Aniphrae nibbled on the end of her wooden pen as she stared at the sheets in front of her. She squinted, trying to read her own writing, but the tableside lamp didn’t produce enough light for her. The small glasses sitting at the end of her nose didn’t help as well. Why couldn’t she have inherited her mother’s eyesight.
“Ma’am, are you still awake?” Her maid’s melodious voice came from the door.
“Yes, what do you need, Lei?” Her maid quietly stepped inside.
Lei’lorai’s simple nightgown was drenched from her soaked, vibrant green hair, and it made the fabric nearly transparent. Aniphrae sneered at her maid’s shapely figure. Lei squinted and held her hand to cover her eyes. The light made her skin shine with an iridescence and revealed the thin, spiny fin along her arm.
“I thought you should know that the Inventor has gone to bed.” Lei’lorai said harshly, “And his dragon-heart has joined him.”
“Thank you, Lei’lorai.”
“You are more accepting of the Inventor’s pets than I expected ma’am.”
“Accepting isn’t the right word.” Aniphrae rubbed her eyes in frustration. “Honestly, I want to get rid of them, but the Inventor is attached to them. So, I must get used to them.” She smiled darkly. “Do you wish to join us?”
“No, I have no desire to pollute my family’s lineage.” Lei’lorai scoffed.
“Good, I’d hate to replace you.” Aniphrae smirked while taking her in. “It’s hard to find selkies outside of the coastal cities.”
“True, I am hard to replace.” Lei’lorai replied. Aniphrae scoffed as the sea folk ran her hands through her hair. “Where else would you find a beauty like me?” Aniphrae scoffed at her maid and returned to her work. “Still ma’am, I don’t understand why you’re marrying the Inventor. Why not try to marry the other heroes?”
“I’m not a noble, so marrying into a martial class wouldn’t benefit the family. However, a crafter is another story.” She gave her maid a wily smile. “My father spent years building his trade empire, but he was always at the mercy of the Guild. He had to buy products at their rates and could only sell his wares whenever they allowed. He wasted hundreds of thousands of gold coins on bribery to get ahead; all because the Guild controls the means of production.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“That’s because you’re too focused on looks.” Aniphrae chuckled. “Whenever the heroes are summoned, change always follows. Kingdoms have risen and fallen because of them, but the Inventor is the first crafter to ever be recorded.” She played with a strand of hair as she stared out the window. “I’m certain that the Inventor’s arrival is a sign of the Guild’s downfall, and when they do, the merchant families will try to fill the void. Therefore, it’s important to bring Nathaniel into the family.”
“So, you plan to exploit the Inventor? I feel sorry for him.”
Aniphrae’s smile faltered. “It’s not exploitation since he’ll be profiting as well.” She said, “And this is my chance to stand out from my other siblings.”
“I can understand that.” Lei’lorai said pensively.
“Then you understand why I need this marriage to happen?” Aniphrae’s eyes turned steely, and she held out the parchment. “It’s getting late. Please place these on the desk on your way out.”
Lei’lorai nodded and gave her a small smile. “Good night, ma’am.” She said before blowing out the candle.
<hr>
Bella clutched tightly to her partner, burying her face into his flesh. His warmth made her feel safe, and his hand brushed against her skin, sending a shiver down her back. She chuckled and raised her head to stare into his eyes, but only darkness greeted her. Bella crushed her pillow in her arms as she laid her head back down. The warmth surrounding her suddenly became cold.
“It’s almost morning.”
With a heavy sigh, she rose from bed, bracing against the slight chill. The rustling of her clothes broke the night’s silence, and she took a moment to enjoy the beauty of the early morning sky. Bella soaked in the peaceful quiet, for in a few hours the busy day would drive it away. Nathaniel would be occupied with an invention or town issues, Ralia and Hope with training, and she would be busy tending to the chores. Simple lives meant for simple people. Unfortunately, the ornate carriage parked below her window contradicted that.
Her smile slowly faded, and the night lost some of its luster. She quickly dressed herself and stepped out of her room. The hall was drowned in darkness, but it didn’t matter to her. Everything took on a dull grey when there was no light.
Her eyes fell onto the door at the end of the hall. Ralia would have kept him up late. A small smile appeared on her lips as she headed down the hall. I can’t blame her. She quietly moved through the hall to the kitchen. However, a figure stood staring into the tea cabinets.
“Is there something you need, Lei’lorai?” Bella smiled politely.
“I was looking for a kettle.” Lei’lorai replied coldly, not even turning to look at her. “However, I can’t seem to find it. Do you not like an organized kitchen?”
“My kitchen is organized.” Bella pulled out the kettle from the bottom cabinet. “The kettle is with the other pots and pans.”
“It should be with the tea. That way guests can prepare it themselves.”
“Most of our guests don’t stay with us, so there is no need to prepare it themselves.”
“Sounds more like you don’t want them to stay.”
Lei’s sharp smile angered her. “I’ll see to it that everything is taken care of. Why don’t you return to bed?”
“That won’t be necessary. I need to make certain that mistress Aniphrae’s breakfast is made to her liking. She prefers her food to have flavor.”
“Then feel free to make it yourself.” Bella’s smile disappeared as she lit the oven. “I need to prepare breakfast for the others.”
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The light from the stove bathed the room in orange light, and the two women went about their task. They both filled wooden bowls with the ingredients needed to make bread, but they chose different spices.
“Why are you making sweets?” Lei’lorai scoffed at the bottled honey and cream. “A savory bread would pair better with a hearty breakfast.”
“Sweet bread helps round out the breakfast.” Bella replied, trying to fight back a sneer. “Savory bread loses its taste alongside the salty meats. Whereas the salt will enhance the sweetness of the bread.”
“Of course, a fairy over-indulges in sweets.” Lei’lorai glared at Bella’s waist.
“And you fish need to brine yourselves in salt.”
A strained silence filled the kitchen, and the tension between them made the room feel unnaturally warm. Bella tore at the dough viciously with her rolling pin until it was flat, and she effortlessly cut it into smaller slices. She rolled the pieces into thin strips, then tied them into intricate knots. She smiled victoriously at the small egg washed pastries on the thin pan. She was about to stick them in the oven when Lei’lorai shoved her on the top rack.
“Don’t want mine to burn.” The selkie gave her a shark-toothed smile.
“That simply means mine will be finished first.” Bella replied, slamming the door shut. Sunlight started filling the room. “I’d better get started on the rest of breakfast.” She stalked off to the pantry, pulling out salted meats and a few eggs.
“Is that it?” Lei’lorai eyed the produce in disgust. “That’s too heavy of a meal for the morning. You need something light to start the morning.” She pulled out several vegetables. “A salad is a better choice.”
“Master Nathaniel needs all the energy he can get.” Bella snapped. “A salad won’t provide him with the nutrients he needs to man the forges all day.”
“I think he has enough nutrients to do that already. However, Mistress Aniphrae need to keep her mind clear. All that meat is bad for her concentration.”
“No one stopping you from making a salad.” A low growl escaped Bella’s lips.
The furious sounds of cooking filled the kitchen. Both women moved between the kitchen and dining room, setting their dishes against each other. Soon the whole house was filled with the fragrant aroma of a feast.
“What are you two doing?” Everyone gathered around the door staring at the two of them. Bella couldn’t stop from frowning as Aniphrae hung on Nathaniel’s arm.
“We-”
“We were preparing breakfast.” Lei’lorai replied proudly. She pulled out the seat next to the table’s head. “Mistress.”
Aniphrae smiled up at Nathaniel. “I’ll follow your lead.”
“We can wake the others, but you should know that we have assigned seating.”
“It’s fine if mistress Aniphrae wishes to sit there.” Bella replied, her face hurting from the false smile.
“Thank you.”
An awkward tension hung over the room as everyone sat down. It was broken by the clinking of utensils on dishes. Bella smiled victoriously as most of her dishes were eaten, especially her sweet bread.
“So, what are your plans today, darling?” Aniphrae spoke up. Her eyes fluttered rapidly.
“I’ll start by checking in on the community garden, then I’ll be spending most of the day working on our plumbing project.”
“Plumbing?”
“Master wants to make it so we can draw water from inside our houses.” Hope said with a bright smile. “It’ll even come out piping hot!”
Pomran stared in disbelief. “You can do that?”
“Yes, but I need to make a few finishing touches. After that, It’s simply building out the infrastructure.” Nathaniel chuckled. “I plan to have it finished by late spring, early summer. What about you two?”
“Land grabbing.” Pomran sighed. “That way we can get building started.”
“I would like to speak with the headsman.” Aniphrae said.
“What for?”
“To establish Treante’s founding families.” Nathaniel looked at her in confusion. “It’s important to establish these families darling.” She said, patting his hand. “They’ll act as extension of your will, that way the town will run as you desire.”
“Are they really that important?” Hope asked.
“They are.” Aniphrae nodded with a serious stare. “These families will essentially run the town since Nathaniel will be busy. I expect your small village to become a proper town by the end of next year, so we’ll need every family to control a major industry for the town to function.”
“How do you plan to do that with farmers and loggers?” Bella said curiously.
“We’ll start by consolidating families.” Aniphrae’s smile turned devilish. “That way we cut down on competition and secure industry rights. For the families that don’t make the cut, we’ll move them closer to the square and have them set up shop. It’s important for a budding town to have a tailor, baker, and general store, and since we’re next to the mountains, I’d recommend building a new mine separate from the dungeon.”
“How would you implement these changes?”
“You will fund them of course. The families that will keep their current industries we’ll have marry into each other. With a generous endowment from you of course. As for the others, we can forcibly change their family’s class by bringing in slaves. Please excuse me!” Aniphrae disappeared upstairs then came back down with a leather binder. “I had father send letters to my other siblings running our family’s slave trade. Any slaves with the desired classes were offered a sizable bonus to transfer to Rumand. We’ll move them here and have them marry into the other families.”
Nathaniel stuttered as he stared at the binder. “You’ve really thought this through.”
“Trust me, your village is in good hands.” Pomran smirked rubbing her head. “My little sister has taken completely after our father.”
Aniphrae swatted the hand away. “Yes, well, unlike you brother, I still aspire of taking over father’s company. If I can turn this sleepy hamlet into a profitable city that should put me ahead of our brother Guilman.”
“Who’s Guilman?” Nathaniel asked, enjoying their sibling antics.
“Father’s first-born son and my eldest full brother.” Pomran sighed through gritted teeth.
“I take it you don’t like him?”
Aniphrae laughed, trying to keep her smile. “Brother Guilman has father’s business sense but none of his charm. He is trying to expand the company into Melmaria, and he’s doing quite well.”
“If you call crushing the competition with an iron boot well.” Pomran scoffed. “Pray you never meet him.”
“Back to business. Nathaniel, darling.” She took his hand with a beautiful smile. “I want to show you how dedicated I am. That’s why I wanted to run this by you first, but I won’t act until I have your approval.”
Nathaniel quickly looked at Bella, a concerned frown on his lips. “What about the dark elves? Are you willing to help support them?”
Aniphrae’s lips twitched. “If that is your wish, then I’ll edit my plans to secure their positions as well.” Her grip tightened around his fingers. “If I knew what your plans for them were, I can make the appropriate changes.”
“It’s the same as for everyone else, for them to be able to live the best lives they can.”
“A noble desire, but one that’ll make it hard to recruit more villagers.” Aniphrae pouted in thought. “I’ll need to speak with the elves first. That way I can determine how best to secure their positions, and we’ll need to appoint a representative on the council too.”
“I suggest Eladregn.” Bella said quietly. “He cares for his people, and has no problem speaking his mind, even if he can be a little narrowminded.”
“Then Barin should represent the rest of the village.”
“Then I recommend myself for the third position.” Aniphrae said.
Ralia growled, slamming her fist onto the table. “Why should you be the third? Bella or I would be a better choice.”
“Bella would stack the council in favor of the elves, and you lack the skills.” She replied, “I, on the other hand, know how to get people to work together and to turn things around in my favor. As an outsider betrothed to Nathaniel, my focus will solely be on making decisions that favor him.”
“She right Ralia.” Bella sighed deeply.
“I’ll consider you for the position, if you can get Eladregn and Barin to agree to it.” Nathaniel stated. “I want to make sure that you’ll do everything you can for this village.”
Aniphrae’s smile vanished, replaced with a stern glare. “Very well Nathaniel, I accept your conditions. However, I have several conditions for you as well.”
“And that is?”
Aniphrae stood up, slowly approaching him. “I’ll be in charge of your treasury and all economic decisions.” Nathaniel had to turn his chair, and she leaned over so that their faces were nearly touching. “And you will accept the date I’ve decided for our wedding. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Aniphrae’s frown twisted into a victorious smirk.
“You’re going to regret that.” Pomran chuckled.