She looked around, seeing the colors of this floor and walls shaded emerald-green. Scattered across the floor were pedestals surrounded with a small rope. Some of them had antiques such as handcrafted pottery to the quirkiest mechanisms made by some engineer to the whims of their rich employer.

Some pedestals however, did not all contain something...physical? Placed in select few were parchment of paper filled with promises, trade agreements, along with other business ventures. They were official documents individually confirmed for validity by the house over the course of one month. So, having a piece of parchment displayed, silly as it was, is much more valuable than the hunks of junk that were made because someone was too lazy to get out of bed. Smelling the Dawny.

Griem and Aylie slid their IDs to the next teller and proceeded on in. They must have heard the commotion from the second floor because their attention was not light. How annoying. Grim hid her eyes too the floor while Aylie strutted once more in her full glamor. If she became anymore shining, someone might just have gone blind.

“The finest cobblers and cordwainers here at your disposal, care to invest, good madam?”

A scrawny man in a black coat and monocle underneath his top hat approached us. He looked at Griem then focused all attention on the taller person beside her.

“My, my what a beautiful pair of ladies. May I have the honor of knowing one’s name?”

Aylie smiled her most show-off grin. “Kralia Teorassin, along with my attendant,” she said, gesturing towards me, “Clark Lemossi.”

The eyes of the merchant widened, shifting his attention back onto Griem. Shameless really.

“So, what we heard is true! The heiress has come in the flesh, milady I bid your pardon in not recognizing sooner.”

Griem fidgeting with her fingers, looked up to Aylie then back to the kneeling man.

“Pay it no heed, please stand,” said Griem.

“I would like to introduce myself if you may have it, Teryin Jolkins, at your service. Oh, and Countess Teorassin, it’s a pleasure as well. I have barrels of your finest wine at my estate, they do well to serve important guests.”

His high-pitched voice kissed the ass of Griem while flaunting his immaculate wealth in front of Aylie. It was subtle but there nonetheless.

The Teorassin name is well established among most of, if not, all of the nobles in the city and seeped far into other kingdoms. Being the biggest manufacturer of luxury wine sure helped, but their taste also became superior in every way.

However, Teryin Jolkin may not have been as popular; he is certainly well known. The richest of the rich and a genius among merchants. A fortune that matches the Teorassin name, however wealth cannot buy the royal line unless it’s marriage. Teryin is known for investing in obscure business ventures and making off with a fortune. A risk taker with the money to risk.

I grant Aylie probably had her sights on him since the beginning.

“Well that honors me Mister Jolkin.” said Aylie, walking forward to pause by his ear. “Also, I may have a proposition you might quite… enjoy.”

Aylie brushed her fingers along his forearm, clutching a piece of paper between his hands. He let a disgusting smile creep onto his face as she whispered. It was a quick moment but still enough for the people in the room to notice the city’s most wealthy two have a public conversation.

Aylie continued onwards with Griem following at the heel. He gave a lingering stare as Griem passed by him. She could hear him inhaling loudly when she did. Creepy old bastard.

“Without you, he would have never accepted such a proposal.”

“I doubt it, you can persuade any fool without a brain just fine. I still find my presence to be of no use.”

“Shall we test again? Atte-”

“Okay!” said Griem, holding her arms at an ‘X’ to Aylie. “I do not wish to see through that embarrassment twice.”

“I thought so. Now come, there’s one last room. I think you will enjoy it quite a bit.”

Griem became hesitant in continuing. Her presence has been unnecessary this whole time. What could she have that would possibly require the impersonation of the Lemossi princess. Everything up to now has just not made any sense.

“Greetings, Countess Teorassin.”

“My absolute pleasure.”

“Clark Lemosi! Do my eyes deceive me?”

Yes they do.

Griem walked briskly onto the next spiral staircase, Aylie chuckling with each step.