Legacy of Hatred

Chapter 380: Trap

Liam responded to the surprising suggestion with a frown. He knew Grace considered herself a currency, but that direct idea created logistical issues.

"You can’t buy people," Liam argued.

"Of course, you can," Grace chirped. "My Clan’s Patriarch had three wives and eighteen concubines, half of them bought from slave traders."

Slavery was a foreign concept in Liam’s mind. He knew what it meant, but he had never seen it. From what he had read, it wasn’t a popular practice in the eastern region.

"It still feels wrong," Liam commented.

"So, I’m left to my own devices," Grace stated. "Not that I mind. As much as you loathe seeing me at the receiving end of insults, I believe you can acknowledge its value."

Liam had to hold back from hissing. As always, Grace was right. Her business mind was what had gotten them that far.

"I can’t," Liam pointed out. "I belong to Melissa."

A trace of jealousy flashed in Grace’s eyes, but she was also pleased. Liam hadn’t refused her suggestion, opening himself up for negotiations.

"This would be you owning me," Grace explained. "There is no conflict with your status."

Grace was once again right, but Liam felt that conflict, despite being unable to put it into words. He could also feel something else, as if a noose was closing around his neck.

After trapping so many animals and cultivators, Liam felt that he was falling into the same predicament, but there didn’t seem to be viable alternatives.

"Is this really necessary?" Liam questioned.

"I’m too used to thinking like this," Grace nodded. "I will sell myself to someone eventually. You would be my first choice, but if it’s impossible ..."

"Why me?" Liam asked.

"This discussion more than proves why," Grace stated. "You care about me as a person. You will steer me in the right direction and try your best to make me happy. You would own me for my own good."

That was a high evaluation of Liam, one he was embarrassed and hesitant to accept. However, there was one thing he couldn’t deny. He would indeed do his best to make Grace happy.

"Buying you ...," Liam muttered, the invisible noose around his neck even tighter, "Is it really the best for you?"

"I don’t doubt it at all," Grace confidently said.

Liam felt cornered. He smelled something, but Grace’s arguing had no weak point. Everything she had said made so much sense that it was almost unbelievable considering what the topic was about.

"How much?" Liam sighed helplessly.

"Master Liam, you already gave me plenty," Grace stated. "Giving me hope to succeed in my quest was already enough to purchase me. You just have to say the word."

For some reason, Liam found it unbearable to look at Grace in the eyes now, so he diverted his gaze to speak those embarrassing words. "Fine. I’ll buy you."

"It was a pleasure doing business with you," Grace elegantly bowed. "Master Liam, you are now the owner of my entire being. All my skills, knowledge, possessions, and body are for you to use freely."

Liam shook his head and turned away, heading for a praying mat nearby, dismissing the gravity Grace wanted to apply to the matter. She was probably teasing him anyway.

"Sure," Liam commented. "Just stop demeaning yourself from now on."

"Your wish is my command," Grace giggled, following after Liam. "Should I call you just Master from now on? Do you wish me to kowtow to announce my submission to you?"

Liam sat down, ignoring that teasing, but Grace wasn’t done.

"Or did you have something more indecent in mind to brand me as your possession?" Grace asked in a suggestive tone, stopping right at Liam’s side.

Liam’s gaze snapped up, but he quickly lowered it. Everything in his instincts told him he had made a mistake, but Grace seemed happy, so he kept his grumbling to himself.

On the other hand, Grace was indeed happy, so much so that she could hardly contain herself. She was teasing Liam, but the topic was no joking matter for her, far from it.

The currency Grace had been saving her whole life was now spent. She wouldn’t have to consider it anymore. The event freed her mind of a heavy burden, replacing it with far more amusing and timid thoughts.

There was also something else, something Grace believed she had to do.

"Now that it’s official," Grace sighed, elegantly sitting at Liam’s side, straightening her robe so that it wouldn’t cause creases.

Liam planned to continue to ignore Grace, but he failed to do so when he felt her timid pull on his sleeve, like she had done before their separation.

"Liam," Grace called, her head lowered. "I never thanked you."

"For what?" Liam asked, searching for Grace’s expression, her presence and tone telling him that the matter was serious.

"From what I’ve been told," Grace exclaimed, "My parents have been the first to die."

Liam joined in that seriousness. Apparently, Grace had been too young to remember when the other factions killed her parents.

"My sworn guardian," Grace continued, "The caretaker and protector I had been assigned at birth, was the last to die. He cursed me with his last breath."

Liam didn’t experience any surprise when a hiss filled his mind. Actually, he seemed able to hear his own voice among the more ancient one.

"I guess, along the way," Grace added, "I also started to believe that I was worth nothing. That I shouldn’t have been born."

Grace timidly peeked up, comforted by the fearsome intensity looking down at her.

"Of course, that doesn’t mean I wanted to die," Grace reassured. "I still had my goal. I just thought I was meant to be alone in life, that I could have nothing and no one unless I lied and manipulated."

Liam had actually faced that crossroads due to his problematic lineage. It wasn’t quite the same situation, but there were plenty of similarities. It almost sounded like a miracle that he and Grace had found each other.

"That made me into quite a dishonest woman," Grace giggled. "Call it an occupational hazard. I have never expected that someone would actually accept me and willingly walk my same path."

Liam couldn’t stop what followed. He just didn’t have that cruelty in him. He could only watch as Grace leaned forward until she could rest her head on his shoulder, her eyes bright with affection.

"So, thank you," Grace said. "Thank you for having found me, for taking me, and for caring for me. Thank you for existing and for giving me this life."