Every word measured, every expression flawless despite the incredible lie this husband of her’s was weaving. Such an act that for a horrifying few moments, Sophia herself almost believes it.
The man standing a little in front of her was not Zai Tianci, Crown Prince of Tianci and her politically married husband. This was Jin Zhou of Yunclair, a rich young heir with more silver than sense. Supposedly the spoiled son of a merchant millionaire, here on a honeymoon with his Central Ensolian wife, indulging in a personal whim to buy a seaside business.
Sylvia Duval is the wife of a man rich beyond the largest measures imaginable in Port Azuru, through unknown business ventures in Yunclair his own father had exploited not only the race for weapons and supplies from the Third Stygian War but somehow managed to retain that fortune through the Great Starving.
A checkbook to the Landfall Bank in his pocket, this small fortune is nothing but spare change to lay down a personal investment in this established town for his own private usage. An escape from the demands of wealth, and power; a place where he can simply live… and make some coin.
And this very well dressed and very stern older woman, with her dark brown eyes and gray hair who stood at equal heights with this spoiled brat, crosses her arms as she stares with an unamused expression. “You’re… serious about this… Jin, was it?”
“Of course I am.” The Crown Prince of Tianci takes that false mask effortlessly, drawing that knowledgeable but evil smile on his face. “With some renovation this locale can become quite a profitable investment. You own this establishment right?”
She takes an impatient breath, her foot tapping on the almost sticky marble flooring. “Well the Hospitality Syndicate owns it in shares, but I run it in their stead. I don’t think you’d want this location.”
Jin keeps pushing. “Nonsense, this is a perfect property for a proper resort. With a decent starting fund of around seventy six million Yin, of course.”
Uhhh… currency exchange. Sophia’s brain thinks to itself, calculating that incredibly unfair exchange rate to the Imperial Denar in two seconds flat. A small whistle, a number large enough to even make the Fourth Princess of the Imperium take a few moments to comprehend the number. Wow, that’s a lot of cash money.
A thought process analyzes the significance of this play. Yeah, that’s because he’s trying to make this an offer they can’t refuse. An offer that big, they have to show us their financials to complete this impromptu purchase.
The rest of the consciousness committee whistles. He’s playing it well. If we were trying to sell this dump, we’d jump at that number.
“That’s a lot of money.” The hotel manager sharply inhales.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
And Jin follows that line of thought. “Well maybe a million could also be misplaced to the one who closes this deal. We’ll keep it open ended.”
Sophia scrunches her face together, that analysis returning a critical crime to her silver soul. Did this husband of ours just offer to put down a bribe?
Her heart skips a beat, at the mention of what should be an unforgivable crime to someone of his status. This husband, this oceanic soul that now belonged to her, could go so low as to exchange favors for money?
A thought—half accusatory, half informative—snaps her brain into focus. Of course he would. This is the Tianci Dominion, you idiot! A foreign country, with its own rules, its own culture. They probably think our Imperium’s Blade of Errors are crazy too.
She pauses, her own heart now filled with longing. But still... why did it have to be him to fall to this?
And Unudo, the great spirit, offers its advice: BECAUSE IN A WORLD OF BLADES, THE SPEAR WILL BE DESTROYED FIRST.
“That’s a lot of money.” The hotel manager repeats herself.
“And you could have a place in it Ms… what was your name again?”
“Just call me Choi.”
“Choi, this could be transformative to not only you but your place of work. Think of what would happen with more capital, more clients?” Jin, this prospective buyer, now turns to another fact. “But before I continue on this offer I would like to see a copy of how profitable this place actually is… just to be sure it’s a worthy investment.”
That appeal alongside those words doesn’t add up to this hotel manager, Choi taking a small step back as she eyes the walls, the furniture, and even Sophia. “What’s your game? Are you here to audit this place?”
Oh crap.
Jin Zhou smiles, calm as pond water and cold as a blizzard. “Of course not. You understand that before I make an impulse purchase I’ll need to justify this to my father, and myself correct? This is standard procedure.”
She scoffs at him. “Yeah, sure it is.”
This story is starting to slip, a single crack beginning to web up from the foundation and onto the walls of this building of political scheming. Sophia, in her position right behind her husband, could see the ever so minor twitch on his finger tips, the small bead of sweat traveling down the back of his head.
Sophia Elise, we need to back our husband up. Her central consciousness committee declares. Come on, think of something to help him. Prove to him that we are useful.
Several mental cycles pass in horrible silence as every single thought process falls face first in this field of social warfare. She has options, but choosing from a soft smile, an increasing series of angry accusations, or even a total emotional meltdown in the middle of the hotel lobby meant none of them were any bit attractive to this Fourth Princess.
We can’t be that bad at this, are we?! Sophia panics, scowling from behind her husband towards this Hotel Manager. Come on brain, give me something! Anything!
Oh you sure you want something? Her brain asks, that ominous tone somehow implying a terrifying reference to something buried deep within her psyche. Cause we can give you something.
