“So to go over everything, I provide you with minions for experience farming, healing services, and assistance growing any plants you request that are within my power to do so. In return you guarantee my safety while I’m within your family's estate and while I am out of the estate on any business you have requested of me. In addition I will be given my own private garden area no smaller than fifteen by fifteen feet for personal use, as well as be granted at least two personal requests a month as long as they are within reason. Finally, I will only be required to work from breakfast until dinner.” Petal tersely states across the table from me.

"That seems to cover all of the key points." I reply

"Good….. so now what?" Petal asks.

"Now I turn in for the night, tomorrow Rask can go with you to pick up your personal things. You can sleep in my dining area tonight, it will be safer than anywhere else in the camp. After that he will take you straight to my part of the Aristire estate by way of a teleportation tool. Regis fetch a blanket and pillow for our guest. If you have any requests simply call for Regis." I say as I approach the separator in the tent that leads to my personal quarters.

"I look forward to our partnership, Miss petal." I say with a smile as I step through the flap.

All I get in response is a cold glare directed at me just before the fabric closes and the sound blocking enchantments reestablish. I let out a huge sigh, which helps alleviate my mental fatigue, if only a little. Getting Petal to agree to any terms, however favorable for her, had been a challenge, getting her to divulge any information on what her skills did, even more so. I had to subtly lean on the fact her options are limited, too much in fact. But it got the job done, even if it was a little dirty. I laugh a bit at the duality of the situation. I was being genuine when I told her she was free to go, then I pressured her into making a deal with me. Still, it's probably for the better of both of us.

I continue to think back on our negotiations while changing into my sleepwear. She definitely has trust issues, not that I can blame her. I never would have considered the possibility of something like her before today, a person reborn as a monster, just thinking about it almost makes my tail shiver. She must have had it rough from the moment she opened her eyes, it's quite honestly impressive she made it this far. Everyone she's met has probably assumed the worst, by the nine I know I almost did. Thank the gods I make a habit of personally checking every new prospect my trappers bring in. Otherwise she would have spent a night in the cages, and then my brother would have gotten his disgusting hands on her.

But now the easy part is over, I tell myself. My older brother Treston loves exercising his higher rank to take my things, and the moment he finds out about her….. I need to start planning. She wouldn't sign any papers, everything was verbal. I suspect it's as much of a test as it is a safety precaution on her part. She straight up said when I brought out a written magical contract, "I can't read that, so I am not signing it." Well, she's definitely smarter than some of my siblings.

Which just makes earning her trust all the harder. But it will be worth it in the end, the power of a monster in the hands of a sentient being, that's nothing to scoff at for even the highest level royals of the highest nations. Monsters are naturally stronger than mortal men and animals to make up for the fact they lack any kind of intelligence at lower levels, and generally are bloodthirsty to think things through at higher levels. Petal doesn't seem to have those problems. Though I will need to watch her closely and manage any aggression that she has, especially as she levels up more.

I may have bitten off more than I can chew, but the risk is more than worth it. A dryad, the possibilities are near endless, especially regarding plants. And if the minions are good for exp, all the better. Father always did admonish me for finding trouble. Then the divider flaps ruffle and Regis steps through, finally finished with the task I gave him.

Regis (Human, Level 97 Estate Servant)

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"Well Regis, how does our guest fair?" I ask him.

"She has taken up one of the benches and seems to be as sour as when she first arrived. Pardon my insolence my lord but why do you show her such deference after she has scorned your kindness so?" Regis asks.

It seems he hasn't caught on yet, not that I blame him. He served my mother till the day she died six months ago, at which point he immediately moved to my employ. My mother was a bonafide noble till the day she died. Normally, if a commoner were to react to the kindness of a noble the way Petal did, they will most likely be beaten, tortured, enslaved, possibly raped, then either worked to death or outright killed for the nobles amusement. But I detest such practices, especially cruel enslavement.

"Allow me to answer a question with a question Regis. Do you remember her age?"

"Yes my lord, she has not been on this world a full cycle. But she has the experiences of a previous life, she should know better should she not?"

"Perhaps you were never filled in, but the other worlders’ sense of nobility is vague at best. All of their knowledge comes from what are effectively thousand year old records from an Era in their world that was known for having poor record keeping. And her trust in anyone is quite low to begin with, given her previous …… encounters with people. All this culminates in a sharp attitude, to put it simply. Worry not, we will slowly dull that edge."

"I see, a thousand apologies for my lack of knowledge and understanding on the matter, my lord."

"You need not apologize Regis, this route is a bit unorthodox, even by my methods. But great opportunities sometimes require great changes in strategy."

"I agree my lord, your mother, may her soul rest with the gods, often used the most unusual of plans to accomplish her goals. You have clearly inherited her wit as much as her charm."

"Yes, now if only I could use pure wit to beat my brothers and sisters. But enough of that, I want your opinion on this matter. Give it to me honestly Regis, you've been spectating far longer than I've been playing."

"Well my lord, I suspect that hiding her at the estate will pose a challenge. Many will be looking, and heavily guarding an area of the garden will simply broadcast to your better equipped brothers and sisters that there is something there for the taking. Likewise miss Petal will surely take greater disdain towards a heavy watch rotation."

"I agree, which is why I plan to simply build a fenced off area and change the guard rotations. It will simply look like routine garden renovations from the outside, especially since the garden is long over do for one."

"That will work well, but what if they discover her anyway? She will not be able to fight higher levels on her own and a lack of guards will leave her vulnerable."

"I agree but my options are limited, so we will have to work with what is available. I’ll need you to rearrange the servants to keep any of my siblings' agents away. Try to keep it subtle, but if all else fails just keep them away.”

“Of course my lord, should I assign a scholar to observe and manage her?”

“Yes, though I guess we have no choice but to use Sibil. He’s the only one I know for a fact to have no connections to my siblings.”

“The commoner born scribe? Yes well, I suppose nothing emphasizes unimportance such as having a commoner scribe assigned to it.”

“Yes, that is a nice addition, but not the main point. There is a reason I had Rask step into the tent, thankfully he was on guard duty today. This matter requires the utmost secrecy Regis, if any of my siblings or outsiders were to find out about this the results will be disastrous.”

“Of course my lord, I will maintain the utmost secrecy. I will also inform Rask to take extra precautions as well. Will there be anything else my lord?”

“No, that should be everything for tonight. I unfortunately have one more thing I must ask of you Regis. Could you assist Rask in keeping an eye around our guest? I suspect we will have extra visitors tonight.”

“Of course my lord, will there be anything else my lord?”

“No that is all, thank you for your assistance Regis.”

“Happy to be of service my lord.”

And with that he slipped back out the divider. I finish changing into my night clothes and clean my teeth with a special brush and paste. It’s a new practice introduced by some of the other worlders, something about it helping keep your teeth clean and beautiful. So of course all the nobles have jumped on the trend, even if we already have magic at our disposal to perform such maintenance. Honestly, some of our practices are just redundant, but those who don't follow the latest and greatest are quickly shunned. And as the son of a greater house I’m expected to keep up with them. I finish cleaning my teeth and spit the vile paste into the chamber pot, then make my way to my bed. I hop in and pull up the covers, then reach over and activate the warding and turn down the lights. Tomorrow is going to be a rough day, especially when my brother starts probing me about my latest catch, who will hopefully be long gone by then.