Chapter 50 How To Fund An Empire (1/2)
”Okay, we need money. Lots and lots of money!”Dolly slammed her hands on the table as she rose from her seat.
To build an Empire, what did one need? Resources! And to acquire resources, what did one need? Money! Therefore to first create an Empire, the first step is to be filthy rich!
Next what you need is power and influence, to amass forces and cut a swath through all opposition so you can crown yourself their ruler. But first things first.
Dolly was currently asleep, by the way.Sitting around the table were different versions of herself.
”Options?”
”Theft!” One fired out.
”Gambling!” Fired another.
”Ransom!”
”Bake sale?”
The head Dolly glared at the speaker with rage.
She was immediately thrown out the window.
Another, more hesitant Dolly raised a petite little hand. She was the youngest Dolly, the most innocent Dolly who wore the bunny onesie Day had made for her. She looked uber cute.
”.....Why not all three?”
She became employee of the month.
But Dolly forgot most of it when she woke up.
***
The sun was bright. The air was cool. It was two days since her brother apparently enrolled into the high school division.
She was sitting in class with Vee by her side. Soundly sleeping. Expression going from serious to angry to thoughtful in a matter of seconds. Vera had no idea what she could be dreaming about.
”Did you hear?” Serina struggled to keep her voice level. ”Damien's coming to school close by! Uwah, how exciting!” She writhed about happily, twisting with her hands on her cheeks.
”Really?” Janette nearly shouted.
”Should we go say hi?” Lily suggested shyly, fiddling with her hands.
”We can't just walk up to him and say hello, he doesn't even know us! Probably. I-I wonder if he still remembers me…”
”Eh, I wanna see him…” Tammy whined pathetically.
”Me too. He's amazing! Guess what he did to those scoundrels over at block C.”
”Huh, what'd he do?” Janette inquired with interest.
”He beat them up!” Serina waved a fist, completely unladylike. But that was the norm when talking about Damien. They got a bit too enthusiastic. ”I heard from my cousin who works as the secretary for the student council that he rounded them up and gave them a good whack on the rear. He even submitted a paper to form a club meant for enforcing public morals. As expected of our Damien, he has such a passion for justice! He'll clean up that no-good place for sure!”
Serina was normally the most calm and collected of the group, yet when the talk turned to Damien she was the most vocal of fan members.
Vera was staring at them. A sardonic laugh escaped her lips. ”Look at those idiots.” She muttered low. ”Our Damien. What bullshit. DIsgusting groupies.” She shook her head in derision.
She disliked running into these ”fans” of his. They got lost in their own delusions, painting the Young Master in a light not his own. Vera didn't understand why they persisted in these fantasies about him. And it was annoying watching them gush over a person who didn't exist at all except for their own fool heads.
She looked at her young Mistress at her side. She felt this girl especially had certain….unrealistic opinions about her brother.
Vera had trouble comprehending the whole thing. Why did everyone prefer some made-up version? Isn't the Young Master great just as he is? It was truly baffling.
Rather than some weird person who was all about kindness and justice for everyone, like how those girls thought of him, Vera felt the Young Master who gave preference to just his own loved ones is much better.
You didn't know where you stood with the first type of person since they treated everyone nicely. But with the Young Master you always knew when he thought you were special. And he made you feel like you were.
She thought back when he'd thrown her up in the air and hugged her not that long ago. She reached for her head unconsciously.
He ruffled her hair, something he rarely did with her. His hand was strong. Safe.
”Vee, I could kiss you!”
The memory lingered.
….She felt her ears burn and had to lay her head on the desk.
She wanted to bite him. Bastard.
***
Dolly was walking down the hall. From several feet away, hiding behind a corner peeking out, were a set of four faces she'd find familiar.
Janette, Lily, Serina and Tammy. The hawk-like eyes of these four fresh and ripe maidens were dead-set onto the smaller girl's back. Full of determination.
”You go.”
”No, you.”
”Hey, why don't you? It was your idea.”
”I-I can't ask something so embarrassing and shameless!”
But lacking courage.
”Hey, what're you looking at?” Dolly suddenly appeared behind them.
”Ah!” They screamed in unison. Tumbling to the ground one on top of the other.
”H-Hi there!” Serina was the first to recover. She coughed and tried to maintain a semblance of dignity. ”We were just….”
”Admiring the architecture!” Tammy covered.
”Yes! It's very...solid…” Lily covertly rubbed her bum.
”Oh. Really?” Dolly tapped on the ground with her foot. ”It is. You're right.” Thank the gods she's an airhead!
”Anyway, now that you're here,” Serina forged on resolutely, ”About your brother…is it possible….I mean, could you...if it's okay, and you totally don't have to...but would you mind….um....you know. Please?”
Serina subtly placed a gold and silver charm bracelet into the other girl's hand.
Dolly then remembered something from years back. Her eyes shined. The problem she had been long contemplating finally found it's a solution.
”Let's talk business.” She smiled and led the four away.