Changes At Ethan Manor!

The clearing was deathly silent. All eyes were fixed on the gruesome sight of Al's severed head lying in the dirt, his lifeless expression frozen in shock. The blood pooling around his body gleamed ominously in the sunlight. No one moved. No one spoke.

For a fleeting moment, some of Harry's men had dared to believe he might show mercy, that perhaps he would let Alfie and Madam Glenda go. But Harry had shattered that illusion with a single, decisive strike.

"Why are you all just standing there?" Harry's voice cut through the stillness, calm yet laced with an undertone of command. His dark eyes swept over the gathered soldiers and servants. "Feed Madam Glenda the wine. She is my stepmother, after all. It would be poor etiquette to keep her waiting."

The men hesitated, their faces pale, until Harry's gaze lingered on them, sharp and expectant. "Now," he added, his tone chilling.

"Yes, my lord," one of the servants stammered, snapping to action.

Several of them approached Madam Glenda, who was bound and trembling, her face a mask of sheer terror. Her muffled cries grew frantic as they grabbed her, forcing her head back. The pristine white jug of wine gleamed in the light as they tipped its contents into her mouth.

She fought desperately, but they were stronger. Her struggles only grew more frantic as they clamped her jaw shut, forcing her to swallow every last drop of the poisoned wine. They held her until the liquid was gone, then released her roughly, letting her crumple to the ground.

---

The silence returned, but only for a moment.

Madam Glenda's body began to convulse violently. Her eyes bulged, her face contorted with agony as she let out a guttural scream. The sound was raw, inhuman, and sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

Harry's expression remained impassive, though his sharp eyes betrayed a flicker of curiosity. He watched intently as the poison took its toll. Glenda clawed at the ground, her fingers digging into the dirt as her body twisted unnaturally. Her screams echoed, mingling with the gasps of onlookers.

Then the bleeding began.

Blood seeped from her eyes, her nose, her ears, and her mouth. The red streams ran thick, staining her once-proud visage. The onlookers recoiled, horrified, as her body jerked one final time and went still.

The silence that followed was heavier than before, weighted with shock and fear. Even Harry seemed momentarily taken aback.

---

"So strong," Harry murmured, almost to himself. He crouched down, examining Madam Glenda's lifeless body with a detached curiosity. He had anticipated the poison would be strong, but its sheer lethality far exceeded his expectations.

If this poison could kill an ordinary person so quickly, he reasoned, even a knight's enhanced physique might only delay the inevitable. A weaker knight or one in poor health might succumb just as swiftly. The thought intrigued him.

Straightening, he turned to his men. "Bring me her remaining relatives," he ordered coldly. "I want to know everything about this poison; where it came from, how much of it remains, and how she acquired it."

The men scurried to obey, their previous confidence shaken by the chilling display they had just witnessed.

---

Over the next hour, one by one, Madam Glenda's relatives were dragged before Harry. He interrogated them personally, his tone measured but unyielding. "Where did she get the poison?" he demanded. "Is there more of it? Speak."

Most of the captives shook their heads, genuinely ignorant. It seemed Madam Glenda had kept her secrets closely guarded, even from her own family. The poison, they claimed, was likely brought from her family's distant homeland, a place none of them had visited in years.

Harry's frustration grew, though he didn't show it. The thought of such a rare and devastating weapon slipping through his fingers was a bitter disappointment. After exhausting his leads, he finally dismissed the captives with a wave of his hand. "Take them away," he muttered. "I've learned all I can."

---

As the sun began to set, Harry stood alone, his thoughts turning inward. The poison was a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in this world. Unlike his previous life, where threats were predictable and science offered solutions; this world was full of mysteries, some of which defied explanation.

"Poison like this," he mused quietly, "is as dangerous as any blade."

The lesson was clear: in a world rife with unpredictable threats, one must be prepared for anything. He made a silent vow to seek out similar tools, whether for offense or defense. He would not allow himself to be caught unaware.

---

With Madam Glenda and Alfie gone, Harry's work in the Ethan Territory was far from finished. The manor was his, but the land it governed was vast, stretching across sparsely populated plains and scattered villages. Unlike the compact and manageable lands of Rigg, this territory presented a new set of challenges.

Harry's gaze shifted to the horizon, his mind already calculating his next moves. The fall of Ethan Manor was just the beginning. The entire territory awaited his hand, and he intended to shape it into something far greater than his predecessors ever could.

Harry's consolidation of power was swift and decisive. After the fall of Madam Glenda and Alfie, he wasted no time in establishing himself as the uncontested ruler of the Ethan Territory. The scattered villages and sparsely populated lands that once made up the barony were now under his command, with Harry wielding absolute authority.

---

Within two weeks, Harry had moved into Ethan Manor, claiming it as his seat of power. The grand estate, once a symbol of Madam Glenda's influence, was now a stark reflection of Harry's efficiency and vision.

His loyal followers, those who had fought beside him during the siege, were generously rewarded for their service. Marro, who had personally captured Madam Glenda during the final moments of the assault, was bestowed the title of honorary knight; a prestigious recognition accompanied by a modest plot of land. Other warriors received titles, land, or positions within the growing administration.

Even Marina, the maid who had accompanied Harry since the beginning, saw her status elevated. She was appointed housekeeper of the manor, a position of considerable responsibility. From overseeing daily operations to managing staff, Marina's role became indispensable.

"Master Harry."

The soft sound of Marina's voice echoed through the grand hall as she approached. Dressed in the refined yet practical attire of her new station, she carried a ledger under her arm.

Harry sat at the head of the dining table, his breakfast untouched as he reviewed a stack of reports. He looked up, his expression calm but sharp. "Speak."

"The interior of the manor has been cleaned," Marina began, flipping open the ledger. "Most of the staff has been replaced with individuals we can trust. Shall we continue with the replacements?"

Harry leaned back in his chair, considering her words. "Yes. Keep going," he said decisively. "Replace everyone except those whose roles are irreplaceable. I don't want any remnants of Madam Glenda's influence here."

Though he had eliminated Madam Glenda, Harry understood that the roots of her control could still linger within the manor. Servants loyal to her might remain, sowing seeds of dissent or even plotting against him. While Harry wasn't afraid of potential betrayal, he saw no reason to let a threat fester.