Chapter 6: Powerless as She

Afterward, Anselm didn’t say much more to the Lansmarlos sisters.

He simply shared his desserts and snacks with them, and once Marina applied the ointment to Hitana, he sent them back.

After all, Hitana’s current state wasn’t suitable for conversation, and Anselm had already achieved his goal.

Seeing his young master’s leisurely demeanor, Saville felt genuine joy.

As one of the only two of Anselm’s father’s eight Contract Heads who raised him, and the only one still by his side, Saville, with no family of his own, perhaps cared for Anselm more than his father did.

“It seems you’ve reaped the fruit you needed, young master.”

“Mm, you played along well too, Saville.” Anselm swirled his wine glass, chuckling. “You went so easy on her. You really know me.”

“Those two girls have considerable value just from their appearance. You kept them for a reason, I presume.”

Anselm, sipping the scarlet wine, glanced at Saville. “Just their appearance?”

Saville hesitated, then said gravely, “The elder sister has little extra value, but that Hitana…”

“Though I think it’s unlikely, at the last moment, she seemed to catch a glimpse of my movement, if only for an instant.”

“You’re not so old as to have delusions, Saville.” Anselm laughed heartily. “If you say so, it’s true.”

—Catching a trace of Saville’s movement would baffle or even shock anyone aware of the power Saville wielded.

Raising his wine glass, Anselm gazed at the scarlet liquid, sighing in a voice only he could hear, “That’s… the protagonist.”

“Then her value is immense,” Saville said without hesitation. “She has the potential to become a Contract Head…”

He paused, then realized, “So, she’s your choice. Though wild and… foolish, with your methods, young master, three days should be enough to tame her.”

“Three days?” Anselm laughed, dumbfounded. “That’s a bit too short. You’re more confident than I am, Saville.”

Saville, deadly serious, wasn’t joking. “Her sister, you could handle tonight, couldn’t you?”

“Hm… that’s different. There’s a fundamental gap between the two.”

He didn’t deny he could deal with Marina tonight—though he wouldn’t.

After all, in Anselm’s plan, this dear Miss Marina was more important than anything.

The young Hydra downed the wine, staring into the fireplace, searching for a new future in the flames.

***

“That bastard, vile scum, beast!”

In their room, Hitana furiously pounded the bed.

Marina, busy with something, panicked at her words. “You can’t talk about Lord Hydra like that! Didn’t you hear everyone’s cheers? Lord Hydra must be a good person!”

“Hah, as if nobles who deceive us are rare?”

The ointment Anselm provided was, of course, remarkably effective.

Hitana’s face was fully restored, snow-white and tender, showing no trace of the slaps.

Yet, with such a lovely, delicate face, her words were utterly crude.

“From sheriffs to tax collectors, from minor lords to great ones, every single one is garbage! All garbage! The Empire too!”

“Hitana!”

Marina’s voice rose sharply, terrified. “Do you know what you’re saying?!”

“…” Knowing she’d misspoken, Hitana fell silent, pursing her lips.

Marina, catching her expression, paused her task and sat beside her.

“…Hit, I know these days have been hard for you.”

The girl stroked her sister’s soft, smooth short hair, gently pulling her into an embrace. “Not just these days—your whole life has been tough.”

Leaning on Marina’s shoulder, Hitana’s heart softened.

She hugged her sister, muttering, “It’s not that bad. Living with Mom, Dad, and you were still happy.”

Marina smiled, tugging her cheek. “How could I not know what you’re thinking? You’re a gifted child. It’s been hard for you to endure those incompetent people, and Mom, Dad, and I feel guilty about it.”

“But… things are different now, Hit.”

The girl held Hitana’s hands, her eyes gleaming with hope.

“We… no, you have a chance now. You have a chance to change everything.”

“…Chance? What chance?” Hitana looked at her sister, puzzled.

“Lord Hydra.”

Marina said the name Hitana despised with utmost seriousness.

“Him?!” The wolf-like girl yelped, then cursed. “What kind of chance is he? That effeminate creep, that psychopath…”

“Hitana!”

Hearing the anger in her sister’s voice, Hitana reluctantly shut her mouth.

“Listen, Hitana. Lord Hydra is a big figure.” Marina pressed her sister’s shoulders firmly.

“Dealing with sheriffs and tax collectors takes all our wits, but to ordinary lords, they’re lighter than snowflakes. Yet even minor lords bow to Count Chishuang, the master of Chishuang Territory, and Count Chishuang…”

Her words paused, her tone carrying a reverence she hadn’t noticed herself.

“To Lord Hydra, Count Chishuang was a nobody he could dispose of over a meal—a figure beyond our imagination.”

Her grip on Hitana’s shoulders tightened, and she stared into her eyes. “Most importantly, his mercy may be fake, his kindness may be fake, his gentleness may be fake, but… he’s undoubtedly a clever man, a formidable man, a man who can see your value.”

Marina had seen too many people.

Since she was twelve, she’d helped her parents negotiate with sheriffs and tax collectors, scraping for every grain they could get.

In the living room, that moment of attraction wasn’t fake, nor was her reaction insincere.

But back in her room, Marina quickly reflected and recognized her place.

“Do you understand, Hitana? Lord Hydra… is your, my, our family’s, even our village’s hope.”

The frail, snow-haired girl cupped her sister’s face. “I’ll mention your talents to Lord Hydra. You must… do everything to stay by his side. He’ll change your fate, Hit.”

Hitana stared blankly at her sister.

Even after being expelled from school, Marina had never spoken to her with such seriousness.

She knew now wasn’t the time to be willful… her sister was right.

Regardless of anything else, at least that guy was easier on the eyes than that fat pig, and he didn’t look at her or her sister with that vile gaze.

Though he was effeminate and a psychopath, for the sake of her sister and their parents, she could endure—

Hitana’s thoughts screeched to a halt.

The moment the idea of “temporarily serving under that Hydra” crossed her mind, a visceral, nauseating disgust surged from her brain, flooding her limbs and body.

Her stomach instinctively convulsed, her body trembling uncontrollably, as if… in that moment.

—That moment she saw Anselm Hydra.

It was as if she had encountered the most vile, sinister monster in the world, as if she absolutely could not coexist with him in the same world… an absolute revulsion.

“I won’t!”

Driven by this disgust, the reckless, hot-tempered girl roared without warning.

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