Special Hunt

*Magnificent! You have directly and willfully acted to alter Xiao's story!*

Read the system window, a bit more enthusiastic than usual.

*You have unlocked your first depraved quest, congratulations!*

*Now that you have taken Fanqia away from the intended storyline, make her into your personal little harlot before the main character first meets her*

*Reward to be determined upon completion*

A small smirk formed on Edrick's face, either the coincidence was enormous, or him and this system really thought alike, whatever it was, that quest just happened to align with what he had been planning to do, because of course, although using Fanqia like the previous girls might have an effect on the protagonist, it would be naught but righteous fury at the treatment inflicted upon her.

That was much too tame of a possibility considering what Anoteros had at his disposal, he wanted to see some anguish and incomprehension, a swirl of emotions that left one utterly gobsmacked.

To this end, Edrick unfortunately had to slow down on the depravity for a little while, manipulation and rewiring was a tough, but satisfying gig.

The very next day after he first took Fanqia from her home, the girl had already tried to escape through a window, but alas, Anoteros had already instructed Linmin with making preparations before going to pluck her, so this measly attempt had ended in failure.

It was a washed and dressed up Fanqia that greeted Edrick at noon, making her sit right next to him.

Linmin had had to exert himself to get her to be presentable in front of his lord, but in the servant's eyes, it was all worth it, that Fanqia girl was exceptionally pretty, so much so that it was a wonder how no one else had ever tried to court her.

In fact, that beauty seemed somewhat supernatural as it somehow shined through even when she had been covered in grime and dressed up in what could only be qualified as a repurposed potato sack.

But her good looks and advantageous attributes were not what pleased Linmin, Edrick had ordered him to block off any exit, buy women's clothing in a particular size and gather various things ranging from trinkets to food from all over the place ahead of time.

He had not understood what it was for as his lord had yet to keep any woman around for more than two days, but it all made sense now.

'Thank the gods! He is settling down, this might just avoid a catastrophe' having been more than a little anxious due the countless crimes being committed inside this very residence and various attacks on his people, but if Edrick kept Fanqia around as his wife, then surely, at least one sort of crime would cease.

Whilst Linmin's good mood shined brightly, the girl, which had basically been kidnapped, was feeling deeply uncomfortable, there was no mystery about what kind of man the new town lord was, although no one could confirm what had happened to all the maids he had supposedly hired, the simple fact that none of them were to be seen around his residence was proof enough.

Anoteros just sat there, calmly eating and sometimes smiling her way with that kind smile of his, which only inspired dread.

She looked away from him and down at her plate, rabbit meat alongside regional vegetables, at home, she only ate scraps of vegetables and bread, only rarely meat which would have been gathered from the corpse of a sheep left behind by its owner most of the time.

This dish had spices and sauces though… An assortment of food, crystal clear water in a clean cup, the chair she sat upon was comfortable, and most of all, even if she ate it all, there was more to be served.

It was incredibly tempting.

'Resist… Resist… It's just food- Delicious food…' Fanqia had to stop herself from salivating, who knew what might have been hidden inside, she may be a country bumpkin and uneducated, but not entirely stupid, her father had spoken that ill-intentioned men could add a little something in food or drinks to have their way.

And truly, no one the girl had ever met or heard of seemed more ill-intentioned than Edrick Lucien Anoteros, the lord who had taken the former one's place without anyone hearing about it until he showed himself.

'He probably killed him and usurped his title… Bastard' even if the previous lord had been doing absolutely nothing and had not been well-appreciated for it, inactivity was certainly better than abject acts of evil.

But the food though…

"Are you not hungry, Fanqia? Feeling a little sick, perhaps?"

"No- No, I am fine Lord Anoteros, I am… Just not used to so much food is all" she swallowed her saliva.

"Oh, feel like you can't take it all in one go? Don't you worry, just eat a little at first, it won't be a waste, I'll eat what's left" spoke Edrick, his tone so awfully nice and kind that Linmin felt his spine trembling from discomfort.

"You will?"

"I will"

"Then… Since you already dug into your plate, why don't we switch? So it won't get cold…" not the best excuse she could have come up with, but Anoteros just smirked and exchanged their plates.

Fanqia, now certain that there should be nothing weird in the food, did not wait around to start gulfing it down like a wild beast, a rather amusing sight for Edrick, she was a bad actress, but quite a wary girl, that was good, it was always better when the resistance was good.

Once she was done eating her fill, Fanqia felt like passing out, never had there been so much food to eat, her stomach was surrendering against the sudden influx of nutrients to be broken down.

Linmin took her to the guest room once more, before coming back to his lord.

"My Lord, she seems to be a bit guarded around you"

"Way to state the obvious, Linmin" Anoteros rose from his seat.

"This operation is not a quick one… Ever went on a hunt?"

"No, I am always by your side"

"Shame, simply think long and hard about it then, continue to watch her, the marriage occurs in a few weeks" he casually stated.

"So soon? Will you be holding a ceremony, inviting anyone?" although one would typically require the assistance of an official of some kind to approve such an union, considering Edrick technical status as an Elt still and the fact that basically no one cared for who he might want to put in his bed, that could be skipped for now.

"No and no, I don't need anyone to bear witness to it, see it as something more symbolic… All that matters is that Fanqia believes that we are married, understood?"

"Understood"

Edrick began walking away but suddenly stopped, turning around with a grin.

"Although, the day after the marriage, invite whatever family Fanqia has, let them see her as a happily married woman"

"Very well"

Linmin bowed slightly and quickly moved to do as he was tasked, Anoteros simply walking back to his room to continue learning how to read and write.