Chapter 13

Three knock on the door. "Lady Maria, it's Ella." the person behind the door said. The doorknob twirl and the door opened wide.

The clear honeyed voice seeped into his heart. Like the first time he heard the drum at the battlefield, his heart went wild. He clenched his fist. The sweat on his palm moist his skin. He straighten his posture with his head held high. His eyes on the door.

The door wide open. There, stood a young lady with her scarlet hair braided, rested on her shoulder. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her gray eyes reflected the image of a man sitting in the middle of the room. Her rosy lips curled up, soften her gaze and flower bloomed in people's heart.

"Pardon my intrusion. I didn't know we have a guest today," she said.

"Come in," Maria said with a little bit annoyed tone, "His Excellency had been waiting for hours, what were you doing?"

Aretha walked in and stood next to the three person sofa Maria sat on. "I was afraid that I would disturb you if I come earlier than the time you instructed me to," she replied, smiling from ear to ear.

Maria flinched. 'Tch! This girl.' She turned to look at the man. "Your Excellency, this girl here is Ella. My most precious girl."

The man glowered at Maria. He stared at Aretha. "Sit," he said.

Maria shivered as the pressure in the air was crushing her. She slide to one side, giving space for Aretha to sit. Aretha took her seat and bowed her head at the man, expressing her gratitude.

"Lady Maria, may I know the name of our esteem guest? I don't think I have seen him before."

Maria coughed lightly. "This is Grand Duke Sergeyev from the Eins Empire. He is the most prominent man in the continent."

Aretha covered her lips with her palm. "My apologies, I didn't know such honorable person as Your Excellency would come here."

Vladimir tighten his grip. What should he said? What does he usually say in this kind of situation? He don't remember. Somehow, he felt like his brain stopped thinking, and his heart almost stopped beating. The voice that came out from that lips greet him, her eyes look straight at him. He didn't knew. Yes, he didn't knew. What is this he was feeling.

There was an awkwardness in the silence. "Ella, starting from today, you will move out from Lamiaceae Mansion and follow His Excellency," Maria said.

"Pardon?"

"Don't you heard me? Y—"

"No. That's not what I meant. Why do I have to follow His Excellency?"

"Well… you see. His Excellency took a liking on you and paid a big price. Although it's a pity, but, it is His Excellency wish."

Aretha turned toward Vladimir. "Your Excellency, is it truly me that you wish upon?"

Vladimir scrunched his eyebrows. "Do you have any objection?" he said. The air around them chilled and the tense sent shiver to their spine.

"It's not like that. I… I have my siblings with me. I can't be separated from them." Her voice trembled. Tears swell at the corner of her eyes.

His hand twitched. He felt he need to run and wipe the tears but he dismissed the feeling. "The agreement include your siblings."

As soon as she heard that, her face beamed with happiness. She smile from ear to ear. "Thank you."

The small corner of his mouth perked up slightly, unnoticed by other but one. His heart tickled as he saw that smile. 'It would be nice to see that smile again,' he thought.

Aretha looked at Maria. Her expression dropped. "Lady Maria, is it fine like this? Du— I mean, Sir Fred, he—"

Maria raised her hand. Her finger before Aretha's lip. "I will handle that matter. His Excellency himself came and requested for you. You should be honored to be able to follow His Excellency. Remember, he is your master now."

"I understand." Aretha nodded. She turned away from Maria and looked at Vladimir. Her face lit up with her smile. "Your Excellency, when do we depart?"

Vladimir stare at her face. "Tomorrow morning."

Aretha nodded. "I see. Then, I'll need to excuse myself first. I need to make preparation and inform my siblings."

Vladimir nodded. Aretha excuse herself and walked out of the room. Once again, the room was filled with an awkward silence.

"Your Excellency, would you—"

Vladimir stood up and strode off from the room, leaving Maria hanging with her word. A man with brown hair bowed to Maria and followed after Vladimir.

Rick wiped the sweat off his forehead. He trudged with cautious toward Maria. "My lady, will you be fine?"

Maria pinched her forehead. "Hah… Do I look like I'm fine?"

"My lady, at first you hesitate to give Ella to that man. Then, why did you change your mind?"

"The money, and my life."

"Is that why you hesitate? To increase the—"

"He was ready to erase my existence if I were to reject him. Why do you have so many question?"

"I apologize." He whispered in his heart, 'but I asked why did you hesitate in the first place, not the reason you agree…'

"Grab my pills. There will be repercussion from that side."

***

Few hours before Aretha came in.

The man with scar on his mouth stood in front of the desk. He laid a document on the desk. "My lady, there is a guest that would like to meet you?" Rick said.

"If it's another man that said they want to marry one of my girls, just kick them out."

"They said, if you don't mind offending Sergeyev, you can kick them out."

Maria slammed the desk. "Hah! Who did they think they are to use that name?"

"My lady, I don't think they're bluffing. You might need to check for your own."

"Where are they?"

"They are in the waiting room."

"Bring them here."

Rick nodded and took a large stride out of the room. Time ticking and a moment passed. Rick knocked and bring three good looking gentlemen with him. From head to toe, they radiate the elegance and pride of a noble. Especially one man. The most attractive and dangerous looking among the three. His dark purple hair and golden yellow eyes seems to remind her to someone, but, she never met this person before, so she shove that thought away.

"Please have a sit," Maria said. She didn't know who the three gentlemen was, but her intuition tells her that they are not to be underestimated. She thought in her mind, 'indeed' as soon as the man with dark purple hair sat, while the other two stood by his side. She moved from her desk and sat on the sofa, opposite of the man.

"I want a girl. Ella," the man with dark purple hair said.

"I'm sorry, but Ella is one of my treasure. She's too precious to me."

The man place a piece of paper on the table. Maria took it and when she saw what was written, her eyes widen and the corner of her mouth curled up. "To be able to offer this much money, I wonder what is the identity of our esteem guest."

"I heard your intelligence guild were the top when it come to information. Was that not it?"

Maria stilled. Her expression stiffen. A noble among noble with dark purple hair and golden yellow eyes. There was only one person that fit the bill. "Grand Duke Sergeyev?"

"At least you are not that oblivious." His gaze sent shiver to the one who lock eyes with him.

Maria knelt down on her knee. "It was due to my heedlessness that I failed to recognize Your Excellency."

"Enough. Just sit."

"Thank you, Your Excellency." Maria get up and sat on the sofa.

"I want Ella."

"Your Excellency might not know this, but, Ella is a dear child that I cherished the most. I could not bear to sell my own child." Tears trickled down on her cheeks.

The man with brown hair frowned. 'If the girl's so precious, why would she had to offer her body to other people for the sake of living. Hypocrite.'

"Triple the price," Vladimir said.

Maria contemplated in her mind, 'As expected from Eins Empire, their noble could throw such amount without batting an eye. The riches is tempting, but…'

"Don't challenge my patience."

Maria shuddered. The pressure in the air choked her. She was reluctant to let go of her golden goose. She pondered, why was it that girl that was sought after and not her, even though she was much more beautiful and seductive. However, the man in front of her looked as if he was ready to kill her if she was to refuse. In the end, she agreed with the deal.

"Lev." Vladimir glanced over his shoulder. The man with brown hair step forward. He placed another check on the table with a document. At the same time, Maria whispered to Rick to call for Aretha.

***

Lamiaceae Mansion.

A young man wearing a thick framed glasses stomped his feet back and forth. He bit his thumb finger and whined, "Sister, what is that man planning to do to you? He just appeared out of nowhere and suddenly want to bring you with him. He must be up to no good! Sister, should we just run away?"

Another young man wearing a neat white shirt and dark blue vest, grabbed the collar of the young man with thick framed glasses. "Cole! Calm down! You're going to make sister dizzy from watching you circling the room."

Cole flinched. He stared at the older girl sitting on the corner of the bed. Aretha giggled, amused seeing the boy's teary puppy eyes. "Peter's right. Calm down. Don't worry too much, nothing will happen, I promise. Plus, look at the girls, they don't seem worry at all."

"I believe in sister. Sister always had a plan," the shortest girl said.

"Diana is right. No matter what happen, we will always believe in sister." The girl in plain blue dress added.

Aretha chuckled. "You're right. Don't worry, that man, won't hurt us and he might be a key for us to get out of here sooner than we thought. For now, lay low. We don't have much information yet. Go and pack up your things, we will depart tomorrow. Cole… keep that thing in here." Aretha hand over a small pouch to the young man with thick framed glasses.

The five children trotted out of the room. Aretha walked toward the balcony of the room. The cold wind blew on her face. She looked at the scenery wished upon the moon in the dark sky, 'I hope we will never come here again.'

________________________

*Little Theater*

Lev : "Such disgusting people! Does they take a human life so lightly? My lord, this type of human should just be sent to the underworld. Ah! Don't forget the buyer. Birds of a feather flock together!"

Vladimir, who had just seal the deal : …

C.Udon : "Be cast in the same mould~"