The Weight of Power and a Daughter’s Devotion

Upon her return, Lady Kaelan had primarily sought to retrieve funds from the dungeon, acquire certain provisions, and, furthermore, requested the loan of a chef and three servants…

“You did, however, ensure all her needs were met, precisely as I had commanded, did you not?”

Aquilis nodded, her delicate, pale fingers nervously twisting in her lap.

“Sister Saranya, if I may, the Mistress’s withdrawals are never insubstantial. Should this trend persist, our tavern’s procurement funds for the coming week will be severely impacted…”

Saranya found Aquilis’s manner of speaking quite intriguing. The young mermaid seemed to have already drawn a clear line, separating Saranya and their Mistress into distinct camps, and it was strikingly apparent that Aquilis’s allegiance to Saranya eclipsed her loyalty to the so-called “Mistress.”

“Dismiss those worries. The Mistress shall receive whatever she desires; I will personally address any financial shortfalls. How could we possibly draw a distinction between ourselves and her?!”

Saranya deliberately furrowed her brow, feigning a sudden pique, and her voice instantly took on a chilling edge. Aquilis, flustered, immediately lowered her head and offered an apology.

“Forgive me, it was selfish of me. I was merely concerned that the immense pressure of managing the gang might overwhelm you, Sister Saranya… After all, the Mistress only ever demands, while you, Sister, are the true architect of our operations…”

These words, upon hearing them, caused Saranya’s lips to subtly curve upwards.

‘Ah… can there truly be anyone in this world impervious to the sweet poison of flattery?’

A wave of giddy satisfaction washed over her, and Saranya imperiously tilted her head back. Then, abruptly, her expression hardened, a sudden rigidity seizing her features.

“No…”

‘No, this is wrong. Aquilis is elevating me while subtly undermining the Mistress! What is there to be pleased about?! Such emotions are utterly inappropriate. In times past, I would have been incensed, summarily ejecting her from the chamber.’

And yet, in this moment, not only did all traces of anger elude her, but she found herself rather receptive to the adulation.

She was acutely aware that Aquilis, the young woman, possessed a naturally timid disposition. Under duress, she would speak without thinking, striving to curry favor, and certainly not intending to disparage Kaelan. A misspoken word, in such circumstances, was entirely understandable.

The true issue resided within herself. The speaker’s intentions were innocent; it was the listener’s own state of mind that had become corrupted.

“Enough! Do you not find yourself excessively glib?! If you have no further pronouncements, then you may depart!”

Saranya, feigning an air of cool indifference, ushered Aquilis out of the room.

‘Oh, heavens…’

Behind the firmly closed door, Saranya paced the perimeter of her bed several times, a restless energy coursing through her. She slapped her cheeks, then used her fingers to forcibly flatten the upward curve of her lips, compelling herself to quiet her mind and delve into profound contemplation.

‘It must be the influence of power… Damn this power! It is a true devil. How long has it been since I took charge of the Redwater Gang, and already arrogance has begun to bloom within me, causing me to disregard the Mistress? If this continues, how can I ever truly serve her, or earn her trust in entrusting me with the family’s legacy?’

Unbeknownst to her, as she grappled with the subtle, unsettling shifts within her own heart, frantically searching for the root cause, a fleeting emerald gleam subtly flickered across her eyes, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

“Mother, dinner is served! Today, I asked the kitchen master to prepare salt-baked squab!”

Vireta pushed open the door, bursting into the room with a cheerful exuberance. She placed a plate of golden-brown, thinly-skinned squab on the small table before Saranya, accompanied by two generous servings of wheat and vegetable porridge.

Saranya, her mind still heavy with thoughts, absently picked up a squab, twisted off its leg, and brought it to her mouth.

“Oh, and Mother, regarding your request for lodging for our brothers, I’ve seen to it! We secured an entire block of residential homes bordering the Lower City District. After a rather ‘persuasive discussion’ with the landlord, he agreed to offer the residences at half price, in exchange for our waiving his protection fees!”

“Excellent. Have everyone reside together as planned, and then compile a list for me, detailing the gang members who have demonstrated exceptional performance. Subsequently, I shall consider relocating them to Hillburg Manor, where they can enjoy more spacious accommodations. This shall be our reward for our most diligent members.”

“Right away!”

“And do not neglect Phillo’s swordsmanship lessons. You and your sisters of the Night Lily Knights constitute the very backbone of our gang; continuous self-improvement is paramount.”

“Mhm, mhm!”

“And you, too, must exercise caution. Should any friction arise with other factions, remember to report it to me first. Unsanctioned actions are strictly forbidden, do you hear me?”

“Oh, Mother, must you always be so verbose!”

“You impudent girl!”

Saranya chuckled, a playful reprimand in her tone, and gently nudged Vireta’s nose with her index finger. The girl playfully leaned her head back, a bright giggle gracing her lips, and raised a hand to smooth the light blue strands of hair near her ear, presenting an utterly endearing picture.

Having shared a moment over sweet porridge with her younger daughter, Saranya’s spirits had considerably lifted, and she now felt prepared to fully engage in the day’s demanding work.

“Let us depart. Where do you require my assistance today?”

“Oh? Mother, are you truly coming? But you are still recovering from your injuries…”

“Enough prevarication. State our destination.”

Witnessing Saranya’s resolve, Vireta’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, her rosy cheeks puffing out then deflating, as she reluctantly divulged the day’s planned activities.

“Our first task is to locate a scribe named Mor. He holds the city government contract for the majority of the night soil collection within the West City District, and I intend for the Redwater Gang to ‘acquire’ this lucrative enterprise.”

“Night soil collection, you say…”

It was undeniably true that the task of clearing public latrines represented a remarkably lucrative venture. To prevent the city’s numerous cesspits from overflowing, the government disbursed substantial sums monthly for their maintenance. Furthermore, the collected waste, being excellent fertilizer, could be sold for a handsome profit when transported to the farms beyond the city walls.

Should this “golden industry” of night soil collection be successfully acquired, it would effectively plug the financial chasm the Mistress had inadvertently created within the gang, thereby alleviating all future concerns regarding the tavern’s procurement funds.

“Is this the sole undertaking for today?”

“Indeed, there is more. Our second destination is the Tannery Workshop on Glory Street, which falls under the purview of the Leatherworkers’ Guild. They have suffered significant encroachment from Uncle Grondel’s Iron Crown Guild, their influence steadily eroding. I recently learned they secured a substantial order with the Bloodsail Alliance, and I harbor concerns that the Bloodsail might exploit this opportunity to absorb them entirely…”

Saranya drained the last vestiges of barley porridge from her bowl, then idly twirled the wooden spoon in her hand.

“Yes, your judgment is entirely sound. Under no circumstances can we permit the Bloodsail to extend their influence into Glory Street. Should the Tannery Workshop fall under their dominion, it would inevitably become a persistent thorn in our side, a direct threat to our very doorstep. We absolutely must make this visit!”

“See? Heh heh, I thought as much!”

Bolstered by the affirmation, Vireta playfully swayed her head from side to side. Saranya watched her daughter’s subtly naive, smiling face, her own eyes crinkling at the corners as a gentle, albeit helpless, smile touched her lips.

“Should the opportunity present itself, there remains one final matter to attend to today…”

Vireta licked her lips, her voice imbued with a discernible note of hesitancy.

Saranya’s ears perked up instantly. “What is it?”

“Perhaps we should visit the Tidal Mirror Hall. Following the last incident, the Tidesong Sisterhood disappeared without a trace. The Shadowscale Gang, seizing the moment, extensively leveraged your name and Aunt Kaelan’s, orchestrating a decisive vote within the committee to claim the land deed. Now, that very location serves as the temporary sanctuary for the Moon-Marked Sect—”

“I am well aware of these developments. My query, rather, is what purpose would a visit there serve…?”

“To pay our respects to Bishop Kalima, Sister Aivy, Teacher Phillo, and… and Sister Paresha, naturally… Mother, do you not yearn to see Paresha?”

At the mention of Paresha’s name, Saranya’s pupils subtly contracted. Her mind replayed the image of the girl’s vacant, broken expression during her collapse, and subsequently, she vividly recalled the scene of Mejga tenderly caressing Westir, the human-dog.

‘Brother…’

A wave of melancholic thoughts suddenly washed over her. A troubled expression settled upon her face, and a faint, acidic ache began to churn in her stomach, causing her throat to constrict with palpable difficulty.

“Let us first complete the tasks at hand. Such matters… we shall revisit them should the appropriate opportunity arise…”