Marie Von Windsor liked being a Countess and liked being a Cardinal manager of the Rex Capital bank.
The Rex Capital Bank had many branches and subsidiaries that existed not just on the Haze Continent but on almost every continent on the planet.
Each Continent had four Cardinals and the real CEO lived in the Vampire nations as an advisor to the Patriarchs of each vampire clan but that was a massive secret only known by the vampires of House Von Windsor.
Marie Von Windsor liked her life but after meeting the Great Avarice, she loved it.
She had looked into the Horn of Plenty just as her ancestors did in the Ages past and grasped some of the laws of Greed.
This put her in the running to become the Family Head and CEO.
For this she would always be thankful to Lord Jata.
Master Jata had been ready to leave the Kingdom but Marie had asked him to stay here for a few days at her favourite hotel.
She offered to hire guards for him but the beautiful lady Uriel beside him snickered and refused.
Marie Von Windsor did not understand how a fifteen guard escort was enough to protect the richest entity on Idris.
*****
Valerian sat comfortably in the luxury hotel room. He looked human enough.
His pointed ears had become perfectly rounded.
His eyes remained golden with tiny streaks of red and purple in them but had lost their ancient allure.
His hair had become raven black and no longer seemed alive and powerful.
He looked like a beautiful human prince blessed by the gods and that is what the servants at the hotel thought him to be. A wealthy prince from a far away kingdom.
His eyes? Well they thought he was a mage. Magic users were known to have done physical and mental modifications on themselves.
The nobles who ate in the inn's restaurant were paying handsome prices to get as much information as they could on the new comers whose origins could in no way be described as simple.
Valerian drank Red Orchid tea on the ground floor of the inn where he, Uriel and Peter staying.
It was called the "Blue Vine Inn" and the three were surrounded by four Praetorian Guards.
The tea's aroma filled the entire dinning area with a pleasant, subtle fragrance that made the other patrons turn up their noses just to keep hold of the scent.
Others tried to order the same beverage but the chefs told them that the tea was new to them as well.
They had received a request to clear the kitchen while the new Lord's people prepared his tea.
When they finished they poured the steaming red and brown liquid into the finest porcelain the staff had ever seen.
It looked handmade and depicted images of impossibly terrible beasts fighting but the use of colour and the attention to detail made the pots and cups look ethereal.
The nobles could not even see Valerian perfectly in the dinning area. His guards were blocking all lines of sight.
"Who could he be?" An elder man dressed in fine clothes asked.
"I do not know father but I heard that his carriage was seen in front of Rex Capital Bank and he was referred here by Countess Marie Von Windsor herself."
The one who spoke was a younger replica of the man sitting opposite his table.
"Are you sure? Madame Windsor herself? Be sure, boy." The older gentleman almost lost all composure at the news.
The boy knew why his father had gotten like this. His father was also a Count, Count Earnest Von Rust but he and the Countess were worlds apart.
The Countess had influence that spanned the entire continent.
The current king had been attempting to get a meeting with her but he had failed numerous times, instead he had been forced to deal with her aides.
The current king, Geralt Leon Von Saras, was seeking a way to have direct meet between himself and the Countess.
As a noble of the kingdom, the king had the authority to call on any noble within his kingdom however he knew that would anger her.
The Von Windsors were not a family that even emperors dared to offend. They could collapse economies.
If a friendship or some kind of relationship existed between the newcomer and the countess then it would be in their best interest as nobles to curry favour with the king by making a connection with the mystery man.
*****
Valerian drank his tea in silence as if unaware of the people around him.
Mortals were nothing more than specks of dust in his eyes. Here one moment and gone the next.
A nuisance for sure but certainly not his problem.
"My Lord, it seems that there will be pests in the future who intend to speak to you." Uriel stated.
"I heard, Uriel." Valerian said uninterested.
He had been asleep for a long time. He wanted to enjoy his tea.
"Forgive me, Lord Jata." Peter spoke. He had been kept around by Valerian even after the powerful being had finished questioning him. He had been clothed and feed. The shirt he wore could by his former village and the residents if they were slaves. "I am ashamed to ask but what are your plans for me?"
Val paused. His cup close to his thick, beautiful lips. He raised his head as though deep in thought then set the fine porcelain down.
"I have yet to decide. You are something I have never seen before. You interest me. You deserve a reward for that I suppose. Ask me for something and it shall be yours but only something for yourself. I will refuse any request to protect your mortal friends."
Valerian's tone sounded playful. He truly was curious what the boy would ask for.
"You are unwilling to protect my home even if I offer my life to you?" Peter asked.
"Insolent child. My Lord has reaped more lives of higher value than yours without hesitation. Offering your own is like offering a grape to a mountain. Useless." Uriel stated.
"Uriel, my dear, be polite. Remember that we must maintain our nobility in all our dealings. It is becoming tedious to remind you of this. I am beginning to regret choosing you as my escort over the others."
Valerian sipped his tea and let the threat hang in the air.
He said these words well enough but his voice contained traces of malice and frustration.
Uriel's gorgeous face paled slightly then the colour returned and she smiled.
She sipped her tea but her fingers were slightly trembling.
"Of course, my Dark Radiance. I beg your forgiveness. I understand."
Peter watched the words that were exchanged between the two. He knew that Lady Uriel knew a lot more about this mysterious young man who could kill a bishop without batting an eye.
It was clear that she revered, praised and worshipped him as if he were a god and she were his servant. Her love for him was profound but so was her fear.
"Peter," Valerian spoke. His pleasant tone had returned as if the malice before had never existed. "What is your wish?"