Mr. Jens moved his saucer onto the table and put his forearm down. It was a relaxed posture, as if he had already mentally concluded the appointment.
Marah continued to sit as usual with both hands in her lap or alternatively with one hand on her cup.
The boy slid jitterily on his chair. "Ms. Von Rosenberg?" he asked for attention. "I think it's unfortunate that you won't be working with us."
"Yes, it's truly unfortunate."
"Um... My father said you have hydroponics here? Would you mind if I took a look?"
Reyji raised an eyebrow. The question sounded suspicious. The boy had also added a scoop more politeness than before.
~Why does he want to see them? Did his father tell him to?
From the look on her face, Marah was probably skeptical too.
"Why?"
"Um... It's good to know the future of agriculture."
The answer was not credible. The boy had a secret motive. Marah had certainly recognized that too, but probably did not think it was important enough. She shrugged her shoulders indifferently and waved two fingers at Claire. It seemed that the boy was insignificant enough that she did not care if he was on the loose.
"Claire, please lead young Mr. Sternschreiber along the hydroponics once and end the tour in the blue outdoor area so Reyji can call you from here."
"O-Of course, Ms. Von Rosenberg. I'll do my best. I will not let you down under any circumstances."
"I thank you, Ms. Von Rosenberg, for giving me this opportunity. I will not forget it."
"That's not necessary. It's pleasure enough for me if I can make others happy."
Marah spurned his favor with pretense and a false smile. The boy did not even notice. Unconcerned, he stood up from his seat. Just before he turned away, Reyji noticed a wide grin on his face. Reyji did not understand what it meant until Claire was at the table. As soon as she was within his reach, he grabbed her hand and pulled her close.
"Young lady, if you please?"
He asked her, but he did not need to ask anymore. After all, he had already put his grabbers on her. In fact, he did not need to ask at all. Claire was a maid. She would have led him without a second thought. She was not a young lady to him either, since she was older than he was. The amount of courtesy lapses in that one question almost gave Reyji an aneurysm. Unfortunately, the boy was not even done with his performance yet. He lifted her hand towards him, leaned down and puckered his lips for a kiss.
Claire didn't know how to react and seemed completely taken by surprise. She looked to Marah for help, but Marah just stared back blankly and enjoyed her tea.
The boy gave her a kiss on the hand, a very wet kiss.
Claire waved her free arm as if she wanted to swim away from him. It was literally grasping at straws.
After the kiss, the boy did not let go of her. He kept her hand in his.
The boy was not hard to see through. He certainly was not interested in the hydroponics. He had only guessed or hoped that Claire would lead him because no one else was here.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Disparagingly, Reyji put her hands in her pockets and put on a scowl. Unfortunately, there was no other way for her to express her displeasure. That was the maximum she was allowed to do. However, she found it unusual that Marah did not say anything about the whole thing. Normally, she would not tolerate such behavior. But still she did nothing.
The two of them left the outside area through the door hand in hand, Claire with her upper body turned to the wall and a face as red as her hair.
"Since we're going to spend some time together, do you want to tell me what you're planning to do in Aebien?"
"Earning money. What else?"
"Are you really not going to tell me?"
"It's sad that people no longer believe me acquiring wealth as a motive these days. It seems money does make unhappy after all." Marah sighed, obviously deliberately.
"You can at least give me some information. After all, we came here especially for you."
"You're taking up my time and asking for something in return for me giving it to you? Is that standard procedure for the free banks?"
"You have publicly indicated that you would be willing to negotiate. That's why we're here. We both know that. What rumors do you want to start again?"
"That's just your imagination. I didn't turn down your request for an appointment out of politeness. I didn't hint at anything."
"Are you really going to let me go home empty-handed?"
Mr. Jens asked insistently, as if it would have consequences.
Marah turned the cup on the plate a little in a circle. She seemed to be thinking about it, but it was probably just an act.
"We still have time. I can answer a few questions, but I won't be able to tell you much that you don't already know."
"Tell me first. You don't know what I don't know."
"That's what you think." Marah commented dryly and drank from her cup.
"I can see why Mr. Sternschreiber wanted to come himself."
"You can't influence me with compliments. I get them all day long."
"That makes me happy for you. Then tell me which of your public companies are in Aebien and what do they do there?"
"Currently, there are three of our state companies in Aebien. You know all three of them. The first is Grünwald. Even before the end of the civil war, I privately bought a lot of land on the border from a trader from Delxawe. Grünwald planted trees there for timber production and to prevent soil erosion. We didn't want the desert to spread further north, so we offered to help cultivate it. I even planted the first tree myself, together with children from a village. Did you see the picture in the newspaper back then? I was very moved by it. The people were so nice."
"No, I didn't. Grünwald the arms manufacturer is still in Aebien today?" asked Mr. Jens, clearly irritated.
"Yes, they're still there, but they don't just produce weapons, but also ships, for example, and for cost reasons they take care of the procurement of wood by themselves. That's why the name Grünwald fits so well. Because they plant trees. A tree is also a friendlier symbol than a weapon. The forest additionally serves Aebien as a line of defense against the dictatorships of the south. Unfortunately, the People's Army is unable to hold the borders itself. That's why we set up a mark in the area quite some time ago to help with border protection. We don't get anything for it, but to be honest, we mainly do it to protect our production facilities, production and our land. The old owner probably didn't wanted it anymore because of the tensions, but that's just my guess."
"Is Aebien in debt to you?"
"Who is not?"
Mr. Jens remained silent for a moment, then sighed in response.
"I've heard of the Mark. It's supposed to become one of your free cities later, I suppose?"
"Not necessarily, but if it does become a city, I don't think I can stop it."
"That countries keep falling for it..."
"It was a good trade for Aebien. We are the shield on the border."
"A shield with many holes, by all accounts. After all, there was a major attack in the border area just a few months ago."
"Which we repelled."
"After they knocked on your door and you had no choice."
"As I said, Grünwald is there to plant trees, and the Mark is there to protect Grünwald. There is no army."
"That reminds me, I was in Kristallschloss last month."
"Haha, Oh, were you? How did you like it?"
"The question is, what should I have liked? I originally wanted to offer a contract with one of our daughters. He was interested nevertheless. What's he doing there?"
"He likes the solitude of the mountains. He's there voluntarily. I didn't send him into exile. I just didn't hire a second time."
"He likes the solitude? If you ask me, the man has completely lost his mind, which is probably because he lives alone on a mountain."
"I absolutely agree with you. He's completely insane. He always has been, but now that his mother has died, even more so than usual. I know his history very well, because he sends me a love letter every month together with things he finds while hiking. I'm glad he is bothering other countries and not us."
.../ End Part