The meeting ended with most issues being resolved by Athy and Miss Bloom. Who would have thought that all of Karciel's illegal businesses could turn into our own businesses? Thanks to the help of Miss Bloom who will be managing all those businesses herself, Athy will not even need to exact effort and just receive the money sent to her. That was the first time I have seen Athy smiled brightly in front of others. She would usually jus smirk or sneer in front of other people, but hearing about receiving money without doing anything made her smile widely.
Her smile stunned everyone in the room them for how pretty she looked, but for Uriel and I, for the reason she smiled.
I was left in my study alone while Athy and Uriel went their own ways for they have somethings to attend to and the knights all went back for their morning training. I was reading the report about the happenings during mother's tea party when there was a knock on the door.
"My lady, this is Astrid. May I speak with you?" Came Astrid's voice.
"Come in." I answered but kept my eyes on the paper in front of me.
Astrid came in and closed the door behind her. She softly walk to my desk, anxious yet determined. Her hands were clenched together in front of her as she stood in front of me.
Is she planning to leave with Hildegard and Yume? Is she here to ask for my permission to leave or to say goodbye?
"My lady." Astrid started but I cut her off.
"Are you leaving us?" I asked softly, not looking at her.
"What? N-no?!" Astrid exclaimed. "A-are you kicking me out, my lady? Have I done something wrong? Do you not want me to serve the Archduchess anymore?"
I lifted my face to look at her who was on the verge of tears.
"No, no!" I waved my hands in front of me. "Calm down and sit."
Astrid sat stiffly on the chair in front of me. She was still anxious and sneakily wiped her tears away.
"So, what would you like to talk to me about?" I asked her as I put the papers away and faced her.
"I.. My lady knows that I have found my sisters, a-and they are good people." She said nervously.
"Get straight to the point." I crossed my hands on the desk. "Do you wish to leave with them?"
"NO! No, my lady." Astrid shook her head. "I actually wanted to ask if you could allow my sisters to work here, my lady. If their master is no more, they will be homeless and instead of going around aimlessly, I would like for them to be here with me."
Ohhh.. So she was not planning on leaving us but to let her sisters stay here with us instead.
"My sisters are also strong and they can be trained to become maids as well as guards." She explained.
"I have no say in the positions they will have." I shook my head and stared straight at her, eyes cold as ice. "I only want to know one thing. If we take them in, will they be loyal to House Castellan and not betray us in the future?"
Astrid was stunned.
"My lady, I am sure that unless we are treated badly, we will stay loyal to our masters." Astrid replied seriously, the anxious expression left her face without a trace.
"I do not trust them yet, but I do trust you Astrid." I replied with a gentle smile. "I will leave them in your hands. If you find your other sisters, I will also leave them in your hands if they want to serve us."
Astrid was dumbstruck.
"My lady, are you saying that if any of my sisters come here, they would be welcome?" She asked with a hint of disbelief.
"Yes." I nodded and raised my hands with fingers intertwined together, elbows on the desk. "With your abilities, it would be useful for our family to have you and in exchange, we will protect you. You will still have freedom as all the other employees and if you will one day want to leave us, you are free to."
Astrid tried so hard to stop her tears from falling.
"As for their employment, you know who to approach, right?"
"Yes." She nodded. "Lady Athanasia."
"Hmm. Is there anything else you'd like to say?" I asked when she stayed quiet.
"Ah.. None, my lady." Astrid said as she stood up. "I'll return the Lady Anastasia now."
"Okay." I smiled at her.
She started for the door but turned around to look at me again.
"My lady," She spoke softly. "Thank you for trusting me. I will forever be loyal to you."
She smiled sincerely then turned around and continued out the door.