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“Father, who is coming to visit today?” Danae asked quietly from the doorway as her father sat at his desk with his back turned to her. This was how most days like today started, with her standing on the threshold, signaling that it was almost time for her father to meet with whatever business associate had come to call upon the household. Danae, as a lady of the house, was always informed that the guest was here before her father was. Supposedly it was because she was a Lady of the house and she, along with her sister and her mother, were expected to entertain them before Keikelus met with them. None of them bothered doing that themselves anymore though, but it was still a nice routine for the pair of them.
“Lord Cyrus of Karsalis,” He answered briskly as he sorted through a few stray papers probably searching for whatever correspondence or data he needed for such an occasion. He rarely ever went to one of those meetings empty-handed, even if was a scrap of paper to take notes on. It was just one of the many habits Danae had picked up from him.
“Lord Cyrus of Karsalis,” Danae repeated in a mutter, testing the name on her tongue to see if it seemed familiar somehow. Karsalis… Karsalis… All that came to mind was an image of wheatfield and after a few moments, a certain blonde fellow Danae knew. That’s when it clicked. “Isn’t Karsalis a Vassal of Marikas?” She asked her father as if she didn’t already know the answer. She was just puzzled that they would be having a business meeting with one of the families sworn to their commercial rival and a rather successful one at that.
“Yes.” He said as he got up and made his way out of the personal study to the private meeting room where their guest was waiting. Trailing quickly after him, Danae couldn’t help, but roll her eyes at his unhelpful answer. Keikelius may be a man of few words, but quite honestly this was ridiculous. Surely, he would understand what she really asking why was a Vassal of Marikas doing here, in their house, to discuss things that they should not be brought up, given the rivalry between house, which as far as Danae, still stood as long as the two were commercial enemies. She was going to have to be direct.
“So, why is he here then,” She persisted, making a point to emphasize the key point of a Marikas being in a Stravos household.
Clearly, Keikelius’s mind was elsewhere as he failed to answer her before they reached the meeting room and Danae instinctively stood back, allowing her father to enter the room. No doubt, Lord Cyrus would rise from the purposely comfortable chair to greet the Lord Stravos, giving Danae the quiet opportunity to sneak behind the men and take up her usual spot in the corner of the room behind their guest. That way she could behind into the ornate decorations surrounding them, be forgotten by their guest, but still, observe everything. Even if they did glance back at the youngest Stravos, she would appear to be busy working on some pointless needlepoint project that they kept in here. It was supposed to be a distraction, a feminine activity for her to do while in the sphere of men so the more conservative of guests would be less inclined to complain of her presence.
She disliked being treated as little more than a piece of furniture when it came to these meetings, but it was the best solution to the issue at hand. If getting to listen in on these meetings came at the cost of her pretending to do this ridiculous needlepoint that had been sitting in here for two years then so be it. But still, it was always at the start of meetings where she wished that she had been born a boy, so she could in the empty chair meant for Elias instead of her little corner seat.
Knowing that those thoughts never led anywhere pleasant, Danae then turned her attention to the Baron of Arcasis. It surprised her how young he seemed to be. He had to be a few years older than Chara, who was twenty-six, but she had come to expect barons to be older men with graying hair with the few exceptions of the younger heirs of the larger, noble houses like hers. Yet, he was neither of these, she would be quite eager to see if they spoke of why this Baron happened to be so young and of course choosing to meet her father. She also wondered what he would have thought of the ornate room with the deep red lavish decorations and gilded gold everywhere. It was a room that was supposed to scream wealth and as Danae had seen with some of the more down-on-their-luck businessmen who visited, it sometimes worked. She had heard though that his family was almost as rich as hers. So perhaps it reminded him of some room in his home, who knew how far away?
“Lord Cyrus,” she heard her father say, drawing her attention out of her thoughts and back to the scene at hand, “From your letters, I take it we have a lot to talk about, please have a seat.”
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“Father, who is coming to visit today?” Danae asked quietly from the doorway as her father sat at his desk with his back turned to her. This was how most days like today started, with her standing on the threshold, signaling that it was almost time for her father to meet with whatever business associate had come to call upon the household. Danae, as a lady of the house, was always informed that the guest was here before her father was. Supposedly it was because she was a Lady of the house and she, along with her sister and her mother, were expected to entertain them before Keikelus met with them. None of them bothered doing that themselves anymore though, but it was still a nice routine for the pair of them.
“Lord Cyrus of Karsalis,” He answered briskly as he sorted through a few stray papers probably searching for whatever correspondence or data he needed for such an occasion. He rarely ever went to one of those meetings empty-handed, even if was a scrap of paper to take notes on. It was just one of the many habits Danae had picked up from him.
“Lord Cyrus of Karsalis,” Danae repeated in a mutter, testing the name on her tongue to see if it seemed familiar somehow. Karsalis… Karsalis… All that came to mind was an image of wheatfield and after a few moments, a certain blonde fellow Danae knew. That’s when it clicked. “Isn’t Karsalis a Vassal of Marikas?” She asked her father as if she didn’t already know the answer. She was just puzzled that they would be having a business meeting with one of the families sworn to their commercial rival and a rather successful one at that.
“Yes.” He said as he got up and made his way out of the personal study to the private meeting room where their guest was waiting. Trailing quickly after him, Danae couldn’t help, but roll her eyes at his unhelpful answer. Keikelius may be a man of few words, but quite honestly this was ridiculous. Surely, he would understand what she really asking why was a Vassal of Marikas doing here, in their house, to discuss things that they should not be brought up, given the rivalry between house, which as far as Danae, still stood as long as the two were commercial enemies. She was going to have to be direct.
“So, why is he here then,” She persisted, making a point to emphasize the key point of a Marikas being in a Stravos household.
Clearly, Keikelius’s mind was elsewhere as he failed to answer her before they reached the meeting room and Danae instinctively stood back, allowing her father to enter the room. No doubt, Lord Cyrus would rise from the purposely comfortable chair to greet the Lord Stravos, giving Danae the quiet opportunity to sneak behind the men and take up her usual spot in the corner of the room behind their guest. That way she could behind into the ornate decorations surrounding them, be forgotten by their guest, but still, observe everything. Even if they did glance back at the youngest Stravos, she would appear to be busy working on some pointless needlepoint project that they kept in here. It was supposed to be a distraction, a feminine activity for her to do while in the sphere of men so the more conservative of guests would be less inclined to complain of her presence.
She disliked being treated as little more than a piece of furniture when it came to these meetings, but it was the best solution to the issue at hand. If getting to listen in on these meetings came at the cost of her pretending to do this ridiculous needlepoint that had been sitting in here for two years then so be it. But still, it was always at the start of meetings where she wished that she had been born a boy, so she could in the empty chair meant for Elias instead of her little corner seat.
Knowing that those thoughts never led anywhere pleasant, Danae then turned her attention to the Baron of Arcasis. It surprised her how young he seemed to be. He had to be a few years older than Chara, who was twenty-six, but she had come to expect barons to be older men with graying hair with the few exceptions of the younger heirs of the larger, noble houses like hers. Yet, he was neither of these, she would be quite eager to see if they spoke of why this Baron happened to be so young and of course choosing to meet her father. She also wondered what he would have thought of the ornate room with the deep red lavish decorations and gilded gold everywhere. It was a room that was supposed to scream wealth and as Danae had seen with some of the more down-on-their-luck businessmen who visited, it sometimes worked. She had heard though that his family was almost as rich as hers. So perhaps it reminded him of some room in his home, who knew how far away?
“Lord Cyrus,” she heard her father say, drawing her attention out of her thoughts and back to the scene at hand, “From your letters, I take it we have a lot to talk about, please have a seat.”
“Father, who is coming to visit today?” Danae asked quietly from the doorway as her father sat at his desk with his back turned to her. This was how most days like today started, with her standing on the threshold, signaling that it was almost time for her father to meet with whatever business associate had come to call upon the household. Danae, as a lady of the house, was always informed that the guest was here before her father was. Supposedly it was because she was a Lady of the house and she, along with her sister and her mother, were expected to entertain them before Keikelus met with them. None of them bothered doing that themselves anymore though, but it was still a nice routine for the pair of them.
“Lord Cyrus of Karsalis,” He answered briskly as he sorted through a few stray papers probably searching for whatever correspondence or data he needed for such an occasion. He rarely ever went to one of those meetings empty-handed, even if was a scrap of paper to take notes on. It was just one of the many habits Danae had picked up from him.
“Lord Cyrus of Karsalis,” Danae repeated in a mutter, testing the name on her tongue to see if it seemed familiar somehow. Karsalis… Karsalis… All that came to mind was an image of wheatfield and after a few moments, a certain blonde fellow Danae knew. That’s when it clicked. “Isn’t Karsalis a Vassal of Marikas?” She asked her father as if she didn’t already know the answer. She was just puzzled that they would be having a business meeting with one of the families sworn to their commercial rival and a rather successful one at that.
“Yes.” He said as he got up and made his way out of the personal study to the private meeting room where their guest was waiting. Trailing quickly after him, Danae couldn’t help, but roll her eyes at his unhelpful answer. Keikelius may be a man of few words, but quite honestly this was ridiculous. Surely, he would understand what she really asking why was a Vassal of Marikas doing here, in their house, to discuss things that they should not be brought up, given the rivalry between house, which as far as Danae, still stood as long as the two were commercial enemies. She was going to have to be direct.
“So, why is he here then,” She persisted, making a point to emphasize the key point of a Marikas being in a Stravos household.
Clearly, Keikelius’s mind was elsewhere as he failed to answer her before they reached the meeting room and Danae instinctively stood back, allowing her father to enter the room. No doubt, Lord Cyrus would rise from the purposely comfortable chair to greet the Lord Stravos, giving Danae the quiet opportunity to sneak behind the men and take up her usual spot in the corner of the room behind their guest. That way she could behind into the ornate decorations surrounding them, be forgotten by their guest, but still, observe everything. Even if they did glance back at the youngest Stravos, she would appear to be busy working on some pointless needlepoint project that they kept in here. It was supposed to be a distraction, a feminine activity for her to do while in the sphere of men so the more conservative of guests would be less inclined to complain of her presence.
She disliked being treated as little more than a piece of furniture when it came to these meetings, but it was the best solution to the issue at hand. If getting to listen in on these meetings came at the cost of her pretending to do this ridiculous needlepoint that had been sitting in here for two years then so be it. But still, it was always at the start of meetings where she wished that she had been born a boy, so she could in the empty chair meant for Elias instead of her little corner seat.
Knowing that those thoughts never led anywhere pleasant, Danae then turned her attention to the Baron of Arcasis. It surprised her how young he seemed to be. He had to be a few years older than Chara, who was twenty-six, but she had come to expect barons to be older men with graying hair with the few exceptions of the younger heirs of the larger, noble houses like hers. Yet, he was neither of these, she would be quite eager to see if they spoke of why this Baron happened to be so young and of course choosing to meet her father. She also wondered what he would have thought of the ornate room with the deep red lavish decorations and gilded gold everywhere. It was a room that was supposed to scream wealth and as Danae had seen with some of the more down-on-their-luck businessmen who visited, it sometimes worked. She had heard though that his family was almost as rich as hers. So perhaps it reminded him of some room in his home, who knew how far away?
“Lord Cyrus,” she heard her father say, drawing her attention out of her thoughts and back to the scene at hand, “From your letters, I take it we have a lot to talk about, please have a seat.”
He had many plans to attend to upon his arrival to the capital of Athenia, but there was one that he desired to check off his list before all the rest: a meeting with Keikelius Stravos, father of Elias. Brief letters had been exchanged between them, and in the early afternoon of a hot summer’s day, Cyrus sat in the lounging area of the Stravos manor, a plain white toga adorning his frame. He had worn a more extravagant piece of apparel when meeting Keikelius’ son, but there was no use with the seasoned businessman. Cyrus was not trying to impress him with fabrics.
Soon enough, the Stravosi ruler passed through the archway that led into the sitting room, a young woman trailing his steps. The lord of Arcasis stood to his feet, adjusting his toga before shortening the distance between them slightly. He bowed before the royal lord, and when the gesture was finished, and his spine was straight again, his eyes flicked between him and the girl that he presumed to be his daughter. She was dressed exquisitely, and if she were not close kin, she would not be here.
“I thank you for inviting me into your home,” Cyrus said warmly. Keikelius’ response would come, and at the end of it, he insisted for his guest to retake his seat. The lower lord obliged willingly, exhaling lightly as he settled back into the comfortable chair. “We do. I reckon you have already heard word from your son about our meeting a few weeks back,” Cyrus continued. “As much as I respect Lord Elias’ word, I would not find a deal finalized until I had your consenting word as well as his.”
Pausing for a moment, Cyrus’ eyes wandered about the extravagant room. It reminded him of his private chambers back in Arcasis, but the detail was more refined. It was the toll of history, and the toll was more than beneficial. “I understand that what I seek is something you are hesitant to give. Our businesses clash with one another, and you and my father were never on the best of terms,” the baron said. His eyes became fixed on Keikelius again. “I seek allegiance, but I know that what I give is not enough to secure that entirely. It is but a single vote in the senate to make the chance of your son taking the royal throne… that much more probable.” He put emphasis on the fourth from last word, his thumb and index finger brought close together to bring focus to the small space between them.
As his hand lowered, Cyrus shot a glance at the young girl in the corner, but the gaze held between them was broken with haste. “That is why I scheduled this meeting. I will give as much as I can to make the deal more even, so that I am not asking for too much. I offer you ten percent of all Karsalis sales, and of course, my vote against the Xanthos inheritance law within the senate. If you accept this, we will finalize the document your son and I drafted earlier this month.”
Chest rising and falling rhythmically, the baron sat back in his chair, arms stretched out on either side. “That document is a promise made ink that the Stravos family will aid the Karsalis family, and vice versa, should we ever find ourselves in need of a favor.”
Licking his lips, as if they were dried from a lack of a host serving wine to his guest, Cyrus squinted his eyes at the royal lord. “Do you accept?”
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He had many plans to attend to upon his arrival to the capital of Athenia, but there was one that he desired to check off his list before all the rest: a meeting with Keikelius Stravos, father of Elias. Brief letters had been exchanged between them, and in the early afternoon of a hot summer’s day, Cyrus sat in the lounging area of the Stravos manor, a plain white toga adorning his frame. He had worn a more extravagant piece of apparel when meeting Keikelius’ son, but there was no use with the seasoned businessman. Cyrus was not trying to impress him with fabrics.
Soon enough, the Stravosi ruler passed through the archway that led into the sitting room, a young woman trailing his steps. The lord of Arcasis stood to his feet, adjusting his toga before shortening the distance between them slightly. He bowed before the royal lord, and when the gesture was finished, and his spine was straight again, his eyes flicked between him and the girl that he presumed to be his daughter. She was dressed exquisitely, and if she were not close kin, she would not be here.
“I thank you for inviting me into your home,” Cyrus said warmly. Keikelius’ response would come, and at the end of it, he insisted for his guest to retake his seat. The lower lord obliged willingly, exhaling lightly as he settled back into the comfortable chair. “We do. I reckon you have already heard word from your son about our meeting a few weeks back,” Cyrus continued. “As much as I respect Lord Elias’ word, I would not find a deal finalized until I had your consenting word as well as his.”
Pausing for a moment, Cyrus’ eyes wandered about the extravagant room. It reminded him of his private chambers back in Arcasis, but the detail was more refined. It was the toll of history, and the toll was more than beneficial. “I understand that what I seek is something you are hesitant to give. Our businesses clash with one another, and you and my father were never on the best of terms,” the baron said. His eyes became fixed on Keikelius again. “I seek allegiance, but I know that what I give is not enough to secure that entirely. It is but a single vote in the senate to make the chance of your son taking the royal throne… that much more probable.” He put emphasis on the fourth from last word, his thumb and index finger brought close together to bring focus to the small space between them.
As his hand lowered, Cyrus shot a glance at the young girl in the corner, but the gaze held between them was broken with haste. “That is why I scheduled this meeting. I will give as much as I can to make the deal more even, so that I am not asking for too much. I offer you ten percent of all Karsalis sales, and of course, my vote against the Xanthos inheritance law within the senate. If you accept this, we will finalize the document your son and I drafted earlier this month.”
Chest rising and falling rhythmically, the baron sat back in his chair, arms stretched out on either side. “That document is a promise made ink that the Stravos family will aid the Karsalis family, and vice versa, should we ever find ourselves in need of a favor.”
Licking his lips, as if they were dried from a lack of a host serving wine to his guest, Cyrus squinted his eyes at the royal lord. “Do you accept?”
He had many plans to attend to upon his arrival to the capital of Athenia, but there was one that he desired to check off his list before all the rest: a meeting with Keikelius Stravos, father of Elias. Brief letters had been exchanged between them, and in the early afternoon of a hot summer’s day, Cyrus sat in the lounging area of the Stravos manor, a plain white toga adorning his frame. He had worn a more extravagant piece of apparel when meeting Keikelius’ son, but there was no use with the seasoned businessman. Cyrus was not trying to impress him with fabrics.
Soon enough, the Stravosi ruler passed through the archway that led into the sitting room, a young woman trailing his steps. The lord of Arcasis stood to his feet, adjusting his toga before shortening the distance between them slightly. He bowed before the royal lord, and when the gesture was finished, and his spine was straight again, his eyes flicked between him and the girl that he presumed to be his daughter. She was dressed exquisitely, and if she were not close kin, she would not be here.
“I thank you for inviting me into your home,” Cyrus said warmly. Keikelius’ response would come, and at the end of it, he insisted for his guest to retake his seat. The lower lord obliged willingly, exhaling lightly as he settled back into the comfortable chair. “We do. I reckon you have already heard word from your son about our meeting a few weeks back,” Cyrus continued. “As much as I respect Lord Elias’ word, I would not find a deal finalized until I had your consenting word as well as his.”
Pausing for a moment, Cyrus’ eyes wandered about the extravagant room. It reminded him of his private chambers back in Arcasis, but the detail was more refined. It was the toll of history, and the toll was more than beneficial. “I understand that what I seek is something you are hesitant to give. Our businesses clash with one another, and you and my father were never on the best of terms,” the baron said. His eyes became fixed on Keikelius again. “I seek allegiance, but I know that what I give is not enough to secure that entirely. It is but a single vote in the senate to make the chance of your son taking the royal throne… that much more probable.” He put emphasis on the fourth from last word, his thumb and index finger brought close together to bring focus to the small space between them.
As his hand lowered, Cyrus shot a glance at the young girl in the corner, but the gaze held between them was broken with haste. “That is why I scheduled this meeting. I will give as much as I can to make the deal more even, so that I am not asking for too much. I offer you ten percent of all Karsalis sales, and of course, my vote against the Xanthos inheritance law within the senate. If you accept this, we will finalize the document your son and I drafted earlier this month.”
Chest rising and falling rhythmically, the baron sat back in his chair, arms stretched out on either side. “That document is a promise made ink that the Stravos family will aid the Karsalis family, and vice versa, should we ever find ourselves in need of a favor.”
Licking his lips, as if they were dried from a lack of a host serving wine to his guest, Cyrus squinted his eyes at the royal lord. “Do you accept?”
If there was one thing that Danae had to credit the baron with, he did not waste his time with small talk. The man jumped straight into whatever he and her father were here to discuss, which was a tremendous relief to the noblewoman. First off, not bothering with the false pleasantries was a godsend to her and her patience. Useless conversation was the bane of her existence and it was nice to know that their time wouldn’t be wasted on it. Secondly, he didn’t immediately object to her presence, which was a huge relief to her. Some men could get fussy with her being in the meeting and it seems like he wasn’t going to be one of them, meaning that they wouldn’t have to waste time with that fruitless conversation.
Danae was impressed by how nicely dressed he was for the meeting, making it clear to her that he wanted to making a nice and lasting impression on her father. Compared to him. Danae almost looked somewhat frumpy… or at least she thought so. Keeping with her signature choice of muted colors, Danae was wearing a luxurious gray chiton lined with what was most likely silver thread. The material itself was clearly of high quality than what most others would wear, easily denoting her status as a member of a rich household along with her tightly braided hair hanging loosely over one shoulder. The braid was too perfect to have been done by hand, cleary she had some help. Her outfit may not have included the gaudy jewelry and other fineries that noblewoman typically loved, but it did it’s job of conveying her higher status well without needing the extra embellishments.
That was a common theme with Lord Cyrus apparently, getting right down to business without bothering with all the extra tidbits that weren’t necessarily. Though Danae now wished that he would go into more detail as he mentioned things such as old family rivalries, wanting to support the Stravoses claim to the throne, and the most fascinating of all, meeting with Elias in Lyncestia about this very topic. All of these things were complete surprises to her and she wanted to know more. Danae didn’t voice the thousand questions forming in her head and just curious expression do all the speaking instead. She kept glancing up at her father from the needlework with an arched eyebrow, silently asking him to explain more.
When her father did speak, it did seem like he was going to inquire more for Danae’s sake, “Yes, Elias informed me, but since he is not here, it would be best if we…” He suddenly trailed off mid sentence, causing Danae to look at him with concern. That wasn’t something her father would normally do. The expression he was making towards his daughter, one that conveyed that a sudden decision was being settled in his mind, also wasn’t typical of him either.
Though nothing about what he was going to do was normal for him anyways.
“Danae,” he said, directly addressing her for the first time since they had entered the room, “I’ve reconsidered what we discussed earlier. It probably will be best if you assist your mother and sister today.”
She was taken aback by this statement which, to her, was clearly a lie, but it’s intended message was loud and clear. He wanted her to leave the men for now and it confused her as to why. He never did this.
A sudden heat rushed to her cheeks as she quietly nodded her response to the statement, not daring to question his decision. Danae then scurried to the door as she overcome with embarrassment as well as confusion, leaving the two men alone in the room without protest. As the heavy door closed behind her, she could hear a muffled statement from her father, doing absolutely nothing to set her mind at ease,
“Now, where were we?”
She may have been sent away from the meeting, but the headstrong Danae had no intention of taking this exclusion quietly. After all, this easily had to be one of the highest insults she had ever been on the receiving end of. She was embarrassed. She was hurt; and he couldn’t even be bothered to give an explanation as to why. He had never done this before. Not even when some of the men refused to continue the meeting with a girl in the room. In those cases, he had often sent them away for them to only come slinking back with their tail between their legs a few weeks later. What was different about this time that would warrant this? What on earth had she done to deserve this?
So, instead of retreating into the household and sulking in her rooms like anyone else in her situation would have done, Danae hovered near the door, waiting as patiently as she could for the men to reemerge. Though patient probably wasn’t the best way to describe the way she acted as the hours dragged on, each moment seemingly like an eternity to the young girl. She snapped at anyone who dared to pass by her in the courtyard and rudely accosted them from the comfort of one of the chairs with a prime view of the office doors. For a little while, she had nothing to entertain her, but her own angry, churning thoughts that made her cheeks turn a brighter shade of red than the sigils decorating the manor. After it became abundantly clear that neither man was going to leave anytime soon, she sent someone off to the library to find information on the Karsalis household. She had thought that perhaps knowing more about this Lord Cyrus could yield insight into her father’s intentions, but alas it only left her with more questions. He was a vassal to their rival’s household, Marikas, and yet here he was promising considerable percentage of his barony’s earnings to the Stravoses. It just didn’t make sense. Shouldn’t Cyrus be working to put someone like Pavlos or Rafail instead? Not understanding the man’s intentions was almost as infuriating as being kicked out of the meeting.
… almost.
Finally, after a few hours, the two men emerged and Danae feigned a sudden interest in the written work in front of her. She couldn’t tell from their expressions alone what had transpired. They were too neutral and neither man seemed overly elated at the moment. They had probably both had been forced to give more than they had wanted to, perhaps her father would be more willing to share what had occurred now that whatever happened seemed to now be settled. Her father had probably left no room for loopholes in whatever this document that Elias had signed was. That wouldn’t be too surprising given that her father had many more years of experience over his son who just wasn’t as thorough as Keikelius. No one seemed to be more cautious when it came to these things that her father. If Cyrus had been expecting a short meeting, no doubt he would have been put through the ringer.
The very thought of that caused Danae to momentarily forget her anger and smirk ever so slightly what she thought the scene must have been like.
At that moment, Danae expected the two men to wander off towards the dining area where they would spend the rest of the night drinking. Her father once said that it was a sign of good faith to do so afterwards, but she couldn’t speak from experience. These after parties had been the one place where Danae was very firmly not allowed to go. However, it didn’t seem as if this would be the case tonight as the men parted ways at the door. Keikelius made his way deeper into the household, probably on his way to his private office space, while Cyrus was heading towards the entrance of the house, clearly intent on leaving. Glancing between the hall that led to the private quarters of the house and the quickly disappearing figure, Danae made the split second decision to get some answers to the elephants she saw in the room.
She quickly got up and followed after him. Luckily for her, Danae’s quickened pace allowed her to catch up with him right at the entrance and with a simple hand wave, she sent off all the nearby workers, ensuring that whatever was spoken of would not be subject to curious ears. “Lord Cyrus,” She called out grabbing his attention with the hope of slowing his departure just long enough to get some answers. “I would like to ask you something.”
Luckily for her, the man stopped on the steps, possibly intrigued in what this girl had to say. Before he even had the chance to inquire as to what the youngest Stravos child could possibly be wondering, Danae immediately launched into her question since the last few hours had made it impossible for her to hold in for any longer, “Why did you come here Lord Cyrus?”
It took only a second for Danae to realize that the way she had worded her question was probably not the most polite, so she corrected herself quickly to not insult the man, “Pardon my bluntness, I did not intend for that to be worded in such a rude manner,” she hastily apologized, “But I want to know why you decided to come here, in order to support my family, when you are the vassal of someone else?”
It was very direct, but after the events of the day, so far, Danae was in no mood to beat around the bush. She wanted explanations in order to make sense of Cyrus’s motives and by hell or high water, she was going to get them.
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If there was one thing that Danae had to credit the baron with, he did not waste his time with small talk. The man jumped straight into whatever he and her father were here to discuss, which was a tremendous relief to the noblewoman. First off, not bothering with the false pleasantries was a godsend to her and her patience. Useless conversation was the bane of her existence and it was nice to know that their time wouldn’t be wasted on it. Secondly, he didn’t immediately object to her presence, which was a huge relief to her. Some men could get fussy with her being in the meeting and it seems like he wasn’t going to be one of them, meaning that they wouldn’t have to waste time with that fruitless conversation.
Danae was impressed by how nicely dressed he was for the meeting, making it clear to her that he wanted to making a nice and lasting impression on her father. Compared to him. Danae almost looked somewhat frumpy… or at least she thought so. Keeping with her signature choice of muted colors, Danae was wearing a luxurious gray chiton lined with what was most likely silver thread. The material itself was clearly of high quality than what most others would wear, easily denoting her status as a member of a rich household along with her tightly braided hair hanging loosely over one shoulder. The braid was too perfect to have been done by hand, cleary she had some help. Her outfit may not have included the gaudy jewelry and other fineries that noblewoman typically loved, but it did it’s job of conveying her higher status well without needing the extra embellishments.
That was a common theme with Lord Cyrus apparently, getting right down to business without bothering with all the extra tidbits that weren’t necessarily. Though Danae now wished that he would go into more detail as he mentioned things such as old family rivalries, wanting to support the Stravoses claim to the throne, and the most fascinating of all, meeting with Elias in Lyncestia about this very topic. All of these things were complete surprises to her and she wanted to know more. Danae didn’t voice the thousand questions forming in her head and just curious expression do all the speaking instead. She kept glancing up at her father from the needlework with an arched eyebrow, silently asking him to explain more.
When her father did speak, it did seem like he was going to inquire more for Danae’s sake, “Yes, Elias informed me, but since he is not here, it would be best if we…” He suddenly trailed off mid sentence, causing Danae to look at him with concern. That wasn’t something her father would normally do. The expression he was making towards his daughter, one that conveyed that a sudden decision was being settled in his mind, also wasn’t typical of him either.
Though nothing about what he was going to do was normal for him anyways.
“Danae,” he said, directly addressing her for the first time since they had entered the room, “I’ve reconsidered what we discussed earlier. It probably will be best if you assist your mother and sister today.”
She was taken aback by this statement which, to her, was clearly a lie, but it’s intended message was loud and clear. He wanted her to leave the men for now and it confused her as to why. He never did this.
A sudden heat rushed to her cheeks as she quietly nodded her response to the statement, not daring to question his decision. Danae then scurried to the door as she overcome with embarrassment as well as confusion, leaving the two men alone in the room without protest. As the heavy door closed behind her, she could hear a muffled statement from her father, doing absolutely nothing to set her mind at ease,
“Now, where were we?”
She may have been sent away from the meeting, but the headstrong Danae had no intention of taking this exclusion quietly. After all, this easily had to be one of the highest insults she had ever been on the receiving end of. She was embarrassed. She was hurt; and he couldn’t even be bothered to give an explanation as to why. He had never done this before. Not even when some of the men refused to continue the meeting with a girl in the room. In those cases, he had often sent them away for them to only come slinking back with their tail between their legs a few weeks later. What was different about this time that would warrant this? What on earth had she done to deserve this?
So, instead of retreating into the household and sulking in her rooms like anyone else in her situation would have done, Danae hovered near the door, waiting as patiently as she could for the men to reemerge. Though patient probably wasn’t the best way to describe the way she acted as the hours dragged on, each moment seemingly like an eternity to the young girl. She snapped at anyone who dared to pass by her in the courtyard and rudely accosted them from the comfort of one of the chairs with a prime view of the office doors. For a little while, she had nothing to entertain her, but her own angry, churning thoughts that made her cheeks turn a brighter shade of red than the sigils decorating the manor. After it became abundantly clear that neither man was going to leave anytime soon, she sent someone off to the library to find information on the Karsalis household. She had thought that perhaps knowing more about this Lord Cyrus could yield insight into her father’s intentions, but alas it only left her with more questions. He was a vassal to their rival’s household, Marikas, and yet here he was promising considerable percentage of his barony’s earnings to the Stravoses. It just didn’t make sense. Shouldn’t Cyrus be working to put someone like Pavlos or Rafail instead? Not understanding the man’s intentions was almost as infuriating as being kicked out of the meeting.
… almost.
Finally, after a few hours, the two men emerged and Danae feigned a sudden interest in the written work in front of her. She couldn’t tell from their expressions alone what had transpired. They were too neutral and neither man seemed overly elated at the moment. They had probably both had been forced to give more than they had wanted to, perhaps her father would be more willing to share what had occurred now that whatever happened seemed to now be settled. Her father had probably left no room for loopholes in whatever this document that Elias had signed was. That wouldn’t be too surprising given that her father had many more years of experience over his son who just wasn’t as thorough as Keikelius. No one seemed to be more cautious when it came to these things that her father. If Cyrus had been expecting a short meeting, no doubt he would have been put through the ringer.
The very thought of that caused Danae to momentarily forget her anger and smirk ever so slightly what she thought the scene must have been like.
At that moment, Danae expected the two men to wander off towards the dining area where they would spend the rest of the night drinking. Her father once said that it was a sign of good faith to do so afterwards, but she couldn’t speak from experience. These after parties had been the one place where Danae was very firmly not allowed to go. However, it didn’t seem as if this would be the case tonight as the men parted ways at the door. Keikelius made his way deeper into the household, probably on his way to his private office space, while Cyrus was heading towards the entrance of the house, clearly intent on leaving. Glancing between the hall that led to the private quarters of the house and the quickly disappearing figure, Danae made the split second decision to get some answers to the elephants she saw in the room.
She quickly got up and followed after him. Luckily for her, Danae’s quickened pace allowed her to catch up with him right at the entrance and with a simple hand wave, she sent off all the nearby workers, ensuring that whatever was spoken of would not be subject to curious ears. “Lord Cyrus,” She called out grabbing his attention with the hope of slowing his departure just long enough to get some answers. “I would like to ask you something.”
Luckily for her, the man stopped on the steps, possibly intrigued in what this girl had to say. Before he even had the chance to inquire as to what the youngest Stravos child could possibly be wondering, Danae immediately launched into her question since the last few hours had made it impossible for her to hold in for any longer, “Why did you come here Lord Cyrus?”
It took only a second for Danae to realize that the way she had worded her question was probably not the most polite, so she corrected herself quickly to not insult the man, “Pardon my bluntness, I did not intend for that to be worded in such a rude manner,” she hastily apologized, “But I want to know why you decided to come here, in order to support my family, when you are the vassal of someone else?”
It was very direct, but after the events of the day, so far, Danae was in no mood to beat around the bush. She wanted explanations in order to make sense of Cyrus’s motives and by hell or high water, she was going to get them.
If there was one thing that Danae had to credit the baron with, he did not waste his time with small talk. The man jumped straight into whatever he and her father were here to discuss, which was a tremendous relief to the noblewoman. First off, not bothering with the false pleasantries was a godsend to her and her patience. Useless conversation was the bane of her existence and it was nice to know that their time wouldn’t be wasted on it. Secondly, he didn’t immediately object to her presence, which was a huge relief to her. Some men could get fussy with her being in the meeting and it seems like he wasn’t going to be one of them, meaning that they wouldn’t have to waste time with that fruitless conversation.
Danae was impressed by how nicely dressed he was for the meeting, making it clear to her that he wanted to making a nice and lasting impression on her father. Compared to him. Danae almost looked somewhat frumpy… or at least she thought so. Keeping with her signature choice of muted colors, Danae was wearing a luxurious gray chiton lined with what was most likely silver thread. The material itself was clearly of high quality than what most others would wear, easily denoting her status as a member of a rich household along with her tightly braided hair hanging loosely over one shoulder. The braid was too perfect to have been done by hand, cleary she had some help. Her outfit may not have included the gaudy jewelry and other fineries that noblewoman typically loved, but it did it’s job of conveying her higher status well without needing the extra embellishments.
That was a common theme with Lord Cyrus apparently, getting right down to business without bothering with all the extra tidbits that weren’t necessarily. Though Danae now wished that he would go into more detail as he mentioned things such as old family rivalries, wanting to support the Stravoses claim to the throne, and the most fascinating of all, meeting with Elias in Lyncestia about this very topic. All of these things were complete surprises to her and she wanted to know more. Danae didn’t voice the thousand questions forming in her head and just curious expression do all the speaking instead. She kept glancing up at her father from the needlework with an arched eyebrow, silently asking him to explain more.
When her father did speak, it did seem like he was going to inquire more for Danae’s sake, “Yes, Elias informed me, but since he is not here, it would be best if we…” He suddenly trailed off mid sentence, causing Danae to look at him with concern. That wasn’t something her father would normally do. The expression he was making towards his daughter, one that conveyed that a sudden decision was being settled in his mind, also wasn’t typical of him either.
Though nothing about what he was going to do was normal for him anyways.
“Danae,” he said, directly addressing her for the first time since they had entered the room, “I’ve reconsidered what we discussed earlier. It probably will be best if you assist your mother and sister today.”
She was taken aback by this statement which, to her, was clearly a lie, but it’s intended message was loud and clear. He wanted her to leave the men for now and it confused her as to why. He never did this.
A sudden heat rushed to her cheeks as she quietly nodded her response to the statement, not daring to question his decision. Danae then scurried to the door as she overcome with embarrassment as well as confusion, leaving the two men alone in the room without protest. As the heavy door closed behind her, she could hear a muffled statement from her father, doing absolutely nothing to set her mind at ease,
“Now, where were we?”
She may have been sent away from the meeting, but the headstrong Danae had no intention of taking this exclusion quietly. After all, this easily had to be one of the highest insults she had ever been on the receiving end of. She was embarrassed. She was hurt; and he couldn’t even be bothered to give an explanation as to why. He had never done this before. Not even when some of the men refused to continue the meeting with a girl in the room. In those cases, he had often sent them away for them to only come slinking back with their tail between their legs a few weeks later. What was different about this time that would warrant this? What on earth had she done to deserve this?
So, instead of retreating into the household and sulking in her rooms like anyone else in her situation would have done, Danae hovered near the door, waiting as patiently as she could for the men to reemerge. Though patient probably wasn’t the best way to describe the way she acted as the hours dragged on, each moment seemingly like an eternity to the young girl. She snapped at anyone who dared to pass by her in the courtyard and rudely accosted them from the comfort of one of the chairs with a prime view of the office doors. For a little while, she had nothing to entertain her, but her own angry, churning thoughts that made her cheeks turn a brighter shade of red than the sigils decorating the manor. After it became abundantly clear that neither man was going to leave anytime soon, she sent someone off to the library to find information on the Karsalis household. She had thought that perhaps knowing more about this Lord Cyrus could yield insight into her father’s intentions, but alas it only left her with more questions. He was a vassal to their rival’s household, Marikas, and yet here he was promising considerable percentage of his barony’s earnings to the Stravoses. It just didn’t make sense. Shouldn’t Cyrus be working to put someone like Pavlos or Rafail instead? Not understanding the man’s intentions was almost as infuriating as being kicked out of the meeting.
… almost.
Finally, after a few hours, the two men emerged and Danae feigned a sudden interest in the written work in front of her. She couldn’t tell from their expressions alone what had transpired. They were too neutral and neither man seemed overly elated at the moment. They had probably both had been forced to give more than they had wanted to, perhaps her father would be more willing to share what had occurred now that whatever happened seemed to now be settled. Her father had probably left no room for loopholes in whatever this document that Elias had signed was. That wouldn’t be too surprising given that her father had many more years of experience over his son who just wasn’t as thorough as Keikelius. No one seemed to be more cautious when it came to these things that her father. If Cyrus had been expecting a short meeting, no doubt he would have been put through the ringer.
The very thought of that caused Danae to momentarily forget her anger and smirk ever so slightly what she thought the scene must have been like.
At that moment, Danae expected the two men to wander off towards the dining area where they would spend the rest of the night drinking. Her father once said that it was a sign of good faith to do so afterwards, but she couldn’t speak from experience. These after parties had been the one place where Danae was very firmly not allowed to go. However, it didn’t seem as if this would be the case tonight as the men parted ways at the door. Keikelius made his way deeper into the household, probably on his way to his private office space, while Cyrus was heading towards the entrance of the house, clearly intent on leaving. Glancing between the hall that led to the private quarters of the house and the quickly disappearing figure, Danae made the split second decision to get some answers to the elephants she saw in the room.
She quickly got up and followed after him. Luckily for her, Danae’s quickened pace allowed her to catch up with him right at the entrance and with a simple hand wave, she sent off all the nearby workers, ensuring that whatever was spoken of would not be subject to curious ears. “Lord Cyrus,” She called out grabbing his attention with the hope of slowing his departure just long enough to get some answers. “I would like to ask you something.”
Luckily for her, the man stopped on the steps, possibly intrigued in what this girl had to say. Before he even had the chance to inquire as to what the youngest Stravos child could possibly be wondering, Danae immediately launched into her question since the last few hours had made it impossible for her to hold in for any longer, “Why did you come here Lord Cyrus?”
It took only a second for Danae to realize that the way she had worded her question was probably not the most polite, so she corrected herself quickly to not insult the man, “Pardon my bluntness, I did not intend for that to be worded in such a rude manner,” she hastily apologized, “But I want to know why you decided to come here, in order to support my family, when you are the vassal of someone else?”
It was very direct, but after the events of the day, so far, Danae was in no mood to beat around the bush. She wanted explanations in order to make sense of Cyrus’s motives and by hell or high water, she was going to get them.
His question hung heavy in the air, like common thieves strung up at the gallows. It reeked an aroma of mystery, and Keikelius was eager to breathe it in through his nostrils until all the questions were answered and all the motives laid out for all in the room to see.
When it became apparent where the subject matter of the meeting was heading, the head of House Stravos made an executive decision that his daughter would not be part of those present. He sent her away, and the befuddled mien she wore nearly caused his lips to form an amused smirk. Nearly.
Cyrus observed the young woman as she departed from their company, and as his eyes returned to the powerful duke before him, their conversation began anew. It lasted quite a long while, and covered a multitude of topics and the making of several pieces of paperwork.
Hours passed that took their toll on the lord’s sleep deprived mind. His eyes drooped a bit more than they did when he had first arrived at the Stravosi manor, but his focus and demeanor were not shaken to their core.
At meeting’s end, Cyrus collected himself and bid the regal Keikelius farewell. Evening was upon them, and despite the duke’s dinner invitation, the baron of Arcasis politely declined. He desired to sit and eat alongside his wife, and personally, he did not enjoy eating at the same tables of those he did business with. It was ill-advised to become close with the man, or to become trusting of him. His father had taught him that.
The lord began his journey out of the Stravosi manor, being escorted to the entrance by a pair of guardsmen. They left his side once he passed the threshold, but as he started to descend the steps of the royal abode, a feminine voice called out to him from behind. He halted his movement, and slowly, his head turned back toward the mansion. It was the daughter of Keikelius, and she wished to ask him a question. Interesting.
“I am all ears,” Cyrus retorted. He awaited her inquiry, and the eyes he bore beneath the shade of his protruding brows squinted at the young girl. Her tone did not reflect her intention. He was nearly offended, but she took time to better explain herself, and his first impression was repaired. At least somewhat.
His eyes were icy as he stared up at her, and his body twisted gradually until he faced her fully. “I support who or what I have confidence in,” he stated plainly, rising back up the steps until he was face-to-face with the young noblewoman. “And why should I support the family I am meant to serve? So that I may stay beneath their boot forever?” He asked, his question purely rhetorical.
Cyrus scoffed, tossing his gaze to the side, taking in the cobblestone street, scanning the environment for onlookers. When his eyes returned, he continued. “If your father has not already taught you, know that serving is but a tool to learn and to rise.” The lord of Arcasis paused, narrowing his eyes a minute amount. “And there comes a point when you have learned enough.”
Taking a deep breath, the baron examined her. He had done it before, inside the manor, but he gave her a more thorough look this time. He did not run his eyes up and down her body like a teenage manwhore, though. No… he studied the details of her hands, of her eyes. “Do you have anymore questions before I take my leave?”
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His question hung heavy in the air, like common thieves strung up at the gallows. It reeked an aroma of mystery, and Keikelius was eager to breathe it in through his nostrils until all the questions were answered and all the motives laid out for all in the room to see.
When it became apparent where the subject matter of the meeting was heading, the head of House Stravos made an executive decision that his daughter would not be part of those present. He sent her away, and the befuddled mien she wore nearly caused his lips to form an amused smirk. Nearly.
Cyrus observed the young woman as she departed from their company, and as his eyes returned to the powerful duke before him, their conversation began anew. It lasted quite a long while, and covered a multitude of topics and the making of several pieces of paperwork.
Hours passed that took their toll on the lord’s sleep deprived mind. His eyes drooped a bit more than they did when he had first arrived at the Stravosi manor, but his focus and demeanor were not shaken to their core.
At meeting’s end, Cyrus collected himself and bid the regal Keikelius farewell. Evening was upon them, and despite the duke’s dinner invitation, the baron of Arcasis politely declined. He desired to sit and eat alongside his wife, and personally, he did not enjoy eating at the same tables of those he did business with. It was ill-advised to become close with the man, or to become trusting of him. His father had taught him that.
The lord began his journey out of the Stravosi manor, being escorted to the entrance by a pair of guardsmen. They left his side once he passed the threshold, but as he started to descend the steps of the royal abode, a feminine voice called out to him from behind. He halted his movement, and slowly, his head turned back toward the mansion. It was the daughter of Keikelius, and she wished to ask him a question. Interesting.
“I am all ears,” Cyrus retorted. He awaited her inquiry, and the eyes he bore beneath the shade of his protruding brows squinted at the young girl. Her tone did not reflect her intention. He was nearly offended, but she took time to better explain herself, and his first impression was repaired. At least somewhat.
His eyes were icy as he stared up at her, and his body twisted gradually until he faced her fully. “I support who or what I have confidence in,” he stated plainly, rising back up the steps until he was face-to-face with the young noblewoman. “And why should I support the family I am meant to serve? So that I may stay beneath their boot forever?” He asked, his question purely rhetorical.
Cyrus scoffed, tossing his gaze to the side, taking in the cobblestone street, scanning the environment for onlookers. When his eyes returned, he continued. “If your father has not already taught you, know that serving is but a tool to learn and to rise.” The lord of Arcasis paused, narrowing his eyes a minute amount. “And there comes a point when you have learned enough.”
Taking a deep breath, the baron examined her. He had done it before, inside the manor, but he gave her a more thorough look this time. He did not run his eyes up and down her body like a teenage manwhore, though. No… he studied the details of her hands, of her eyes. “Do you have anymore questions before I take my leave?”
His question hung heavy in the air, like common thieves strung up at the gallows. It reeked an aroma of mystery, and Keikelius was eager to breathe it in through his nostrils until all the questions were answered and all the motives laid out for all in the room to see.
When it became apparent where the subject matter of the meeting was heading, the head of House Stravos made an executive decision that his daughter would not be part of those present. He sent her away, and the befuddled mien she wore nearly caused his lips to form an amused smirk. Nearly.
Cyrus observed the young woman as she departed from their company, and as his eyes returned to the powerful duke before him, their conversation began anew. It lasted quite a long while, and covered a multitude of topics and the making of several pieces of paperwork.
Hours passed that took their toll on the lord’s sleep deprived mind. His eyes drooped a bit more than they did when he had first arrived at the Stravosi manor, but his focus and demeanor were not shaken to their core.
At meeting’s end, Cyrus collected himself and bid the regal Keikelius farewell. Evening was upon them, and despite the duke’s dinner invitation, the baron of Arcasis politely declined. He desired to sit and eat alongside his wife, and personally, he did not enjoy eating at the same tables of those he did business with. It was ill-advised to become close with the man, or to become trusting of him. His father had taught him that.
The lord began his journey out of the Stravosi manor, being escorted to the entrance by a pair of guardsmen. They left his side once he passed the threshold, but as he started to descend the steps of the royal abode, a feminine voice called out to him from behind. He halted his movement, and slowly, his head turned back toward the mansion. It was the daughter of Keikelius, and she wished to ask him a question. Interesting.
“I am all ears,” Cyrus retorted. He awaited her inquiry, and the eyes he bore beneath the shade of his protruding brows squinted at the young girl. Her tone did not reflect her intention. He was nearly offended, but she took time to better explain herself, and his first impression was repaired. At least somewhat.
His eyes were icy as he stared up at her, and his body twisted gradually until he faced her fully. “I support who or what I have confidence in,” he stated plainly, rising back up the steps until he was face-to-face with the young noblewoman. “And why should I support the family I am meant to serve? So that I may stay beneath their boot forever?” He asked, his question purely rhetorical.
Cyrus scoffed, tossing his gaze to the side, taking in the cobblestone street, scanning the environment for onlookers. When his eyes returned, he continued. “If your father has not already taught you, know that serving is but a tool to learn and to rise.” The lord of Arcasis paused, narrowing his eyes a minute amount. “And there comes a point when you have learned enough.”
Taking a deep breath, the baron examined her. He had done it before, inside the manor, but he gave her a more thorough look this time. He did not run his eyes up and down her body like a teenage manwhore, though. No… he studied the details of her hands, of her eyes. “Do you have anymore questions before I take my leave?”
From the moment Danae had first seen the Lord, she could tell that he was not like other men. Now she knew that to be a fact when he actually stopped to listen to the girl, even saying that he was "all ears" to whatever questions she might have. Not many men would have bothered with resolving a sixteen-year-old's quandaries. Especially not when they were eager to leave like she sensed Lord Cyrus was.
The cold stare he gave her as he gave her a simple answer sent a chill down her spine. I was enough to stifle the scoff that had been bubbling to the surface when Cyrus said she had confidence in her brother Elias. Really? In that wart? She silently thought to herself. Danae was firmly in the camp that her brother should never be king, but not because of some stupid succession law. No, her reasoning was much more simple than that. She lived with the young man. She knew the real Elias, the sides of him he couldn't hide from his sisters. His stupid soap stealing sides. Danae knew him to be a cocky prick who only cared for his appearance. Athenia would surely be led to ruin if her brother was in charge.
"Well," She started to say with a small smirk in an effort to stay polite, "let's all be grateful that my brother is one to keep his shoes clean." Her grin was mostly in reference to the inside joke between the three siblings in regards to how diligent the young Lord was in regards to keeping up his personal appearance. Lord Cyrus may not understand what she was referencing, but if he had had siblings, he may recognize the sly ways a younger sibling would insult their elder counterpart even when they weren't around. She may be a lady, but she was never above throwing in a jab at her brother and sister when the opportunity arose. After all, she was the significantly younger sibling, she had a reputation of getting under their skin she had to upkeep.
All jokes aside, Danae knew that the answer was too convenient to be the full truth. True, she had interacted with a Marikas before and she knew firsthand how self-important and annoying they could be. If she were in his shoes, Danae would be eager to escape them too. However, she knew that Karsalis was a wealthy family for one reason. They had the best lands in the Marikas holdings and the one province alone gave the Lord before her the coffers to challenge her father as one of the richest men in Greece. His family owed the Marikases for their success and Danae knew how prideful their youngest member, Rafail, could be. If his father and brother had just a fraction of that inflated pride, they would not take kindly to the news that their most profitable vassal was rubbing elbows with their commercial rivals. Cyrus would be severely punished if this meeting was discovered, even resulting in the possibility of Cyrus losing their noble status if they were feeling particularly insulted.
No man would risk losing such a profitable investment for the sake of one's pride. Even Danae knew that.
"But that isn't the full story now is it?" Danae asked with an eyebrow raised making it clear that she was no fool and could read between the lines. "Forgive me, my lord, if I am wrong, but it still remains that the Marikas will not take kindly to the news that you were here today." She paused for a moment to gather her words to try and keep her blunt tongue in check for once in her life, "I had the pleasure of meeting their youngest, Rafail, not too long ago. He seemed like the kind of man who would take away your lands for such a transgression like this.
"That seems like a hefty price to pay in order to put your confidence in a boy you don't know and a family that can not give you what Marikas will take away if the family does not join their plan." She finished with a tone that made it clear that the question was rhetorical. No sensible man would risk lands like Arcasis for Elias. It was a ridiculously dumb move, plain and simple. Yet, Danae did not believe Cyrus to be a dumb man. She wanted the whole story, she wouldn't settle for any less.
Danae didn't even realize that she accidentally gave away her true thoughts on the succession crisis by saying "their plan" instead of something along the lines of "our plan." Her use of language made it subtly clear that Danae did not believe in the plan to put her brother on the throne.
But then again, why would anyone support the one person who stood between them and a crown fitted to their head?
Although she was impressed that Lord Cyrus actually stopped to consider that her father made a point to teach her anything about business, She was almost inclined to see that Lord Cyrus was capable of reading between the lines and understanding what the real reason was as to why she had originally been allowed in the meeting. Some men were oblivious and some of them were observant. Danae was starting to believe that he was in the latter category.
But that vanished when the irony of the situation hit her. The "lesson" he had tried to impose on Danae wasn't something she needed, but it would do the Lord wise to listen to his own words.
She could tell that her father had a very different philosophy from whoever had been Lord Cyrus's mentor in the art of the business deal. See, Lord Cyrus seemed to think that this was a position that could actually lead to social growth and mobility, Danae had been taught to only give the illusion of such a change or lest she'd be knocked down from her position at the top. That was something that her proxies needed to believe in order to keep working for her. The nicer clothes offered a false sense of security. A chance to escape while all the while being aware the nicer fabrics would eventually lead to their deaths once they wronged her or she lost the use for them Danae seriously doubted that her father was truly giving Lord Cyrus a chance to move up in the world, not when they were each other's rivals for the title of being the richest man in all of Greece.
Danae had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing at how blind the Lord was. You could never fully trust Keikelius as a business partner, not when his reputation dictated that he didn't hold any concerns for his business partners.
"Yes, of course, but all men know that you could always learn more." She answered simply, letting her somewhat cryptic answer be her only warning to the Lord. It was up to him to figure out what she meant if he caught on at all.
"My original question still stands, Lord Cyrus." She said as a response to whether or not she had an inquiries left for him. "Why are you here if the consequences for doing so are so great?"
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From the moment Danae had first seen the Lord, she could tell that he was not like other men. Now she knew that to be a fact when he actually stopped to listen to the girl, even saying that he was "all ears" to whatever questions she might have. Not many men would have bothered with resolving a sixteen-year-old's quandaries. Especially not when they were eager to leave like she sensed Lord Cyrus was.
The cold stare he gave her as he gave her a simple answer sent a chill down her spine. I was enough to stifle the scoff that had been bubbling to the surface when Cyrus said she had confidence in her brother Elias. Really? In that wart? She silently thought to herself. Danae was firmly in the camp that her brother should never be king, but not because of some stupid succession law. No, her reasoning was much more simple than that. She lived with the young man. She knew the real Elias, the sides of him he couldn't hide from his sisters. His stupid soap stealing sides. Danae knew him to be a cocky prick who only cared for his appearance. Athenia would surely be led to ruin if her brother was in charge.
"Well," She started to say with a small smirk in an effort to stay polite, "let's all be grateful that my brother is one to keep his shoes clean." Her grin was mostly in reference to the inside joke between the three siblings in regards to how diligent the young Lord was in regards to keeping up his personal appearance. Lord Cyrus may not understand what she was referencing, but if he had had siblings, he may recognize the sly ways a younger sibling would insult their elder counterpart even when they weren't around. She may be a lady, but she was never above throwing in a jab at her brother and sister when the opportunity arose. After all, she was the significantly younger sibling, she had a reputation of getting under their skin she had to upkeep.
All jokes aside, Danae knew that the answer was too convenient to be the full truth. True, she had interacted with a Marikas before and she knew firsthand how self-important and annoying they could be. If she were in his shoes, Danae would be eager to escape them too. However, she knew that Karsalis was a wealthy family for one reason. They had the best lands in the Marikas holdings and the one province alone gave the Lord before her the coffers to challenge her father as one of the richest men in Greece. His family owed the Marikases for their success and Danae knew how prideful their youngest member, Rafail, could be. If his father and brother had just a fraction of that inflated pride, they would not take kindly to the news that their most profitable vassal was rubbing elbows with their commercial rivals. Cyrus would be severely punished if this meeting was discovered, even resulting in the possibility of Cyrus losing their noble status if they were feeling particularly insulted.
No man would risk losing such a profitable investment for the sake of one's pride. Even Danae knew that.
"But that isn't the full story now is it?" Danae asked with an eyebrow raised making it clear that she was no fool and could read between the lines. "Forgive me, my lord, if I am wrong, but it still remains that the Marikas will not take kindly to the news that you were here today." She paused for a moment to gather her words to try and keep her blunt tongue in check for once in her life, "I had the pleasure of meeting their youngest, Rafail, not too long ago. He seemed like the kind of man who would take away your lands for such a transgression like this.
"That seems like a hefty price to pay in order to put your confidence in a boy you don't know and a family that can not give you what Marikas will take away if the family does not join their plan." She finished with a tone that made it clear that the question was rhetorical. No sensible man would risk lands like Arcasis for Elias. It was a ridiculously dumb move, plain and simple. Yet, Danae did not believe Cyrus to be a dumb man. She wanted the whole story, she wouldn't settle for any less.
Danae didn't even realize that she accidentally gave away her true thoughts on the succession crisis by saying "their plan" instead of something along the lines of "our plan." Her use of language made it subtly clear that Danae did not believe in the plan to put her brother on the throne.
But then again, why would anyone support the one person who stood between them and a crown fitted to their head?
Although she was impressed that Lord Cyrus actually stopped to consider that her father made a point to teach her anything about business, She was almost inclined to see that Lord Cyrus was capable of reading between the lines and understanding what the real reason was as to why she had originally been allowed in the meeting. Some men were oblivious and some of them were observant. Danae was starting to believe that he was in the latter category.
But that vanished when the irony of the situation hit her. The "lesson" he had tried to impose on Danae wasn't something she needed, but it would do the Lord wise to listen to his own words.
She could tell that her father had a very different philosophy from whoever had been Lord Cyrus's mentor in the art of the business deal. See, Lord Cyrus seemed to think that this was a position that could actually lead to social growth and mobility, Danae had been taught to only give the illusion of such a change or lest she'd be knocked down from her position at the top. That was something that her proxies needed to believe in order to keep working for her. The nicer clothes offered a false sense of security. A chance to escape while all the while being aware the nicer fabrics would eventually lead to their deaths once they wronged her or she lost the use for them Danae seriously doubted that her father was truly giving Lord Cyrus a chance to move up in the world, not when they were each other's rivals for the title of being the richest man in all of Greece.
Danae had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing at how blind the Lord was. You could never fully trust Keikelius as a business partner, not when his reputation dictated that he didn't hold any concerns for his business partners.
"Yes, of course, but all men know that you could always learn more." She answered simply, letting her somewhat cryptic answer be her only warning to the Lord. It was up to him to figure out what she meant if he caught on at all.
"My original question still stands, Lord Cyrus." She said as a response to whether or not she had an inquiries left for him. "Why are you here if the consequences for doing so are so great?"
From the moment Danae had first seen the Lord, she could tell that he was not like other men. Now she knew that to be a fact when he actually stopped to listen to the girl, even saying that he was "all ears" to whatever questions she might have. Not many men would have bothered with resolving a sixteen-year-old's quandaries. Especially not when they were eager to leave like she sensed Lord Cyrus was.
The cold stare he gave her as he gave her a simple answer sent a chill down her spine. I was enough to stifle the scoff that had been bubbling to the surface when Cyrus said she had confidence in her brother Elias. Really? In that wart? She silently thought to herself. Danae was firmly in the camp that her brother should never be king, but not because of some stupid succession law. No, her reasoning was much more simple than that. She lived with the young man. She knew the real Elias, the sides of him he couldn't hide from his sisters. His stupid soap stealing sides. Danae knew him to be a cocky prick who only cared for his appearance. Athenia would surely be led to ruin if her brother was in charge.
"Well," She started to say with a small smirk in an effort to stay polite, "let's all be grateful that my brother is one to keep his shoes clean." Her grin was mostly in reference to the inside joke between the three siblings in regards to how diligent the young Lord was in regards to keeping up his personal appearance. Lord Cyrus may not understand what she was referencing, but if he had had siblings, he may recognize the sly ways a younger sibling would insult their elder counterpart even when they weren't around. She may be a lady, but she was never above throwing in a jab at her brother and sister when the opportunity arose. After all, she was the significantly younger sibling, she had a reputation of getting under their skin she had to upkeep.
All jokes aside, Danae knew that the answer was too convenient to be the full truth. True, she had interacted with a Marikas before and she knew firsthand how self-important and annoying they could be. If she were in his shoes, Danae would be eager to escape them too. However, she knew that Karsalis was a wealthy family for one reason. They had the best lands in the Marikas holdings and the one province alone gave the Lord before her the coffers to challenge her father as one of the richest men in Greece. His family owed the Marikases for their success and Danae knew how prideful their youngest member, Rafail, could be. If his father and brother had just a fraction of that inflated pride, they would not take kindly to the news that their most profitable vassal was rubbing elbows with their commercial rivals. Cyrus would be severely punished if this meeting was discovered, even resulting in the possibility of Cyrus losing their noble status if they were feeling particularly insulted.
No man would risk losing such a profitable investment for the sake of one's pride. Even Danae knew that.
"But that isn't the full story now is it?" Danae asked with an eyebrow raised making it clear that she was no fool and could read between the lines. "Forgive me, my lord, if I am wrong, but it still remains that the Marikas will not take kindly to the news that you were here today." She paused for a moment to gather her words to try and keep her blunt tongue in check for once in her life, "I had the pleasure of meeting their youngest, Rafail, not too long ago. He seemed like the kind of man who would take away your lands for such a transgression like this.
"That seems like a hefty price to pay in order to put your confidence in a boy you don't know and a family that can not give you what Marikas will take away if the family does not join their plan." She finished with a tone that made it clear that the question was rhetorical. No sensible man would risk lands like Arcasis for Elias. It was a ridiculously dumb move, plain and simple. Yet, Danae did not believe Cyrus to be a dumb man. She wanted the whole story, she wouldn't settle for any less.
Danae didn't even realize that she accidentally gave away her true thoughts on the succession crisis by saying "their plan" instead of something along the lines of "our plan." Her use of language made it subtly clear that Danae did not believe in the plan to put her brother on the throne.
But then again, why would anyone support the one person who stood between them and a crown fitted to their head?
Although she was impressed that Lord Cyrus actually stopped to consider that her father made a point to teach her anything about business, She was almost inclined to see that Lord Cyrus was capable of reading between the lines and understanding what the real reason was as to why she had originally been allowed in the meeting. Some men were oblivious and some of them were observant. Danae was starting to believe that he was in the latter category.
But that vanished when the irony of the situation hit her. The "lesson" he had tried to impose on Danae wasn't something she needed, but it would do the Lord wise to listen to his own words.
She could tell that her father had a very different philosophy from whoever had been Lord Cyrus's mentor in the art of the business deal. See, Lord Cyrus seemed to think that this was a position that could actually lead to social growth and mobility, Danae had been taught to only give the illusion of such a change or lest she'd be knocked down from her position at the top. That was something that her proxies needed to believe in order to keep working for her. The nicer clothes offered a false sense of security. A chance to escape while all the while being aware the nicer fabrics would eventually lead to their deaths once they wronged her or she lost the use for them Danae seriously doubted that her father was truly giving Lord Cyrus a chance to move up in the world, not when they were each other's rivals for the title of being the richest man in all of Greece.
Danae had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing at how blind the Lord was. You could never fully trust Keikelius as a business partner, not when his reputation dictated that he didn't hold any concerns for his business partners.
"Yes, of course, but all men know that you could always learn more." She answered simply, letting her somewhat cryptic answer be her only warning to the Lord. It was up to him to figure out what she meant if he caught on at all.
"My original question still stands, Lord Cyrus." She said as a response to whether or not she had an inquiries left for him. "Why are you here if the consequences for doing so are so great?"
The witty remark Danae made that referred to Elias’ cleanliness may have been an inside joke between she and her siblings, but to Cyrus, it meant something else entirely. The heir of Keikelius was known to throw great parties, and there were rumors that he was planning one for the upcoming Feast of Sinners. To him, Danae’s comment was one of sarcasm concerning her brother’s inclinations toward debauchery and frivolous pursuits.
It made Cyrus smirk and suppress a chuckle.
That very smirk would vanish with her next questions, though. They began to delve deeper, seeking the marrow. Her eyes shined with the light of undying curiosity and a hunger for the truth. She would not receive it, but he would throw her a bone to chew on.
“It is good then that Rafail is not the ruler of House Marikas, and better yet that he will not be for a very long time,” Cyrus said matter-of-factly. “Furthermore, if you believe a nobleman would be stripped for looking out for his own gains in a race for the royal throne, you are very ignorant to the ways of aristocracy.”
To strip his title would mean war, and not only with him. Marikas would have to face off against the military powerhouse that was Antonis. They had much stock invested in the overflowing coffers of House Karsalis, and they would not see that alliance and marriage disintegrate into nothing because of a dramatic overreaction by Marikas.
Danae was young, and did not see the full picture, but it did not mean she never would. She was far more intelligent than many women her age, who only focused on young men and the size of their cocks. Even though that was true, his words of advice would be lost on her. Her pride and arrogance would overlook the wisdom. Of course, all men could continue to learn, but there came a point when one’s knowledge base was large enough to move into a position of power. That point was different for everyone, but if it came later in life, it meant the coveted position was truly high indeed, or that the individual in question was, in fact, stupid.
He grew bored of attempting to provide insights to the poor girl, and his eyes showed it.
“Well, if that is all, I bid you a fond farewell,” Cyrus said drearily, turning to leave when Danae’s voice sounded again. Her original question, to her, had gone unanswered.
This time, he did chuckle aloud. He craned his neck, peering back at her. “Think on it a while, Lady Danae,” he mused, “and when you come to two conclusions, think a little harder.”
Giving her one last, stern gaze, Cyrus swung his head back around and began his descent down the Stravos Manor steps.
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The witty remark Danae made that referred to Elias’ cleanliness may have been an inside joke between she and her siblings, but to Cyrus, it meant something else entirely. The heir of Keikelius was known to throw great parties, and there were rumors that he was planning one for the upcoming Feast of Sinners. To him, Danae’s comment was one of sarcasm concerning her brother’s inclinations toward debauchery and frivolous pursuits.
It made Cyrus smirk and suppress a chuckle.
That very smirk would vanish with her next questions, though. They began to delve deeper, seeking the marrow. Her eyes shined with the light of undying curiosity and a hunger for the truth. She would not receive it, but he would throw her a bone to chew on.
“It is good then that Rafail is not the ruler of House Marikas, and better yet that he will not be for a very long time,” Cyrus said matter-of-factly. “Furthermore, if you believe a nobleman would be stripped for looking out for his own gains in a race for the royal throne, you are very ignorant to the ways of aristocracy.”
To strip his title would mean war, and not only with him. Marikas would have to face off against the military powerhouse that was Antonis. They had much stock invested in the overflowing coffers of House Karsalis, and they would not see that alliance and marriage disintegrate into nothing because of a dramatic overreaction by Marikas.
Danae was young, and did not see the full picture, but it did not mean she never would. She was far more intelligent than many women her age, who only focused on young men and the size of their cocks. Even though that was true, his words of advice would be lost on her. Her pride and arrogance would overlook the wisdom. Of course, all men could continue to learn, but there came a point when one’s knowledge base was large enough to move into a position of power. That point was different for everyone, but if it came later in life, it meant the coveted position was truly high indeed, or that the individual in question was, in fact, stupid.
He grew bored of attempting to provide insights to the poor girl, and his eyes showed it.
“Well, if that is all, I bid you a fond farewell,” Cyrus said drearily, turning to leave when Danae’s voice sounded again. Her original question, to her, had gone unanswered.
This time, he did chuckle aloud. He craned his neck, peering back at her. “Think on it a while, Lady Danae,” he mused, “and when you come to two conclusions, think a little harder.”
Giving her one last, stern gaze, Cyrus swung his head back around and began his descent down the Stravos Manor steps.
The witty remark Danae made that referred to Elias’ cleanliness may have been an inside joke between she and her siblings, but to Cyrus, it meant something else entirely. The heir of Keikelius was known to throw great parties, and there were rumors that he was planning one for the upcoming Feast of Sinners. To him, Danae’s comment was one of sarcasm concerning her brother’s inclinations toward debauchery and frivolous pursuits.
It made Cyrus smirk and suppress a chuckle.
That very smirk would vanish with her next questions, though. They began to delve deeper, seeking the marrow. Her eyes shined with the light of undying curiosity and a hunger for the truth. She would not receive it, but he would throw her a bone to chew on.
“It is good then that Rafail is not the ruler of House Marikas, and better yet that he will not be for a very long time,” Cyrus said matter-of-factly. “Furthermore, if you believe a nobleman would be stripped for looking out for his own gains in a race for the royal throne, you are very ignorant to the ways of aristocracy.”
To strip his title would mean war, and not only with him. Marikas would have to face off against the military powerhouse that was Antonis. They had much stock invested in the overflowing coffers of House Karsalis, and they would not see that alliance and marriage disintegrate into nothing because of a dramatic overreaction by Marikas.
Danae was young, and did not see the full picture, but it did not mean she never would. She was far more intelligent than many women her age, who only focused on young men and the size of their cocks. Even though that was true, his words of advice would be lost on her. Her pride and arrogance would overlook the wisdom. Of course, all men could continue to learn, but there came a point when one’s knowledge base was large enough to move into a position of power. That point was different for everyone, but if it came later in life, it meant the coveted position was truly high indeed, or that the individual in question was, in fact, stupid.
He grew bored of attempting to provide insights to the poor girl, and his eyes showed it.
“Well, if that is all, I bid you a fond farewell,” Cyrus said drearily, turning to leave when Danae’s voice sounded again. Her original question, to her, had gone unanswered.
This time, he did chuckle aloud. He craned his neck, peering back at her. “Think on it a while, Lady Danae,” he mused, “and when you come to two conclusions, think a little harder.”
Giving her one last, stern gaze, Cyrus swung his head back around and began his descent down the Stravos Manor steps.
Danae nodded in solemn agreement when Cyrus said that it was a good thing that the Lord Rafail was not the head of his household. She had only had a short conversation with the boy, but it was enough to tell that he was too cocky and arrogant to ever be solely trusted with the might that was the Marikas lands. Surely, he would lead all those provinces to ruin with his careless ways. With any luck the rumors that the family was searching for a new bride for Pavlos to be remarried to after the failure of Sera to provide heirs was true.
It didn't matter how it was done. Rafail should never be allowed to rule on his own.
"I may not be privy to the business of politics Lord Cyrus," She said to him in response to the subtle insult that she did not understand how the aristocracy worked, even though she was a member of one the most prominent households in Athenia, "But the basic principle of having the privilege of running a Barony is clear to me. Be loyal to your liege.
"What you did today can be seen as treason in their eyes and they are a prideful house. There's no telling what they would do to keep the source of their power in check." She finished, looking Lord Cyrus dead in the eyes as she restated what she mentioned earlier. Danae only hoped that what her father had provided him had been worth the risk of coming here.
Just like how Cyrus recognized just how different Danae was from other women, she saw the same within him. Most barons didn't have a spine like he did, who would never dare to expand their political horizons in such a way. It was actually quite refreshing in comparison to the other lords she had encountered in her life, who were perfectly content with a small family holding or, of course, were like Elias and expected the world to fall into his lap. He was a man who was willing to work and get his hands dirty in order to increase his station in life. That was something she could relate to. He was a man she would clearly have to keep her eyes on in the years to come.
However, she was still wary of him. Cyrus was far too willing to speak ill of his liege for her liking. His actions were disloyal and reckless. If he had been a proxy of hers, she would deem him as too much of a risk to her goals to bring into her inner circle. Cyrus may see his actions as just necessary steps to increase his standing, but Danae saw it as a threat to the way things were. As a member of the noble houses who relied on the loyalty of their vassals, Cyrus was a renegade that she would never allow to continue unchecked... no matter how great of a personal political ally he could be.
Though he was right, she only had a limited view of the situation. She wasn't aware of the connections between Arcasis and Antonis. Danae didn't know how far they would go to protect their investments or just how far-reaching Cyrus's influence was growing. All she knew was what she could glean from this conversation and the first few moments of the meeting. It wasn't --and never would-- be enough to see the big picture that the lord dangled above her head, just out of her reach. She could spend countless nights musing over it, but she would still never know.
But it still was curious to see how confident Cyrus was that he'd be safe from the Marikas meddling. Perhaps he was right and they would see that the risk of removing the family was too great. Maybe they would do nothing as their most profitable province slip right out of their fingers...
Or maybe they would end this problem by cutting off the head of the snake before it got that far. After all, in comparison to other houses, the Karsalis family was rather large with numerous male heirs, including Cyrus's own boys. Surely one of them would be more inclined to stay loyal to their liege and the Antonis house would be satiated as they continued to reap the rewards of the province, with or without Cyrus.
It was a dangerous game Cyrus was playing. If it were Daane in the man's shoes, she would think it best to err on the side of caution.
But she wasn't the Lord Cyrus.
His parting words did nothing to answer her question. What did he mean by needing to think harder when she reached two different conclusions? It made no sense to her and she made no attempt to hide her confusion either as she called out after him, "What does that even mean?" However, her final question fell on deaf ears as the Lord took his leave from the Stravos mansion and rode off into the twilight. Her confusion over his parting words lingered long after he was gone and continued to race around her mind as the young lady turned back to go into the mansion, eager to find her father and see if he could shine a bit of light onto the Lord's words of "wisdom."
Either way, she could tell that this was a conversation it would do her well to not forget.
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Danae nodded in solemn agreement when Cyrus said that it was a good thing that the Lord Rafail was not the head of his household. She had only had a short conversation with the boy, but it was enough to tell that he was too cocky and arrogant to ever be solely trusted with the might that was the Marikas lands. Surely, he would lead all those provinces to ruin with his careless ways. With any luck the rumors that the family was searching for a new bride for Pavlos to be remarried to after the failure of Sera to provide heirs was true.
It didn't matter how it was done. Rafail should never be allowed to rule on his own.
"I may not be privy to the business of politics Lord Cyrus," She said to him in response to the subtle insult that she did not understand how the aristocracy worked, even though she was a member of one the most prominent households in Athenia, "But the basic principle of having the privilege of running a Barony is clear to me. Be loyal to your liege.
"What you did today can be seen as treason in their eyes and they are a prideful house. There's no telling what they would do to keep the source of their power in check." She finished, looking Lord Cyrus dead in the eyes as she restated what she mentioned earlier. Danae only hoped that what her father had provided him had been worth the risk of coming here.
Just like how Cyrus recognized just how different Danae was from other women, she saw the same within him. Most barons didn't have a spine like he did, who would never dare to expand their political horizons in such a way. It was actually quite refreshing in comparison to the other lords she had encountered in her life, who were perfectly content with a small family holding or, of course, were like Elias and expected the world to fall into his lap. He was a man who was willing to work and get his hands dirty in order to increase his station in life. That was something she could relate to. He was a man she would clearly have to keep her eyes on in the years to come.
However, she was still wary of him. Cyrus was far too willing to speak ill of his liege for her liking. His actions were disloyal and reckless. If he had been a proxy of hers, she would deem him as too much of a risk to her goals to bring into her inner circle. Cyrus may see his actions as just necessary steps to increase his standing, but Danae saw it as a threat to the way things were. As a member of the noble houses who relied on the loyalty of their vassals, Cyrus was a renegade that she would never allow to continue unchecked... no matter how great of a personal political ally he could be.
Though he was right, she only had a limited view of the situation. She wasn't aware of the connections between Arcasis and Antonis. Danae didn't know how far they would go to protect their investments or just how far-reaching Cyrus's influence was growing. All she knew was what she could glean from this conversation and the first few moments of the meeting. It wasn't --and never would-- be enough to see the big picture that the lord dangled above her head, just out of her reach. She could spend countless nights musing over it, but she would still never know.
But it still was curious to see how confident Cyrus was that he'd be safe from the Marikas meddling. Perhaps he was right and they would see that the risk of removing the family was too great. Maybe they would do nothing as their most profitable province slip right out of their fingers...
Or maybe they would end this problem by cutting off the head of the snake before it got that far. After all, in comparison to other houses, the Karsalis family was rather large with numerous male heirs, including Cyrus's own boys. Surely one of them would be more inclined to stay loyal to their liege and the Antonis house would be satiated as they continued to reap the rewards of the province, with or without Cyrus.
It was a dangerous game Cyrus was playing. If it were Daane in the man's shoes, she would think it best to err on the side of caution.
But she wasn't the Lord Cyrus.
His parting words did nothing to answer her question. What did he mean by needing to think harder when she reached two different conclusions? It made no sense to her and she made no attempt to hide her confusion either as she called out after him, "What does that even mean?" However, her final question fell on deaf ears as the Lord took his leave from the Stravos mansion and rode off into the twilight. Her confusion over his parting words lingered long after he was gone and continued to race around her mind as the young lady turned back to go into the mansion, eager to find her father and see if he could shine a bit of light onto the Lord's words of "wisdom."
Either way, she could tell that this was a conversation it would do her well to not forget.
Danae nodded in solemn agreement when Cyrus said that it was a good thing that the Lord Rafail was not the head of his household. She had only had a short conversation with the boy, but it was enough to tell that he was too cocky and arrogant to ever be solely trusted with the might that was the Marikas lands. Surely, he would lead all those provinces to ruin with his careless ways. With any luck the rumors that the family was searching for a new bride for Pavlos to be remarried to after the failure of Sera to provide heirs was true.
It didn't matter how it was done. Rafail should never be allowed to rule on his own.
"I may not be privy to the business of politics Lord Cyrus," She said to him in response to the subtle insult that she did not understand how the aristocracy worked, even though she was a member of one the most prominent households in Athenia, "But the basic principle of having the privilege of running a Barony is clear to me. Be loyal to your liege.
"What you did today can be seen as treason in their eyes and they are a prideful house. There's no telling what they would do to keep the source of their power in check." She finished, looking Lord Cyrus dead in the eyes as she restated what she mentioned earlier. Danae only hoped that what her father had provided him had been worth the risk of coming here.
Just like how Cyrus recognized just how different Danae was from other women, she saw the same within him. Most barons didn't have a spine like he did, who would never dare to expand their political horizons in such a way. It was actually quite refreshing in comparison to the other lords she had encountered in her life, who were perfectly content with a small family holding or, of course, were like Elias and expected the world to fall into his lap. He was a man who was willing to work and get his hands dirty in order to increase his station in life. That was something she could relate to. He was a man she would clearly have to keep her eyes on in the years to come.
However, she was still wary of him. Cyrus was far too willing to speak ill of his liege for her liking. His actions were disloyal and reckless. If he had been a proxy of hers, she would deem him as too much of a risk to her goals to bring into her inner circle. Cyrus may see his actions as just necessary steps to increase his standing, but Danae saw it as a threat to the way things were. As a member of the noble houses who relied on the loyalty of their vassals, Cyrus was a renegade that she would never allow to continue unchecked... no matter how great of a personal political ally he could be.
Though he was right, she only had a limited view of the situation. She wasn't aware of the connections between Arcasis and Antonis. Danae didn't know how far they would go to protect their investments or just how far-reaching Cyrus's influence was growing. All she knew was what she could glean from this conversation and the first few moments of the meeting. It wasn't --and never would-- be enough to see the big picture that the lord dangled above her head, just out of her reach. She could spend countless nights musing over it, but she would still never know.
But it still was curious to see how confident Cyrus was that he'd be safe from the Marikas meddling. Perhaps he was right and they would see that the risk of removing the family was too great. Maybe they would do nothing as their most profitable province slip right out of their fingers...
Or maybe they would end this problem by cutting off the head of the snake before it got that far. After all, in comparison to other houses, the Karsalis family was rather large with numerous male heirs, including Cyrus's own boys. Surely one of them would be more inclined to stay loyal to their liege and the Antonis house would be satiated as they continued to reap the rewards of the province, with or without Cyrus.
It was a dangerous game Cyrus was playing. If it were Daane in the man's shoes, she would think it best to err on the side of caution.
But she wasn't the Lord Cyrus.
His parting words did nothing to answer her question. What did he mean by needing to think harder when she reached two different conclusions? It made no sense to her and she made no attempt to hide her confusion either as she called out after him, "What does that even mean?" However, her final question fell on deaf ears as the Lord took his leave from the Stravos mansion and rode off into the twilight. Her confusion over his parting words lingered long after he was gone and continued to race around her mind as the young lady turned back to go into the mansion, eager to find her father and see if he could shine a bit of light onto the Lord's words of "wisdom."
Either way, she could tell that this was a conversation it would do her well to not forget.
