Once done with my meal, I glanced at the table. Marge was done with her meal and was getting ready to leave. Father, almost done, and mother, playing caretaker with the youngest. I rose to my feet, ready to leave.
“ Wait ”. At father’s voice, I turned, semi facing the table, gauging who the talk is for. Marge and Soma too, turned to face father.
“ When was your last class with Sir Moloen ”. That confirmed he was speaking to me.
“ Cole? ”. was my curt reply.
“ A week ago young master ” just out the dinning platform, Cole replied.
“ What he said ”. I said with my thumb pointing at Cole. I could always count on him to keep track of such things. To me, it was like 3 weeks ago.
“ How are your studies going? ”.
I wondered at the question. Sir Moloen supposedly gives him a report on my performance after every session. Could he just want my personal uptake on my progress?.
“ Fine … I guess ” I replied. “ No major hurdles so far. I should have good results on the test next week. ”
He nodded and stood from him chair. “ Sir Moloen supposedly met with an accident involving a rogue demon, he is injured and will need approximately 6 weeks to heal. ” “ You can make arrangements for a temporary teacher or you can do without, your call. ”, with that said, he turned to leave.
“ That must have been one hell of a demon ”. I turned, facing Cole.
“ Why didn’t I know of that Cole? ” I started while taking the stairs to the balcony intending to go back to my room.
“ … ”
“ You're supposed to know everything Cole! ” I continued, my hands raised exaggeratedly. Again no reply. ‘This guy is way too stiff’.
“ What is for today? ”.
“ Visiting the shops at the at vernier harbor. ”
“ That’s it? ”
“ Yes young master ”
“ Now I get why mother is taking liberties with my schedules. You make me too free Cole ”.
“ … ”
‘ Seriously I need to add stuff to my schedule for the whole year. I need to look busy ’. We continued walking along and to the corridor of my room. Once at the door to my room, I reached out to open it.
“ I shall get everything ready young master ” said Cole.
“ Do that ” I replied. He nodded at that and left while I got in.
‘So… Little bit of study before the trip?’. I didn’t feel like reading today … or maybe just this morning. Opening the window to my room which I forgot to do when going out, I looked outside. Servants bussing, the usual.
‘ I’ll just go play chess with Mina’. A few minutes with no clear goal or anything to do, I left the room for some entertainment before the trip.
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“We are ready to leave young master.” said the Knight before me. The carriage ready, we prepared to leave. I entered the carriage, so did Cole. Sitting down, I reflected on my loss to Mina. The count was 20 – 31 now, in her favor.
…
The travel was quiet, albeit bumpy. I really didn’t like these roads. If I were awakened, I sure would have done something to alleviate the annoyance. I was close though, a little more.
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“ Young master, we are at our destination ” interrupted Cole.
“ Good “. We had reached, no hurdles, but I still needed to visit the shops in my name but I didn’t know where to start from. The place was as busy as always, but they did make way for our group.
“ Cole ”
“ The most problematic shop is the weaponry shop closest to us. The manager began 6 days ago and 3 days ago reported a theft. ”
“ Awakened? ”
“ Yes ”
“ How was it done? ”
“ Investigations are still ongoing. The sole barrier keeping the shop safe has way less magic power than expected, but no recorded incident. It is either a well organized group capable of attacking the barrier and temper with it’s recording functions or a debuff, somehow.”
“ Most likely a debuff ” I reasoned. A sole barrier did not have much power but it was tricky with that recording function.
“ Yes. ” continued Cole. “ Must have been done with help from the inside. ”
“ The manager? ”
“ Most probably, she is the only new employ and our investigations reveal that her family situation is not favorable. ”. I nodded but didn’t continue asking. I was not interested in the affairs of others. Then continued.
“ She could just take, what?, 2% off the books?. Not like I would have realized that. ”. I usually didn’t inspects the accounts that much. Father, though, repeatedly says I should, that people will get greedy. “ Or just sell at higher prices if she can ”
“ That would hardly be possible young master. As a new manager, she probably doesn’t know about your … ‘not caring’. Our customers know of our prices and no important mercenary group was spotted the past 2 weeks. There is no one to whom she could sell at a higher price. ”
“ Oh, well. What of the financial situation of the other employs? ”
“ Passable ”
“ You mean good ”
“ Yes ” “ They have not been put out of the range of investigation ”
“ How much was lost? ”
“ 54 Grand Baels, reportedly. ”
“ That’s a lot, the average family can setup a few stalls with that … If that’s what all that was lost ”
“ That could certainly solve her family situation. ”
“ Who employed her? ”
“ You did sir. Only you can employ managers.”
“ What criteria was used for selection? ”
“ None sir. You accepted as a request from previous manager, miss Lowee ”
“ Oh … What was their relation? ”
“ Distant cousin ”
“ Didn't she inform her cousin of the informal ways? ”
“ That I do not know young master ”
While the talk continued, the carriage had reached the shop in question. Getting out of the carriage, I was greeted by a female who came running from the shop. I didn’t recognize her. Meaning I employed one I never met in person. ‘Well, at least I tried being nice’. Once close enough, she was obstructed by the knights but I could see the surprise in her eyes when she looked at me. It was probably due to seeing one with eyes having different intensities of green.
“ Good day young master ” she greeted with her surprise gone.
“ Good day … ”
“Mabel sir”
“ Mabel … ” “Lead us.” I said and she turned, walking to the shop while Cole and I followed. In the shop, she lead us to the accounts room. Taking a sit, I faced her. She stood across me while Cole stood behind me.
“ Sit Cole. We don’t have to go through this every month. ”. Cole was way too stiff, following the rules to a T, I always tell him to be free around me but he resets my words every month or so.
“ It is every 2 weeks sir. ” he says and takes the sit to my left.
With him sited, Cole began. “ We suspect the theft to have occurred due to inside help and you, miss Mabel are our prime suspect ”. “ Do you admit to it ? ”.
“ Yes … I do ” she replied. Nervous she was but she appeared quite certain I wouldn't do much to her. Miss Lowee did inform her of my ways after all.
“ Well that was easy. Cole? We wasted the whole trip! ”.
“ No young master, we still have more stores to visit ”.
I nodded and turned, facing Mabel who was fidgeting in place, waiting for my verdict. “ Family name Mabel ”. She seemed hesitant but eventually gave in. We both knew there was no much use resisting anyway.
“ Visram ”
“ Mabel Visram. You will no longer be welcomed to any of the establishments belonging to the Gawaine family by order of I Mordred Gawaine ”. with that said … “ Cole ”
At his name, Cole rose, approaching her with the Spirit tracer.
“Place your wrist here Ms Mabel” he said, and she did. The Spirit tracer, activated by Cole encompassed her wrist, taking in a wisp of her spirit signature. He then registered the signature under the name Mabel Vistram. The shop spells received the signature some minutes later and activated, they churned, deciding what to do of the now intruder based on my order. A second later, Mabel was yanked out of the shop. Well I did say ‘not welcomed’ and not ‘kill her’ or something of the sorts.
“We still have some shops to visit young master.” said Cole already behind me.
“ You know, I wonder why weren’t you born a young master Cole. ” “You are good at this stuff”. I said while standing. The day was still young but I was already tired.
***********************************************************************************
“Welcome back young master”
“Welcome back young master”
“Welcome back young master”
‘Finally, home.’. I nodded at servant’s greetings.
“ Mordred? You back so late? ”.
I turned, facing the direction of the voice and met Marge.
“ Cole ” she continued nodding at Cole.
“ Greetings eldest young miss ” replied Cole
“ You can’t even imagine ” I replied at her earlier question.
“ Greetings third young master ” I nodded at Marge’s Maid. Marge nodded at my reply and walked past me. “Tsk. Ever the cold one” I muttered then continued to my room.