"You don't see it?" the young Prince laughed, "The status quo that magical artefacts are exclusively used by the nobility has been preserved for centuries."
"Ah, that," Libitina rolled her eyes.
"No one questioned it," the prince insisted. "Without magical artefacts, our industries and wisdom have also expanded through hard work, labour and human ingenuity, in true reflection of our country's fame as the Wit of Morobeau. Classy! What prompted you to want to change the status quo? A business opportunity? Some saintly heart? A rebellion against the nobility that you disdain so much?"
"Oh, Syder, you make things so serious," Libitina chuckled faintly and waved her hand at him as she looked away.
What, indeed? In fact, this was also something she struggled with when she took over the helm of the Merveille enterprises. In a way, she did not have to stand up to help Gregory and Alisa. She could have lived a great life as a doll in the house, become a parasite of the aristocracy as she journeyed around Clomodor to find clues to her origin. Did she have to change anything in the game. Then five years later, she would bid farewell to her adoptive parents and travel the world for the missing soul pieces, once she had enough money and power.
It was easy to say, but from the day she volunteered to help Gregory to reply to that stack of managerial documents, little steps led to greater expectations and greater leaps of responsibilities. Her world opened up, and she saw the infinite possibilities in Morobeau. How could she not try to make an impact when she could do in Morobeau what she could not back on Earth?
If the barriers between worlds could break, her personal barriers to experimentation and attempts to reinvent and create had certainly broken. There was also the thought that, as a villain, perhaps her efforts would also help reverse some karma for her villainess character and become a shield for her in the future.
Even if these people would turn on her, she would be happy that she tried to be the best she had been for them.
"Well…" Libitina dragged her words. "I think I was a kind girl before I lost my memories," Libitina winked playfully at Sydney who scoffed in exaggerated disbelief.
"I wanted to try things out to better things for the people. There is always a question of, 'Why not?' Besides, don't you agree that the propagation of magical artefacts on a mass-scale can hold immense opportunities for innovation, production and creation, beyond just monetary gain?"
"Yes, and giving power to the people has its risk. I honestly don't know what could happen in the future when everyone is able to use magic freely."
"That's why it is important to establish the laws and precedent. When Zephyr, as the first mover, moulds how people trade and treat the market of magical artefacts, we can direct the manipulation of magical tools in the right direction."
"If we have enough authority and power from the government and aristocracy."
"Yes, that too."
"I guess this is very optimistic…" Sydney sighed, as he tried to hide his worries from Libitina. 'But now that the King has his eye on you, the strings in high capital will tighten even more…and I only worry about whether this will strangle you and leave you breathless.'
Sydney shook his thoughts off. "Now back to your northern fief. Any updates on the rat?"
Libitina took out the folder that Sabrina, her personal servant, had given her. She had been surveying the northern fief as an undercover employee and this folder was her observations. Peter and Ellie were also following her this time round to give her protection and advice, but they were in another carriage.
"Din Mallory, the current head of production in the northern fief. The accounts for the past six years have always reported a steady annual income of $50 million. But, this is naturally suspicious since there were several events that should have made our earnings volatile.
"I had Sabrina identify the major buyers for the past six years and confirmation of their purchases are being collected as we speak. When we get there, I will be interviewing the employees and gathering their witness statements that the books have been tampered with. Din Mallory is going to be locked away for a long time."
"Seems like I'm in for a nice show," Sydney said. "Are you sure you don't need my help?"
"Just watch me, dear brother. You know how I dislike these things."
"Interesting. Since you will be needing a few days for preparation, I will check on how my cafes are doing in your fief. How many days are we staying before meeting up with Samantha and Christopher in Shantire fief?"
Libitina stretched out five of her pink fingers slowly.
"Five days should be sufficient. After all, we just need to get started for the ball to get rolling."