Two years earlier;
Year 984, Imperial City, Kingdom of Polaris;
Nyssa stepped into the bustling guild hall of Everlasting Guild—a top 5 guild of the imperial city, pulling down her hood. Her dark hair glinted under the lantern light, and her sharp features turned more than a few heads as usual. It was a daily occurrence.
"Hey, it's Lady Valmont!" whispered one man.
"She's even prettier up close," another murmured.
By contrast, the burly men in the corner scowled. One of them nudged his friend and sneered, "Kael's sister, huh? Born lucky, that one."
"Bet she's never had to work hard for a thing," grumbled another, arms crossed over her broad chest.
Nyssa's lips curved into a polite smile as if she hadn't heard them. He adjusted the strap of her satchel and walked calmly to the reception desk. Behind her, the whispers continued, especially from the male adventurers.
"Can you believe it? His brother's the Theodore Valmont. The Adamantine rank, heir to the family, and a legendary realm adventurer to top it off. Almost every Duke out there with a daughter wants him as their son-in-law."
"I heard that even the King wants to marry off her son to Lord Theodore."
"Yeah, and look at her," someone snickered. "Underprivileged. Lowest rank there is."
"Well, she got the looks. She can easily woo a wealthy Noble."
Nyssa ignored the sting of their murmurs. She'd grown used to it. Instead, she approached the desk, her tone warm and professional. "Good morning. I'm here to process today's requests."
The clerk at the counter, a tall and lean woman with tired eyes, gave her a knowing look. "Good luck with that," she muttered, nodding toward the rapidly forming line.
Nyssa turned to see a queue of male adventurers already forming. Most of them were armed to the teeth, their weapons gleaming, but their expressions softened as they all vied for her attention.
"Nyssa, could you handle this for me?" a tall warrior asked, leaning over the counter with a smirk.
"Oh! And me!" chimed another, his mage robes swishing as he elbowed his way forward.
Nyssa's smile didn't falter. "Of course. One at a time, please."
She worked quickly, sorting through requests and stamping approvals. But the men weren't making it easy.
"You've got such delicate hands," a rogue commented, resting his chin in his palm as he watched her.
"Nyssa, you should let me train you sometime," a spear-wielding adventurer offered with a wink.
Nyssa chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm quite busy here."
The older clerks behind her exchanged exasperated looks. One leaned toward the other and muttered, "Every time. It's like they don't even see the rest of us."
"It's the world we live in," A colleague replied, shrugging. "Females are already rare, and beauties like her? Forget it..."
"Well, the only consolation for us is that she is too poor. Regardless of her social status, everyone knows that House Valmont doesn't have money, and even she had to work like a commoner, just like the rest of us..." another colleague added to her opinion.
"Nah, if anything, that is an advantage," the assistant of the guild manager, who was passing by with a list of documents in his hands, said as he continued to walk away without giving a proper explanation.
Nyssa continued her work without missing a beat, ignoring her colleagues' murmurs too. Since young, she was always taught to carry herself with dignity, no matter what others said—or how they treated her.
"Excuse me," came a soft voice from the back of the line. A young boy with a bow, his cheeks as red as his hair, stepped forward shyly. "Um… Miss… Can you help me with this quest form?"
Nyssa nodded kindly. "Of course."
The guild hall buzzed around her. Conversations overlapped, many of them circling back to the Valmont siblings.
A man whispered to his friend, "Isn't she just adorable? She is weak, she is from a noble household, yet helpless… It makes you want to protect her."
"Adorable? She's a dream," the friend replied. "If I could marry her, I'd never let her out of my sight."
Nyssa's pen paused for half a second before she resumed writing. The chatter was a constant reminder of the imbalance.
Men were the dominant force in society, not just because they outnumbered women nearly three to one, but because of their higher physical strength.
But that also gave women the right to have multiple husbands. However, especially in the Polaris Kingdom, a woman is only allowed to marry multiple men of the same house and carry the same blood, typically brothers, or sometimes, it could be an uncle and nephew…
"Thank you," the archer said, clutching his approved form.
Nyssa gave her a small bow. "Good luck on your quest."
As she left, another man stepped forward, this one brash and loud. "Hey, Nyssa," he said, slamming his form down on the counter. "You ever think about quitting here and joining a team as an accountant? Mine could use a pretty face like yours."
Nyssa's smile stayed fixed, but there was a glimmer of weariness in her eyes. "I'm happy where I am. Now, about your request…"
The man laughed and leaned closer. "You're a tough one to crack, huh?"
By the time the sun began to set, the line finally thinned. Nyssa stretched her shoulders, grateful for a moment's peace. But even as she tidied the counter, she felt the weight of the stares and the whispers following her.
Then again, this wasn't something special for her.
She adjusted her satchel again and prepared to leave, knowing that tomorrow would bring the same routine. Still, she carried herself with quiet grace. After all, she was still the daughter of the ancient house of Valmont, despite its current disgraced status due to its participation in a failed rebellion a couple of centuries ago.
However, just as she left her desk, a group of heavily armed warriors strode into the guild hall, their armor glinting and their expressions grim. Whatever chatter that was going around died instantly.
"Nyssa Valmont!" barked the leader, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek.
Nyssa stiffened but stayed composed. "Yes?"
"You're coming with us," he said, grabbing her arm without waiting for permission.
The clerks behind the counter stood in shock. "Hey, what's this about?" one of them protested, but the warriors ignored him.
"Wait—" Nyssa started, but the man yanked her forward. "Who are you all?"
The adventurers in the hall exchanged whispers.
"Looks like trouble for her," one muttered.
"Poor guy," another said. "But what can she do? She's just a pretty face."
"I wonder where Theodore was…" muttered the assistant manager, watching the scene from the first floor without any intention to intervene.
Nyssa didn't resist, though her heart pounded. She knew better than to cause a scene. The warriors dragged her outside, where a carriage waited. She was shoved inside without ceremony.
The ride was short, and when they arrived, Nyssa recognized the place immediately—her family home. The once-proud Valmont estate had fallen into disrepair, with vines creeping up the walls and windows boarded shut.
Inside, a woman awaited her. She sat on a velvet chair in the parlor, her jewelry glinting even in the dim light. Her sharp eyes locked onto Nyssa as she was pushed to her knees before her.
"Nyssa Valmont," she said, her voice as smooth as silk. "Do you know who I am?"
Nyssa met her gaze, refusing to show fear. "No, but I assume you're the one who ordered this."
She smiled faintly. "Smart. I'm Lyria White, president of the Royal Bank. And I'm here to collect."
"Collect?" Nyssa frowned. "I don't understand."
"Oh, I think you do," Lyria said, crossing her legs. "Your family has been borrowing money from the bank for generations. Your father, your grandfather, your great-grandfather—they all lived lavishly on loans they never intended to repay. And now, including interest, the total comes to 127 million gold coins."
Nyssa's blood ran cold. "That's… impossible. My brother would have told me if that were the case and—"
"Theodore? Yes, he took on the debt after your parents passed," Lyria interrupted. "But too bad for you that we received news that his party was wiped out by the Dragon Lord."
Nyssa's fists clenched. "That's impossible. You are lying."
Lyria's expression didn't change. "Do you think I joke around with someone like you when huge money is at stake here?" She crossed her legs as she rested one of her elbows on an armrest, letting out a smirk. "So, with that said, your brother is gone and you have to pay me, but you don't have that capability. Even if you sell your ancestral mansion, it won't cover the interests. Which is why I've decided to sell you."
Nyssa stared at her, stunned. "Sell me?"
"Yes," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "As a slave. You're weak, but your looks? They'll fetch a high price at auction."
Nyssa furrowed her brows in displeasure. "You can't do that!"
"Oh, but I can. The Royal Bank owns your debt. Debtors without collateral become collateral," Lyria said, unfazed. "Even the King can't cancel a debt one owes to the Royal Bank."
Before Nyssa could respond, the doors burst open. Soldiers stormed in, led by a young woman with shoulder-length silver hair and a regal bearing. These weren't normal soldiers, they were royal knights, the weakest in the 6-star realm. And the young woman herself is a 7-star warrior.
"Unhand her!" the woman commanded, her voice firm.
"Eve!" Nyssa exclaimed as if relief washed over her.
The warriors hesitated, glancing at Lyria for guidance.
Lyria sighed, leaning back in her chair. "The princess herself. What an honor. But this is a private matter, Your Highness. Even you can't interfere."
Eve glared at her. "Nyssa is under my protection. If you have grievances, take them to my father."
Lyria's smile turned icy. "Fine. Let's see what the royal family has to say about a public trial. You'll find I have the law on my side. And we'll see the His Majesty dares to use the power of monarchy against the Royal Bank."
Eve didn't reply. She simply gestured for Nyssa to follow her. "Come on. We're going to see my Father."
Nyssa hesitated but followed, her heart heavy with uncertainty.
An hour later, they reached the Imperial Palace, escorted by the royal knights.
The King's throne room was grand, with high ceilings and banners bearing the royal crest. The King, Alexander Veyron sat upon a gilded throne, her presence commanding despite her calm demeanor.
Eve stepped forward and bowed like a knight. "Father, I bring urgent news regarding Nyssa Valmont."
The King's gaze shifted to Nyssa. "The Valmont heir," he said thoughtfully. "I've heard of your family's troubles."
"Your Majesty, I—"
He raised a hand, silencing her. "You need not explain. Your forefathers served the Kingdom faithfully. If not for the sacrifice of their fame and igniting the flame of rebellion in the hearts of men, House Veyron wouldn't have sat on the throne. Their debt will not tarnish their legacy."
Nyssa looked up, hope flickering in her eyes. "Then… you'll help me?"
King Alexander Veyron smiled. "Not exactly for free. I offer you a solution. Marry five of my sons, except for the second one. He wouldn't accept it either way. Anyway… as long as you accept this proposal, the royal family will cover your debt as our dowry."
Nyssa's jaw dropped. "M-marry… all of them?"