Early morning.
A pale light sliced through the gap in the curtains, cutting a streak across the floor.
Bell opened his eyes.
The person in his arms shifted slightly.
Tia was sleeping deeply.
Like an exhausted kitten, she was curled up with her brow finally relaxed.
It was likely the most peaceful sleep she had enjoyed in over a decade.
Bell did not move.
He stared out the window.
Snow had begun to fall at some point during the night.
Large snowflakes slammed silently against the glass.
The world was deathly still.
“Over there... it is New Year's Day.”
Bell whispered the words in his heart.
In that other world, today should be a time of lanterns and decorations, where families sat together to eat dumplings.
But here.
There was only a cold estate and the impending mess he had to deal with.
Bell gently withdrew his arm.
Tia let out a soft mumble and grabbed the corner of the quilt.
Bell tucked her in properly.
He stood up.
He got dressed.
He fastened every button up to the very top, hiding the red marks on his neck.
He turned and pushed open the door.
The hallway was empty.
A few servants were busy cleaning.
When they saw Bell walking out of the eldest daughter's room, they all froze in place.
A broom clattered to the floor.
Bell ignored them.
He walked straight downstairs.
The sound of his footsteps echoed in the hollow stairwell.
Every step felt as though it were treading on someone's nerves.
The servants exchanged glances before scrambling toward the main hall.
In the hall.
The fireplace was burning brightly.
Theodore was bent over, pouring tea for Balte.
Balte sat with his legs crossed, his massive rear squeezing the sofa out of shape.
Hearing footsteps, both men looked up simultaneously.
The moment he saw Bell, Theodore’s expression stiffened.
Balte, however, laughed.
The fat on his face bunched together, and his beady eyes narrowed into slits.
“Oh my, Lord Bell is up so early?”
He set down his teacup and patted his greasy hands against his knees.
“Young people certainly have impressive stamina.”
Bell walked over to the opposite side.
He pulled out a chair.
He sat down.
“Theodore.”
Bell’s voice was calm.
As calm as the snow falling outside.
“I have something to say.”
Theodore was about to speak when Balte cut him off.
“Oh, there is no need to be so serious.”
He waved a hand, and that nauseating scent of perfume wafted over again.
“The servants already told me.”
“You spent the night in that girl's room.”
Balte grinned, revealing a row of yellowish brown teeth.
“How did she taste?”
Bell’s fingers rested on the armrest.
He tapped lightly.
Once.
Twice.
Seeing Bell remain silent, Balte assumed he was silently admitting to it.
His smile grew even more lecherous.
“I am a very generous man.”
“Since Lord Bell likes her, then feel free to play with her for a few more days.”
He leaned in closer and lowered his voice.
“You can even take her back to the Royal Capital for a month or two if you like.”
“When you are finished or get bored, just send her back.”
“Regardless, I only care that she can bear children.”
“Even if she ends up with a brat in her belly, we can just abort it.”
“I do not mind.”
Theodore offered a fawning smile from the side.
“The Marquis is truly magnanimous.”
“Of course.”
Balte bobbed his head proudly.
“As long as the Astane family can provide me with a son, what does a little thing like that matter?”
He looked at Bell again.
“What do you think, Lord Bell?”
“I am giving you quite a lot of face here.”
Bell stopped tapping.
He looked up.
He stared at Balte’s oil slicked face.
That mouth was still opening and closing, spewing out a foul stench.
What did he think Tia was?
An object?
A tool for lust?
A breeding machine?
Bell felt his stomach churn.
It was a visceral, physical disgust.
“Balte.”
Bell spoke.
Balte blinked.
“Hmm?”
“You just said... abort it?”
Balte nodded nonchalantly.
“Exactly. Why keep a nameless bastard like that?”
Boom.
The string in Bell’s mind called logic snapped completely.
“I think...”
“The thing that needs to be aborted...”
“Is that pig head of yours.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the floor exploded.
Four dark shadows lunged from beneath the ground.
They were as fast as lightning.
They were four dirt puppets constructed from rock.
They had no facial features, only rough silhouettes.
But in their hands, they gripped sharp rock spears.
Thwip!
Four spears thrust forward simultaneously.
They stopped precisely at Balte’s neck.
They were a mere millimeter away from piercing his throat.
The sharp stone tips broke through the thick, greasy skin.
Blood seeped out, dripping down the length of the spears.
The smile froze on Balte’s face.
The teacup slipped from his hand.
Smash.
It shattered into pieces.
Hot tea splashed everywhere.
“You...”
Balte tried to speak, but with the spears pressed against his throat, he could only make a gurgling sound.
His beady eyes were filled with terror.
His crotch became soaked.
The smell of urine mixed with his perfume, making the air even more pungent.
Theodore was so terrified he fell out of his chair.
His face was as pale as paper.
“Lord... Lord Bell?!”
“What are you doing?!”
That was a Marquis! A noble of the kingdom!
Bell ignored Theodore.
He stood up.
He walked over to Balte.
He looked down at the trembling heap of fat.
“I am warning you.”
Bell’s voice was cold.
Colder than the snow outside.
“If you ever say something like that again...”
“I will slaughter you.”
It was not a threat.
It was a statement of fact.
Bell’s hand slowly tightened.
The four rock spears began to push in inch by inch.
They pierced the flesh.
More blood flowed.
Balte’s eyes rolled back as his body convulsed.
He could feel death approaching.
“Stop!”
A scream broke the deathly silence.
Theodore scrambled over on all fours.
He tried to grab Bell’s hand but was kicked away by a dirt puppet.
Bang!
Theodore slammed into the wall, grimacing in pain.
“Lord Bell! Have you lost your mind?!”
Theodore clutched his chest and roared hysterically.
“Are you going to kill a Marquis?!”
“Do you want the Duke Lucas family and the Balte family to go to war?!”
The main doors were suddenly thrown open.
Aidan ran in, panting for breath.
Behind him were a dozen guards armed with weapons.
Aidan froze when he saw the scene in the hall.
The guards were also stunned.
Was that... earth magic?
They had never seen earth magic like this before.
“What are you all standing there for?!”
Theodore shrieked.
“Apprehend him!”
The guards hesitated, not daring to step forward.
That was the heir to a dukedom.
And more importantly...
The mana fluctuations radiating from those four dirt puppets were too powerful.
They were not opponents that ordinary guards could handle.
Bell turned his head.
His gaze swept over Aidan and Theodore before finally landing on the shivering Balte.
“Tia.”
Bell spoke, each word sounding like a stone hitting the floor.
“She is not marrying you.”
Theodore scrambled up from the floor, his face turning a deep, liverish red.
“You say she is not marrying him just like that?!”
“This is a family matter for the Astane family!”
“The marriage contract has been signed!”
“The betrothal gifts have been accepted!”
Theodore pointed at Bell’s nose, his finger shaking violently.
“Even if you are the heir to a dukedom, you cannot simply abduct a girl from her family!”
“Furthermore...”
Theodore gritted his teeth, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes.
“She is my daughter.”
“I will marry her to whoever I want!”
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