'I am not dead. That's something?' Hellan was talking to herself as she left the guest suite. She was not really happy but she was mostly worried. The man might seem nonchalant now but he might decide otherwise. She wasn't sure whether the contract worked or whether it will fail. She hadn't specified anything when making the contract so nothing was set in stone. She exhaled audibly, fixed her dress and left the hallway heading back to the study. The Cresworth family was one of the many nobles in the Urum empire, an empire made up of three kingdoms and many noble families that governed independently of each other. It was an empire of convenience.
Like the man had said, Hellan was engaged to one of the kings. The king of the Golden valleys. A kingdom that governed the south eastern coastal ranges of the continent. Her fiancée was the first chosen of Keel. A clan of people who walk the night. They were not really the most loved among the nobles but for what they lacked in charm, they made up for in grit and fierceness. Hellan, although being a daughter of Rose, had such pitiful mana. So much so that the lady Rose didn't bother claiming her as one of her own. For a noble lady, for any lady, for any person in the universe, not earning your patrons' recognition was something shameful. Now Hellan's mana wasn't small or anything but when compared to her sisters she was nothing pretty to talk about. It was as if a nice road was compared to a highway filled with bypasses and underpasses. The road is pretty but it's nothing compared to the highway nest to it.
So like any normal lady, Hellan bathed with the best soaps, adorned herself in the best oils and perfumes. Wore the best jewels her family had, the best dresses the seamstress could make. And she learnt her dance steps, practiced them and perfected them. She also learnt how to put on a good smile, all this to hide her carefree nature. In the end, it paid up, a noble lady, unwanted by her patron, landed not a noble man, or a wealthy man but a king. She no longer had to try so hard anymore. In this realm, an oath taken before their patrons were taken seriously as it was a matter of life and death.
If her life was all rainbows and smooth flowing streams of odd success, then why did she summon the higher being? Like Hellan told the man, she really didn't know. But that wasn't her direct concern. She met a lady in the study sited in her chair reading her book. The lady had jet black hair like Hellans', and fair caramel skin. But that is where most similarities end. The lady was more curvaceous than Hellan, having a bigger bust and a tiny waist. Her eyes were green same as the tattoos that run from her neck all the way through her shoulders and opened up to a green rose on her palms and a bigger green rose on her chest. Her dress had a big enough cleavage to show most of the rose tattoo even though it was smack right between her mountains.
'Sister? I didn't see you there' She started with a voice so soft and sweet it was as if she was singing. This was a product of her green roses, gas hypnosis. Ever since she was blessed by the lady Rose, she became even more seductive and arrogant. She was also Hellan's little sister.
'Is there something you want from me? Sister' Another thing Hellan learnt by being the most powerless in her house, never talk back to someone stronger than you, even if your family. Her sister smiled the kind of smile that would make anyone put up their guard. She was still salty that Hellan landed a king end she was still alone. Hellan knew this so she always treaded softly with her.
'I heard you bought a slave' Her melodious voice sung seductively. It coupled splendidly with her devilish smile. 'Why do you needed one of those?' It was one of those moments where someone utterly dumb thinks she can score a nice pointer with someone who never cared to humour her.
'If you want one of your own you can go down to the market' Hellan flatly replied. Her sister, Alexandria had a disgusting habit of trying to take everything Hellan had. Alex almost dropped her smile.
'A soon to be married woman buying a man slave' She tapped her nose twice, a habit she picked up from wherever she picked her other dirty habits. 'What kind of message does that send to others hmmm' Her seductive voice become increasingly annoying when she secretly activated her ability. 'A daughter of Rose…I can't call you that. Somebody from the Cresworth family bought a sex slave home'
'What do you want sister?' Hellan was getting bored with this stupid game her sister thought she was mastering. Alex's smile dropped from her beautiful face.
'Tell the truth sister' She was no longer hiding the fact that she was using her ability.
'What truth?' Hellan feigned ignorance.
'Who exactly did you get as a slave? It must be some high ranking slave or he might not even be a slave…' Sometimes even ladies like Alex got a moment of brilliance but too bad she lost it immediately she got it. Hellan wanted to warn her sister about calling the man a slave to his face but then again she could let her sister taste her own medicine every now and then.
'…and then you placed him in a guest suite, treated him with the best kinds of medicine, got him good clothes, allowed him service from the maids.' Alex ranted on for a while and when her brain short wired she stared at Hellan as if she had a thought she could quite process.
'I believe I get to do what I want with what is mine. And if I say he is my slave, then he is my slave got it?' Alex was no longer looking or listening to Hellan. Instead she was looking past her. Hellan's spine froze over and with it every nut that held her body upright. She leaned on a shelf for support. She turned and regretted every word she had spoken to Alex. The man was still shirtless, and still had a look of annoyance. He looked at Hellan then at her sister then back at Hellan.
'You should teach your slave his manners. Seems they don't come as they used to' Alex said and Hellan's face turned pale. Of all the times to use her mouth she had to choose now. Hellan's body froze over. She turned to her sister and said in the iciest voice she has ever used.
'Leave Alexandria I haven't got the time for you' even though Hellan said this in a cold voice, she was hoping her sister would for the first time just shut her mouth and walk away before he angers men she should never cross and thank whomever gave Alex a brain because she put a look of disgust and walked out. Now it was Hellan and the man in the study. The second time in a day the met and a second time in a day Hellan wished the ground could swallow her whole
'So slave huh?' surprisingly his voice had no emotion. It was a simple normal voice. 'its new,' he chuckled. 'I've been called worse' he chuckled again. Hellan was visibly shocked.
'Next time you can say I am Shin okay?' And now, Hellan knew his name.
'Shin?' Hellan innocently asked. Then she snapped out of it and looked at the man. 'What are you doing here?'
'I felt your life in danger so here I am' Shin didn't bother looking at her as he spoke. 'I've told you before your chances of seeing your descendants are shorter than a rabbit's tail' He was looking around in the small study.
'You felt my life in danger?' Hellan had a lot of things she still couldn't understand. As a matter of fact, she couldn't understand anything Shin said.
'Was that your sister?' Hellan nodded her head. 'Tel her not to throw that attack at you anymore. It would truly be a shame if I killed her accidentally.' He muttered the last part. If he had anger on his face, it would be understandable but Shin said this with a normal voice, and a normal face. He picked a random book from the shelf and settled on a seat.
'…' Hellan had a small smile on her face. The man had said he came here when he felt her life in danger.
'But you are one unlucky lady. You can't even knock your little sister out. Truly pitiful indeed' And the feeling was gone when he opened his mouth and nothing but mockery came out.