The Marquis bowed his head in recognition of Eliza’s tenancy. The fountains spurted out in regular fashion to the adoration of many of the children present, the rising and falling tides were a mesmerising sight for Eliza, before her focus was cut back to Gilbera.
“I find the upstarts far more commendable than those such as I, having to climb the ladder with whatever they have,” he said. “Though I would hate to admit it, many connections of my decreased brother did assist me in my own endeavours, like the grants.”
”Still, you yourself have far bigger problems that I’ve had to face,” Eliza said. Despite the topic of the conversation having moved far, Eliza got what she wanted - and that was enough to satisfy her. “Politics is a bit too fickle for me.”
“Siding with the reform faction is never a popular move with my equals, ironically. But it does come with its privileges, fighting for the Will of the People is just one of them” Fer-Charelota waved a hand out, towards the banquet hall they were in. “Many people are willing to overlook politics to be here, however I must tell you to not get close to Obadiah.”
His voice and accent fell low, until it was barely more than a whisper.
The Will of the People seemed quite a rosy subject, but Eliza did like the idea... fighting against the horde of corruption for the people... Justice always prevails, she assumed.
“Well, I would prefer to have Kazuki around when I do make contact, if that is the case,” Eliza stated. Fer-Charelota thought to himself for a moment, then nodded.
“I would not object to his peerage in this matter.”
Pausing, he pressed down on his uplink, holding out a finger towards Eliza. Eliza watched as he spoke silently, squinting, and then getting off the channel.
“My apologies, Elizabeth, it appears to be your lucky… or rather unlucky day.”
Eliza furrowed her brow. Did something go wrong?! “Hmm?” She wore her concern on her gaze.
“Obadiah Cariana-Slynt…” Fer-Charelota placed a thumb against his temple, rubbing it. “He will be arriving shortly, any minute, about some matter he must speak to me. Remember: he’s powerful.”
“Powerful as in?” Eliza inquired.
Fer-Charelota stood up, walking around the room, as Eliza followed. Their guards followed as well, as he stood by the side of the room, far from the banquet tables, dancers and entertainers present.
“He has connections, some say with the Mischief Board, some say even the upper echelons of the Republic, rumours of a deepstate with the Ílizes. If push comes to shove, he will shove,” he said. He slowly cracked his knuckles. “The Feonars own a Kingdom, tangible. The Tatsuo-Ryzakus have a sector to themselves, tangible… Connections are quite intangible.”
Intangible power? Eliza thought to herself, what does he mean by that? “Board Connections? They’re criminals, right? Shouldn’t that be illegal?”
“On paper, yes, in reality: no,” Fer-Charelota said. “Power comes in many forms. The Ílízes have control over much of the senate… they’ve been sponsoring the Republic since day one. They know that power is as brittle, as fragile as it is unbreakable and malleable. I cannot shove against them, if things come to blows.”
She nodded. She has Kazuki on her side, nothing to worry about. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine… this time, I’m prepared for anything.” Eliza smiled.
Fer-Charelota didn’t share her optimism. He glanced upwards, before muttering, “What is also an open secret is that he benefitted from the Nasseri Proscriptions.”
The proscriptions?! “I thought… it was just exiles, right?”
The Kastí man’s face froze as he took in a deep breath. “What happened in the Senatehouse when the High Admiral returned from his expedition was… less than what we’d expected. He only had the crème of Nasseri’s supporters killed… A long list, many opportunistic murderers assisted him. Obadiah was one of those that helped.”
She’s heard some myths and legends about what transpired in the halls of the Senate. Some said that Yamagata only targeted those closest to the hailed Dictator, Consul Nasseri.
”It dealt with the corruption heavily, for a time at least… Many new Brooch wielders came to the fold after that… I am told that portions of the Nasseri wealth made their made into the pockets of… the newer members of high society.” Fer-Charelota sighed. “Ílize and many others wanted a full purge of the radical faction, I was able to talk them down to a surgical removal of the rot... Sadly, surgery does not exactly guarantee the rot is burnt, root and stem.”
“Hmm?”
Fer-Charelota placed his hands together. “Rot grows all the time, I do not regret talking them down... My brother and I were nearly victims of past purges in Republic politics. I understand what it feels like to be on the opposite end of a barrel.”
The fact that Fer-Charelota had not even covered the fact that people were murdered in the Senatehouse irked Eliza’s mind. Yet... It was seemingly fine for Eliza to think that, perhaps the last few months had knocked some sense of reality into her.
“Your words prevailed over their actions.” Eliza tried to justify and reinforce her own belief in the Republic.
Fer-Charelota sighed. “That it did.”
“Well… they must have had a rough time,” said Eliza. “And you, as well, I can’t imagine having to process so many people in.”
Though maybe it was a good thing? The Nasseri Government were little more than petty tyrants.
Fer-Charelota chuckled. “Aye! It’s all just couples and parents squabbling over whose name comes last. I never get it, sure, having the final name be yours is prestigious, but does it matter all that much?!”
Eliza smiled, thinking of how comedic that would be.
“I’ve even seen some people squabble to the point of divorce… Terrible things, what names and prestige can do to us. What about you? Celeste is your father’s whilst Delmara is your mother’s…”
“Oh?” Eliza piqued up. “I think they just agreed that my mother held more influence…” In their society, prestige and influence weighed more than armies and fleets. “People have always compared me to my mother... Even Senator Tatsuo-Ryzaku.”
“Ah!” Fer-Charelota cut in abruptly. “The Old Man of Trasia?” he inquired. “Must have a good eye.”
Eliza continued, “Well... It’s just that my mother was a genius, an actual genius. Not like me... Same can be said of my sister... My mother had apparently revolutionised exoskeletal technology by the age of 20... and here I am...”
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Fer-Charelota sighed. “Comparison is the bane of all goodness one can find within themselves,” he said.
“All I’ve done was just... do a presentation on an exospine that I haven’t even created! It has nothing to do with me!” Eliza blurted out.
The Marquis paused, then nodded. “Perhaps. Can you tell me of this exospine?” he asked.
Eliza slowly nodded. “It’s just something Kazuki uses... Alright? A life support system, I suppose.”
Gilbera stared at Eliza for a moment. Eliza caught the gaze, somewhat surprised? Was... something wrong? Eliza blinked several times before the Marquis cleared his throat. “Pardon my astuteness... I see it must be very interesting...” The Marquis looked uncomfortable?
“Well, I just repair it here and there,” Eliza said. “Fix up components and try to learn from it, I guess it’s been helpful in that regards, a lot of the alumni were apparently interested in it.”
The Marquis asked, “Says who?”
“Well... My friends... And the Senator.”
“Hmm, quite generous of him,” the Marquis stated. “Anyways... We shan’t speak of this no more, yes? Quite a delicate topic, I must understand.”
Eliza nodded, fiddling with her hands upon realising how much they have strayed... How can Eliza even top her mother’s works, let alone even grasp a straw or component that she has made... She didn’t know.
“Obadiah became an aristocrat after the proscriptions… He is no fool, I must warn.”
Not now! Eliza thought hard on the matter, throwing the exospine thoughts away... She’s here for another reason, for justice, for... herself?
Eliza silently understood the grey area in this matter. “It matters no whether Obadiah is a murderer, I need to acquire information from him.”
“Smart, emotions are important: but they can get in the way for some things behind doors,” commented Fer-Charelota. A hint of frustration oozed off the Marquis' eyes. “Try to keep that in mind. Good luck, Miss Celeste-Delmara…”
A Knight perked up as a group approached, “I beg your—”
“—Gilbera! You handsome bastard, how does it?” A loud voice echoed across the room as Eliza turned around…
A tall, Anagoran brown-haired man with sea-blue eyes walked past the entourage of guards, as he went to shake Fer-Charelota’s hand. The Marquis shook the slightly bloated man, wearing an opulent suit.
“Obadiah, great to see you in good health,” Fer-Charelota snapped. With the little networking skills her father had taught her, Eliza saw an artificial plaster prosed onto the politician’s face.
Obadiah nodded. Eliza glanced back at her guard, Cyrus. He was primed and ready for anything, his hands gently resting in front of him. From what Kazuki has told her, she could recognise a hidden holster his belt.
“I could say the same to you,” Obadiah said, turning towards Eliza and Cyrus. His eye slits thinned. “Ah… friends of yours, Gilbera?”
Fer-Charelota glanced at Eliza, scratching at his slight stubble. Then, he nodded, standing firm. “Yes, this is Elizabeth.”
Obadiah’s lips curled into a small smile. “I see, well then, pleasure to meet you…”
He raised a hand out towards her. Eliza slowly stood up… Obadiah made the air thick around him, as his silver brooch, with a bright orange gem, glowed.
Her eyes shot towards Cyrus, whom didn’t seem to object. Slowly, Eliza extended her own hand out, shaking his.
Fer-Charelota coughed, attracting Obadiah’s slithering eyes. He looked old, with a hint of ill behind his eyes. “About your recent acquisition of that trading company… what was it called again?”
“Boszman Shipping, yes… Risky, but very profitable,” Obadiah said, before letting off a hollow, sickening chuckle. It uneased Eliza, as if this man was something not even she could stand up against. “Though… such a shame what happened to their previous shareholders. I was able to strike a deal with their new owners, keep their ventures through the Kanziba Hinterlands profitable.”
The subtle language choice hinted at it, but Eliza didn’t want to believe it.
The Marquis snarled, “Yes, shuttle crash… very ominous accident indeed, even the Yamikoi state police weren’t able to find anything.”
Obadiah paused, letting the words sink. Glancing back to Cyrus, she could see his index finger tapping on his hand, as if ready to pull a trigger.
’Worry not, ward,’ Cyrus stated.
‘Huh?’
Cyrus extended a hand and patted her on the shoulder slowly leaning in. “No blood will be shed. Not tonight.”
Eliza nodded at his warning, though it freaked her out more than anything.
A stalemate was formed around the group, the guards and Knights not moving a muscle. The fragmented fabric of peace must be upheld, she thought to herself, thinking what these people would surmise right now.
“You’re implying something, aren’t you?” asked Obadiah, letting Fer-Charelota say the words himself. “They were both our friends, I only ensured that their legacy would survive, continue, thrive.”
Fer-Charelota scratched the underside of his nose. “Yes, their legacy has continued. Yet somethings are just never meant to be.”
Venomous words slashed into the air, sinking into the ears of everyone around them.
Eliza cleared her throat, wishing to part a way within the frenzy. “Ahem… Excuse me, Obadiah, a friend of mine has told me that you are quite a well connected man.”
Obadiah gave her a sideglance. “Yes? What of it?” he asked. “Wait, Elizabeth, was it? You’re Annabelle’s daughter.”
He twisted to face her, staring down at her pale face. She mustered up the courage to respond. “Yes?”
“I can see a fire in those eyes of yours,” Obadiah smiled at her. “You wish to reignite your mother’s company to life.”
“You could tell?” Don’t let the words sink in, Eliza thought to herself.
“Determination, Elizabeth, you have it in those eyes, as did your mother.” Eliza had no idea if Obadiah really knew her mother. Still, she accepted the words at face value, following Fer-Charelota’s example.
“Please, you flatter me, I nearly do not have the expertise that my mother had.”
Was he trying to get in her favour? Eliza asked herself, finding no end to the roots of questions. “Determination, sweat and tears overpowers talent tenfold once a certain threshold is reached.”
Fer-Charelota slowly walked around, placing himself standing beside both Eliza and Obadiah.
The words were sweet, and the suffocating ilk around Obadiah was seemingly weakened… Her ears ate up the words, enjoying the compliments and flattery - accepting the possible lies, deep down understanding that she must not let it consume her. Chloé, Rodriguez, Professor Kallender and Professor Emilia? Maybe… even Kazuki? They all see her achievements.
Obadiah’s words were too sweet for her liking, too buttery. Kazuki and Archius recognised her accomplishments, but they witnessed firsthand how much it took for her to get there.
Within herself, she rejected the niceties. She’s here for a mission, and will not let herself forget that.
“Thank you, Obadiah, I believe you have information that could assist me in some regards,” Eliza said. “Negotiations wouldn’t hurt, would they?”
Fer-Chaloreta interjected before Obadiah could speak, “Obadiah, I believe this is a good opportunity for you to… spread your wings, there are many talented individuals in the galaxy, you merely have to seek them out.”
“I can see that,” Obadiah said, keeping up a small smile. “I believe entering a business arrangement may be beneficial for both of us… Is it just you?”
”Well, except for my bodyguard, I do have a friend, I wish for him to be in our negotiations. He’s been a good advisor of mine,” Eliza admitted. Obadiah nodded. “don’t mind some extra company, excluding our entourage, of course?” asked Obadiah.
Eliza shook her head. Even if Obadiah was playing foul here, she has Kazuki - the proclaimed Contract-Breaker. She hated calling him that, but he seems so adamant on using the title.
Even still, he claims himself to be her tool, his own words vouched for that. Eliza knows he doesn’t make idle promises or threats, and this is no different. She allowed herself to be consumed by a strange sense of control over him… They were working together.
He is the key to it all, this time the door will not be destroyed.
“Not at all,” she said.
Weirdly, her imagined or supposed grasp on Kazuki made her feel warm. Slowly grasping on the red gem necklace around her neck, Eliza’s mind slowly imagined a dangling key.