Arc 5-Winter War-27
Marthe lets out another round of complaints being asked to go so far out of her way, but I quell her anger by assuring everyone I’ll handle transportation. I send Geneva back to the house to grab the carriage while we all walk to the Gold Dorm for an early lunch. Marthe refuses, vehently, to enter the opulent building, which ans I have to carry the food out to her. The looks that garners, from the staff and rich acolytes both, is reason enough to do it. Gave a good laugh.
Once Geneva arrives, we all pile into the carriage, though it takes a little extra effort with the redhead. I’m starting to believe she’s allergic to wealth and all its representations. She grumbles in front of the carriage, her curses and pacing reminding of a skittish deer despite her aggression. It takes bodily lifting her in to break the stalemate, earning a look of offended shock.
“I see you have had extensive work down on your personal carriage,” William remarks once we’re on our way, adjusting himself on the comfortable bench. “Pardon if this causes any offense but I didn’t think the To family had accumulated so much wealth.”
“Hey, little lord. Didn’t anyone ever teach you that certain topics are forbidden?” I chuckle, raising three fingers. “A woman’s body, a man’s money, and a family’s honor. ntion any of those and you’re asking for trouble.” That comnt treaded dangerously close to two, ignoring a few pronouns.
“Forgive for any offense. I simply wish to nd any gaps in my knowledge.”
“Don’t worry, it takes a lot to offend . To answer your question, the finances of the To family are a mystery to . Sohow, Uncle Jackal has managed to keep the estate in our na, saints bless him. My personal finances and that of my household are rather substantial. Enough to afford a few luxuries.”
“Her wife has all the money.” Alana rcilessly destroys my grand image. “She’s a kept woman.”
“Excuse . I am not a kept woman,” I huff.
“Sure, you’re not.”
“Your marriage, yes. I make it a point to morize nas of those who could be important but yours was hard to miss. Quite a life you have lived, your ladyship.”
“That sounds like you’re cursing . My life’s barely started.” I wonder how long I can live. My original body is made of mana. Can I age? Can I die of natural causes? “You sound like you’ve lived quite the life yourself. Four sons competing with each other for their father’s inheritance.”
He grimaces. “I am not nearly as enticed by my father’s holdings as my elder brothers. I am perfectly content to make my own way in this life. My stake in the competition is one of self-preservation. They don’t believe my lack of desire for my father’s riches. Simply taking their abuse is no life and if I present myself as too weak, they will simply kill .”
“And?”
He blinks. “Is there sothing else you’d like to know?”
“We’re going to be working together, Willie. Co on, tell about yourself.”
William clears his throat. “I don’t think I’m very interesting.”
“You certainly aren’t helping yourself with that attitude. You can’t study magic all day, every day. You’ve got hobbies, don’t you? Maybe a girlfriend?” I wiggle my eyebrows. “You joined our team because you saw three pretty won, didn’t you?”
“Lady To, I assure you I had no improper—”
“Don’t be shy! Who could bla you? Unless we’re not your type.”
Willaim clears his throat. “You are all certainly, ahem, attractive. Any man would be lucky to catch your attention.”
“Or woman.”
His eyes widen. “Ah, yes. Or…woman.”
“No need to limit your options. If pretty young ladies aren’t your fancy, there’s always pretty young n. I certainly wouldn’t cast judgnt. You two?”
“He looks like the soft type,” Marthe says with a grin as William grimaces.
Alana refuses to join in on the fun, shaking her head.
“I don’t have those kinds of interest. If I must state a preference to ease any doubts…” His eyes slowly move to Alana. She ets his gaze with a small frown. Heh.
He’s the first to look away, clearing his throat with the faintest blush on his cheeks. “Eh-hem. Well, suffice it to say that I am only interested in won.”
“Any details you’d like to share?” The dorms aren’t separated by gender, though the rooms are in different halls. A few extra steps aren’t enough to dissuade those of romantic persuasions. People keep it discreet most tis, especially initiates, but I’ve heard plenty of scandalous stories from Alana.
Our nervous teammate is saved by Alana punching in the arm. “Don’t mind her. She just wants soone else’s mind to be filled with the sa nonsense taking the place of her good sense.”
I relent in the face of her disapproval. “Alright. I’ll wait till our second eting before prying out your secrets. I guess we can talk about our mysterious fifth.”
He chuckles. “Do not worry for , Lady Jas. I am quite used to it, growing up with three brothers. And…well, it is better for you to draw your own judgnts.”
[Lou, we will arrive in a mont.]
“I’ll be making that judgnt sooner than you think.”
-
The place where we’re eting our prospective fifth is a small restaurant nad the Tall Tale. A quaint wooden sign with its na written in gold cursive hangs over the open door, the chatter of patrons drifting out onto the street. Posters of food hang in the long windows, so detailed I almost believe I can grab them off the paper, especially so with the inviting slls dragging toward the opening by the nose.
A young woman stands beside the doorway greeting custors and calling out to passerbys in soone’s dirty reimagining of a maid outfit. Saints. The skirt is far too low, drawing the eye to her plump thighs and threatening to reveal sothing indecent with every movent. Her chest almost spills out of her scandalously low neckline as she waves, gestures, and practically drags in custors.
“Aren’t they afraid people might get the wrong idea about this place?” I ask as we walk toward the restaurant. Looking at her, I’d think they were serving from a different kind of nu.
“They’ve got plenty of security,” William says. “The owner is a master earth caster. Only a few people have the bad sense to cause trouble and no one causes trouble twice.”
We’re close enough for the maid, which is what I choose to think of her as rather than a few more…explicit terms that co to mind, to notice us and she flashes us the sa practiced smile I’ve seen her use till now. However, once her eyes move to William it becos genuine.
“William!” she shouts, moving away from her post to greet us. He raises a hand but she steps past it, pulling him into a hug, one hand on his shoulder and the other pulling down his head. He blushes all the way to his ears as his nose is pressed into the valley of her ample chest, lucky bastard.
He mumbles and wiggles his way out of her hold, straightening his rumpled shirt with quick, nervous gestures. “Yes, hello, Erin. Please stop such exuberant greetings. They’re likely to cause misunderstandings."
“Would that be such a bad thing?” she says playfully, chuckling when he turns his gaze. “You’re so easy.” Her eyes finally move to the rest of us. “Oh, you’ve brought new custors! Three pretty girls, huh. This why you don’t want any misunderstandings?”
William clears his throat strongly. “Eh-hem. This is—”
“Just call Lou,” I say quickly, stepping in front of him. I hold out my hand. Raising a brow, she follows my lead and places her fingers on my palm, snickering as I lay a kiss on the digits. “A sha we haven’t t before now. Willie didn’t tell he had such a lovely friend.” Nevermind that I didn’t know him until today.
“Right back at you.” Her wink is playfully exaggerated. “You wouldn’t happen to want a job? Put you in so pants and a nice vest, mm. You’ll have the girls dancing in the palm of that strong hand.”
“If only I had the ti,” I sigh dramatically. “I’d work for the…ambiance alone.” I blatantly ogle her. Sothing she must be quite used to wearing such daring clothes as she doesn’t even bat an eye.
“Sure I can’t tempt you?”
“I’m absolutely sure you can so play nice.”
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