A Deal Well Made
13th of Saun, Arc 717
“We will need to throw a party for your return, Titania,” Sophia Krome announced as she barged into her daughter’s study, standing behind the chair set in front of the desk. Even in the heat of Saun, the older woman still wore a fanciful, layered dress that seemed quite uncomfortable. She had exclaimed that they still need to look their best even with this sort of weather. Velaine did not bother following her mother’s lovely advice, opting to use a short, flowy white dress instead. “It’s been a while since you returned. The nobility needs to know that.”
The younger Krome had to stop herself from sighing out loud and slowly looked up from their family’s financial records. She had been scouring through them for most of the day, trying to plan what she could do to gain more gold. Her parents had not cut back on their spending even on their current conditions and she did not even know what Xander was planning to fix it. Of course, now that he had run off to Astedia, she doubted he could help them. Instead, Velaine put up a tired smile for her mother. “There is no need, mother, honestly. I do not want to trouble you and father with unnecessary parties.”
“I know you have been away from our society for a while, dear, but you need to know how important it is for us to introduce our new heir. Especially when you have been gone for a long time. I am sad to say, that some people might even have forgotten your beautiful face. We can’t have that, can we?” her mother countered swiftly. “Anything for my only daughter will never trouble me. Certainly you’ll allow me to pamper you a little, Titania?”
Velaine winced slightly at the word only daughter. She had tried hard not to think of Zara over the arcs – the thought was enough to bring up unwanted emotions. Thankfully, her mother did not seem to notice and simply continued on her rambling about why the party is what they need. The young woman tuned most of them out, honestly. The real reason her mother wanted this party was so that she could show Velaine off to potential suitors and believed that she would not realize it. Sophia claimed that a few noblemen had been asking about her, but in her words: None of them deserves you If she had to guess, that meant none of them had enough title to satisfy her parents.
“Of course, mother,” Velaine finally replied amiably, even if her mother’s request would probably her last priority. Especially when their finance was not stable enough to throw massive events for now. “I’ll plan the party soon. However, I have to finish my work first.”
Sophia Krome fortunately relented and smiled. The older woman certainly seemed pleased with herself. “Seems like sending you off to Ne’haer is good decision on our account. You’ve become quite responsible.”
Having no response to that, Velaine simply grinned, as if she was a child pleased with a mere compliment. She was actually slowly getting sick of her mother’s constant patronizing and pestering, of needing to pretend like she actually needed to be guided and praised. And as always, when she was sick of all this, Velaine reminded herself of why she was here. Xander was out of the way and she was the heir. When the time comes, her parents would be out of the way and she could take what she wanted.
Fortunately, Sophia suddenly remembered that she need to go to the capital to find a seamstress to make a dress for her and left.
Picking a report on their latest food stores, Velaine leaned back against her seat and stared at the empty chair in front of her, then around the room. She had never truly spent time in the study before her return and never really realized the comfort of the room. It was one of the few places where servants were not going back and forth, busy with whatever tasks they were assigned to. In this room, with its walls covered with bookshelves, Velaine could almost imagine she was back in Ne’haer.
Just as she was about to continue her work, a knock interrupted her and a young man peeked in through the already open door.
“A guest looking for you, my lady,” the servant announced timidly.
The young woman finally glanced up from her table and placed down her notes, sighing with mild annoyance. She did not expect any guest and she could not think of anyone wanting to meet her for now. “Who is it?”
The younger Krome had to stop herself from sighing out loud and slowly looked up from their family’s financial records. She had been scouring through them for most of the day, trying to plan what she could do to gain more gold. Her parents had not cut back on their spending even on their current conditions and she did not even know what Xander was planning to fix it. Of course, now that he had run off to Astedia, she doubted he could help them. Instead, Velaine put up a tired smile for her mother. “There is no need, mother, honestly. I do not want to trouble you and father with unnecessary parties.”
“I know you have been away from our society for a while, dear, but you need to know how important it is for us to introduce our new heir. Especially when you have been gone for a long time. I am sad to say, that some people might even have forgotten your beautiful face. We can’t have that, can we?” her mother countered swiftly. “Anything for my only daughter will never trouble me. Certainly you’ll allow me to pamper you a little, Titania?”
Velaine winced slightly at the word only daughter. She had tried hard not to think of Zara over the arcs – the thought was enough to bring up unwanted emotions. Thankfully, her mother did not seem to notice and simply continued on her rambling about why the party is what they need. The young woman tuned most of them out, honestly. The real reason her mother wanted this party was so that she could show Velaine off to potential suitors and believed that she would not realize it. Sophia claimed that a few noblemen had been asking about her, but in her words: None of them deserves you If she had to guess, that meant none of them had enough title to satisfy her parents.
“Of course, mother,” Velaine finally replied amiably, even if her mother’s request would probably her last priority. Especially when their finance was not stable enough to throw massive events for now. “I’ll plan the party soon. However, I have to finish my work first.”
Sophia Krome fortunately relented and smiled. The older woman certainly seemed pleased with herself. “Seems like sending you off to Ne’haer is good decision on our account. You’ve become quite responsible.”
Having no response to that, Velaine simply grinned, as if she was a child pleased with a mere compliment. She was actually slowly getting sick of her mother’s constant patronizing and pestering, of needing to pretend like she actually needed to be guided and praised. And as always, when she was sick of all this, Velaine reminded herself of why she was here. Xander was out of the way and she was the heir. When the time comes, her parents would be out of the way and she could take what she wanted.
Fortunately, Sophia suddenly remembered that she need to go to the capital to find a seamstress to make a dress for her and left.
Picking a report on their latest food stores, Velaine leaned back against her seat and stared at the empty chair in front of her, then around the room. She had never truly spent time in the study before her return and never really realized the comfort of the room. It was one of the few places where servants were not going back and forth, busy with whatever tasks they were assigned to. In this room, with its walls covered with bookshelves, Velaine could almost imagine she was back in Ne’haer.
Just as she was about to continue her work, a knock interrupted her and a young man peeked in through the already open door.
“A guest looking for you, my lady,” the servant announced timidly.
The young woman finally glanced up from her table and placed down her notes, sighing with mild annoyance. She did not expect any guest and she could not think of anyone wanting to meet her for now. “Who is it?”
