Sitting in a carriage felt a lot less glamorous when you were contemplating your imminent doom. Elara drummed her fingers nervously on her lap, watching the scenery blur past the window. The streets of the capital were bustling, but the rhythmic clopping of the horses did nothing to calm her nerves.
"So," she muttered to herself, "let's review. Aldric Theron Valen. Mysterious, rich, genius businessman who nobody trusts but everybody needs. In the novel, Seraphina crossed him, and that's how she ended up getting to his bad side and had her killed at the end. But that's not going to happen today. Nope. We're going to smile, nod, and get out of this without dying. Easy."
Cora, sitting beside her, offered a cheery smile, oblivious to the fact that Elara was basically having an existential crisis.
"You seem nervous, my lady," Cora said. "But don't worry! Lord Valen is quite… well, reserved, but he's not as intimidating as some say."
Reserved, Elara thought bitterly. That's one way to describe a man who casually ruins lives from the shadows.
Before she could sink any deeper into her anxiety, the carriage came to a smooth halt in front of an imposing mansion. All dark stone and iron gates, it loomed ominously, like it had a personality of its own. This wasn't even Lord Valen's main estate—that one was located far off in the countryside, wrapped in mystery and even more grandeur. Yet even here, in the heart of the capital, his secondary residence dwarfed the main manor of Count Everstone, one of the capital's prestigious noble, by sheer size alone.
Elara took a steadying breath as she gazed up at the massive structure. The place practically oozed dangerous secrets, its heavy, foreboding silence pressing down as if it knew things people shouldn't. And for a moment, she almost wished she could scream too.
"Right," she breathed, stepping out of the carriage with as much grace as she could muster, her heels clicking on the cobblestone pathway. "Just a quick meeting. Smile, charm him, and leave. You've got this."
The butler who greeted her at the door bowed stiffly, his expression impassive. "Lady Seraphina, Lord Valen is expecting you. Please, follow me."
Lord Valen is expecting you, Elara mentally echoed. Of course, he is. Like a lion expecting a gazelle. She quickly plastered on a smile and nodded, trailing behind the butler as they walked through the eerily quiet halls.
When they reached a set of double doors, the butler knocked twice before pushing them open to reveal a grand study. There, standing by the window with his back to the room, was Aldric Theron Valen.
The first thing that struck Elara was how tall he was. His silhouette was sharp, all tailored lines and dark fabric, blending into the dim light streaming through the windows. His hair, dark and perfectly styled, contrasted sharply with the silver ring on his hand, which glinted as he turned to face her.
And then his eyes met hers—sharp, calculating, and far too intelligent for her liking.
"Lady Seraphina," he said smoothly, his voice as rich as it was dangerous. "You're early."
Elara blinked, thrown off guard. Early? How did I manage that? She forced herself to smile politely, dipping her head in greeting. "I hope that's not a problem, Lord Valen."
He watched her for a long moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Not at all. Please, sit."
She moved toward the velvet chair opposite his desk, her legs feeling oddly wobbly. As she sat, she noticed how pristine the room was—everything in its place, perfectly organized, like the man himself. This was the kind of person who noticed everything, which meant Elara had to tread very, very carefully.
Valen remained standing, his eyes never leaving her as if he was analyzing her every move, every breath. "I understand your father wished for us to meet regarding some matters of business."
Business? Her mind raced. What business? I don't know anything about her father's business deals!
"Yes, business," she said, her voice a little too high-pitched. She cleared her throat, trying to recover. "Of course. Though I must admit, I wasn't given all the details beforehand."
His gaze sharpened, and for a moment, Elara thought she saw a flicker of amusement behind those cold eyes. "I see." He finally sat across from her, leaning back slightly, his fingers steepled together. "Your father mentioned you'd be taking a more active role in managing your family's investments. I'm surprised to hear you're unaware of the details."
Elara internally screamed. Oh no. Is that something Seraphina would know? Am I supposed to be some business genius now? She smiled, hoping to seem more composed than she felt. "I'm… still learning the finer points, you see. Father is guiding me through it."
He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "How admirable."
Elara had no idea whether he meant it as a compliment or a subtle jab, but she was determined to keep herself afloat. She could feel the weight of his gaze, as if he were dissecting her every word, looking for weakness. In the novel, Valen was known for being a master manipulator, able to twist people's words and intentions before they even realized it.
Then, Valen leaned back, his fingers tapping on the desk. "Let's speak plainly, Lady Seraphina. Your family's mines have been underproducing mana stones recently. That's troubling, considering our agreements."
Mana stones. Of course, it had to be mana stones. Elara frantically tried to recall what she knew about them from the novel. They were the core resource of the kingdom—powering everything from magic devices to weapons. And Seraphina's family, the Devereaux, controlled a sizable chunk of the market.
"I'm aware of the issue," she said, hoping she sounded like she knew what she was talking about. "We've been… looking into ways to increase productivity. New methods, perhaps."
Valen's eyes gleamed with something like interest. "New methods? That's quite ambitious. I wasn't aware your family was experimenting with extraction techniques. May I ask what approach you're considering?"
Oh no. Now what? Elara quickly rifled through her lawyer brain, thinking of negotiations, legal contracts, and ways to buy time. "Well, we're currently exploring several possibilities. Naturally, we have to be careful with such a volatile resource. You understand the risks of extracting more aggressively without proper safeguards."
Valen tilted his head, intrigued. "Safeguards? I assume you mean precautions in the actual extraction process."
Elara nodded, her confidence growing. "Exactly. The problem with mana stones isn't just the extraction—it's the legal and logistical risk. The last thing anyone wants is a lawsuit due to negligence." She leaned in, her lawyer instincts kicking in. "Imagine if one of the other noble families caught wind of an unsafe operation. The potential for them to seize that as leverage is enormous. We'd be exposed to... quite the scandal."
Valen's eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers tapping more slowly now. "Go on."
Realizing she had struck a chord, Elara continued, "By taking a measured approach, we avoid triggering any clauses in existing trade agreements. Rushing in now, without proper research or security measures, could breach contracts—especially with your own clients—and give our competitors the upper hand. Trust me, in my experience—" she paused, catching herself, "In my analysis, this would lead to a cascading effect of legal battles."
There was a brief, charged silence as Valen regarded her carefully. "Interesting. You seem to grasp the complexities of this more deeply than I expected."
Elara shrugged lightly, trying to play it off. "I'm just cautious. Rushing into a deal without considering every angle is... foolish. You never know when a small misstep will be used against you."
Valen smiled faintly, though his eyes remained sharp. "Wise words. It's rare to see such foresight from someone so... newly involved in business."
Elara bit back a sigh of relief. Okay, maybe this lawyer thing is going to save me after all.
"I'll draft a few proposals," she offered quickly, hoping to solidify her position. "Something that outlines the safe expansion of production while keeping us in compliance with the existing agreements. We wouldn't want any unnecessary friction, after all."
Valen nodded slowly. "That would be appreciated. But do remember, Lady Seraphina, safety is key, yes... but profitability is the heart of any venture. Keep that in mind as you proceed."
Elara gave a tight smile. "Of course. Profit without risk—well, that's the dream, isn't it?"
Before the atmosphere could get any heavier, Valen stood up, signaling the end of their meeting. "We'll continue this discussion once you have more concrete developments. Until then, I'll keep an eye on your family's progress."
Elara barely managed a polite smile as the butler reappeared to escort her out.
"Of course. Until next time," she replied, her voice steady, though her mind was racing.
As soon as she was back in the carriage, she slumped back in her seat, letting out a long, shaky breath.
"Well," she muttered, "I didn't die. That's something.