Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 277: Augusto’s Arrival

At Damien’s words, both Isaac and Miria visibly flinched, their shoulders twitching slightly.

"To that end, I’m planning to purchase both of you. How do you feel about this?"

Despite the statement, the two of them remained silent, offering no response.

Damien had thought mentioning Augusto would make it clear that Theo had authorized the arrangement, but their silence persisted.

Even if they were hesitant to agree, staying quiet seemed unusual.

Were they troubled about something?

"Um, is there some sort of issue?" Damien asked, pressing gently. "To be clear, I have the express permission of Lord Dalehaven."

Reiterating Theo’s approval, Damien hoped to reassure them.

Finally, Isaac raised his head and opened his mouth to speak.

"My deepest apologies. I was contemplating whether someone like me, who failed to guide the master properly, has any right to show my face before the young lord," Isaac admitted solemnly.

Ah, so that’s what it was.

Damien considered the sentiment.

From an adult’s perspective, Isaac’s concerns were understandable.

However, Augusto, who was about Damien’s age, would likely find comfort in seeing a familiar face.

Besides, Isaac and Miria had continued to worry about Augusto’s well-being even after becoming slaves.

Their relationship with him likely wasn’t strained.

In a situation where enemies could seem to surround Augusto, having Isaac and Miria by his side would undoubtedly benefit him.

"Um... if Augusto seems uncomfortable after meeting you, how about arranging things so you don’t cross paths with him too often?" Damien suggested.

While he could only speculate about Augusto’s feelings, Damien offered this compromise to ease the situation.

"...But for you to go to such lengths for us..." Isaac hesitated.

"No, if it works out, it will benefit Augusto as well. Besides, our household urgently needs capable people. Please don’t think this is solely for your sake," Damien replied with a reassuring smile.

The truth was, there was less than a month until the dormitory needed to be operational for Augusto’s enrollment, and letting talented people slip away now would be a disaster.

Plus, hiring them was cost-effective—a much-needed relief for their budget.

Hearing Damien’s reasoning, Isaac and Miria exchanged glances for the first time.

When Miria nodded, Isaac followed suit, turning back to Damien with a resolute expression.

"We are deeply grateful for your consideration of the young master. From this moment forward, our loyalty is yours," Isaac declared.

"Thank you. I gladly accept your loyalty," Damien said warmly. "Now, please wait a moment while I handle the necessary formalities."

Leaving the two kneeling figures behind, Damien returned to the sofa where the slave merchant awaited.

"I’m glad to see the discussion went well," the slave merchant remarked with a smile as Damien sat down.

"Yes, thank you for introducing such excellent people to us," Damien replied.

The thought crossed his mind that the slave merchant might have orchestrated everything too perfectly, but even if that were the case, it worked out in his favor.

"Well, we’re delighted to have completed such a successful transaction," the slave merchant said, bowing slightly. "Now, to confirm—are you ready to make the purchase?"

"Yes, please proceed. Oh, and as usual, I’d like the slave marks applied via magic," Damien added.

"Thank you for your continued trust," the slave merchant replied, bowing deeply with a pleased expression before clapping his hands twice.

Now, all that remained was to wait for the mage responsible for applying the slave marks to arrive.

With that, one significant task was complete.

...

After the slave marks were applied to Isaac and Miria, Damien once again accepted a ride back in the slave merchant’s carriage.

Even though he had already coordinated this with Theo, Damien wasn’t sure how openly he could reveal that he had purchased members of the Castellani family.

To be safe, he opted for discretion.

He had also relied on the slave merchant’s carriage when Yor was marked with the criminal branding, and though Damien had apologized for the repeated inconvenience, the slave merchant had assured him it was no trouble.

In fact, it had inadvertently enhanced the slave merchant’s reputation as someone closely affiliated with the Dalehaven family, which turned out to be advantageous.

Still, Damien worried he might be causing trouble for Theo and made a mental note to apologize later.

"By the way, Isaac," Damien began as the carriage bumped along the road.

Having already covered the essential topics outside the house, they were now nearing the estate, and Damien decided to fill the time with casual conversation.

He had been asking Isaac and Miria about themselves.

"Yes, what can I do for you, my lord?" Isaac replied politely.

The term "my lord" referred to Damien.

He had asked Isaac to simply call him by his first name, but the man had adamantly refused.

It seemed to be the norm—Leonide and Ithnan, for instance, addressed him as "Master" when working, so Damien decided not to push the issue.

"What kind of person is Augusto?" Damien asked.

Theo was the only one who had ever met Augusto directly.

None of the Crowell family members, Damien included, had encountered him.

Leonide and the others, who had originally been servants in Theo’s household, knew the name but nothing more.

While Damien would be meeting Augusto soon enough, he figured it was worth asking those who had known him since childhood.

"Young Master... I mean, Lord Augusto, you ask?" Isaac replied, correcting himself mid-sentence.

"You can call him ’Young Master,’ if that’s what you’re used to," Damien said with a small smile.

He didn’t mind if Isaac stuck with the title he was familiar with.

Damien thought about it but noticed Isaac shaking his head.

"I let it slip, but this is a matter of formality for me. I’ll be more mindful," Isaac explained.

Fair enough, Damien thought.

"Well, as for Lord Augusto," Isaac began, "I might be biased since I’ve known him since childhood, but he has always been an incredibly charming, lively, and energetic young boy. He’s intelligent, kind, and was the pride of all the Castellani family retainers."