Monarch’s Requiem

inst him once more, but the Counts face as he left the hall was a strong deterrent. You should never meddle with an angry noble.

With long strides he finally reached the entrance to the castle, where he called for one of the servants who stood aside.

”Bring my carriage. Now! ”

The young boy quickly ran towards the stables, leaving the Count on his own, pacing from side to side on top of the main stairs.

Those damned nobles, they can even see whats in front of them. The Duke is just an idiotic man. Who cares if the aristocracy from the rest of the kingdom is against it? Money could buy us enough soldiers to fight the whole continent if necessary. We could even overthrow the reigning monarchy with enough meat sacks in the front lines. Stupid bastard.

”Excuse me, Count Evernon. ”

The Count stopped his internal rambling and turned to the young voice calling out to him.

A little girl in a blue dress stood discreetly behind a pillar, with her head bent down in a slight bow and her hands demurely clasped at her waist. At a glance, he could tell she didn have a high standing from the quality of her clothes, but her manners prevented him from classifying her as a commoner straight away.

”Your business proposal has interested us. Would you mind joining me somewhere more private to discuss it in more detail? ”

She straightened her back to look him in the eyes. Her gaze was sharp but cold. He wouldve considered her pretty if it weren for the emotionlessness of her face.

”Who are you? ”

The girl looked around, noticeably concerned about bystanders.

”I cannot say here. Please, follow me. ”

Turning around, she disappeared behind the pillar. The Count hurried after her, irritated at the fact that she didn wait for his reply and simply left, expecting him to follow her.

She wordlessly guided him into a secluded section of one of the detached gardens. Her movements were so swift and certain that he assumed she was one of the castles residents. Figuring they were far enough, she turned and once again met his gaze.

”As I was saying, you have piqued my Masters interest with your trade proposal, and they would like to offer the financing of the project. ”

”Who is your master? ”

”My Master wishes to keep their identity a secret, so all transactions are to be developed through me. I will then replicate all the information to them. ”

The Count looked at her in ridicule.

”Through you? And I am just to assume that all of this is true? Who works with someone they don know? ”

”Your doubts have reasoning behind them, and we obviously do not expect for you to trust us that easily. We shall send you the capital for the fleet in a months time after signing a proper contract. ”

”And who is to appear in this contract? ”

”My Masters name, obviously, along side yours if you are willing to join this partnership. ”

”Is your master not worried about leaving all his business matters to a child? ”

The girls gaze suddenly became darker, fiercer.

”I can assure you, I am competent enough for the job. My Master relays the instructions to me, and I just have to follow through them. You can rest easy, as I don partake in the decision making. ”

The man stared at her for some time. Her unblinking eyes were eerie to him, as if she was analyzing his every move.

”What would this contract entail? ”

”My Master wishes to relay all management rights to you as long as they receive a seventy percent of the revenue. Accounting books shall also be provided for my Master to revise on a monthly basis, along with the request of their approval for any addition to the management staff. Of course, all of this would be conditional to the initial down-payment for the fleet. ”

”So, aside from a ridiculous portion of the gains your master expects me to do all by myself, report everything I do and everyone I work with back to him? ”

”Not to them. To me. As I mentioned before, my Master wishes for their identity to remain private, so all information should be presented through me. I will be in charge of interviewing the employees according to my Masters standards and collecting the accounting books and then relaying the information back to them. I shall then report back to you any information they wish to convey. ”

The Count pondered for some time as she blankly stared at him. It felt odd for such a young girl to discuss all that business jargon with such a childlike voice. He felt uncomfortable about something, but it was hard to pinpoint what it was exactly.

This girl is just odd.

”Isn your master expecting a bit too much? Seventy percent is simply a ridiculous figure. ”

”Count, you don expect us to believe you don know we are most likely the only offer you are going to get? The Duke made himself pretty clear in the assembly. No one besides us is willing to invest in this project and go against the lord of the fief. ”

He frowned and tried to change the subject.

”Is that why your master is so shy? Is he so afraid of the Duke that he has to send a little girl in his place? ”

She just smiled politely, making her look more alive for a couple of seconds.

Sighing, he continued the negotiations.

”Still, seventy percent is too high. Lets make it a thirty percent, then I might think about it. I will be doing all the work anyway. It would be only fair for me to earn that much more. ”

”This is a very risky project, such a low revenue would make it meaningless. We could go down to sixty. ”

”Thirty five. ”

The girl grimaced. He could tell she was really troubled.

”Fifty is the lowest I can go. I was instructed that if I were unable to achieve at least half of the revenue the deal should be called off as it wouldn be worth it. ”

The Count smiled at that. Children will remain children at the end. He could tell by the way she had spilled everything to him that this child was inexperienced in negotiating. Also, the fact that she lowered her offers so quickly instead of pushing slowly was a sure indicator of her nervousness. He decided to use this for his advantage. She would never know he was willing to settle at fifty five. After all, he was truly at a disadvantage here.

”Alright. Fifty percent it is. ”

The girl smiled brightly at this, having accomplished her given task.

”Thank you. I will tell my master of our agreement. Please come back tomorrow for the signing of the contract. Also, all information transactions should be completed in this manner, with you coming to the castle as discreetly as possible and meeting me in this same place. ”

”Why? ”

”I currently reside here as a member of the harem. ”

”Then I shall be trading with the Dukes plaything? ”

She swallowed the bitterness the next words brought.

”That does not represent my true capabilities. It is only temporary. A cover. ”