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Lilith looked at Aceon and Tiffi. “I don’t mind having more good people around us, but...” she paused for a moment and continued with a slightly saddened expression, “I hope we will not cause any inconveniences. As you know, we have a few noble families that do not like us enough to try to kill us.”

“The atmosphere here is pleasant. Even if I didn’t like the view of little girls dressed as maids with slave curses on them, they looked happy while trying to follow the adults.”

“I understand, Lord Aceon. I don’t have the means to remove their curse nor teach them appropriately. Playing around as a maid and having the maids act as their foster parents are the best I can do for them at the moment.”

*Sigh* “I saved them from the previous disgusting owner and gave them a place to live since their life was going to be worse in an orphanage because of the slave curse. Not to mention how they don’t remember their names.”

Aceon and Tiffi become amazed. The noble in front of them didn’t become swayed by the power of the nobility and remained kind and thoughtful.

Based on Vincent’s words, the two understood how he saved the three little girls, took them in, and now lets them enjoy their youthful days acting as maids without being forced to do a good job, hence playing as maids.

However, this also meant another thing. There were rumors surrounding Lilith’s previous husband. Some of them were how he was an illegal slave trader with connections to one or two orphanages.

These rumors raged for a few weeks until many ordinary, yet creative rumors about various topics suddenly surfaced all at once. Yet people do not forget when the bad rumors are forcefully changed to random ones.

.....

Aceon put one and one together and understood the situation more clearly now. He guessed why Vincent had done something, so war provocative to cause a bounty on his head.

“You killed your wife’s previous husband, didn’t you?” Aceon bluntly asked, shocking his daughter and taking Vincent, Lilith, and Kazumi by surprise.

[This is a problematic question.]

Similar to Kazumi, Lilith was worried about the complicated and dangerous question. Her heart raced while she looked at Vincent, acting as if he wasn’t overly shaken from such an abrupt question.

‘Should I lay out the truth?’ Vincent contemplated. ‘Well, here goes nothing.’

“Ahem.” Vincent cleared his throat before honestly saying, “I hope I will not look like a bad person in your eyes, but yes, I had to take care of him before more had to suffer because of him.”

Vincent frowned as he said, “I think you have already heard how Lilith was too sick to leave her home. The truth was different, however. He poisoned Lilith, and she had to live ten years of her life suffering in her prison called home.”

“But fortunately, my wife has recovered greatly.” Vincent held Lilith’s hand and continued, “I happily married Lilith, and one of my goals is to restore my wife’s prison as a normal home filled with life and good memories.”

Aceon and Tiffi became surprised to hear how far Vincent was willing to go to help Lilith recover.

Furthermore, hearing how much Lilith suffered lessened the blow of how Vincent killed a man out of anger instead of self-defense, like the assassins’ corpses he left on the ground for the soldiers to clean up.

Vincent looked at Aceon and Tiffi.

“The three little girls and the elf maid you already met were saved on that eventful day. Additionally, you have already met my wife of the demon race by now. She was tortured and on the brink of death when I saved her...” Vincent paused for a moment before continuing, “But I sometimes wonder if she is hiding her trauma from us.”

[The truth hurts, as many say. I hope the truth will not put us in a bad light as we technically killed a horrible noble and took his home, wife, and slaves.]

‘I think it was better to sugarcoat my words because Kazumi made me realize it was an unfiltered answer... both Aceon and Tiffi are staring at me now. It is making me feel uneasy to wait for their response.’ Vincent thought nervously.

“I saw her purplish skin under the hood with two pointed tips.” Tiffi blurted her thoughts.

“I thought you were the demon living in the mansion because of that intimidating mask. But to actually think you married a woman of the demon race.” Aceon looked at Lilith and continued, “I didn’t think a man like Vincent could make a woman happy.”

“Huh?” Vincent said in shock.

“Pa-pardon Lord Aceon, but what you mean?” Asked Lilith.

“I had a hard time with my beautiful and kindhearted tomboyish wife. I can’t imagine one man making many women happy.” Aceon bluntly said in their faces.

“My five wives are happy...”

“Five wives? By the dragon gods, are you okay? I can help with sheltering you for a day or two.” Aceon joked.

*Sigh* “Why are my women all strong. They would cut me to pieces if I did that.” Vincent joked.

“I am here, you know.” *Smack* Lilith said while playfully slapping Vincent’s shoulder.

The serious mood changed, and with it, the frowns on everyone’s faces vanished.

“Hahahaha.” Aceon burst laughing, surprising Tiffi, Vincent, Lilith, and Kazumi.

“No wonder the Blackheart family hates you so much. What happened must have been their work since they are known for their spitefulness.”

“But... why did you laugh? Aren’t you worried your family might be in danger because of me?” Vincent questioned.

“I had my run-ins with them, and I have learned what kind of people they are just because I support the king’s rule instead of the noble’s authority over the people.”

Vincent, Lilith, and Kazumi felt thankful that the Ponalis family and probably Aceon’s friend from the Milloween family were in the king’s faction instead of the aristocrat faction. The seven families might one day form a good relationship because of the fateful encounter with Vincent.

Aceon looked at Lilith and continued, “After I heard about the beautiful daughter of the Lionheart family marrying into the Blackheart family, we businessmen started to notice their exponential growth while the Lionheart family’s business gradually crumbled to the point of selling many things, including their right to the territory granted by the king.”

*Sigh* “It was a quaint village ten years ago. Now it has new buildings, unsavory entertainment, and even an arena with slave gladiators fighting to win their promised ten consecutive wins to become free.”

“I even heard there is one beastman of the hawk species with his proud wings cut off. He is famous for being the first gladiator to win nine consecutive times just to lose on the tenth match over five times now. Another interesting thing is how he falls on his knees and prays in front of his defeated opponent.”

“Prays?” Vincent and Lilith questioned at the same time.

“Yes, and he is the only one who does it even when the audience threw rocks at him at first. Now, Godwin of the hawk men is the strongest gladiator, and this act has become his image. The gladiator prays to the dragon gods and asks if he was entertaining enough for them.”

“He mysteriously losses his tenth match every time, right?” Vincent asked with a frown. He already thought the answer was yes.

“Yes. He always becomes impatient and starts the tenth match later that day. Many have become used to this. They would go and bet if today is the day Godwin is going to be the first gladiator to become free.”

[...] “...” Vincent, Lilith, and Kazumi felt unpleasant hearing how the small territory previously owned by the Lionheart family has become a place where suffering is the norm.

“Ahem.” Aceon cleared his throat and resumed on the previous subject.

“My trading company was one of the businesses in the Blackheart family’s sights. They requested me to pay a horrible percentage fee if I accepted. Both from clients they were supposed to send and any supplier that has joined or was taken over by them.”

*Sigh* “After I refused and was threatened that the worst was soon to come. I gradually lost many clients and suppliers.”

“Later, my daughter awakened before the academy started, and you all know the rest if I had more money... no. If the income that I previously had remained the same, I could have bought more expensive alternatives to help my daughter.”

Aceon revealed an angered frown and concluded, “They made my daughter suffer more than she should have, and now they tried to kill her. I hate the Blackheart family to my core, and their reputation is more bad than good so I will help in this alliance.”

Aceon grabbed Tiffi’s hand and held it reassuringly. “My daughter’s safety comes first. I will act casually and hide our arrangement. I can’t let my only family left suffer.”

Vincent extended his hand for a handshake. “Then let’s keep this alliance a secret until an emergency happens and the time to make it public arrives. That way, the Ponalis family will look like a partner in the new Lionheart hide and fur company.”

“You have a good head on your shoulder.” Said Aceon before standing up and shaking Vincent’s hand. “I expect a good future for both of us while keeping everything as a business partnership and occasional visits.”

“It is great we understood each other. ” Vincent responded with a friendly smile.