Amorium was a city divided into four sections, each corresponding to the cardinal points. The Northern region, from the artisanal districts to the bustling Adventurers' Guild, was home to the working class. Those employed in the Green Stretches typically lived closer to the Western gate. North signified a more modest lifestyle, but Amorium lacked the slums, which the Capital, and many other cities, abounded with. Work was plentiful for everyone, and the abundance of food meant that even beggars ate better than most Elves outside Amorium.

Thriving marketplaces, lush parks, and impressive architecture characterized the city. Huge walls surrounded it, not lacking in artistry in both composition and decorations and with artistic and functional carvings—runes that would activate in case of attack.

But currently, other than random beasts, few things posed an immediate threat to Amorium.

It was a time of peace, with most great wars now relegated to distant memories and excuses to harbor resentment towards Humans. However, peace also meant that the average levels of the Elves had dropped, with only adventurers daring to seek higher levels at the risk of their own lives. No [Chef], [Merchant], or [Warrior], save for the best of the best, could hope to surpass level 40.

Even in prosperous Amorium, most people's levels hovered around the 10s.

Well, most people.

Not everyone.

...

Marcella Iulia Aureamanus, Clodia's mother, greeted the matriarch of the Valerii, who had come to visit her villa outside Amorium's walls. Her [Bodyguards] followed her closely and stopped before the terrace. Unlike the amused glint that had been in her eyes when meeting the Human her daughter was doing business with, there was a dangerous edge to Marcella's smirk now.

"Novafamilia, I find you well," Marcella said, straightening an invisible fold in her emerald dress; it was enchanted not to wrinkle. But the gesture came from the older days, a little reminder of when she had been washing clothes for other people to make a living. While the embroidery was so bright that it was blinding, Cornelia stood before her without being bothered by it.

"I find you as waspish as ever, Aureamanus," Cornelia replied. "I always think with fondness about our history. May the World Tree shade your path, and its fruits provide nourishment for your family." She then bowed gracefully, following an ancient Elven custom. The [Lady] was wearing an elegant sapphire dress with a high collar and intricate lacework; so enchanted that it could probably shield her from a ballista's shot—if her own skills had, for some reason, failed to do so.

Both sat on the wealthy [Merchant]'s terrace as a couple of [Butlers] hurried along with refreshments.

"I hope you didn't come all this way just to rehash the past and stuff me full of ancient greetings, Cornelia. At your age, your bones must be screaming from riding a carriage up to my house."

Cornelia's smile barely faltered at that.

"While I despise most nobility obsessed with the old Human traditions of whipping commoners, you do help me find the value in those barbaric methods of persuasion."

The two old women scrutinized each other, waiting in silence for tea and pastries to be served.

"I've heard that you have been buying quite a bit of land, Novafamilia. Fancy yourself a [Farmer] lately?" Marcella said.

While that would have sounded like the most innocuous teasing to anyone else, Cornelia almost seized. She had bought the said land through proxies, and no one but her most trustworthy associates knew about it.

Marcella sipped on her tea.

The [Lady] knew very well there was no point in hiding what she had been up to. Not in front of her nemesis, at the very least.

"I have been expanding my family's investments. Nothing that should interest you."

"Not even when you are buying lots of land above market price and in such a hurry? You know what? Don't mind me. It's not like it will change what either of us will do about it. What did you come here for instead? I can't imagine it was to talk about your land grabbing."

The wealthiest [Merchant] in the south of Epretos stared at the most ruthless [Lady] of the century.

Cornelia Valeria had earned her cognomen, Novafamilia, as in ‘new family’ because she had killed a few degenerate members of the gens Valeria and then a few more. And then just a tad more to ensure that only the best remained. Currently, the Valerii were back to being rich and prosperous mostly because of her. If she hadn’t had to deal with the terrifying [Merchant] in front of her for most of her life, her family would have probably been much, much richer.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

“I want to invest in your daughter’s business.”

Marcella’s mouth angled upward.

“Do continue.”

“I know that you are invested in your daughter’s business now. You stated in the past that your daughter would have to find her own roots without depending on your money. Whatever has made you change your idea, I want to be a part of that. Let’s skip all your [Merchant] rhetoric, Marcella. Name a price.”

“How about one of your boys marries my daughter and gives me a few grandchildren?”

Cornelia didn’t even flinch at the request.

“If you were serious, I’d get them in bed with your daughter myself, Marcella.”

"Bleah," Marcella waved her hand dismissively. "My late husband used to say that children do what children want to do. I tried teaching Clodia what I know about being a [Merchant], and I failed. When she told me she wasn't going to bed a man anytime soon, I just shrugged. Family might be the one thing that you did better than me, Novafamilia."

"Purging my own parents and having them publicly hung to restore the name of my family wasn't as pleasant as I made it look," Cornelia deadpanned. "And all women want children at some point, Marcella. If your wizened heart longed for love, your daughter, whatever organ she will choose to keep her company, might just need a bit of [Healer] help for grandchildren to be spawned. Let me onto the business, and I guarantee you will have grandchildren in less than five years."

Clodia's mother looked at her old rival.

Two of the highest-level people in Amorium exchanged looks before Marcella sighed and shook her head. She knew too well just how serious Cornelia was.

"Whatever my child decides to do, Cornelia, it will be left to her devices. I won't interfere with her personal life."

"Out of all things you could have been compassionate with, children? I could see you stabbing the last of [Druids] to get rare alchemical ingredients to resell to Hydras. But you use the softest touch with your daughter."

"I'll tell you what I told her all those years ago; she shall find her own path. Her happiness lies there. Money didn't help my husband. How is it going to help a child that I barely know what she's thinking? I could read my husband like the palm of my hand, Cornelia, and he still took his life when I was away for work."

If they had been two young women, the other might have flinched at this declaration. But by now, they had both put their husbands below the ground. Their ashes lay with the earth, hoping to reach its depths.

"Men are fucking idiots."

Marcella, who had been sipping her tea, snorted so strongly she took a few minutes to cough all the tea out of her nose and throat.

"You almost managed your work of a lifetime, Cornelia – killing me. It's always refreshing seeing your crass nature coming to the surface from below all those manners and stupid noble customs."

"Marcella, can we skip all of this?"

Cornelia knew that Aureamanus had made a decision about involving her, or not, in the business as soon as she had seen her. The meaningless chatter might have worked around other [Lords] and [Ladies], but [Lady] Cornelia knew better than to underestimate Aureamanus.

"Fine. All your informants might have told you that the Human got attacked. Don't fake the surprise—"

"I won't. I know about the Human."

"Good. If my Human is assaulted again, Cornelia…"

Marcella let her words linger.

"I can't guarantee his protection," the matriarch of the gens Valeria deadpanned. "I do not control that old rat, and you know it full well."

"If the Human dies, the rat goes down with him," Marcella stated with nonchalance.

Cornelia Valeria Novafamilia felt her blood freeze as the full aura of the [Merchant] suddenly erupted, followed in kind by the same energy from the [Lady].

"Your words might constitute treason by Amorium’s laws," Cornelia spoke harshly.

Marcella put the teacup back on the table and used the armrest of her chair to hunch forward, speaking almost in a whisper.

"Don't play with me, Cornelia. The Human child might be the best opportunity Amorium has had in a long time. If my nose is right? Not just Amorium, but Lucerna."

"He has no cooking class and barely a few levels as a [Light Mage]," Cornelia scowled. "Why is he so valuable?"

"You just answered your own question. Mark my words, Cornelia—if he dies, I will have them pay for the ashes."

For a second, all of Cornelia’s senses flashed with danger. When she turned back, she saw her four [Bodyguards] lying limply on the ground.

"They are just out cold. Pull the rat out of this, Cornelia. It is my last warning."

When the [Lady] turned this time, her eyes were full of venom.

"Try me, Marcella. I only act in the interests of Amorium. The rat is outside my control, and you know it well…"

The shrewdest [Merchant] in Epretos shrugged.

"We shall see, then. Find me a reasonable protection for the Human child, and we might discuss business."

Cornelia slowly nodded.

"I will inquire about this and research the Human’s past."

The pair shared some pastries and more tea before Marcella remembered something almost trivial. A nice change of pace for the otherwise mortal threats they had been exchanging.

"I heard that your granddaughter is coming back for the party. Are you hoping to marry her off?"

Cornelia had four grandchildren from her first son, all poised to become the next heirs of the family. Out of all of them, one had emerged as the most competent.

"Diana still has to mature. She is only twenty-five years of age. She will come around about her duties. If, in the meanwhile, she wants to gather levels, I shall let her free to do so."

"Your granddaughter might become a Named Adventurer, Cornelia. I admire your stubbornness in thinking you can decide what her life will be."

Cornelia smiled.

"You know what you used to call me."

"Longamanus," Marcella nodded. "Your long hand might throw a dagger farther than I can imagine. Who knows, maybe we can hire your granddaughter to protect the Human. Or maybe marry him even."

"I'll see what I can do," Cornelia replied with the grin of a fox but the poisoned fangs of a snake.