Meanwhile, back in Eden...
Alara sits alone at the large desk in the mansion's family room that she uses as her workspace, surrounded by stacks of financial papers that she's spent the past few hours reading, writing, and organizing. In her hands, she holds a freshly opened letter, written on thick, quality paper and carrying an ornate seal. It's sender is none other than a managing representative of Austere Coin – the Elven Kingdom's largest financial organization, and the people previously unwilling to open a new bank in Eden.
She reads the letter's contents with a smirk on her face.
Dear Lady Alara,
It has come to our organization's attention that you are currently seeking financial services related to managing the entirety of your esteemed city of Eden's income, expenditure, tax collection, and residential banking. As the Kingdom's leader in meeting elves' financial needs, we at Austere Coin would like to extend our earnest enthusiasm for such a unique partnership.
Austere Coin boasts the largest and most qualified collection of financial experts in the Kingdom – a resource that we're sure a new territory such as yours would benefit greatly from utilizing as it develops and expands. In addition, the repute of an Austere Coin bank is second to none, and will assuredly only bolster the meteoric rise in popularity of your new city.
We have been made aware that one of our representatives, Garvin, was previously in talks with you about opening a bank in Eden. We would like to emphasize that his decision does not represent the larger vision of the Austere Coin family and its senior management. After group discussion, Garvin has agreed that it would be best if he focuses on Eden as his sole client, should you partner with Austere Coin, and he extends his assurance that he will be available to arrange any financial services your city may need, day or night.
Keep us in mind as you continue planning for Eden's bright future, and know that you can also write correspondence to me directly if Garvin's assistance falls short of your expectations. We await your positive response.
Sincerely,
Igor Austere
Co-Founder and Senior Manager
Austere Coin
"HAHAHAHA! Oh gods! Oh gods, yes! Pahahahaha! You await my positive response, do you? Ohhhh, how you changed your tune! HAHAHAHAHA!" (Alara)
Alara leans back in her desk chair, swinging her feet in delight as she continues cackling maniacally. There are many things about her that she's tried to change since meeting Mizuki, but her enjoyment of petty revenges isn't one of them. And this letter...she hasn't experienced such sweet comeuppance in centuries, at least.
Almost as soon as she started building Eden, she was making moves to get a bank opened here. It's why she invited that useless representative from Austere Coin, Garvin, to the grand opening of Eden. And yet, her hopes were swiftly dashed when she was informed by that same representative that Eden stood essentially no chance of enticing a bank to break ground here.
That is, until Zara suggested a particularly appealing scheme. After being rejected by Austere Coin, Alara presented an irresistibly profitable counter-offer to only their competitors, and even had her high level contacts like Kudra and Cara subtly leak that offer back to Austere Coin. Now, that ploy has finally beared fruit.
Of course, that realization immediately reminds her of Zara, and a soft pang seizes her heart. It disappears just as quickly, though, when she remembers the night before. They drank, they talked, they laughed...right up until Zara finally had to leave. However, not before Zara left her with some parting words.
"Now that the wolf-kin are progressing, as their Elder, I guess I should probably take a family name, right? Is Zuki still available?"
Alara can't help but smile again at the memory.
'Fufufu...I guess this makes Zara my little sister. I'm so going to rub this in little brother's face.'
She rises from her chair and walks to a chest of drawers nearby, opening a particular drawer. Inside, several more opened letters are stored. She placed Austere Coin's inside with them, smirking as she shuts the drawer.
'From no banking prospects to all of them...thanks, Zara.'
With that concern out of the way, she turns her attention to more pressing matters.
'I need to finish designing the layout of the western port city, we need guards, I need to start plans for Eden's combat arena...then there's the school and library. Gods...I really need help if I'm going to keep my promise to Zara on top of all that.'
She unconsciously begins biting her thumb, contemplating the most prudent steps forward.
'I really need to convince Alyse to join me, if I can...'
That's what she knows, but she feels that she almost doesn't deserve Alyse's help. She remembers how mean-spirited she was towards Alyse in the past, and honestly, she wants to make up for it. At the same time, though, isn't any attempt she makes to do that going to be tainted by the fact that she's also asking Alyse for help?
She ponders that conundrum for several minutes in silence, trying to come up with a solution. She needs Alyse's help, but she also wants to make amends, yet no matter how she imagines going about it, it's always going to look like bargaining.
She sighs.
'I guess there's nothing I can do to completely solve that problem. All I can do is make an earnest effort and hope for the best. I'll perfect my final plea, then make it to her tonight.'
Nodding to herself, she returns to her desk to continue with her mountain of work.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
She casts a puzzled look at the door.
'Nina, Mizuki, and Zara are all gone. Does Percivil want to talk about his prospective store here, maybe?'
She feels a touch of excitement at the prospect, it'll be another great boon to Eden if he officially accepts her and Mizuki's offer.
"Come in!" (Alara)
The door clicks as it's opened, revealing an apprehensive looking elven woman...Alyse. Alara's eyes widen in shock.
"U-Uhm, Alyse....err, I wasn't expecting you. Is everything okay?" (Alara)
Alyse nods, seemingly thinking over her words before speaking.
"Yes, I just...I've reached a decision about the jobs I discussed with you and Mizuki. I was hoping to discuss it with you." (Alyse)
Alara feels her stomach lurch and her heartbeat quicken.
'Fuck! What!? No! I haven't even gotten a chance to present my case again yet! She's totally going to turn me down!'
Alara frantically rises from her chair, waving her hands dismissively. A trace of panic is clear in her voice, though she tries to hide it.
"What? No, don't be ridiculous, there's no rush! Take some time and think things over! At least wait until tonight to decide!" (Alara)
Alyse raises her eyebrows.
"No need? I know what I want to do...waiting isn't going to change my mind." (Alyse)
Alara feels a cold sweat starting on her neck.
'Gods! Dammit! I need more time! I haven't figured out what I was going to say to her yet! What do I do!?'
She walks towards Alyse hesitantly, fidgeting with her hands absentmindedly as she tries to organize her thoughts.
"Uhm...okay, yeah. Err, before you tell me your decision, can I say something?" (Alara)
Alyse's expression turns puzzled.
"There's really no point, I already decided that I-" (Alyse)
"Please!? Wait...sorry, uhm...please?" (Alara)
She quickly cuts Alyse off, a touch of panic creeping into her voice once again. Alyse gives her a stunned look, but eventually nods.
She takes a steadying breath, then does her best to meet an expectant-looking Alyse's gaze.
"Okay, so...first, I'm sorry. For every time I was probably a massive bitch...I'm honestly sorry." (Alara)
She bows. Not a subtle one, where she just lowers her head respectfully, but an actual, full bow. She bends at the waist and everything, gritting her teeth through the hit to her pride. When she looks back up, Alyse's mouth is hanging open in abject shock. But, she's far from done saying what she needs to.
"Next, I want you to know that I want you to take the job as my guard...assistant...whatever. Actually, no, I'm in desperate need of your help, and if I'm being honest, I don't have the first clue who else qualified I can ask if you turn me down. I, uhm...well, I wanted to tell you that up front, because I know it may make you doubt what I say next.
"I really would like to make amends with you...for whatever I've said or done in the past. I'm not sure if that's possible or what, but...yeah. I thought a lot about how I could do that and...well, I want you to know that, even if you turn me down after this, I'm going to talk to Mizuki for you. About your brother not being able to cast spells, I mean. I don't remember exactly what his situation was, but I know you two were close, and I think Mizuki might be able to help. I'm not sure if he'll actually do anything just because I ask, but...I'll try.
"So...yeah, that's all I really wanted to say." (Alara)
She finishes her hastily conceived plea, fighting to try and maintain eye contact with Alyse, but mostly failing. Her poor delivery, her wounded pride from lowering herself to someone else like this, the shame of knowing how shamelessly manipulative this must look – the embarrassment from it all is almost more than she can bear.
She feels her face flushed red, and she's squeezing her own fists at her side so tightly that she wouldn't be surprised if it draws blood. For a while, all she can manage to do is stare at her feet as the painful silence stretches on, until eventually, she can't take it anymore. She lifts her head, meeting Alyse's gaze.
Alyse just stares back at her with an expression that's...intensely annoyed. Before she can even look puzzled, though, Alyse sighs deeply.
"Gods, I really hate being wrong..." (Alyse)
She gives Alyse a confused look, her previous train of thought evaporating.
"I...don't follow..." (Alara)
Alyse purses her lips, a resigned look in her eyes.
"I was wrong...about you. It seems you really have changed...haven't you?" (Alyse)
She feels as though molten lead has been poured on her chest, a fierce wave of validation washing over here.
"Thanks...for thinking so. I'm...trying." (Alara)
Alyse raises her eyebrows, clearly surprised even by that response. Then, she smiles wryly.
"So, does that mean I won't have to worry about your prejudice against my sexual habits anymore, if I come work for you? No more snide comments or dumb lesbian jokes?" (Alyse)
At first, all Alara registers is Alyse's warming demeanor and the mention of working for her, and she almost instinctively leaps to hug Alyse with joy. But just as quickly, she processes the rest of Alyse's words, and her expression twists into one of genuine confusion.
"Uhm, may I ask...what gave you the impression I take issue with you sleeping with women? I admit that I don't remember many of the things I've probably said to you, but I'm quite sure I've never had a problem with that." (Alara)
Alyse's expression sours, her voice turning mildly sarcastic.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe the millennia worth of comments I had to listen to? Calling me the 'better barren noble' and 'lineage killer'. And don't get me started on your filthy joke that one time about how I could 'service' you in your room later." (Alyse)
Hearing the fierce irritation in Alyse's voice, she looks away, her expression twisted with shame at the reminder of things she used to call Alyse. She clears her throat awkwardly.
"Oh...I...well, I do recall those nicknames, and I'm very sorry. I wasn't exactly...empathetic, back then. But for what it's worth, my derogatory comments were about how I thought you were disgracing your family by not fulfilling your responsibilities as a noble woman. I wasn't judging your sexual preferences, per se.
"As for you...err, servicing me...I don't actually remember that, but it probably wasn't a joke. It wasn't uncommon back then for me to take women into my bed anytime I got, uhm...bored. Still, I'm sorry...it was rude regardless." (Alara)
She casts an apologetic look at Alyse, hoping to at least convince her of this one instance in which she wasn't quite as horrible as someone thought. To Alara's surprise, though, Alyse no longer looks annoyed with her. Instead, she looks...like she just had a near-death experience. Alyse's eyes are wide as saucers, her face pale...she's clearly shaken. When she finally responds, Alara can hear her voice wavering.
"Y-You...were serious?" (Alyse)
Alara nods, raising her eyebrows.
"Yes? I think so, at least." (Alara)
Alyse blinks.
"Huh..." (Alyse)
The two stare at one another in silence for several moments, a vacant expression on Alyse's face, and an increasingly confused one on Alara's. Eventually, Alara glances around the office awkwardly, then clears her throat.
"Ehem...uhm, Alyse?" (Alara)
Startled, Alyse gives her a flustered look.
"Hmm...yes?" (Alyse)
Alara raises her eyebrows, her tone laced with a bit of hopefulness.
"So...what do you say? About working together? I didn't get your official answer..." (Alara)
She stares at Alyse expectantly, subconsciously holding her breath. Alyse gives her a nervous smile.
"Yeah...uhm, that sounds good. I accept." (Alyse)
Alara's eyes widen in surprise, an involuntary sigh of relief escaping her lips. Then, she gives Alyse a blistering smile, relieved to her core.
"That's great! You won't regret it, I swear!" (Alara)
She extends her hand towards Alyse enthusiastically, her smile not having faded in the slightest.
"I look forward to working together!" (Alara)
Alyse glances at her outstretched hand, her nervous demeanor worsening slightly. Eventually, she gently clasps Alara's hand, returning a strained smile.
"Same here..." (Alyse)