Chapter 3

"If I don't deal with this venomous woman tonight, then I'm not Harvey!" Harvey shouted.

I sat up and arched an eyebrow.

Well, speak of the devil.

I scrambled up and swung the door open.

Outside, a mob of forty or fifty servants crowded the courtyard, all gripping clubs and looking downright menacing.

Harvey was being hauled around, his face puffed up, his mouth crooked from my earlier punch, still ranting at the top of his lungs.

"Helena, you'd better watch out. Tonight, I'll show you who's really in charge at the Duke's Manor," he bellowed.

I leaned against the doorframe, watching him with cool composure, completely unbothered.

"So, Your Grace, is this... revenge?" I teased, raising an eyebrow.

"That's right," he shouted, waving his hand. "Go on. Beat her to death, and I'll reward you handsomely."

Dozens of servants brandished their clubs and charged straight at me.

I sighed, loosened up my wrists, and got ready for action.

Half an hour later, the courtyard was a total mess.

Dozens of servants were sprawled all over the ground, groaning and wailing in pain.

I stood among the pile of groaning bodies, fixing my gaze on Harvey.

He was slumped in an armchair, his eyes bulged like he’d seen a ghost.

I squatted down so we were eye to eye.

"So, Harvey, weren't you just saying you'd show me who's boss in the Duke's Manor?" I smirked.

His lips quivered. "Y-you..."

I reached up and popped his jaw out of place.

I said, "Remember this—starting today, the Duke's Manor is Davidson territory now."

"*****

Jessica wasn't going anywhere."

After puking her guts out that night, she shamelessly stuck around the Duke's Manor.

She put on airs, saying she was "too weak to walk," milking it for all it was worth.

Truth was, she showed up in front of Harvey every single day, making sure he couldn't pretend she didn't exist.

Today, Jessica whined, "Harvey, my head hurts."

Tomorrow, she'd moan, "Harvey, my chest hurts."

The day after, it was, "Harvey, everything hurts."

Harvey was so worried about her that he looked like he'd hand over his heart if it could ease her pain.

I just sat there, cracking sunflower seeds, watching the drama unfold.

That day, Jessica was at it again.

She leaned into Harvey's arms, tears streaming down her face.

"Harvey, does Helena not like me? Every time I come to see you, she just glares at me..." Jessica whimpered.

Harvey, feeling sorry for her, gave her a comforting pat on the back.

Then he shot me a glare sharp as a blade.

He snapped, "Helena, as the lady of the house, how can you be so jealous?

"Jessica is your sister, and she's not well. What's wrong with her staying at the Duke's Manor to recover? Is it really that hard for you to accept her?"

He put extra venom into the word "jealous," making sure I got the point.

I popped the last nut into my mouth and strolled over, taking my sweet time.

Jessica shrank even further into Harvey's arms, looking like a terrified little bunny.

Harvey sat up straight, waiting for me to admit I was wrong.

I walked right up to him.

I smacked him across the face without a second thought.

I only used a tenth of my strength.

Harvey was sent flying out of his chair, slammed into the wall with a loud thud, and then crumpled to the floor.

Jessica let out a piercing scream, huddled in the corner of the chair, her face pale.

I smiled at her so sweetly that it could kill, and Jessica looked even more terrified.

I pulled her up from the chair and ran my hand gently over her hair.

I cooed, "Jessica, don't be scared. You must've been startled. Come here, let me see if you got hurt anywhere."

Jessica went stiff, her lips pale. "H-Helena... I'm fine..."

"Good, that's all that matters," I said.

I held her hand, looking utterly sincere, and said, "Jessica, don't forget. We're sisters, and nothing runs deeper than family.

"No scumbag like him could ever mess up what we have."

Harvey scrambled up from the floor, clutching his face and roaring in outrage. "Helena. You dared to hit me again."

I didn't even bother to look back.

I kept gently stroking Jessica's hair.

"If that scumbag ever makes you cry again, I'll break his third leg for good," I murmured sweetly.

Harvey instinctively clamped his legs together.

"Y-you crazy woman! I'm going to cast you out!" he stammered, his legs trembling beneath him.

Jessica shivered, barely whispering, "No... just let me go..."

"No way," I replied.

I squeezed her hand even tighter.

"We finally get to talk, and I just can't bear to let you go," I said.

Jessica was speechless.

I patted Jessica's hand and then looked down at Harvey with a superior air.

"Harvey, I've been thinking, and you're right. Jessica's just too frail," I said.

Harvey shot me a wary look, clearly on guard.

I flashed him a dazzling smile and said, "So, from now on, while Jessica's here recuperating, you'll be bunking in the stables.

"And since you say I'm so jealous, I'll just bring in hundreds of concubines for you. That should fix it, right? Does that please you?"

"*****

The next day, posters were plastered all over Brightville."

The Duke's Manor was officially recruiting concubines.