The drunken thief might buy the slave girl thinking she could be useful for stealing purposes, like a distraction or an accomplice. But as he gets to know her, he discovers her own dreams and desires that are contrary to his original intentions. She could start to resist his control, leading to a power struggle between them. And all the while, the society around them might have different reactions to their relationship, whether it's the slave - owning class being angry at his leniency towards her or the slaves seeing her as a symbol of hope. This could lead to all sorts of plot twists and turns as the thief has to navigate his own new - found conscience and the social pressures around him.