"Haaaa" Duke sat on the grassy hill as Vivian asked him "What's wrong?"
"Nothing" Duke smiled at the sky filled with stars. It became their routine to sometimes just relax and sit at the hill at night.
"It's just I never really believed in my grandfather before, you know" Duke continued.
"Not believing in a national hero? Well someone here has high standards of trust" Vivian joked.
Duke thought she looked cute when she gave her usual intelligent remarks... Although he'd appreciate it more if the sarcasm was lessened.
"No, I meant he always told me I was special and talented you know... But I never believed in him. I mean I might be dumb and stupid-"
"You know dumb and stupid mean the same thing" Vivian corrected, interrupting Duke's speech.
"And for the record... I don't think you're stupid... nor are you dumb. So don't say that about yourself" Vivian continued blushing at her own corny words.
"Yeah, that's my point! All my life, other than my grandfather, everyone around me called me stupid and worthless. When I was in boarding school, all I wanted was to go home and wallow in self-pity. And when I'm home I wouldn't believe my grandfather's words when he's telling me that I'm special that I could actually be something! I always thought I was destined to be at the bottom... But deep inside I wanted to believe my grandpa's words. I don't know how many times I wished for some God or Goddess to bless me with anything! Anything! This one time I even asked Ba'al! Ba'al! For Power! Like isn't that how villains were normally born in novels? But in the end, I wasn't even good enough to be some Villain the hero beats and uses as a stepping stone.
Reality was just too... Too real. Ya know. You can't just lie to yourself and *Boom*. You're suddenly a great person.
But now... with you, Byran, and the other Knights, heck even what that old man in Milan said actually gave me some confidence. It's like I can maybe become something this time..."
"Thank you, Vivian..." Duke solemnly said after finishing his speech.
"That's..." Vivian was speechless.
"I didn't do anything you should thank me for... I'm, I didn't do it for you, you know. I did it for myself. To accomplish my dreams and goals. I needed to help you... I'm no hero" She knew she couldn't take the credit she was being given as she was doing this to help herself.
Vivian didn't want the guilt of making someone believe they were indebted to her even though she had selfish intentions in the first place.
Duke saw through this and smiled.
"I don't care. The moment you helped me, even if you were doing it for yourself. I still thank you" Duke replied.
Vivian felt Duke became 100 times more manly at this moment. And she felt he became 20 times more stupid because of his next question.
"What... was your dream again?" Duke asked feeling guilty as if he had already been told this before.
"Didn't I already tell you? I want-" She suddenly stopped as she thought [Duke was right! His question wasn't stupid! I'm stupid!]
Vivian rebuked herself for not realizing that she didn't "know" what her dream was in the first place.
[I always wanted to be free from the Palace... Then is it freedom? Is that it? Wait... aren't I already free? I mean I don't hate being here... I certainly wouldn't want to part from this place... Ah!] A sudden thought entered her brain as she was pondering.
"I want to be a merchant!" Vivian enthusiastically remarked.
She remembered the words of the merchant from Milan and then she remembered the fun times she was having thinking of ways to get money while Duke was away training.
Yes, indeed. Duke wasn't the only one busy.
While he was out huffing around the training field Vivian was already concocting different ingenious plans to make that sweet sweet yellow metal.
Vivian's main inspiration was Duke's mother.
Yes, the more she read of what his mother was doing while she was still alive, the more inspired she became in being the same type of independent woman his mother was.
[She's a genius!] Vivian thought as she read through the accounts and bills his mother had.
[This woman could turn rocks into gold!] Vivian praised as her eyes sparkled while she read the reference materials the late Countess of Maine left.
"I want A LOT of money! Tons of it!" Vivian was ecstatic.
It gave her great excitement to think of the great amounts of cash she could generate once she gets her hands on sufficient capital.
[Thankyou Duke's mama gehehehe] Vivian laughed like a villain in her mind... she was being influenced by Duke.
Duke wondered if Vivian was alright as he looked at her weird cash stricken face.
[Will she leave me if some rich man courts her?] Duke's worries continued to grow.
It was a happy moment for the both of them as they continued to talk of daily life and their great aspirations under the star-lit night.
Sadly, happy moments were always meant to be followed by sad ones. And as the saying goes: "When it rains, it pours"
A messenger was hurrying towards the gate as Vivian and Duke saw him head towards their mansion's direction.
Duke got up as he helped Vivian stand and they immediately headed towards the mansion.
"Are you sir, Count Duke of Maine?" Although the messenger was polite he was visibly fatigued as if he had hurried to reach this place. This signalled as bad news for the pair.
"Y-yes, whose messenger are you good sir?" Duke tried to talk like a count so as not to besmirch his noble position.
"I have the Bank's reply letter and an urgent letter from my employer Sir Benjamin Kastark. He told me it was very urgent" The messenger respectfully handed duke two letters.
"T-thank you, and you may g-Go now!" Duke still acting like a noble stuttered.
"uhh, why of course" The messenger staggered when the noble in front of him stuttered. [I guess there are all kinds of people in this world] The messenger thought.
Duke and Vivian opened the letter as Vivian began to slowly read the devastating letter.
"To Count Duke of Maine, the Imperial Bank of Brune have decided to deny you the loan as it was not in our best interests..." It was a typical denial letter from the bank.
But as anxiety and negativity began to grip Vivian's heart from the first letter, a sliver of hope came to them through the second letter.
"Hello to you again Sir Duke, this is Benjamin Kastark of Milan's branch. First of all, I ask for your forgiveness for accidentally reading the Main Branch's reply but as I was the one to interview you, I feel that I cannot let a young couple such as you two to fall into destitution at such a young age. I know it is awfully nosy of me to do this, but please let me help you. As you know, with a bank manager's recommendation we could the very least try to appeal to the Main branch for a reconsideration. I once again ask forgiveness for being nosy and please come as earliest as possible- From Benjamin Kastark"
"W-who is he?" Vivian felt as if an angel had descended from above.
"Ah! He's that kind old man from before!" [Although he "was" a bit scary] Duke thought.
"Duke lets go... We don't have time to waste!" Vivian firmly reminded Duke.
"Yes!" Duke sternly replied.
Vivian immediately put her things together while Duke wore the clothes Vivian had chosen for him before and they quickly called for a carriage as they headed for Milan.
[There's no time to lose] Vivian thought as she was extremely nervous. She felt like crying as she thought of the possibility of this deal going sour. They might not even have food to eat when next winter comes. It was no exaggeration that their lives hanged on this loan.
Duke on the other hand... was already crying.
The carriage galloped as swiftly as it could. But as the saying goes: "When it pours... It rains"
Another horse swiftly galloped towards the carriage forcing it to stop.
The man who chased after them was the Knight Dannis or Dan for short. The old man was visibly tired as he tried to pursue Duke.
*Haa* *Haa* *Haa* Dan tried to catch his breath as he suddenly spoke: "My lord! The bandits were reported to have been spotted near Kath Village! It is presumed they would ransack it by tomorrow at the very least!"
Dan brought in more terrible news for Duke and Vivian.
It was even worse than the first news as Kath was the largest exporter of wheat. If Kath was ransacked the Whole of Main would literally starve this time. Not only Vivian and Duke's future hanged on Kath but the whole of Maine was in dire straits as a real man-caused famine might occur.
Duke looked on Vivian for answers. And she looked back, visibly distressed.
Vivian took a deep breath as she said to Duke: "Go... I'll take care of the Bank"
Duke felt extremely powerless at this moment as he looked at Vivian.
Duke regretted this moment of his life as all he could say to Vivian was "Be careful"
Vivian too felt the same. She was used to being powerless, but this was another level of helplessness for her as all she could say to Duke too was "Be careful too"
Duke sent Dan to protect Vivian as both Duke and Vivian went to their respective battlefields.