The sound of the shower plunged me into a whirlwind of thoughts, cascading down my body as I washed away my weariness with every drop that slid onto the tiled floor, gradually easing the exhaustion caused by the political crisis ravaging the kingdom of Ashvor.
Knock, knock, knock!
“Eira-sama! Your last appointment of the day has arrived!” a woman’s voice called from the other side of the door.
“Show her into the guest room!” I opened my eyes slowly, still a little heavy with sleep, as I turned off the shower.
I pulled back the shower curtain and grabbed the towel hanging from the metal bar on the wall.
“I wonder what kind of women my master likes…,” I muttered to myself in front of the mirror. “The difference is so unfair.”
Even Eleanor, despite being the youngest member of the master’s personal staff, is more physically developed than average.
And Brunilda, despite being the most insecure of all of us, has a figure that would put even the world’s greatest beauties to shame.
And then there’s Seraphine-san… better not to think about that; it would only make my mood worse before I finish my to-do list.
I looked down at my black dress, unable to take my eyes off a specific spot that was tightening my throat.
I shook my head.
“Don’t think about it—you’re still growing,” I told myself confidently as I opened the bathroom door.
A warm light filtered through the curtains lining the mansion’s long hallways, while my expression regained its usual neutrality, leaving those irrelevant thoughts in the shower so I could focus on what lay ahead.
The fruity scent of the cleaning products wafted from the walls, calming my mind with every breath.
On my way, I ran into Beatriz, who was carrying a stack of papers from her storage room to her office; she’s the only one who seems to respect the “first come, first served” rule, not overshadowing me as a woman in front of my teacher.
I crossed the threshold of the reception room with renewed determination to greet the troublesome guest sitting in the armchair.
“What brings you to our company today, Mr. Alfonso?” I sat down across from him, savoring a sip of the tea my staff had just prepared.
“W-well… I didn’t have anything specific in mind,” Alfonso stammered, looking at me with a displeased expression. “I was wondering if you’d like to attend a party tonight.”
“Mr. Alfonso, let’s put the jokes aside,” I said calmly, handing the chipped cup to one of my subordinates. “What brings you here?”
“Actually, it wasn’t a joke…” The words caught in his throat the moment our eyes met. “The reason for my visit is to invest in the new product announced by Zenith Goods!”
I watched him for a few seconds, trying to determine if his words matched the information I’d received from the intelligence team.
Alfonso De Valois, thirty-one years old. Two children: the eldest had just turned twenty-one, while the youngest, seventeen, was in his second year at the Academy of Magic.
His wife had died during a monster invasion in their border territory. There were also suspicions of possible embezzlement of the kingdom’s funds.
In short, the perfect person for an investment.
“May I ask what’s behind your sudden support?” I asked him.
“Zenith Goods has shown extraordinary potential. It would be absurd to let an opportunity like this slip by,” he replied instantly, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead with a small silk towel.
Too much interest, too quickly. And right after the new anti-corruption policy went into effect.
I glanced quickly at the terms of the contract that one of my subordinates had brought me, before setting the paper down on the table.
It didn’t take Alfonso long to read the document; at first he didn’t make any changes, but the more he read, the more somber his expression became as he clenched the contract in his hands.
“Is there a problem?” I asked, taking another sip of tea as I watched the pale-faced man.
“Um… Miss Eira, could we make a few minor adjustments to the profit-and-loss clauses?” he asked, setting the paper down on the table before pointing out a few points. “Isn’t it a bit excessive to have to invest a million gold coins a month or risk losing my properties? Also, the profit split is 20/80; that’s a bit…”
“So what’s the problem? Do you realize what a quantum leap our project will take as soon as it gets underway?” I asked. “Twenty percent would account for more than half of the kingdom’s annual revenue.”
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
One of my subordinates placed a paperclip next to the crumpled contract on the table.
“You’re under no obligation to invest in us; if you don’t agree, we can withdraw from the investment and go back to our everyday lives,” I said calmly to the nervous man.
He hesitated for several seconds, pausing his hand every time he was about to pick up the pin, until he finally resigned himself to taking it.
He didn’t have many options left; several influential companies in the capital must be aware of Alfonso’s shady dealings, and with time running out—the royal guard threatening to cut off his head at any moment—we are his only chance.
He pricked his finger with the pin before pressing his fingerprint onto the signature line of the contract.
“You’ve made the right decision,” I said as I settled into the armchair. “Our staff will escort you to the exit.”
“That’s not necessary; I can leave on my own,” he replied, turning away with a tense expression; you could even hear a few expletives if you listened closely.
Ugh… How exhausting.
I think I’ll take the day off tomorrow… or maybe the day after tomorrow, too.
My subordinate approached slowly before whispering some shocking information in my ear.
“Are you sure about that?” I asked, struggling to contain my emotions, which threatened to spill over.
“That’s right, Eira-sama. They saw our master on a date a couple of days ago,” she said.
I took the photo printed on the paper she handed me, focusing especially on one specific area.
So he likes them that size…
I slowly lowered my gaze to my own body, feeling the absurd comparison between us: proof of life’s injustices.
“Investigate her background and what plans she has for our lord,” I ordered, shifting my attention to the horizon beyond the window.
I’m still a work in progress… I’m still a work in progress… Those who take the lead at the start aren’t necessarily the winners.
***
“Achoo!” My sneeze echoed throughout the train car before I blew my nose with a towel.
“Are you sick?” Morgana asked from the seat across from me, her voice clearly concerned.
“No, I think someone’s talking about me,” I replied as I put the towel back in my backpack.
Morgana nodded slightly before looking away, keeping her trembling fists clenched in her lap.
She’s been looking for a way to break up with me for a couple of days now; considering her strange behavior lately and the fact that she asked me to accompany her to visit her family...
Yes, she wants to do it in the cruelest way possible in front of the royal family of the Kingdom of Kryon.
What better way to go unnoticed than to let a princess from a kingdom considered a global superpower reject you in public?
Many would say that would only make you stand out, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Imagine how many suitors she’s turned down; I’d be nothing more than another face in the crowd.
“Your nervousness is annoying me, you know?” she remarked, giving me a piercing look that seemed to freeze my soul. “My brothers are a pain, but you won’t have any trouble with them for a while; as for my father… he won’t hurt you… maybe.”
I think I just heard something pretty relevant to the plot that’s unfolding.
“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” I said, looking away, unable to stop my fingers from trembling as I clutched my travel backpack tightly.
“Well, get used to it: after all, we’re… boyfriend and girlfriend,” he murmured, a slight blush spreading across his cheeks, before clenching his fists as he shot me a withering glare. “Anyway, I’m the one who should be ashamed for bringing along someone so weak, so put your fear aside.”
“But…,” I tried to argue.
“No ‘buts’—that’s an order!” she exclaimed, ignoring my words.
The small space fell back into deep silence for the rest of the ride. Normally, Morgana would be the one to start the conversation, which was out of character for her.
I noticed she was staring into the distance through the train car’s glass window, so I did the same to go over my additional monologues.
***
I let out a weary sigh as I watched my butler open the carriage door.
I mustn’t back down now; it’s all for the good of the kingdom.
I stepped out the door, feeling the nostalgic summer breeze gently ruffle my hair.
Normally, that would be enough to calm me down, but right now I can’t let that happen.
I looked down toward the lower part of the kingdom.
The city was dominated by fortress-monasteries that had replaced the simple wooden houses found in other kingdoms.
The thick walls were made of dark gray, almost black granite; they were reinforced with red obsidian windows, in honor of our clan.
I began walking across the polished white marble floor, noticing the small bronze channels on either side, which masked the smell of blood where the holy water flowed.
I glanced back at the distracted boy, checking to see if he was still following me instead of getting lost in the city; and, fortunately, he was still right behind me.
“Don’t get distracted,” I said to my companion, who remained absorbed in the scenery.
I wonder how he mustered the courage to confess his feelings while being so aloof. He never speaks more than necessary, never asks for anything, never complains about anything, and even in the carriage he flatly refused to let go of his luggage.
If I hadn’t forced him to leave it with the butler, he might have carried it on his back all over the city, giving the locals a bad impression.
We headed toward the gigantic cathedral in the city center; it soared up to the clouds, with a translucent barrier of mana enveloping the city in a dome that repels attacks from the outside.
In front of the palace’s enormous gates, two gargoyles guarded the entrance. Unlike the ones that were only a few meters tall and guarded the other fortresses, these were imbued with a dense amount of magic, personally infused by my father.
I looked at Vikir, who seemed just as nervous—if not more so—than I was.
“I’ve already told you that I’m the one who should be nervous,” I repeated, massaging my temples at my companion’s cowardice.
“Are you sure they won’t suddenly attack me?” he asked cautiously as he watched the imposing sentinels.
“Normally, they wouldn’t; most of the time, they’re just there for show. If they wanted to kill you, they would have sent the royal guard the moment you crossed the barrier,” I remarked as I watched the gargoyles begin to open the steel doors. “See?”
Vikir looked into the cathedral, beyond the doors, walking behind me and making his shyness even more evident.
The servants passing by gave us a slight bow before continuing with their work, cleaning the dimly lit aisles; light filtered through the translucent alabaster stained-glass windows that blocked the direct sunlight.
My father’s personal butler approached us slowly, dressed in an elegant red suit with a clerical collar and a silver cross hanging from his neck.
“I am pleased to witness your return, young lady. Lord Valerius has instructed me to escort you to the royal dining hall,” he said in a deep, hypnotic voice that evoked a terrifying calm in our minds.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Vikir, bowing in the butler’s presence.
I could only shake my head before returning to the matter at hand, grabbing the boy by the arm to keep him from running off.
“Lead the way,” I ordered, ignoring the disdainful glance he shot at Vikir.