by A. R. Rend
Laughing softly at her joke, Phillip looked up to Mildred’s face.
He found she looked entirely serious. To the point that his laughter died on his lips.
“You… want me to invest your money,” Phillip repeated.
“I do. I’m going to give you my life’s savings and ask you to invest it with your own,” said the guard with a wide and warm smile. It really made her green eyes stand out. “Or is my money not good enough?”
“No, no, that’s not it. That’s not it at all. I’m just… flattered, I guess. Thank you, Mildred. Guess that makes you my first partner,” Phillip said after a second.
“Likewise,” Mildred said with a nod of her head.
“Uhm… should you ask your husband or fiancé or…? I don’t really know what your situation is and…” Phillip asked, letting the question hang. He really didn’t know how to finish it.
The fact of the matter was Mildred would be the head of her household, married or not. Even if she married upward and had a noble husband she’d be the head.
It’s just how things were.
Watching him for several seconds, Phillip got the impression Mildred was deeply considering his words.
“I’m not married, Phillip. Nor have I ever been engaged. I’m only a year older than you are, you know. I enlisted quite early,” said Mildred. “And to be honest I’m not sure I’ll ever marry. My older sisters tried it and it didn’t turn out so well.
“Then again… my sisters aren’t me so… mmm. A story for another time. Partner, then?”
“Partner,” Phillip said, nodding his head slowly. “We can go tomorrow and start making those purchases. That’ll give the Rias family time to act on my suggestion if they so choose.”
“Do you think they will?” Mildred inquired.
“No. I don’t. I think-”
There was a set of knocks on the door that led into the main hallway. The door that led to Alice’s side of the apartments was closed, and he knew no one was in there.
The knocks left Phillip unsure of what was happening or what to do.
Mildred lifted her helmet up off the pommel and pulled it back over her head. Heading to the door, she opened it without a word.
“Miss Rias would like to speak with Phillip,” said one of his guards from the hallway.
“Ah, certainly. Come right in, Miss Rias,” Mildred said, stepping to one side of the door and holding it open.
Walking past Mildred wasn’t who Phillip was expecting.
It was neither Alice nor was it her mother, both of which could make sense if they called on him.
In fact he had no idea who it was.
Apparently Mildred didn’t actually know either, as she closed the door and followed the woman inside. A step behind her and to the left with one hand on her short sword.
It was a woman that was younger than either of the possible guests. In fact, she looked to be a year younger than Phillip was.
She shared a family resemblance with Alice though she was fractionally more pretty. Her black hair was a bit lighter in color though they had the same green eyes.
Dressed in pants and a somewhat loose tunic, she also didn’t have much shape to her.
“Good evening, Phillip,” said the woman with a smile that gave her a younger look.
She’s still growing into that face. Especially those cheekbones and that nose.
“Good evening,” Phillip said with a sincere smile. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure we’ve been introduced as of yet. If we have, I must confess I’ve most unfortunately forgotten your name.”
“Ah… we haven’t formally been introduced,” the woman admitted with a soft laugh. “I’m Lenore. Most of my sisters just call me Len or Lenny. Sisters, right?”
Smirking at that, Phillip could definitely relate.
“Well, Lenore, as I’m positive you already know, I’m Phillip. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Phillip said, inclining his head to her.
“Yes, I do indeed know. I was even there when you arrived,” Lenore said, moving over and taking a seat in one of the chairs nearby.
Phillip realized belatedly he hadn’t offered her anything to drink, or snack on.
Then realized he had no idea where he could procure either of those things. Michael hadn’t actually given him a much of a tour and had quickly dumped Phillip in his room.
“The barrels,” Lenore continued, making a hand gesture toward Phillip. “I wanted to talk to you more about your idea. And if I understand what you meant… or where you were going with it, I think I’d like to invest with you. We can make a trip tomorrow together.”
Oh?
Well.
Alright then.
Four
Phillip rolled off Alice and lay on his back, taking in slow breaths.
Staring up at the ceiling, he had the pleasant boneless and empty feeling he’d come to expect from sex.
At this moment he was suddenly thankful for the experience he’d had with Kathryn and a rather forward lady-in-waiting to his oldest sister by the name of Fran.
She’d left shortly after their dalliance, having gotten a more stable job working for the Queen in some fashion.
“That was rather enjoyable,” Alice said, fanning at her face with one hand. “Thank you for that, husband.”
Nodding his head, Phillip could at least feel like he’d accomplished his goal. Being able to please his wife had definitely been a pre-eminent concern in his mind.
“Well, with that we’re formally wed and can move forward,” Alice murmured, then set her hands atop her stomach. “Alright. I’m going to go to bed now.”
Sliding herself off the bed, Alice picked her clothes up off the ground and left Phillip there. The door clacked loudly behind her as she pulled it shut behind herself.
Not even a kiss goodbye.
Actually, she didn’t kiss me hello either.
Or during.
Frowning, Phillip looked away from the door to Alice’s personal bedchamber. Turning his eyes back to the ceiling above he found that while physically satisfied, he was feeling rather lonely.
Getting up out of his bed, he grabbed his pants and pulled them on.
Moving over to the door to the hallway, he opened it and peeked through the crack he’d made.
Two of his night guards were on duty, and both of them turned to look at him.
“Sir?” asked one of the guards.
“I was just curious who’s on duty tonight, that’s all,” Phillip said honestly with a smile. “Have a good night. And thank you.”
Smiling at that, the guard clearly brightened.
“Of course, sir. Have a goodnight,” murmured the guard, tipping her head toward him.
Closing the door, Phillip rested his brow on the frame.
Damnit. Honestly, why the hell was I even expecting Mildred to be there? Of course she’s off duty.
Stupid.
Stupid, stupid.
Faintly, he could hear a muffled conversation through the door. Only perhaps because he practically had his ear near the rack.
“-ee? Rather nice. I like him. It’s good money, working for a good person, and it’s not like we have to actually worry about the Rias family,” said someone.
“He was handsome,” said someone else. “I’d like to lick the sweat off his face and maybe some more. Even if it’s sloppy seconds I’d like to give him a ride.”
“Ugh, don’t even start that. You know what’ll happen if you try.”
“I dunno, might be worth it. Damn his hair looked great.”
Raising his eyebrows at that, Phillip pulled back from the door and slowly walked away.
He’d never heard such a frank conversation about himself like that before. It also suddenly made him wonder what happened to Fran. If she’d really gotten a better job or if she’d been dismissed for getting in his bed.
I’ll check into it later. Make sure she’s alright.
It’s not as if I was an innocent man in this. I didn
’t tell her no and I somewhat chased her in the end.
Leaving his bedroom, he headed into his study and sat down at his work-desk.
Sitting there he stared at the empty desktop and contemplated what to do next.
We’re supposed to head into the city tomorrow with Lenore. See about the Cooper guild and getting ahold of some barrels.
Is there anything else we should get involved in?
Mm… I’m not sure.
There’s not that much going on in the world and most of the normal avenues will already have people who have turned it into a monopoly.
Holding up his right hand, he pressed his thumb and forefinger to his lower lip and leaned back in his chair.
Well. That’s not true. The drought is still ongoing in the south. Isn’t it? They’re aware of what’s happening now though and are working to curb it.
In fact they were buying a great deal of water to handle the crops this year. Make sure the harvest isn’t nearly as bad.
That’ll put food at a premium here.
Shaking his head, Phillip realized he wouldn’t make any money that way. But he should probably warn his mother.
Reaching for his ink and quill, he decided he’d put together that letter right now. Cautioning her against food and water as likely issues for her new campaign.
***
Phillip couldn’t deny he was feeling slightly overwhelmed.
It wasn’t as if he’d never been in a large city before. In fact he’d often gone with his mother or his sisters into the city.
And even the capital itself.
He’d even been in the royal palace on a number of occasions.
But right now he wasn’t with his family. He wasn’t in a controlled environment that was that way simply by the presence of his mother or older sisters.
He was on a busy and quite populated street with Mildred, Lenore, and three more of his own guards.
Lenore apparently didn’t merit any guards one way or the other, but Phillip had made sure to catch Mildred’s eyes and point at Lenore.
Just in case something did happen, he didn’t want her getting hurt due to a lack of communication.
“I didn’t send a note or a runner or anything,” Lenore said, turning her head to look at Phillip directly. She was dressed in a bit more of a feminine fashion today. A blouse, dress, and shawl. It all looked rather good on her, but none was very flattering to her figure. Mostly shapeless and hanging on her in a way that made it all seem amorphous. “I was concerned that it might alert them. Or someone else.”
Phillip couldn’t really naysay her in that paranoia.
The mercantile business was cut-throat in the best of times. Downright murderous in the worst of times.
“I’m sure it’ll be fine. This really isn’t anything to be concerned with,” Phillip assured her. “Honestly, they’ll be surprised at the size of the order but I doubt it’ll do much more than give them pause.”
Lenore blew out a short breath and then nodded her head.
“I guess I’m more nervous about my sisters or cousins seeing, if I had to be honest,” Lenore murmured. “With Alice marrying you, a Curis, she kinda threw out everything that we’d been expecting. At least as far as her inheritance in the family trade. Your family… brings a lot of weight to her name now.”
Hm.
That’s fair and likely very true.
I certainly hope my marriage becomes something more than just convenience though. Being little better than a political bed-toy would be rather depressing.
“I was surprised that Alice didn’t eat breakfast with you,” said Lenore, the subject changing rather quickly on Phillip. “Especially since she didn’t have dinner with you either.”
“Ah, yes. I saw her last night, briefly. I got the impression she needed to go make some trade deals,” Phillip said politely.
“Well, I think it’s just rude. You’re a newly married man and she’s so concerned about money that she’s missing out on the early days with you,” Lenore muttered. “I mean, I haven’t even heard mention of a honey-moon for you. That’s just weird.”
Actually, she’s right. There’s been no mention at all of a honey-moon.
I’m fairly certain Mother had contributed money to such a thing as well. I’ll have to make sure to write her about that.
Phillip’s mind turned slightly sour at that thought.
She can at least get her coin back.
“Yes, that does seem to be the case. I’m afraid that’s just the way of it though,” Phillip said then sighed. “A contracted political marriage. I always knew it was a possibility. I guess I’m just surprised it happened to me.”
Mildred bumped her elbow into his side at that moment, causing him to realize what he was saying.
He was being awfully free with Lenore. Giving her likely ammunition to sink him with later if he wasn’t careful.
“I’m sure Alice will figure it out eventually. She’s just caught up in what’s been given to her,” Lenore said with a wave of her hand. Then reached over and patted Phillip on the arm. “You’re a very intelligent man who’s clearly wanting to put in the time and effort.
“And besides, if Alice doesn’t figure it out, I can always just yell at her. Little sisters get that right you know. Especially when you’re not a woman yet by their standards.”
Laughing, Phillip wasn’t able to help himself.
“Yes. My youngest sisters get away with murder. Just before I left I caught one wrist deep in the fresh jam,” chuckled Phillip. “Ahh… I wonder if she’ll get caught. Father will notice today or tomorrow but… he’s never quite the same when Mother is away.”
A soul-crushing feeling swept through Phillip that left him cold.
He’d never be with his family in the same way he had, again.
The moments he’d thought nothing of as they happened were now forever locked away from him. He was a man now with a wife. Expected to start a family all his own.
And the hollow loneliness of that idea shattered his mood into bits.
“That sounds really cute,” Lenore said with a giggle. “I… I asked around a bit. Apparently it’s very well known that your parents are completely in love.”
“Yes. They truly are,” Phillip said a bit wistfully. “Mother said it wasn’t that way at first though. Father had been rather sullen about it all. He hadn’t wanted to marry a soldier, even if she was from a good family.”
“Really?” Lenore asked. She held up her hand and pointed down a street curving off to the side. “This way.”
Mildred didn’t say anything, but her sergeants responded. They shifted the line they were walking toward the direction indicated.
“Yeah. Mother… Mom… spent a lot of time just talking to my dad. Talking to him, being with him, assuring him of her intentions. They’d known for a long while they would marry, but they’d never had a chance to spend any time together before the marriage,” explained Phillip. “So she just… locked herself in her apartments with him and spent the better part of a month with him.”
“That’s really cute.”
“Isn’t it? Dad said he fell in love with her when she had to leave suddenly in the same month she’d married.
“It was the first time she was called up to fight. She’d threatened Grandma that she’d desert on the first day if she couldn’t delay her enlistment by two weeks. Grandma pulled some strings and made it happen.
“Dad… never forgot that moment. Also really bought Grandma a lot of credit with him. They’ve actually been pretty close ever since then.”
Lenore fell rather quiet after that, putting her hands behind her back and merely walking along-side Phillip.
Looking around at their surroundings, Phillip found it was more or less what he expected. Buildings, business, houses, and people streaming this way and that. Wagons moved to and fro.
Every now and then there would be a patrol of guards or a posted guard station.
It was a lot like every o
ther city he’d seen. There wasn’t anything really that unique about it when he inspected it.
“And my sister has more or less done the opposite with you,” said Lenore with a short huff. “I’m so sorry, Phillip. I’ll see if I can talk to her about it.”
“Don’t concern yourself with it. This is just the way of it, and if that’s how she’d like to maintain our marriage, then so be it,” Phillip said, trying to sound much firmer than he felt in his heart. He couldn’t mentally deny that he’d romanticized his marriage as a young man. Thinking of how Kathryn might treat him in the same way his mother did his father.
And maybe I ruined it all in fantasizing so much about it.
“We’re here,” Lenore murmured. “That’s the Cooper guild right there. They handle bulk orders rather than going to individual craftsmen.”
“Yes, that’s what we’re looking for. Trying to go cooper to cooper would be ridiculous,” Phillip said with a soft laugh. “Go ahead and pitch the idea for us. Let’s see what she says.”
Lenore gave a small nod of her head and then led the way into the large building, opening the door and stepping inside without a knock.
There was a muffled question from inside that Phillip couldn’t hear.
Following Lenore inside, Phillip quickly took a step to the side and moved in behind Lenore to her right.
Mildred came in after him, the rest of his guards remaining outside.
“Lenore Rias, house Rias. And Phillip Curis Rias,” Lenore said, gesturing toward Phillip beside her.
Phillip turned his gaze to the person Lenore was addressing.
It was an older woman in her mid forties, with brown hair and pale brown eyes. She had a semi-grizzled look to her that spoke to a life spent working and working hard.
Her eyes went from Lenore, to Phillip, to Mildred, and back to Lenore.
In that single look she’d dismissed Phillip entirely. Something that wasn’t worth her time and likely wasn’t worth addressing directly.
“What?” grumped the woman, not bothering to give her name. She leaned back behind her desk and seemed more concerned with anything else, other than Lenore and Phillip.
“Ah… we were hoping to purchase some barrels. But we’re looking for a large order,” Lenore said, taking a step forward. “Large enough that we felt it would be best to come here and speak with the guild directly.”