The caravans came to a stop.
Ahead stood a beautiful garden separating them from the castle.
The chains were undone, freeing the slaves from the iron bars of the caravans.
While they might have been freed from the iron bars, the chains quickly came back to keep their wrists close and constricted.
"Get out." The guard who had been riding next to the caravan told Lucien.
"Yes." He answered coolly and jumped off.
Lucien extended a hand to Marie, who was supposed to disembark right after him.
It was a rather pleasant feeling to see that she could blush despite the situation they were in.
He helped her daughter disembark as well.
Lucien had feared that the guard would whip him and forbid him from helping them, but he didn't.
It only took a couple of minutes for all caravans to be emptied.
All in all, about twenty slaves stood. They were forced to form a line.
Walking out of the castle doors was a woman dressed in a maid's uniform. She held a wooden board, similar to a clipboard.
Accompanying her was the guard who was riding in front of all the other guards as well as the caravans.
'I guess he must be of a higher rank than the others.' Lucien thought. 'System, who are they?'
[The Head Servant of the Castle and one of the Duchy's Knights.]
'So their leader is a knight. What about the rest of them?'
[They are low-ranked escorts and guards, tasked with escorting goods and guarding the castle.]
'I see.'
The lined-up slaves quietly stood while the Knight talked to the Head Servant. From time to time, he pointed at different slaves.
'Is he pointing out the different groups?'
After a couple of minutes, the Head Servant nodded.
She called out the name of a Slave. The guards pushed that Slave closer to her. The Head Servant examined him, before noting down his position and job.
Just like that, two groups were formed. Those who would slave away in the fields, and those who would work inside the castle.
Eventually, Marie and Marianne were called out together.
They gulped, glancing at Lucien, before walking to the Head Servant.
"They are mother and daughter, I believe." The Knight said.
"That's obvious enough," The Head Servant nodded. "The two of you will-"
"Um, sorry but..." Marie gulped. "It's just that..."
"What is it?" The Head Servant asked with a frown.
Marianne found her throat too dry to talk, and her mother felt frozen under the indignant gazes of the Knight and of the Head Servant.
"Excuse me!" Lucien shouted as he raised his hand up.
The guards, tasked with making sure that the Slaves remained in line, immediately started approaching, but they stopped once the Head Servant gestured to them to relax.
"What is it?" She asked. 'He's... Very good looking.' The Head Servant tried her best to keep her thoughts from influencing her facial expression.
"I believe you might have forgotten to include me." Lucien answered, praying that the bluff would work.
The Head Servant turned towards the Knight. He stared at Lucien for a moment before shrugging.
There were more than twenty slaves, and keeping track of where each was from, as well as who had been taken with whom, couldn't be done perfectly.
"Come closer," The Head Servant gestured. 'I need to get a closer look at him. I don't think I've ever seen someone so handsome...'
The closer Lucien got, the more shaken the Head Servant became.
Had she not perfect control over her face, she would currently be blushing intensely while clouds of steam flowed out of her ears.
"So the three of you are together," The Head Servant thought it made sense. While Lucien's attractiveness was out of this world, the two blondes were also very good-looking. "In what manner?"
Lucien and Marie exchanged a glance.
"He's um... He's my..." Marie couldn't help but stutter.
The Knight scratched his chin.
"Marie is my wi-"
"Oh, I think I remember now." The Knight said suddenly, interrupting Lucien. "He's her son."
'Not what I was going with.' Lucien thought with a gulp.
'M-My son...?'
"Is that right?" The Head Servant asked with a critical eye.
While the two women had blonde hair and blue eyes, Lucien's hair was of a deep and dark purple, just like his pupils.
"That's right," Marianne answered, finally gathering the courage to talk. "Lucien's my brother." She added, wrapping her arms around Lucien's right arm and pulling him closer.
The Head Servant stared for a bit, before nodding. "I see."
The three were directed towards the group of Slaves that would work inside the castle.
[Tutorial Quest: Make allies on your way to the Estate.]
[Status: Cleared!]
[Additional Achievement: You have gained a sister and a mother.]
[Clear Rank: S.]
[You have Awakened the "Peak Performance" System.]
[You have gained 3 Unassigned Stat Points.]
[You have gained 2 Skill Points.]
'A sister and a mother...' Lucien couldn't help but gulp while reading that.
With the thoughts going around his mind... To refer to them as a sister and a mother... Was kinky to say the least.