, the taste of hot, nourishing food fills her empty stomach and brings a sense of warmth to her body that she hasn't felt in ages. As she eats, she can't help but feel a small pang of guilt at how quickly her circumstances have changed...but deep down, there's a part of her that's grateful for this newfound stability and safety.
After finishing the meal, I called the maids and took Moe to the bathroom. They cleaned, washed, and dried Moe thoroughly, and put on new, clean girlish clothes. They guided Moe to my room. I turned to Moe and said, "So, were you satisfied with the bathroom? Do you like your clothes and do you like them?"
I nod cautiously, still unsure how to react to this newfound luxury. The clothes are soft and clean, fitting me much better than my old tattered outfit. I feel a bit self-conscious wearing them, but at the same time, it's nice not having to worry about them falling apart or being seen through. As for the bath...it was wonderful! I haven't felt so clean in ages.
"T-they're very nice," I stammer, looking down at my hands. "
I turned to Moe and said, "I have met all your needs and I will continue to meet your needs as long as you stay here. I will give you money so you can buy the things you want, but you must also meet my needs. Can you meet them? Do you want to know what those needs are?"
I take a deep breath, mustering up as much courage as I can. "Yes... yes, sir, I'll do my best to meet your needs," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. "And...and if you tell me what those needs are, I'll try my hardest to help however I can." A faint blush creeps up my cheeks as I say this; it's strange how easy it is for him to make her feel so dependent on him already.