Anders and the three ladies planned to watch more performances in the Patron Bar. In between performances, the ladies kept asking Anders questions and he let it slip that his family was the owner of the cinema.

That information made the three ladies' eyes shine. Then they straightforwardly asked if he was a noble because of his last name.

“As I’ve said, my son is a very powerful wizard and due to his power and age, the city of Zalnothel awarded him the title of a Baron and our family the last name of “Sunder”. Our family’s ability to earn coins was because of his power too including the movies that you see in our theater.”

“Your family must be very rich now?” Belue asked and Anders just smiled.

After that conversation, the three ladies excused themselves saying that they needed to go to the lady's room so when they stood up, he stood up as well. It was one of the noble courtesies that was taught to him by Anton’s tutor back in Zalnothel.

Anders spent a few hours a week learning etiquette from the tutor unbeknownst to everyone. His purpose was to not embarrass himself and his family when he was personally dealing with those who were nobles and there were a lot of those before they left the city.

The three ladies returned soon but Norma and Belue said their goodbyes. Selena stayed saying that she wanted to watch more performances and she directly asked Anders if he was willing to accompany her in watching a couple more performances.

Another bard went up to the stage and after that performance, Selena talked to him about her and the other two ladies situation.

Selena told him that the three of them were daughters of fallen nobles and even though their families retained the title, they were now penniless because of different situations that happened to their family.

“What kind of situations?” Anders asked.

“The usual. Like falling because of a rival’s machinations or simply failing in the huge business that they gambled their entire wealth on. In my case, my father was a chronic gambler who spent the family fortune and he was then later murdered by the people he owed money to. I’m just glad that those people didn’t touch the remaining family members and I’m thinking that they probably squeezed enough wealth from my father before they killed him,” Selena said.

“I’m sorry. Are you now in some kind of business here in Amelia?” Anders asked after a few seconds.

“The only family members left are me, my sister who is eighteen this 43year, my brother who is ten, and our remaining retainer and guard who stayed in the family due to loyalty or maybe because he was just too old to find work somewhere else and we’re the only ones he considers his family. We’re now living in a rundown house since we needed to sell the family manor to pay off my father’s remaining debts. My mother died a few years after my brother was born,” Selena smiled then paused a bit to drink her tea then she continued.

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“I’m here not because of business. I’m here to find a rich husband to lift our family name up or at least allow us to survive and Norma and Belue are the same. I could do something different like start from scratch and work but women in my situation are very precarious. When I started a regular job as a governess, I was harassed by the patriarch so I left immediately. It kept happening and at my very low point, I considered prostituting myself since that was usually the conclusion that most in my situation happen but I still have my pride so I joined the plan that Belue concocted of joining this trip to find a noble or a rich merchant. We were thinking that we would be lucky if one of them took us as their mistress.”

“I’m rich and a widow and once we reach New Drennor, our family will be richer,” Anders suddenly said and he wondered why he said that.

“Why do you think Belue and Norma left? I’m tired can you take me to my room?” Selena said then she stood up.

Anders escorted her until they reached a single room. Selena invited him to her room and Anders followed the girl. He knew why he said what he said earlier. He wanted the companionship of a woman and Selena was beautiful.

“Is your son going to be alright with this?” Selena asked after closing her door and Anders didn’t answer and just kissed her.

After a couple of hours, Selena asked while they were both lying in bed.

“I’m still worried about your son.”

“From now on you are my woman and Anton will obey me. It’s time for dinner. Let me help you pack up and follow me to my family suite. You will live with me in my room until we reach New Drennor and once we purchase a manor in the city, you will live there as my woman.”

Anders helped Selena pack her things then he carried her two huge suitcases and brought her to the suite. Selena obediently followed him. Anders didn’t know if he was doing the right thing but to be honest, he was a little happy and excited. He felt young again and was ready to face the world again.

When they arrived at the suite, everyone was in their room so he called everyone.

“Father, we’ve been waiting for you so we can go to the dining room,” Anna said then she stopped when she noticed her father carrying two suitcases with a beautiful woman by her side.

“Everyone, this is Selena. From now on she’s my woman and treat her with respect,” Anders announced.

Anders saw Anton’s jaw dropping when his son heard his announcement but after a pause, he was congratulated by his son and Anton welcomed Selena. Everyone welcomed her as well but as expected they were still reserved.

Anders asked Frederick to move from his room to Devon’s room and Colin would then sleep in the living room. The mage then transferred his belongings to Devon’s room but Colin’s things remained there as well since he would only be sleeping in the living room. Anders then put Selena’s things into his room.

After that, instead of going to the dining hall, Anders called Harun and asked Anton to give the man some Kraken Tentacle to be cooked for their dinner instead of them going to the dining hall.

While they were waiting for dinner, Selena told everyone her situation and soon, the girls were crying. Anders saw that his son was calm while observing Selena so he called him to talk to him in his room.

“Son, I’m sorry to surprise you about Selena. Are you angry at me?”

Anders saw his son smile and that relieved Anders a bit.

“No, Father. I’m glad that you found someone but as you know, we still don’t know anything about your new lady. I will respect her but it will probably take time before I’m comfortable with her. You don’t need to worry about Anna and the others though since Selena knows how to handle herself.”

Anders expected that and he wouldn’t fault Anton. He did not know what the future would hold but for now, he planned to strive for him and his family to be happy.