"Do you realize how serious the situation is?" Marquis Booker asked his two children who were standing in front of him in his study.

When the Marquis heard of Baron Turner's visit, he immediately set off for his home. However, he still arrived too late. The Head Butler explained everything that he had heard, and Nicholas, Selena's younger half-brother, told everything that happened inside. Of Course, he told the truth. Never in his dreams, he would lie to his Father about something so serious.

"I can understand that what Baron Turner did infuriate you, but still, to throw a cup at him?" The Marquis spoke, with a slightly agitated tone.

"Dear, you can't blame the children for this. it seems that the vermin Baron came only after we both left the house. How could they stand a chance against a scheming adult like him. Like Father, Like Daughter I say... Humph!!" The Marchioness replied in anger as she sat in the study. She also heard what had happened and ran back home.

"I understand Selena, but Nicholas, couldn't you have intervened?" The Marquis replied as he massaged his temple, "Didn't I teach you to ask the troublesome guests to leave when we are not around?" As a Marquis, there would always be people who would try to visit their children in hopes that the children are immature and forge a deal with them. The Children of Nobility would have a special family seal with them that can give them temporary power if needed for emergency whenever the adults of the house were not around. However, some businessmen would try to meet these children and make a deal with them with buttered words to make them form a contract with the special family seal. It is law binding and legal, which is why the seal is only given to children who are competent. If the Baron had succeeded in coercing Selena, he could have made a contract with the family seal Selena had and the Marquis would have to drop the case regardless of his opinion.

"I-I..." Nicholas stuttered. He really did mess up. When the Baron came to visit Selena, the Head Butler immediately informed Nicholas for this very reason. However, he was beguiled by the Baron's words and ended up calling Selena down. By the time he realized his mistake, Selena was already there. Which is why he was quietly sitting on the Sofa with his head down.

"Father, I ask that you forgive brother. The Baron targeted me and he was just dragged along with me." Selena requested with her head down. She didn't have many expectations of Nicholas in this matter. He was inexperienced and pampered, while the Baron was old and cunning.

"Dragged along?!" The Marquis bellowed as he slapped the table. "He is your brother...!! When someone targets you, they are targeting the whole family. If we don't stand by your side in your time of crisis, are we even a family?"

Nicholas clenched his fists in agitation. For the first time in his life, he realized how useless he was. Being the future head of the family, he would be subjected to these kinds of people on a daily basis. But he could not hold on his own in front of a mere Baron to protect his elder sister. She fought her own battle and was even protecting him from their Father's wrath. How was he supposed to lead the family with such a worthless heart?

On the side, seeing the varying expressions on Nicholas's face, the Marchioness had a bittersweet smile. 'He is finally questioning himself.' She thought as she realized that this would be the turning point for her son.

"Haaa..." The Marquis sighed as he unclenched his fist and sat back on the chair. "Forget it, it was my fault for trusting that snake Baron Turner in the first place. To think, I once actually thought that his daughter would be a good match for Nicholas."

'He was planning what?!' Nicholas shuddered as he thought of marrying that vixen. He would rather be a celibate for life.

"Wow, your Father has so many books on Geography. Is he planning to be an archaeologist?" An annoying Voice sounded inside Selena's head amongst the chatter.

While the family was discussing the incident with the Baron, Soul was bored and was browsing the books kept in the Marquis's study with his Radar.

"As a Marquis, he is in control of a lot of lands. It is necessary for him to have books on the regions and their activities. Now stop bothering me." Selena remarked.

"Huh..." Soul ignored Selena's words and continued, "Were you aware that 60% of the West region's crops were exported to the Baron and that too at a 10% lower rate than other exports? How stupid and evil one must be to bite the very hand that feeds you."

"Sigh... To think I exported 50% of crops from my West region with a rate of 5% lower than normal to that dog." The Marquis sighed.

"60%..." Selena interjected.

"Huh?" The Marquis lifted his head.

"You exported 60% of the West region's crops at a 10% lower rate than normal to Baron Turner." Selena spoke amidst the rant of Soul which confused her for a second.

"Wha--- I... You are right...!!" The Marquis's eyes glowed as he stared at Selena.

"What?" Selena finally snapped back to reality and realized what she just said.

"Daughter, since when have you been checking the accounts?" The Marquis asked with astonishment. He was pleasantly surprised. Checking all the records is a very hard job, even harder is crosschecking everything and keeping the important aspects in mind. There are many minor mistakes that are usually missed because of the lack of competent personnel who are trustworthy. If his daughter was capable enough, she could help out.

"I-I..." Selena froze. She didn't expect this to happen. She just made a casual remark after hearing it from Soul and told her Father when he said the same thing erroneously. But before she could explain, the Head Butler knocked on the door and came in.

"Pardon my intrusion Marquis, but we got a situation." The Head Butler spoke hurriedly.

"What's wrong?" Marquis asked as his brows furrowed.

"T-The Baron... Baron Turner is back." The Head Butler replied.

"Good...!!" The Marquis stood up as he clenched his fists in rage. "Now that it has come to this, I might as well beat him up some more. If I swell his face a bit more, maybe it will hide the bruises from Selena's teacup."

"Dear, make sure to give him a good kick from me too." The Marchioness harrumphed.

"Th-That, my lord..." The Head Butler tried to say something but was interjected by the Marquis.

"Bring him inside. I will make my way over once I find my brass knuckles...!!" The Marquis bellowed.

"Th-That's... the Baron is refusing to come inside." The Head Butler said but before he could say more, he was interjected again.

"What?! So he knows he will get beat up. But he underestimates me. Does he thinks I won't hurt him outside in front of others?" The Marquis had reached his boiling point. One could see fumes coming out from his head.

"WHERE IS HE?!" The Marquis shouted.

"That's..." The Head Butler gulped down before continuing, "He's in front of the gate... kneeling."

"SO HE IS IN FRONT OF THE GATE? GOOD, LET ME GET MY--- Wait, what did you say?" The Marquis thought he had misheard.

"That's... Baron Turner is kneeling in front of our gate, and he keeps banging his head down asking for our apology as loudly as possible." The Head Butler replied.

Silence... There was pin-drop silence in the room. It was within this silence, that they finally heard the Baron's loud wailings.

"My lord...!! Please forgive me...!! I was wrong...!! I will do anything to make it up...!! But, please, give me one more chance...!!"

The Crowd was stunned. One must know that as a Marquis, Selena's Father had a big estate. The Main Gate of the estate and the Front door of the mansion had a distance of two football fields. How loudly must the Baron be screaming to have the voice reach to them?

"What's this? What's he doing? Why is he screaming? Did I already beat him up?" The Marquis asked in a confused manner. The man was screaming as if he would die if he did not get any help. Just this morning, the Baron visited with a prideful demeanor. He left infuriated as if Selena had murdered his parents and now, he was pleading for mercy as if the Marquis was a God. It was proper for them to be confused by the scenario. What is this, a roller coaster? If it is, it is a very frustrating one, give me refunds...!!

"Maybe... we should check it out first." The Marchioness replied.

"Right, you two stay here. We will be back soon." the Marquis replied as he opened his drawer and took out a pair of brass knuckles, just in case.

After they left the room, only Nicholas and Selena were in the room.

"She was right?" Nicholas blurted as he stared at Selena with shock. He was scared stiff by the scenario. His sister had told him not to worry and claimed that the Baron would return and bow before their Father by the end of the day, and that's what exactly happened. How did she know how the Baron would react? How did she plan all this? Nicholas's thoughts kept racing but were stopped when Selena turned to him and spoke with a smile so cold, that hell would freeze over.

"I am going to my room now. Let me know when Father returns."

Nicholas's heart almost stopped. It was like being stared by Medusa. Forget Medusa, even she would apply for an apprenticeship under Selena. He barely was able to nod after which Selena left the room.

Nicholas's knees gave out as he dropped to the floor. After thinking about it, Nicholas realized only he knew how much of a schemer his sister was. 'Was I really poking a wolf all this time?' he shuddered. Now it seems to him that he got off easy when his Father beat him up. Selena was capable of much worse and he knew that now.

'But maybe...' Nicholas thought, 'Maybe if I can get on her good side, I can also benefit greatly.' Nicholas had the blood of a businessman running through his veins, like his father. He immediately thought of turning a crisis into an opportunity. While thinking about it, he suddenly had an idea and ran off from the room.

***

At the front gate of Marquis Booker's manor. A ragged middle-aged man was on his knees with his head on the ground. The Crowd outside couldn't help but stop and stare at the sight. Gossip flowered among them as they pieced together on what was happening.

"My lord...!! My daughter made a horrible mistake... and she deserved to be punished!! But surely you won't let the common people suffer because of this."

Even when pushed into a corner, the Baron didn't stop scheming. But frankly speaking, he had no choice. He was bankrupt, his fame was in the gutter and a Duke was after him. If he had any chance of survival, it was Marquis Booker. He knew that the Marquis cared about the common people, which was one of the reasons why the Marquis sold him crops at a discounted rate. By saying that their conflict would harm the people, he was trying to gain sympathy from both the crowd and the Marquis. He was also using the crowd to pressurize the Marquis. Once a shameless bastard, always a shameless bastard.

"What a good man you are, Baron Turner...!!" A loud sarcastic voice came from the gate.

The Baron jolted at the commanding voice but did not lift his head. He knew he had to lick the dirt if he had to appease the Marquis.

"Maybe you should have thought of that before trying to hoodwink me." The Marquis roared frightening the crowd. One should know that every male Aristocrat has to join the army for at least one year to train their mentalities. But unlike others, Marquis Booker was part of the military for 4 years and even took part in a war. The training had sculpted his aura to a very sharp level. Just his presence was enough to scare many people, let alone shouting at them.

The Baron trembled at the Marquis's might, but still managed to squeeze out a few words.

"My lord, I admit I failed to control my family. But my land is in crisis. If nothing is done, the people in my land could lose their homes and everything else as well. I beseech the Lord to please help me in regards to our old friendship and the well being of our people."

"What happened...?" The Marquis asked with his brows furrowed.

"I-It's Duke Rant. He is after me for unknown reasons. I ask that you please help me calm his rage and talk to him. He has already taken away most of my wealth and is currently after my lands too."

Shameless, that word describes the Baron perfectly. He knew very well why the Duke was after him. He broke the Duke's record Crystal which the Duke has bought for 1/10th of his estate. By pulling the Marquis in this incident, he was planning on implicating him too. This way, he could probably save some of his estates by making the Marquis pay instead of him. But the downside would be that the Duke would target Marquis Booker as well after this. The Duke would think that he was dragged in a pointless fight after seeing the Marquis and the Baron on the same side. As a Duke, he would use his authority to harass the Marquis and others. As they say, misery loves company.

"I..." The Marquis seemed to have calmed down a bit by this. He cared for the people and the Baron was right, they were indeed old friends, maybe the scenario was not as harsh as it had seemed, the Marquis was beginning to think. But before he could tell the Baron to stand up, a pig-like voice came from behind him.

"Father...!! Don't listen to that Bastard...!!"

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