”Thanks.”
He left after thanking them. Would Fleur turn into such a vile creature, only interested in money? The bitterness of this realization lay heavy in her heart. And yet, a proper merchant would never have been trapped in this way, their money converted into trash.
That’s exactly why Milton was so down right now; almost everything they bought was garbage to them. That might sound extreme, but if they were sold at the market price they wouldn’t even get back what Fleur had invested. Of course the Jones company made out like bandits by selling them poor quality clothes as black as Fleur’s future, and Milton’s present mood - and their tainted contract.
“All the clothes..”
When Fleur finally couldn’t take the silent atmosphere any longer, she asked the obvious. Milton didn’t face her, but his entirely body flinched.
“Are dark colors.”
She understood his depression, but she had to believe there was still some hope. She tried to rationalize with him, but he simply looked up at their mule, which was struggling to stay level, and smiled, exhausted.
“Like our silver turning into amber, our hopes are dashed.”
“How come..”
In truth she knew exactly why, but she couldn’t bring herself to accept it. Milton smiled angrily, but simply shook his head. She understood - he knew what nobles would buy, and so he was certain their goods were worthless. Despite wanting to encourage him, she realized the reality they now faced.
“..how much can we get?”
Surely it wouldn’t be zero? It had to at least be seventy percent of their cost?
“..”
He simply raised four fingers without making a peep. Forty percent.
“They’re still saleable, and worth something, but not much more than trash. Such poor quality, and such dark colors.. they’re only really good for funerals.”
He smiled, and gave up. His mouth was twisted into a distorted shape. Fleur was reminded of her ex-husband, but not because this situation was identical. She had no hatred of Milton.
“But forty percent can still work out, right? After all, we can double its value after four trades, so we can still make it back to square one after that, can’t we?”
That seemed to be all he could take. His face lost all expression for a moment, and his mouth opened and closed, as he wished to speak, but couldn’t. Finally, his limit broke.
“Stupid.”
His face was shriveled up, and he didn’t seem to have the control to say any more than that.. but there was no way she could understand him if that was the only word he’d say. It looked like he wanted to continue, but he swallowed those words down. He didn’t wait for her to speak, but just turned around and left.
“Mil-”
Her weak voice was swallowed up by the noise of the city, and didn’t stop him. Soon he was gone. All she was left with less than forty percent of her investment. And a mule, for what that was worth. Compared to her loss - or even Hans’ ruthlessness - this wounded her far more. It was all she could do to pull the mule home behind her.
Just how would Ora react? She just couldn’t tell.
* * *
“Unbelievable.”
Fleur had been expecting to wake up to another nightmare the next morning. She stared at the garden through the rain as she walked downstairs, at which point she heard Ora say that without him even turning around.
It was still a bit dark, but she saw a small piece of glass in his hands: a lens. He’d taken it from another company he worked for before they collapsed. He was probably trying to find a flaw in the documents Fleur brought back with her. The candle on his desk had been burned away entirely.
“Unbelievable. He’s just too devious.”
His voice came out like a sigh; neither angry, nor flat. But it was obvious from his tired body that this was her fault.
“I’m.. so sorry.”
Hearing her repeat those words made him squint, but say nothing. Beltra took the chance to bring a cup of warm milk to her, and asked her to sit down first.
“According to my estimates, the clothes are worth maybe half our cost. But Milton does know the market better, so his estimate’s probably more accurate. I’m just impressed that the company still had these clothes in their possession. Well, I do remember they were popular in the past, so it’s not that surprising.”
He was pointing at the sample on the far corner of his desk. They’re only really good for funerals. Milton’s words still echoed in her mind.
“The saving grace, Milady, is that you didn’t borrow money to buy them. So at least you won’t have to announce bankruptcy right away. And these can still be sold, if you ever want to see some of your money again. But you’re going to have to do all of the legwork.”
Fleur nodded at his soft-spoken words. Beltra was slowly adding honey to her cup, one that Beltra had carved herself. Fleur knew better than to cry or apologize right now, but she couldn’t bring herself to look up. She needed to raise her eyes and shout I won’t let myself fail again, I promise! I promise! But such proud, brave words from a determined merchant were not heard at the moment.. only the rain outside.
This was just like the first ball she had ever attended. She’d spoken to merchants and carelessly let them win her trust.. only to be used. She’d seen this corner of the world before. She knew merchants cared nothing for other’s emotions, and were only out for profit.. how best to earn it, and how best to maximize it. No matter the means, all they were after was money.
Ora should have reminded her as well of this cold, hard truth.
“..I’m so sorry..”
That was all she could bring herself to say. She wanted to sink into the warmth of the cup of milk in her hands. Ora sat there, motionless. Beltra tried to stand, but was stopped by his hand. Fleur braced herself.
“It seems there really is no rest for the weary, is there, Beltra?”
Ora asked her to move the clothing into their store room, then said he had to check the eaves. Then they were gone. Only Fleur remained. Only Fleur, and the rain. It seemed to loudly be accusing her to the point where she couldn’t calm herself. All she felt was shame.
Her tears finally fell into the cup she held. She felt only regret and hatred at herself for being such a useless merchant. But what finally tipped her to the point of tears was the fact that she would still have to trade with those.. creatures.
It was ludicrous; she couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t. She wanted to declare that to Beltra and Ora right now. She had no idea what she would do, and could only see hell ahead of her. But it didn’t matter if she turned around. Hell would still be where she looked. And so she heard herself calling out to God. Just then..
“?”
She raised her head, but not because Ora or Beltra had returned. What was that noise she’d just heard? Just as she was about to decide that it was just some cat or rat, taking refuge from the rain, she heard it again. It was a knock at the door. A guest at this time?
“!”
She quickly rubbed her face and rudely blew her nose into the towel beside her. Someone was visiting them despite the rain.. it could only be one person.. one hurt, frightened, and worried person. She raised herself to her feet. This was too much for one person to bear, but what if there were two?
With that expectation, she reached her hand out to open the door. With all the rain, she couldn’t believe her eyes for a second. Were they deceiving her?
“May we talk for a moment?”
Despite being asked, she was so shocked that she couldn’t reply. It goes without saying that it wasn’t Milton standing before her. No, it was that villain, Hans.
“I’m assuming you drew up a contract with Mr. Pabst to supply him the funds, correct?”
It was like having a conversation with a disgusting snake eyeing its prey. She was so repulsed she could only squeeze one word from her throat.
“So?”
“Mr. Pabst didn’t check the goods, so you were h
is investor, and he was your salesman, yes?”
His luxurious leather coat was proof against the rain. The eyes staring out from under that coat were like the ones of a priest, but covered in a film of oil.
“..So-so what?”
His words were frightening. She did her best to stall for time, not knowing what his goal might be. He’d taken all of her money, and given her garbage in return. What further use could she be to him? Why had he come all this way in the rain to say such terrifying things?
In all honesty, she never wanted to see his face again. She didn’t want to be seen by him, either. Yet here he was, looking at her like a snake coiling around its prey.
“Then you are not solely liable for the risk.. how much is he responsible for? Fifteen percent? Twenty?”
Her hand began to tremble on the door jamb, but not because she was struck by a chill. It was anger. She forced a reply out of her throat.
“I’m not like you! I’m not that vile!”
“How much is it?”
She was so angry looking at Hans, who obviously wasn’t going to retreat, that she nearly collapsed.
“Half. Because I trust him.”
She put on her bravest front, but Hans craned his neck and replied in a frivolous tone.
“Whoo- then you’ve lost quite a lot?!”
That was the last straw. She was seeing nothing but red, and inhaled deeply to roar at him. But Hans was wearing an expression of understanding, and stepped up to her speaking softly.
“Then let me purchase your contract with Mr. Pabst. The full amount you paid for those products.”
That took the wind out of her sails.
“Huh?!”
“This is what we do.. transfer the claim of liabilities. It doesn’t matter if you asked for interest or not, I just want to buy the fact that you loaned money to Mr. Pabst. This deal won’t have any impact on you.”
His clarity snapped her out of it, and his intent finally sank in. His original plan was exposed, his actual goal. He wanted to buy Milton’s debt, and thus win control of a superb salesman.
“Of course, you’re free to refuse. But you should really consider your own situation first. This is hardly the time to act like a spoiled rich girl.”
His hands were around her neck. At least, that’s how she felt right now.
“If all goes well, you’ll still be free to marry him. I’ll gladly even offer my help..”
Fleur had never punched anyone in her life.
“Then.. you’re going to refuse my suggestion?”
He put his hand to his face, confirming that blood had been drawn. His expression changed entirely.
“When you’re left with no other option, then use that same hand to knock on our company’s door. I’ll overlook this.”
He licked the blood off his mouth, glaring rudely at her.
“So, until then.”
She watched him walk away in the rain, until he suddenly turned back once more.
“When you change your mind, come find me.”
She’d reacted out of rash passion, but there was only one word in her mind right now: merchant. They could be this cruel just for profit. Just how low would they go? She stared him down until he vanished into the rain. But the thing she couldn’t stand the most was that she knew that deep down, she was just as human as he was.
With that thought, she collapsed on the spot. Beltra, hearing the noise, screamed out for Ora. Fleur lay there staring at the rain falling from the eaves, wanting to cry but unable to do so. After struggling to stand back up with Beltra’s help, she stupidly wandered out into the rain. Beltra, who had run up to Ora, who was flying down the stairs asking what had happened, then noticed that Fleur had gone outside and chased after her again.
Money does change everyone. Fleur was seeing something amazing in the rain: a wagon full of goods, just next to her house. The driver’s face was concealed, and the goods were piled in haphazardly, as though someone was nervously tossing them in. She shouted as loudly as she could.
“Milton!!”
Despite her tears and the rain blurring her vision, she still saw the driver’s body flinch unnaturally, just before the wagon sped off.
“Milton!”
Those were the last words she said. Ora flew out of the house and covered her with a blanket before pulling her back inside.
“Milton.. Milton..”
She whispered as though she was dreaming, despite clearly hearing the conversation between Ora and Beltra. The door to their storehouse had been broken in.
“Milady.”
She snapped back to reality at Ora’s serious expression.
“What.. happened?”
He held her face in his hands, so she couldn’t look away. She wanted to die so badly she closed her eyes. But she knew it would change nothing.
“Milady.”
Tears flowed from her eyes like a scolded child, but he continued like some gentle priest.
“He wasn’t from Jones’? Then, it was..”
Fleur nodded in confirmation. It was beyond a shadow of a doubt. Milton must have figured out what Hans was after, and had waited for his chance to steal the clothes. They would probably be worth half their cost if he did his best to sell them. If he did, he could repay his loan.
She closed her eyes again, realizing that he never trusted her. If he had, he wouldn’t have needed to steal the clothing, even if he owed her money. After all, she never blamed him or asked him to return the money, and hadn’t even sold his debt to Hans. Money does change everyone; Milton couldn’t even bring himself to trust her.
“Milady.”
Her eyes opened reflexively, like a trained dog’s. She couldn’t help it - his voice had always supported her when she was in trouble. Yet it wasn’t Ora she was looking at, the one who always saved her, but a serious and determined old man.
“Please stay determined.”
She was so confused she forgot how to cry, and could only repeat him in bewilderment.
“Stay.. determined?”
“Yes. Do you want to be ignored, thieved, and forever kicked in the mud? Or stand up by yourself and achieve your own ambition?”
So that’s what he meant. To continue on, she had to get the clothes back.
“Milady!”
She wanted to flee from the roar that was surely coming, like a scolded dog wanting to escape.
“Milady! I didn’t think that bringing you into this world of merchants would cause you so much pain. This is my responsibility.. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I just wanted to give you a chance to gain your independence.”
As soon as he said that, he breathed in and shook his head.
“No.. this is hardly the time to talk that way. To be honest, it’s because you’re so similar to the young me.”
“WHAT?”
“Before I worked for your ex-husband, I worked for a famous company.. but in fact, I am the last survivor of a noble house.”
Her heart nearly stopped.
“To surpass the other merchants, I had to give up my pride and bow down to him.”
He was avoiding eye contact, and looked surprisingly old at the moment.
“Looking back on it, I’m terribly old. I can’t sit on some grand chair. My master went bankrupt, and I have no heirs. So my dream, as disrespectful as this may be, is all I can leave you.”
He was mocking himself. Beltra wrapped his back in a blanket and put her hand on his shoulder.
“.. as stupid as that is.”
This was just too sudden for Fleur to react in any meaningful way. Her eyes darted back and forth, unable to meet his. He breathed in deeply and rose to his feet.
“Beltra, fetch me some cash, and my coat.”
Fleur looked up with no idea of what he was planning.
“Even if I have to pay for it with my life, I won’t have you suffer. I have to accept responsibility for my own sins.”
Fleur’s face was swollen from crying, but it wasn’t
as if she was some soulless doll.. of course his words moved her. She had to protect her own; she had nothing else, so if she couldn’t stand up and do that much, what good was she? She was terrified, and clung onto Ora’s leg. She was beyond rational thought, and was simply scared of what was happening.
“Milady.”
He’d never been this gentle before. He knelt down and gently took her hand, pulling it off finger by finger.
“Don’t be impulsive.”
It was like he saw through everything, but that only made her hold him more tightly.
“..”
He sighed, at a loss for words. Just then something snapped inside of her.. loving eyes were not the same as pitying ones. He was being gentle because he thought she was useless and weak. She couldn’t bear that thought.
“Don’t take me for a fool!”
She glared at Ora’s frozen face, and stood up with a roar.
“Don’t take me for a fool! That’s enough! This is too cruel a joke! I’m not some child! I’ll decide my own future, if I have nothing to go back to!”
Having let all of her wrath out at once, she stood there breathing at Ora.
His suggestion for her to let him handle everything and protect her was an attractive prospect, but not something she could condone. It would be nice for a while, but he wouldn’t live forever. Time didn’t know mercy, and humans didn’t know kindness. When money was involved, betrayal was the name of the game. The time where she could bask in the sun all afternoon in some soft blanket was gone, but she had to live on.
“Then what will you do?”
Ora regarded her with a calm voice, eyes, and expression. She wiped the smile of ridicule from her face.
“I’m going to get it back.”
“What?”
“The clothes, of course. No..”
She looked at the ground and steadied her breathing before looking up at him again.
“..My determination as well. Beltra!”
She turned to her housekeeper, who seemed frightened by the tense atmosphere.
“Fetch me all the cash I have left, my coat, and my sword.”