《The Retribution of the Ice Cold Maiden》09-Is this deal acceptable to you?
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"What happened?" Soul asked as he detected something was wrong when Selena removed the ring after changing her clothes.
"Patricia's Father, Baron Turner is here to visit me." Selena explained as she made her way to the Drawing Room.
"Baron Turner? Visit you? Shouldn't it be your Father?" Soul asked. He had read about Baron Turner from Selena's memories. Since a Baron was ranked lower than a Marquis, it goes without saying that Baron Turner's influence was much lesser than Marquis Booker. In fact, the land which the Baron controlled relied heavily on imports from Marquis Booker's controlled region. It was due to these business transactions that Selena and Patricia became acquainted as the Baron would usually bring Patricia to play with her.
"The Marquis is currently out for work, and the Marchioness has also gone out. Only me and Nicholas are here to greet him." Selena replied.
"Both of them? Does this mean that the Baron came at this time on purpose? That's low." Soul sneered.
"What do you think his plan is?" Selena asked.
"Plan? What plan? I bet he is here to beg for mercy." Soul replied.
"No, he's not. An aristocrat like him will not bow to the next generation despite their rank unless they are Royalty."
"What? It can't be. His daughter is one of the perpetrators of this incident, how can someone be so shameless----"
Creeaakk....!! The doors to the Drawing Room were opened and a middle-aged man could be seen talking to the Head Butler. The man had a thin but fit body. He had mutton chops and a Handlebar mustache. Unlike Soul expected, he had a haughty demeanor and prideful look and had an upright posture.
"Okay, you didn't have to slap me this hard." Soul replied bitterly as he realized he was completely wrong.
"Head Butler Swanson, I will take it from here. Please arrange for some refreshments for our guest." Selena said as she walked into the room. She made an expressive nod, which combined with her newly gained acting skills managed to send a message to the Head Butler, 'Contact my Father.'
The Butler immediately got the message and replied with a bow, "Of Course, my lady." He quickly ran off to find someone to contact the Marquis.
After the Butler left, Selena gazed at a certain piggy in the room. It seems even he had to come to receive the guest. However, as soon as Selena entered, he pulled his head down not even daring to look at her.
"That's a good piggy." Soul chuckled.
Finally, Selena looked at the Baron who was much taller than her. He looked down at her with a dominant stare. Selena responded to that by looking directly into his eyes without changing her expression.
A struggle to grab the initiative had already begun before any words were spoken. But because the Baron was not expecting Selena to look at him so emotionlessly, he shivered being stared at by the Icy cold eyes of the maiden.
"How can I help you today, Baron Turner?" Selena asked, after making sure she had taken the initiative.
The sentence broke the Baron's concentration and he ended up avoiding her eyes.
"Ahem... I wish to speak to you..." the Baron replied as he took a seat.
"Okay, please sit..." Selena spoke but interrupted herself and said, "Oh, you already took a seat."
"Cough, Cough...!!" The Baron almost spit blood. Usually, a guest would only sit down after the host asked them to. It was a sign of respect. Baron sitting down before the host told him to was a blatant disregard to Marquis's Manor. He didn't expect a little girl with no power like her would point it out and embarrass him like this.
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Even Nicholas lifted his head in shock. He stared at Selena as if she was a different person. 'Wasn't sister a quiet person? Where did she get the guts to mock a Baron? Ah...!! It seems almost dying has changed her. That explains it.' Nicholas pondered as he came up with his own explanation.
To be fair, he was not that far from the truth. Selena almost killing herself was due to the bangle she wore, but the incident along with Grant's betrayal made her realize that people do not leave you alone if you do not bother them. In fact, they will trample you just because they can. This cruel truth made her kick off her instinct for survival. She decided to not show the world any mercy because she knew the world will show her none.
"You...!!" Ignoring the Baron's frustration, she took a seat opposite to him. Nicholas sat on the Sofa in between the chairs and looked left and right as if he was watching a very intense tennis match. The Baron suppressed his rage as he spoke again with obvious sternness in his voice.
"I came to speak to you about... the incident."
"Oh...?" Selena had a puzzled look, "Which incident are you referring to?"
"You...!!" The Baron almost fainted from anger. 'What do you think I am here to talk about? The weather? The weather sucks...!! Because it is currently raining hellfire on my manor thanks to this incident.' He complained inwardly trying not to lose his composure and say these things out loud.
"I am here to make a deal with you." the Baron got straight to the point, dropping all formalities.
"A deal? What kind of deal is Baron Turner bringing to me?" Selena replied calmly.
"It's like this..." the Baron cleared his throat before speaking some more, "What's done is done. Young Master Grant and my daughter are already in love. I hope you will speak out to forgive them in public and give them their blessing. It is not a big deal anyway, these things happen. You are still young, I am pretty sure you can get someone else to marry you with the Marquis's influence. There is no point in dragging all three manors' names through dirt for this."
"You...!!" It was Nicholas this time who was enraged. It was one thing to strike a deal with Selena, but to insult the Marquis manor on top was a direct insult to his Father. He would not take it. But before he could speak more, Selena shot him a glance, and he immediately sat down like a good piglet.
Selena turned to the Baron, still expressionless which made the Baron hard to guess what she was thinking.
"A deal has two sides gaining something Baron Turner. So far, I am only hearing what you have to gain." Selena replied calmly.
"Of course, the Baron manor is willing to compensate, and I have talked with Marquis Johnson too. He is also willing to compensate for the matter to the Marquis manor." Baron Turner replied confidently.
"Is this deal acceptable to you?"
"I see..." Selena responded, and after a second of wait, she said, "Please allow me to think about this, while you wait, please enjoy these refreshments."
At Selena finished speaking, the room door opened and a maid brought in several refreshments.
The Baron and Nicholas were a bit stunned by the timing. But they calmed down after thinking it was a mere coincidence.
While drinking the served tea, Selena glanced at the Baron. He had a calm expression.
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"This isn't right..." Soul spoke to Selena. "Why is he so calm despite the pit he is in? It's true that he has Marquis Johnson's support too but he is also in the same pit, and both cannot get out on their own even by standing on one another's shoulders."
"Perhaps, they have a rope that we are not aware of." Selena responded.
"A rope? You mean someone is helping them?" Soul asked.
"I think so... Soul, can you extend your radar and search the Baron's body?" Selena asked after pondering a little.
"I can, but next time, you better ask me to do the same with a beautiful lady." Soul responded.
"Your tastes are weird..." Selena felt a bit nauseated by his response.
"Whatever, I don't have a body, I will take what I can get." Soul responded and then turned his attention towards the Baron.
He took a deep breath and said, "No homo...!!" before extending his radar on the middle-aged man.
After a minute or so, Soul responded to Selena.
"Hey, I think I found something. It is a tiny object. It is emanating similar energy to that bangle but it does not feel as malicious."
Selena was alarmed. Another magic object? "Let me see...!!" Selena demanded quickly.
"Okay..." Soul replied and with a swoop, Selena's gaze zoomed into the left shirt pocket of the Baron where a Crystal lay in it.
"That's... a record Crystal." Selena claimed as she recognized the object.
"Record Crystal? What's that?"
"It is similar to your radar. It records everything, whether visual or audio within a set radius depending on the strength of the Crystal." Selena's eyes sparkled as she replied. "This is the rope that will get them out of the pit. He is not here to make a deal. He is hoping for me to fly into a rage with the absurd demands and record my behavior to use it to prove that Grant was right when he said I was a jealous woman who easily flew off the handle and made a scene."
This is why he came when the adults of the house weren't present.
"So, it's like a Spy Camera? Is it something easily obtainable?" Soul asked.
"Of course not. It is a rare magic item and the only ones who could afford it are the Dukes and the Royal Family." Selena frowned.
It is now obvious that the reason why Marquis Johnson and Baron Turner were so confident because someone was backing them. But why would someone help them? Was it the same person who sent over the bangle, or is there someone else altogether.
"I don't think it is the bangle guy. He must have heard by now about the incident and since he was the one who supplied the bangle, knows the true reason for your actions. If he is smart enough, he is probably laying low." Soul said, after some thought.
"So it is someone else? But why?" Selena pondered.
"My guess is that the duo approached this guy of their own initiation and paid a hefty price to borrow that Record Crystal."
"Hmm... considering the plight both families are in, that does not sound farfetched." Selena answered.
"So, how does this Crystal work? Can the recorded visions be edited?" Soul asked as he still examined the Crystal.
"Of course not. If it was possible, they wouldn't demand such high prices. But The Crystal can be turned on and off by sending some magic into it. You don't even need to use hands to pass the magic. So, the Baron is still waiting for me to fly off in rage before turning it on."
"I see, now that I look closely. It is really a beautiful little thing. I wonder if I can--- Ah...!!" Soul exclaimed as a crisp sharp noise rung inside Selena's head. She almost lost her grip on the cup but steadied herself before anyone noticed.
"What happened?!" Selena asked angrily.
"I... I think I broke it." Soul replied sheepishly.
"You broke it?" Selena was taken aback.
"Yeah, I... I just went closer to take a better look but when I tried entering my radar inside the object, it made that sharp noise, and the energy it emanated is gone. I can't feel it anymore."
"This..." Selena was truly surprised. She did not expect Soul to have the ability to disable magic items. So far, Soul could only observe the world and interact with Selena, but this ability meant that Soul is also capable of interacting with the world. So far, this kind of magic doesn't exist in the world, if someone knew about Soul, they would be hunted to the ends of the world to get their hands on this unique magic.
Selena calmed her mind and looked at the Baron. He was still drinking his tea casually. It seems he was not aware that the Crystal was disabled. She sighed in relief and reprimanded Soul. She also barred Soul from using this power without her permission. Soul agreed in a disgruntled manner.
After dealing with Soul, she told him to keep an eye out on the Baron's actions, as she turned her attention to the Baron and spoke.
"I have thought about what you said."
"Oh?!" the Baron's attention went towards Selena.
"If I recall correctly, you said that your Turner Manor will compensate me?" Selena asked as she had her cup filled with piping hot tea.
"Of Course, we will make sure to compensate you properly for this." Baron replied arrogantly.
"Compensate me properly?" Selena chuckled lightly as she took a sip, then looked directly at the Baron with a cold smile and replied.
"Are you worthy of that?"
"You...!!" The Baron exploded in anger. However, if one looked closely, he had a small smile on his lips. He sent a sliver of his magic energy towards his chest.
"Ah...!! He's trying to activate the Crystal. Too bad, it is already broken. But he doesn't seem to notice it." Soul spoke as he was carefully observing the Baron's actions.
The Baron spoke between his gritted teeth. "Whatever do you mean, my lady." He talked in a meek manner this time because he would also be recorded in the crystal and he wanted to appear as innocent as possible.
"What do I mean?" Selena observed her cup as she spoke. "Your Manor's finances are one-tenth of my Father's Manor. Not to mention, your region heavily relies on my Father's support. Do you think that your manor would survive the financial crisis if my father immediately stopped exporting to your region?"
"You...!!" Baron Turner was livid. Of Course, he knew his finances were less than the Marquis. He also knew his business would take a hit in the future. Even if the Marquis does not care about his daughter so much, his manor was still insulted due to this incident. He would stop the exports regardless of the result. Which is why he and Marquis Johnson approached Duke Rant. The Marquis paid a huge amount of money to get the Duke on their side, but since the Baron was not as rich, he could only shift his imports to the Duke. Of Course, the Duke made such an unfavorable deal with him that his profit from the market would be in pennies, but hoping that Patricia will marry Grant and allow the Marquis to send some of his business to his region, he reluctantly agreed. It was the Duke who gave them the record crystal to borrow, and he would be waiting in the Royal Court for the Baron to bring in the evidence.
"So, I will ask again, are you worthy of compensating me?" Selena asked, with a haughty stare.
The Baron was trembling from head to toe in anger, but he knew it was not the time to fly into a rage.
Meanwhile, Nicholas had already dropped his jaw and it went off on its own adventure. He could not believe the situation before him. He thought at most, Selena would refuse him and ask him to leave. But he did not expect her to butcher the guy alive. How brazen and cold-hearted one must be to casually slice someone to pieces like that.
But that was not the end of it. What happened next almost gave Nicholas a heart attack.
A Cup flew across the room and struck the Baron's face, shattering on impact.
"Gaaahh....!!!" The Baron screamed as sharp pieces cut his face and some small pieces even lodged themselves in his face. He was lucky to have his eyes closed otherwise there was a good chance that he would have been blinded. Not to mention the scalding hot tea that was in it. He was currently in hell.
"What the hell...!!" The Baron screamed at Selena, his eyes bloodshot from rage.
"Ah..!! I am sorry. My finger slipped." Selena looked apologetic.
The Baron and Nicholas almost fainted from that comment. Your finger slipped? How does that make a cup fly across the room? Did you think we were stupid?
However, before the Baron could respond, Selena got up from her chair and spoke as she made her way towards the Baron.
"What's done is done..." Selena started speaking.
"Your face is already damaged. I hope you will speak out to forgive me in public and give me your blessing in the future..."
It took a second for the Baron and Nicholas to understand what was happening. She was repeating the Baron's exact words back to him.
" It is not a big deal anyway, these things happen..."
"You are old now anyway. So you don't have to worry about getting married. There is no need to drag our manors through the dirt for this."
"You...!!" The Baron could hardly get a word out. As the lady approached him, the anger inside him was slowly turning into fear as a shiver was sent down his spine and he looked at her as if he was looking at the devil.
"Of course, the Marquis manor is willing to compensate..." Selena was now extremely close to the Baron. She lifted his head with her finger and made him stare into her icy cold eyes, and then she asked with a face, void of any expressions and a tone void of any emotions.
"Is this deal acceptable to you?"
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