Helena felt her body ache the next day because she didn't sleep well. Even if the maids enriched her bath water with premium magic salt, it didn't reduce her pain at all.
"Who bought the magic salt? Is this a fake product?" Helena yelled at the maids.
"We directly bought the salt from the magic tower, Miss!" said one of the maids, bowing her head to beg for her mercy.
Helena then asked the maid to dress and doll her up. She decided not to care about her physical condition, hoping it would get better by itself. She immediately went to her study and asked her butler, Eric, to immediately report his work.
"There's bad news, my lady," Eric replied, a little afraid that his lady boss would be angry. "Baron Stevenson still can't pay the debt that was due a month ago. What should I do?"
"Tell him I'll come to him tomorrow. If he can't pay, we'll have to take over his land!" said Helena coldly. The woman said such things with no feelings even if Baron Stevenson was a friend of his late father.
Three years ago, Baron Stevenson borrowed 300 million novas (currency units in the kingdom of Altara). He used the money to build his land, giving loans to the commoners to grow wheat and corn in their fields. However, it turned out bad since wild animals attacked the territory. They failed to pay the debt and even needed more help from the duke. The worst thing was, it was part of Helena's duty to take care of the territory. The baron was so unlucky.
Later, Lady Helena asked Eric to quickly prepare a catalog of several poor and weak noblemen she could control. Apart from being obedient, Helena wanted her future husband to be able to please her grandfather's heart. Smart, good-looking, and kind were a must. This was essential to pave her way. However, all of Eric's proposals were different from Helena's wishes.
"It's difficult to find one," said Eric with a sigh because he was tired of the many requests from his boss. "It's almost impossible. No man has no lust for power, my lady!"
"Do you still want to work for me? I will happily replace you with someone else."
With a disgusted, hopeless face, Eric nodded and was about to find another man like that from all the noble matchmaking agencies across the duchy.
***
The next day, Helena and some of her knights came to Baron Stevenson's mansion. Inside, she found Baron Stevenson with his wife and daughter and a few of his servants sitting together in the room, ready to beg for mercy together.
"We're sorry, my lady. Please give us another month's suspension. We're penniless at the moment." Baron Stevenson pleaded pitifully.
"Please, my lady. My husband has worked hard to try to pay. We haven't even paid the salary of the maids in this house," said the wife begging on her knees and tears.
"Please don't take our land! I am willing to work for you without pay for several years to pay off my parents' debt," pleaded Baron Stevenson's daughter who looked sincere and kind, unlike the other. However, the young woman reminded Helena of her cousin, and a cold-hearted woman seemed to dislike such a woman.
"Hey, do you think you can pay the debt that way? If you could do it, you should have done it from the beginning!" Helena replied curtly. She then lowered her head, closer to the face of Baron Stevenson's daughter, grabbing her face with her fingers. "You are a beautiful girl. Too bad. This time your father owed a woman and I am a normal woman who doesn't interested in you at all!" Helena sneered then slammed the girl's face hard.
"Never mind! I'll sell this land for 1 billion to a rich non-noble who wants your title. I'll just take 300 million. I'll return the rest to you. Isn't that very fair? I'm not a loan shark who will suck up everything you have!" Helena snapped at everyone in the room.
"No, my lady! This land is worth 5 billion. If you sell it that cheap, we will lose lots of money!" whined Baron Stevenson whose cries were even louder this time, making Helena even more fed up.
"Then why didn't you do it earlier? You should have sold it before it was due. Now I don't care. I want the cash right now!" Helena yelled angrily. Stopped the wailing of the Baron Stevenson family's crying. "Eric! Quickly find a potential buyer willing to buy this land as soon as possible! I'll give you three days!"
Helena's decision was final. She felt very generous already. However, the Baron Stevenson family was completely clueless.
Helena was getting ready to leave Baron Stevenson's house which was now again bustling with crying and whimpering. However, amidst the panic and frenzy, a young man's voice was heard, "What if I become the ransom for Baron Stevenson's debt?"
Helena glared at the young man who volunteered to pay the debt with disbelief and scorn. From the appearance, the man was not a son of the Stevenson family, but a servant. However, he was too confident to offer himself as ransom. "What? Do you think you are worth 300 million?"
The young man's jaw hardened, he didn't like being insulted and compared to 300 million. However, he knew his place. He had to give in and persuade the lady to take him.
Holding his breath, the man unbuttoned his shirt one by one as he drew closer to Helena. His eyes stared at Helena as if to prey. "I'll show you how much I'm worth!"
Helena suddenly felt intimidated and angry because of the man's impolite behavior. "Hey, what are you doing?" she yelled, backing away in fear.
The man had removed his shirt in no time, revealing his perfect eight-packed abs. (glowing) He also exposed his manly expression to impress Helena. (sparkling)
"How about it, my lady? Am I good enough for you to take?"
Helena was stunned for a moment. She frowned. She didn't understand what the man in front of her meant. "So what if you have a good body? Do you think I'm a pervert?"
Helena who felt so upset then rushed to leave the place. However, she was stopped because Eric did not move immediately. "What are you waiting for? Come on, let's go!"
Eric came closer and whispered something serious in Helena's ear. "This is the man, my lady!"
Helena frowned. Was this a solution? "Are you dumb? Do you think my grandfather can be fooled by a lowly servant?"
Eric took a glance at the man's clothes. His outfit was better than the rest of the servants. However, in Helena's eyes, that kind of outfit was so cheap. The servants in the duke's house would never wear that cheap clothing.
"My lady, he is my son," said Baron Stevenson, in a trembling voice.
"Oh, seriously? Is your family dressing a son poorly?" Helena was sure that the baron lied to her.
"I—I adopted him," said the baron. He then asked the maid to show Helena the document.
Helena took the papers and examined them carefully.
"He is an adopted son? Why have I never heard such a thing?"
Eric swallowed hard, looking at Helena with a persuasive look. He hoped Helena would be willing to take the man. This of course would greatly lighten his task.
Helena walked up to the young man. Everyone in the room looked at them expectantly.
"So, your name is Ethan?" asked Helena, looking up and down, assessing the young man's outward appearance.
"Yes." The man answered firmly, looking back at Helena confidently. In his heart, he was afraid and insecure. However, that would not make Helena sure to take him.
"You have a real family?" she asked again. This time with a more relaxed gaze.
"No. I am an orphan who was cared for by Baron Stevenson since childhood," explained Ethan then glanced at Baron Stevenson to help him convince Helena.
"R-right, my lady! I took him as a baby from a wooden box that was lying in front of the house," explained Baron Stevenson to Helena who now seemed to be frowning again. Helena bit her lip, slightly confused.
"Why did you take him as your son? It's so funny since you treat him like a servant here," Helena said again, sneering.
Baron Stevenson replied, "He— he is just so kind. He likes to help with the servant's work."
"Still, you don't answer why did you adopt him? Don't you want your daughter to inherit your title?"
There was silence when Helena asked the question.
"Whatever the reason was, I am his son, my lady," Ethan answered, cutting her thought. "Are you willing to take me with you, or not?"
Helena didn't like the way he speak. However, she wanted to know more about her potential husband.
"Did you go to school?" asked Helena.
"Home school," Ethan replied.
"It's rare for nobleman not to go to school," Helena argued.
"To save money, my father had to do that," Ethan answered firmly.
Helena thought again, examining Ethan's looks. He was a handsome man. He was completely different from Baron Stevenson. Without even asking, people would know that he was adopted.
His hair was black while the rest of the family was brunette-haired. His sharp amber eyes complemented his godly feature. Honestly, he looked so stunning despite his cheap-looking clothes. From his appearance, Ethan was very good and met the qualifications. Flawless. His seeds would give Helena good-looking children.
Finally, Helena made up her mind, "Okay! Now pack your things and come with me. Let's talk."
Baron Stevenson felt so relieved. So did everyone else in the room except for Baron Stevenson's daughter. The lady looked like she was about to cry. However, everything has been decided. Helena left Baron Stevenson's mansion followed by her men and Ethan.
"Ethan, remember one thing. Now, you are mine. Your adoptive family has nothing to do with you anymore. Do you understand?"
"Understood, my lady."
They entered the carriage and then went to her private residence directly. Without Helena knowing it, Ethan sneered in satisfaction as if he was secretly planning something.