Thomas snorted and stated, “You’re accusing Amara of not being honest, but what about you, boy? Are you also being honest? The way you’re treating her, the way…”
“Thomas!” Amara chastised him, not looking too happy about disregarding her warning again.
“I won’t just sit here and let this brat insult you. Even if he’s a noble, he doesn’t have the right to treat you like this!” Thomas exclaimed, having finally had enough. Like a guardian dog, he barked his way, letting his temper take hold. Amara could only sigh and look away. “Boy, you’re accusing Amara of being dishonest, but what about you? The way you acted as she spoke shows how arrogant and rude you are.”
“Arrogant and rude, you’re right. But was I being dishonest?” Elysian challenged. “Can you tell me precisely where I tried to deceive her?”
“I…I,” Thomas muttered, racking his brain to give an answer. When he couldn’t think of something, he scowled instead and said, “How you mistreated her is evidence enough!”
“You can’t answer,” Elysian snorted. “You know that she’s the one who was being dishonest and not me,” he responded, turning his attention to the woman. “Right, Amara?”
Before she could even make a rebuttal, Elysian continued, “You lured me here because you wanted to make some form of connection between me and not just you but with your business. Isn’t that right, my lady? You saw an opportunity, you wanted to bind me with the Velvet Chamber by giving me a share of your business in the guise of a symbol of our friendship. If it isn’t dishonesty, I don’t know what is.” He narrowed his eyes, turning serious. “Do you think of me as stupid? If you want some business connection with me, why not tell me directly? Why all these pretense? If I were like those other noble idiots, I'd be cheated already—used like a fool.”
Amara just stared at the floor, not glancing at the boy or making a counterargument.
When he heard Thomas snorted, Elysian immediately interjected before he could even say a word. “I know what you’re trying to argue. You will say that I should just be happy that she will give me some free money without doing anything but being friends with her.” Turning to the man, he raised his brow and asked, “But is it really free?”
When Thomas couldn’t answer, Elysian turned to the woman instead and asked, “My lady, is it really free?”
Amara was quiet for a moment before she decided to respond. “I promise you, young master, that I don’t have any ill intention by giving you a portion of the Velvet Chamber.”
Elysian snorted again, “With ill intent or not, you alone would know. I can’t read your mind, my lady. Personally, I believe you. I don’t think you’re trying to harm me,” he stated. This made Amara breathe in relief. “At the end of the day, I don’t hate you for what you did. I disapprove of it, true, but it’s not egregious enough to warrant some hatred on my part.”
“Thank you for your kindness and understanding, young master. And I’m sorry,” Amara apologized, humbly bowing her head.
“I hope, my lady, that we don’t use our relationship as a bargaining chip here. I don’t put too much stock in friendship that can be valued in money,” Elysian stated, his tone softening a bit while a smile slowly formed on his lips.
“Now that it's been cleared up. Let’s talk business then without involving our friendship this time,” Elysian’s face turned serious while his eyes carefully studied her. "I'm telling you this already, my lady. Ten percent is not enough.”
Amara returned his gaze with the same sharpness and shrewdness exhibited by the boy, knowing full well that it wouldn’t be an easy fight. “I beg to differ, young master. I think ten percent is more than enough. You won’t do anything; I will just use your name to say that you’re one of the owners of the Velvet Chamber. In truth, this is nothing but just convenience for us.”
“Really?” Elysian said, shaking his head in disbelief. “Using my name, the heir to the barony, is nothing but a convenience? Do you really think I would believe that?”
Thomas snorted. “You, the heir of Ironspire. Don’t be delusional, boy. We all know that it’s your older brother that will inherit this place.”
Elysian just laughed at that statement. “You just heard some rumors in the streets, and you already believe them? Tsk, I thought being the leader of the Iron Claw would make you different from some old ladies gossiping on the streets.”
Thomas just smirked. “You’re delusional, boy. Your brother is more talented than you. His name is renowned throughout Thorin. And most importantly, he's the Baron’s favorite son,” he stated, grinning as if he just stabbed him with a dagger through the heart.
Instead of reacting like the thug predicted, Elysian just laughed. “Well, I agree. These three points you bring up are right,” he said, grinning at the man, which brought confusion to him. “I shouldn’t disclose some family matters, but since we’re all friends here, it shouldn’t be a problem,” he remarked nonchalantly, taking another bite from a pastry. “You’re right about what you said, but there’s one important point you’re not privy to. He is adopted.”
This revelation instantly made the already quiet room deathly silent as all eyes widened in shock. “So, let me ask you again, do you think I’m still not going to be the heir?”
Thomas did not answer and just looked away.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Elysian continued eating, his eyes studying the calculating expression of Amara. “So what now, my lady? Do you think ten percent is enough for me to become your partner?”
“Fifteen percent.”
Elysian just sighed, shaking his head as he tried a new pastry.
“Twenty. I will give you twenty percent. I will only be giving you this with the assumption that you will become the Baron in the future. Sure, having the future Baron own a portion of the Velvet Chamber will be a big boost to us, but as I said before, this will just be a convenience, nothing else.”
“Again, the convenience argument,” Elysian sighed. “Looking at you, I know you are desperate. So, stop that bullshit about convenience. You wanted me as part of the Velvet Chamber because you badly needed my help.”
Thomas snorted. “You’re just a boy. Even though you might be the Baron in the future, what can you even do now?”
“Ask her, she should know it best,” Elysian responded, chuckling as his eyes never left the woman. “Right, my lady? You know what I can do, and more.” When she just bit her lip and did not respond, he continued, “Seeing your magnificent building in this poor and rundown area, I already know your problem. Hmm… Let me guess, you wanted to put the Velvet Chamber into the richer part of the city, but your connection up until now isn’t enough to break through the powerful forces that are determined to drive you away.”
“They won’t be able to deter us forever,” Amara confirmed with a frustrated tone. “Whether you help us or not, we will eventually succeed. It is only a matter of time. As I said, borrowing your name will just be a convenience that might help us move over the obstacle faster.”
“I’m telling you now, using my name won’t be enough. You needed me to act directly to make that happen. That will involve using my Uncle, which you already know I don’t like. So, twenty percent is not enough.”
“Twenty-five percent. That’s as high as I can go,” Amara muttered, gritting her teeth in dissatisfaction. When she saw the boy disinterested in the number, she finally had enough. “Just tell me your number so we will be done with this.”
“Okay.” Elysian nodded, putting the pastry on the table. “Fifty-one percent. I will agree only if I have the majority ownership of not only the Velvet Chamber but also the restaurant we are eating at now,” he grinned, burping. “The food here is good. I want it.”
“Are you crazy, brat!” she shouted, finally losing her calm. Even Bran and Osric couldn’t believe the noble’s audacity to just rob Amara of her face.
“You ask me, I just answered,” Elysian responded matter-of-factly.
“Do you believe I will just hand you over the business I’ve poured my heart and soul into?” Amara questioned, sneering at him. “And the ones working here are not just anyone. They are family to me. Do you think I’ll just hand this over to you on a silver platter? Do you think I’m that crazy and desperate?”
“No.”
“Then, I’m sorry, young master, but I will have to decline your proposal,” Amara stood up. Her face returned to its cold self; gone was the sudden emotional outburst it had shown. Bowing, she said, “Let’s go.”
Elysian sighed, and muttered, “Are you really sure with that decision, my lady?”
“Yes,” Amara responded, not looking in the boy’s direction.
“This is an opportunity you will regret not taking.”
Amara chuckled softly. “I didn’t know you were this shameless for saying something so outrageous, young master.”
“If you want to know how shameless I can get, why don’t you sit down and listen.” Elysian smiled with a friendlier tone than before. When the woman did not look in his direction, he continued, “Even though we haven’t known each other for a long time, the time we have spent, I believe, is enough for you to know what I can do and what I’m capable of. This is enough that you even made that earlier offer in the first place. And it is enough to give me time to show you why this is an opportunity you cannot miss.”
Amara was about to continue walking out when she stopped, sighed, and turned to the boy, looking him straight in the eyes. Seeing the sincerity there, she nodded, and sat back down on the chair.
Thomas also did the same, though he sneered at the noble, his displeasure clear on his face.
“Good, good,” Elysian muttered softly before straightening up his posture, turning serious. “I know you might disapprove of my earlier behavior, but you must see it through my eyes. You are giving me a piece of business,” he paused for a moment for emphasis, “catering to the pleasure of men. Sure, it's good money, but at what cost?” he asked, raising a brow.
Amara sighed, and responded, “As I said, young master, you don’t need to do anything…”
“But my lady, you are using my name—my reputation,” Elysian countered. “They will know me—the youngest son of the Baron—to be already involved in some unsavory business even though I’m just ten. Do you know how it will look in my father’s eyes? Knowing him, he might outright disown me in his anger.”
“If that’s the case, having a share of my business isn’t worth the cost,” Amara remarked before narrowing her eyes. “Then, why did you propose a majority share of it?”
“Because it’s you and how you have managed the Velvet Chamber until now,” Elysian responded truthfully. “By restricting membership through referrals by other members, you have created a sense of scarcity. Not everyone can join the Velvet Chamber, so that makes the membership more desirable. This, in turn, helps in managing the resources of the club effectively, ensuring that these facilities are not overused, and maintaining quality for existing members.”
Amara was stunned, her eyes widened as the boy masterfully stated the reasoning behind her business decisions.
“With exclusivity, you enhance the status and prestige of being a member of your little club, my lady. People often derive utility not just from its offerings but also from the reputation of being a part of an exclusive group, which means this serves as a signal of an individual’s wealth or status. Also, exclusivity is a clever quality control mechanism, ensuring that new members fit the Velvet Chamber’s ideal clientele, which in the long run maintains its reputation.”
Amara could only listen as the young noble pointed out areas that she herself did not know resulted from her unusual approach.
“With scarcity and exclusivity as a clever strategy, you have made the Velvet Chamber into an exclusive club with patrons sharing similar backgrounds and social status. This has created a positive network effect where the value of membership increases as more like-minded or distinguished individuals join. This kind of system is ideal for building relationships,” Elysian explained, smiling at her astounded reaction. “What you did, my lady, is brilliant. I applaud you for it.”
“How did you…”
“My lady, what would you say if I could turn your brilliance into a shining star?” Elysian interjected, grinning wide as if seeing a possibility he alone could see. “A lady of the underworld, who holds every fabric of information, not only in Ironspire or even the entire Confederate—but the continent?”