《Rise of a Finance Minister》Date
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Will woke, today was the first day of the weekend. There are few times in when Will felt dread, and today was another of those days. When Will was a mogul, he received many fan letters. Some of those letters were death threats, but one was from a stalker. What famous or rich person didn't hire body guards for personal protection, but that stalker really unnerved him. She was a disgraced model, who though she and Robert were a heavenly match. She followed him to events around the world, would show up in his hotel and home and play wife, she would even post pictures of them online. One picture made it onto his Wikipedia page. She was truly deranged.
For Will his privacy was sacrosanct. But his sister Rebecca, was like the stalker she weaved her way into parts of his life, especially during his private time. She never left him alone, except at night, and some nights she crawl into his bed to sleep together. When Will was a baby, she always requested Will sit in her lap. His parents and siblings thought it was cute and funny how much she loved her little brother. Will found it creepy, but no one would listen to his cries for help.
When Rebecca left home, Will celebrate. He finally had time to himself, to think. Regretfully, spending several hours alone, made people think he really missed Rebecca. When Rebecca heard, Will was upset about missing her, she wrote to him every day. Worse yet, Will's mother asked him to read the letters out loud. Reading about Rebecca drone on about her day, was like his personal hell, and this repeated daily until he left the house.
But now, he was meeting his sweet obsessive older sister since he left. It felt like a prisoner meeting with his warden. Nevertheless, Will dressed, put on his uniform, and headed to the gate his stalker sister.
Will walked to the fountain in the square in the central plaza, waiting for this sister. Sitting down at a bench by the fountain Will wait for his sister. A few minutes later his sister arrived with her friends laughing and smiling. Will saw her and her friends approaching wearing crimson robes. Rebecca saw Will waiting and ran straight towards him to give him a hug. She was wearing a purple robe.
"Little Will, these are my friends they're twins Emilia and Emma vont Whitby. There father is noble in the capital. Their youngest sister Elizabeth just joined the Mage's Academy this year, she the same age as you."
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I greeted the witches with a bow and introduced myself.
"My how adorable, he is quite the looker. Rebecca you never told us how handsome he is?" said one twin. Honestly, I couldn't tell them apart yet.
"Thank you Em, but he's not as handsome has Jason or Marcus," my sister said. Giving me backhand compliment.
"Come on let's go I'm hungry," Rebecca announced. She grabbed my arm and looked elbows as we strolled to the restaurant.
"Aw, you two look like your courting," said a twin. I looked at her horrified, why would she say something like that? She knew were related, right?
"Will, you want to marry me?" Rebecca asked jokingly. What is with this incestuous sister of mine.
I politely declined, and all three women laughed some more. This entire experience was hurting my psyche. It felt like my sister was gaslighting me. Rebecca had asked me to breakfast and I agreed, I had plans letter this afternoon.
We went to an expensive restaurant. The waiter immediately identified Emilia and Emma, he greeted them with a deep bow, "Welcome your graces, thank you for frequenting our restaurant."
Grace…their father was a duke! These were high nobles, and they spent time with my crazy sister. This did not make any sense, but I decided to investigate.
"Please for give me your graces, for not greeting you properly," I said after being seated. "Had I known your family name, I would not have been so improper."
"It's fine, we get enough formality when we are out, at the academy, and with our parents. That's why we like Rebecca she treats us a friend without the honorifics," one twin replied.
"Also, she does not have an agenda when speaking with us," the other said. In other word, this back wood minor noble is not trying to use them to climb the social ladder. How I miss speaking in double entendre. It seems the capital nobles are well verse in this manner of speaking.
"How fortuitous, you became friends. I wonder if our parents met at the soiree in castle," I quizzed.
"Why yes, they did meet. My father mentioned meeting your parents. It seems you were a topic of discussion at the soiree," one replied.
…We ordered our plates…
Ah now, I understood the sudden desire to have this date. It seems Emilia and Emma requested this outing at their father's behest. Now I needed to learn who their father is, what his angle, and who else is in play.
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"Wonderful, as a new cadet I'm sure the topic of discussion was not that interesting," I replied.
"Nonsense, there was much to discuss. Your early achievements as a commander, merchant, and disciple to the secluded Grandmaster Thaddeus served as fonder for much discussion," the other said.
This two on one discussion riled up my blood, the cat and mouse trying get to know the other without revealing to much information.
"Well, I'm happy, that I served as entertainment for the party. Please tell me how your father came to know so much about me in such a short time," I questioned.
…Our food arrived…
"Our father serves as the Finance Minister for the kingdom, when you registered as merchant, as a Knight Academy cadet, your file came across his desk," she said nonchalantly.
"Please convey my greetings to the Lord Minister. It is my desire to leave a good impression with him," I said. Now, I had two answers to my earlier questions, I just needed the answer to the third. The king had called the soiree, and used the Finance Minister as his cover.
"To be a commander at such an early age, what is your desire for this kingdom," one twin said raising an eyebrow.
Now we had come to their desired question. While the twin said commander, she was really asking about my discipleship with my master.
"As commander, Will plans to protect this kingdom. What else is there to say? He'll serve his two years like every other knight," Rebecca chimed in unaware to the back channel conversation.
I decided to follow my ignorant sister, "Why yes, what else is there to say," I said not mentioning my plans.
"My Will, you are quite the skilled conversationalist at such a young age. I believe you will do well in the capital," said one twin who was irked at my non sequitur.
"Thank you for the acknowledgement," I bowed my head, chuckling in my head.
"Yet surely you have other plans after graduation," a twin asked, returning to the main topic.
"Of course, who doesn't have plans for the future. But alas I'm the third son of an agricultural baron, my options are limited," I said giving nothing away.
"Understood, but your successes have already bought you acclaim. I'm sure you can use that notoriety in kingdom for it's good" a twin closely examined me, not giving me room to escape.
Finally, we had arrived at the king's questions. Will I use my master's teachings to go against the kingdom? It's clear the king saw me as a new fledging power. The king wanted to get ahead of this potential problem and sent out the Finance Minister, knowing my desire for coin. That's why, if I were smart, I would realize it's in my best interest to not to cause problems. Of course, I was no fool to jeopardize my future economic empire.
I respond, "please have no fear, I will endeavor to support the kingdom after graduation. Please let the duke know, my goal is only to support the kingdom and receive remittance for my achievements." This was normal, who would work for nothing and not receive pay? However, I left the door open from bribes. To me bribes were just another contract, payment for services rendered.
The twins looked at me and nodded to each other. I could tell they were satisfied with my answer, and they would let their father know immediately, hopefully easing the king's weariness.
Once breakfast concluded, I offered to pay, but the duchesses insisted. I assumed because the reason for breakfast was their inquiry. Rebecca still oblivious requested we go shopping for clothes. I respectfully declined. Yet, Rebecca locked elbows with me once again, and refused to let me go. Even threating she'd write mother. I had no choice, I conceded defeat, and she dragged me to the clothing district. I spent the rest of the day, eating and shopping with the witches. Shopping was exhaustive enough, but the back channel conversations with the twins continued. Keeping track of two different conversations at the same time made me realize how out of practice I was. I was tired and circulating my mana did not in these situations. I was mentally tired of watching them try on various dresses.
Finally, close to curfew we were finally were set to part. However, before we separated my sister said, "this was a fun date Will. If you want, I'll let you kiss me goodbye." My eyes widened in horror, surely, she didn't want me to kiss her...my own sister? I declined, she looked sad, but kissed me on the cheek and walked away. Her friends laughing at the kiss the entire time. This was embarrassing, my cheeks were red. I quickly ran inside the academy to my washbowl and scrubbed my cheeks. This yandere sister of mine. When will she leave me alone!
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