Is she extorting ? His father looked on the verge of throwing the papers at his brother. Piers didnt seem at all perturbed as he stirred his post-dinner coffee. His nonchalance only irritated their father more so. Piers! What does she an by this?
He slamd his hand and the papers that he held on top of the dining table closest to Piers. Gideon sat across the table from them, beside his mother, watching the exchange. The Emperor of Soleil was said to be an aloof man, at least when his position and politics were involved.
However, in private, his father was a painfully doting husband and a strict, but generous father. He was especially patient with Piers. At least, usually.
I think the price is reasonable, Piers said in a solemn voice.
Gideon looked at their father and tried not to grimace as his fathers face reddened. Reasonable? You think charging this much for a rock is reasonable!?
It is proprietary technology, Great Uncle Emil said. He extended his hands from his seat beside Piers and the Emperor handed him the papers.
Mathieu-Philippe, she worked so hard on the crystals, Great Aunt Vivian said with so pity in her voice. Not only did she spend months working on the Old Sulfae, but she personally carved the crystals, and then went to all that trouble just to be able to go to the vault to register the samples.
She had to put up with resistance from so of the faculty. Aunt Viv had to keep Dean Zanuto practically trapped in his office to keep him from getting involved, his mother said in a firm voice as Great Aunt Vivian nodded.
That arrogant bastard didnt give up until I brought up so funding discrepancies.
The Empress nodded. All that work just to give Tori so ti, and she made sothing so useful.
Across from him, Great Uncle Emil shifted through the papers, reading each one carefully. Considering the rarity, Piers is right. The price is reasonable.
Uncle, you cant be serious. His fathers face fell. That much for one crystal? It has yet to be mounted on any jewelry!
According to this, Master Monde is ready to mount them at any ti in suitable rings, Great Uncle Emil replied as he put the papers down and tapped them. Shes even made the arrangents to have them done.
At extra cost!
The material and Master Mondes expertise isnt free.
Yes, Mathieu-Philippe, you must properly compensate him for his labor.
Gideon lifted his coffee to his lips and took a sip. He looked around the table. Everyone aside from his father didnt seem to think there was a problem with Gueveras proposal that shed sent with his brother. Gideon had wondered why Piers had joined them for the family dinner, considering that Guevera and her little friends had gone to the Cosora Delta that weekend.
Usually, Piers would go with them as he was housing her cat. It turns out he was a ssenger.
No one had expected it, either. Piers had sat in the seat on their fathers left side where he always sat when he was forced to join a al. While amid dinner, their mother had gasped and pointed out Piers ring, asking is that the ring Tori made you.
Gideon didnt know that Guevera had made his brother a ring. He knew they were close, but didnt think shed give his brother jewelry. After all, it was a bit of an intimate act. Then Piers held out his hand so they could see the ring and began to explain how it worked.
Gideons heart had quickened, and his eyes went wide. A ring that detected poison was a priceless tool for people like them. Everyones attention had been drawn and it seed his mother had known, and his Great Aunt Vivian had an idea of it. As Gideon listened to the conversation around him, he began to put together exactly what Guevera had done.
She saw there was an insufficiency with the charms they used, so she harnessed the knowledge of her brother and masters to create a series of Old Sulfae to program crystals to detect poison. That was sothing that had never been done, or at least they didnt have a record of. Shed worked on it for months, carefully tested it, and used a very valuable favor from his father to gain access to a restricted vault in Universit. In the vault, she had exposed herself to an entire collection of toxins to properly register them on to crystals.
Gideon looked across the table at his brother.
Guevera had done all of that for Piers.
She has already done the work for Piers, his father said, frowning. Why is she charging so much for work that was already done?
Youre being charged for the value of the programd crystal, Piers said.
Your crystal was free!
Piers t their fathers eyes briefly. I am loved. It was said in the most matter-of-fact voice, as if the reason was obvious.
Their fathers face reddened even further, and he opened his mouth to scold Piers, but no words ca out. Their mother turned her head to the side and tried to muffle her laughter. Gideon squinted his eyes. Sohow, he felt as if he had heard such a statent before.
Mathieu-Philippe, Great Uncle Emil said in a calm voice. Isnt such a crystal tool worth the asking price, if not more?
Gideon looked towards his father. The Emperor lifted a hand and ran it through his silvery-white hair. It was an action he only did when he was annoyed and tired.
It is, he said. But I didnt think shed try to charge so much. How many of these crystals has she prepared?
There is currently a dozen. They have been pre-cut for mounting and Tori has personally selected the mounting for each, Piers said. She has reserved several for our family and a few for hers.
For her brothers? their mother asked.
Piers nodded. Tori said that having them made for our family is the priority.
You see how well Toni raised her? their mother told their father with a stern look. She only took on this project because she was worried about Piers. She didnt have to make them for us, but she made a point to.
She doesnt like Gideon, Piers added. Gideon shrank in his seat. But she reserved one for him.
Because of you. Gideon wanted to tell his brother. She did all of this because of you. She agreed to be my guard for you. She spent months perfecting a crystal for you. What else is she willing to do?
He didnt want to admit that he had a bitter taste in his mouth knowing that the person he didnt get along with the most cared for his most important person. He wanted to continue to dislike Guevera.
She was arrogant and smug. She had a sharp mouth and didnt respect him in the least. She hated the girl he liked and provoked his knight into quitting. Whenever they t, she treated him like a fool. He hated her.
He hated how she acted better than him.
He hated that she treated Alessa as if she were a foolish nuisance.
He hated that she still ca through with her duties and gave him tools to protect himself.
He hated that her friends still extended peace offerings despite their history.
He hated that she was fixed firmly at his brothers side and gave Piers the support he never could.
Gideon lowered his eyes. Now, she had created sothing to protect his family. He hated that he owed her.
All right, he heard his father say with a heavy breath. He reached forward and collected the docunts from Great Uncle Emil. I will agree to the terms and cost. When can the crystals be ready?
She has arranged for Master Monde to bring them tomorrow, Piers replied. Once I confirm that youve signed the purchase agreents.
Their father stared at Piers with a cold expression. You will not offer to try to negotiate?
Why would I?
Toris going to spend the money on the county, the Empress said with a chuckle.
The Emperor rubbed the bridge of his nose. I know. All the money Im paying her is going to the county sohow, either investing in her business or directly to building. She sent sothing she calls a roadmap to show where the funding is going. His lips were in a line. I understand she wants to improve her county, but she has less than two thousand people.
For now. Once the population in the encampnt is down to half, she will allow for chain migration of family mbers of the villagers. She believes they will reach that mark around early spring next year, Piers said. In addition, there is a waiting list of workers hired for building that hope to move to the Cosora Delta. This includes several imperial knights who want to buy land for retirent.
I dont bla them, their mother said with an understanding nod. Id love to spend more ti there. Its fun.
The Emperor sighed once more. All right, enough about this. Piers, how did your introduction eting go?
Introduction eting? Gideon sat up straight and looked from his father to his brother. He knew what that ant, and it was quite common amongst noble circles, but his brother was a special case. First, Piers situation made such a thing unheard of. Second, what about Guevera? This is the first Im hearing of this.
His mother sighed beside him. Several nobles have been bothering your father to encourage your brother to et with talented young ladies. Theyve been complaining about it for so ti, so your father agreed to ten introductions to silence them.
Gideon frowned and looked at his brother. Was this acceptable? Are you willing?
Piers doesnt have a choice in the matter. He must placate those nobles, his father said in a firm voice. The etings are short, and nothing was promised. They are only to et and beco acquainted. Anything more is not guaranteed.
Then, did you have one this week? Great Uncle Emil asked. Piers nodded. How did it go?
Lady Modelli was very enthusiastic at Toris invitation to et the Cosora dical Planning Committee.
The table was quiet, and the Emperors face contorted. Why was Countess Guevera there? he asked in a barely contained voice. Despite himself, Gideon wanted to laugh. Of course, Guevera would be there.
I wanted her to co. His brother made it sound as if it were only natural.
You...Piers. Their father took a deep, frustrated breath. How can you bring another woman to an introductory eting? That is rude to the young lady you are eting.
Tori sent them letters ahead of ti.
Oh my. Great Aunt Vivian giggled to the side. Her eyes were like crescents as she smiled. She is very attentive to you.
Piers looked down at his empty coffee cup, or rather the hand with the thumb ring holding it, and nodded. Tori takes care of . Semper.
Semper? Great Uncle Emil asked with a raised brow.
It is a word from an obscure book Tori read. It ans always.
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