It was the start of winter when I received the news of my uncle's death. The leaves had just finished falling and there had yet to be any snow. While I was never particularly close to my uncle, he had been the patriarch of the family until now. With no children of his own, his estate and his slaves are going to me.

Our family has made its wealth off of the slave trade. There once was a time when a slave from the Servitos family would have been worth a small fortune, known for their obedience and good pedigree. However, the family business has dwindled over the years. My uncle was the last one in the family actively training slaves. I had not considered taking up the trade until I saw on paper just all that would receive in inheritance. My uncle's estate is on the edge of the city of Gratia and has been in the family for generations. The manor is equipped with everything someone would need to keep and train slaves. The more I thought about it, the more interesting the idea had become. The life of your typical aristocrat was starting to become drab to me and there was something romantic about the idea of rejuvenating the family business. So I decided to do just that. I sold off some of my remaining assets and packed my things.

The carriage ride to Gratia wasn't pleasant as the cold of winter wind started to blow in the countryside. When I could finally see the city on the horizon I felt relieved. I thought I would soon be able to settle into my new home and take a warm bath. As the carriage moved down the streets of the busy city I took in the sights. Being a port city there were people of all sorts of races and cultures about. All sorts came through here which made it a perfect spot for a slaver or really any sort of tradesmen. Having a decent plot of land anywhere in the city would be a boon. The excitement really started to get to me as we got closer to the manor.

Much to my disappointment, when I finally saw the property it left much to be desired. It seems even my uncle had money issues as the outer wall was broken as well as some of the windows. As the carriage pulled into the courtyard the slightly overgrown garden became apparent as well. Noticing that someone had arrived a figure peered out of the window and then the front doors open. I was greeted by a short elf girl with red hair cut into a simple but well-kept bob. She wore a typical black and white maid attire which was as clean and pristine as she was. The maid gave me a polite curtsy and bow, "Good evening, you must be the new young master. My name is Flora, it is a pleasure to meet you." Her voice is soft and polite. She sounds almost devoid of emotion and stares blankly as she holds her pose waiting to be addressed.