At the duchess office, the two representatives of the only companies that trade inside the duchy are with Ariadne. The duchess had a serious face and was tapping the table with her finger while looking at the two merchants sitting right in front of her.
‘So... how can we trade with the Markaz kingdom?’ She pulled back and relaxed in her chair.
‘Officially, we need permission from the kingdom to make any kind of trade like this with other nations.’ Levi looked at Ariadne with a disappointed face.
‘Oh my… As expected of an Arc, it doesn’t have the courage to do what it takes.’ The A-Dam woman next to Levi made a devilish smile while looking at him.
‘Hum… Do you have a solution, Persia?’ Ariadne asked.
The brown-skinned woman looked at the duchess with clear brown eyes and a smile on her face. The dress she was wearing was a light one that was characteristic of the litoral of Velvent to the east.
‘With the history of our company, we can make it work. With these products, it will be in everyone's interest to keep them under the table.’ She smirked at Levi.
‘Of course the Socher company would suggest such a dangerous thing; we need to think about the people, about her highness, not just profic, you witch!!!’ He raised his voice, looking at Persia.
‘What did you just call me? I demand respect you, coward; if you are not going to give a solution, leave.’ She got up from her seat, facing the merchant.
‘I have no respect for someone who only looks for profit, not for the people of this land. How many times have our people outmost gotten the end of a blade because of your company's actions?’ Levi got up and looked at Persia with angry eyes.
‘But all those times I broth precious resources for our people, what if I profit by doing that? Don’t be a sore loser; our company is better than yours and that is just a fact.’ She smirked at him.
‘This is not some of your little operations; we are playing with the lives of everyone on the duchy.’ He angrily shouted.
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Ariadne punched the table and startled the two merchants that quickly looked at her; her serious, deep red eyes could drown out the two that slowly sat on their chairs, looking at the duchess like a cornered animal.
‘That is better; I like Persia's plan not because it is good but because it is the only one we have. Now I also like that Levi cares so much about people, so the two should join in and split profits from this trade with Markaz.’ She showed the two a tender and caring smile.
The two merchants looked at each other, and with a deep sigh, they nodded in agreement. The duchess got up from her chair and started to walk around the room while refreshing herself with her fan.
‘I need to set up a meeting with the king; I think this trade would be very beneficial for all of us if he uses our products as a bargaining chip against the Confederate tribes that would bring him peace.’ She looked at the two, covering her mouth with her fan.
‘That is a good idea, your highness but I’m sad to say that it is impossible for him to leave his country and it would be dangerous for you to go there; rumors would be the worst of it all.’ Levi crossed his arms.
‘How about using that device that the peasan…’ Persia stopped talking abruptly.
The moment Ariadne noticed that she would call Edmund a peasant, she quickly rushed next to Persia and put a finger on her lips. It was so fast that the two merchants widened their eyes, looking at the duchess in shock.
‘Don’t call him that; only I can do it, do you understand?’ Ariadne looked right into Persia’s eyes.
‘I-I-I’m sorr-y-y-y your highness.’ Persia replied nervously.
‘Anyway, continue.’ The duchess continued her slow walk around the office.
‘The device your highness uses to contact the villages, the mayor, and us. Even the soldiers are using it now; maybe that way you can talk to him.’ She looked in the duchess's direction, afraid of looking at her directly.
‘Humm, indeed.’ Levi nods his head.
‘That is good, but first I want you two to establish a relationship with the king; only then can we use the phone to talk to one another and use the devices to lore him.’ The duchess returned to her chair and sat comfortably.
‘It shall be done, your highness!!’ The two of them spoke at the same time.
The two merchants got up and left the office, leaving Ariadne alone. Her mind was racing full of possibilities for the future, and the speed of the expansion her town and the villages were growing in so little time made her happy but uneasy at the same time. Last night, one person couldn’t right their name on the registration, an A-Dam. She thought it could be a spy trying to get into her duchy, but how could she know? Maybe they are expanding too fast.
Alon was looking at a cell where an A-Dam was being held. He came alone, saying he wanted refuge; it could be nothing, but now he thought that security needed to be a priority.
‘What you need to do is accept her highness Ariadne Melech as your ruler or, as some say, it's better to accept her as a goddess.’ Alon sat on a chair right in front of the cell.
‘Why did you imprison me? I didn’t do anything!!!’ The man shoulted.
‘Just accept the duchess as your ruler or savior; then write your name in this device, which is kind of simple, my friend.’ He signaled for a soldier to push the tablet and a pen into the cell.
‘I can’t agree on this thing; what are you talking about accepting her as my ruler?’ The man tried to write his name on the device.
‘Well, you can do things like this if you follow her.’ Alon turned a light on and held on to his hand.
The man on the cell was amazed by the light; his mind couldn’t understand why this soldier was using magic like this and in such a trivial manner, no encantation what so ever.