"You shameless Lord! Orlando was diligent and loyal his whole life, yet you treat him like this..."
Olivia's voice trembled with rage, but before she could finish... "Slap!"
With a sharp sound, Link's palm landed heavily on Olivia's face, and her fair skin instantly became red and swollen.
Link's expression, however, was stern and devoid of pity. He grabbed her by the neck, lifting her off the ground.
"Ugh—" Olivia struggled painfully, her face gradually turning red from suffocation.
Choking for breath, she instinctively began to struggle, trying to gasp for a sliver of fresh air.
Isabelle, seeing this, was in tears, repeatedly kowtowing to Link and begging for mercy, her small face filled with terror and helplessness.
"It seems you know nothing of Orlando's actions."
Link released his hand, and Olivia fell to the ground, coughing desperately. Link then gently patted Olivia's swollen cheek.
"He attempted treason, secretly plotting to assassinate me. The evidence is conclusive, and his crime is unforgivable!"
"Ho-how could this be?! No, impossible!" Olivia was shocked, but even more so, she was filled with disbelief.
Link sneered and spoke again: "Now that Orlando is dead, as his wife and daughter, even if I spare you from the death penalty, as the wife and daughter of a traitor, according to the law, you must become slaves and endure humiliation. Think about it, with your beauty, you will surely make countless men drool, won't you?"
"No... don't..." Olivia's voice was weak and trembling, her eyes filled with despair.
She, of course, understood what would happen if she was sold as a slave.
With their mother and daughter's looks, they would probably be trained by slave owners and then sold into high-class brothels to serve nobles. Or they would be bought privately, becoming personal sex slaves, never to see the light of day again.
"Hahaha, don't worry! I, Link, have always been benevolent and will not sell you as slaves to be bullied. I will give you a good way to live!"
Link's laughter echoed in the study, but it was filled with sarcasm and cruelty.
Olivia and Isabelle, hearing this, had the glimmer of hope that had just ignited in their eyes instantly swallowed by the icy grip of despair.
Sure enough, Link's next words were: "Considering your beauty, I will give you a way to live—from now on, you will be my personal sex slaves, barely surviving in this world! Please me well! Hahaha!"
They knew that their fate was now completely controlled by this cold-hearted Lord... Link's expression was stern as he personally put heavy handcuffs and leg irons on Olivia and Isabelle.
The cold metal shackles clinked together, making a crisp yet chilling sound, as if it were fate's merciless pronouncement upon them.
Then, Link waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to escort the two to the dungeon beneath the Lord's Mansion.
Freedom? For them, it was now an unattainable luxury.
Even if these two harbored thoughts of escape, Link would never let them go easily, simply because of their identity as the wife and daughter of his enemy.
Even if he didn't take their lives, he would surely make them suffer torment and hardship in this dark and sunless place.
If he gave them freedom, what if they sought revenge?
Wouldn't that be playing with his own life?
First, he would imprison them here, letting this dark, damp dungeon, filled with the stench of decay, slowly grind away their arrogance and spirit.
Once they recognized their situation in despair and fear, understanding that they were nothing more than prisoners at his mercy, he would then properly train them, making them completely subservient.
Thinking of this, Link couldn't help but let out a series of gleeful laughs.
After dealing with Olivia and Isabelle, Lina also meticulously tallied Orlando's illicit gains over the years and reported the details to Link.
That Orlando was truly a wolf in human skin!
In just a few short years in office, he had extended his greedy tentacles everywhere, using his power to extensively embezzle and accept bribes.
In the bustling commercial district of Winterfell City alone, he had monopolized two entire streets of shops and properties.
Each property, when converted to gold coins based on its location, was worth at least 10, and some more than 20.
Roughly estimated, the value of these properties alone exceeded 500 gold coins, a sum that would ensure a common family's comfort for several generations.
And this was just the tip of the iceberg.
When Lina's subordinates pried open the iron door to the basement of Orlando's mansion, everyone was dumbfounded.
The jewelry, gold coins, and silver coins piled inside even formed a small mountain.
Orlando's extravagant lifestyle was a hundred times more lavish than that of Link, the Lord of Winterfell City!
Link looked at the list Lina handed him, listening to her account, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
This Orlando truly deserved his death.
A portion of this vast wealth might have been bribes from merchants, but ultimately, most of it must have been extorted from the common people of Winterfell City over the years.
Thinking of this, Link said in a deep voice: "Leave those properties untouched for now; they might have other uses later. As for all the jewelry, take it to the merchant guild to exchange for gold and silver coins, and then deposit all of it into the treasury. There must be no mistakes."
"Yes, My Lord." Lina respectfully accepted the order and turned to leave.