Chapter 15: ~Convenience?~ (2/2)

I already had a glimpse at the tax reports and from what I saw there we don't use all our possibilities.

It's good that Ascathon went to the capital to get some needed documents. This gives me the entire day to overhaul this office! With no further ado I throw myself into the work.

Several hours later I discovered Ascathon's chair for myself. It's really comfortable with thin elastic steel bars. The normal chairs in this world are big, massive, unmoving hulks and made of wood.

This comfy armchair stands in a real contradiction to that. I could get used to this. While I read one of Ascathon's reports I start to seesaw.

At that moment the door opens and Ascathon enters. He looks into my direction and spots me in his chair, at his desk. Hopefully soon to be my chair and my desk.

He points a scroll towards me. “My chair! Get Out!”

“Why? I did all the office work today! I don't see a reason why I shouldn't be allowed to use it too!” I smile at him.

“The chair is where I draw the line! Out, or I will rip this!” He threatens to rip the scroll? Don't tell me those are the marriage documents and the adoption form! Noo! My principality!

I jump out of the chair and take the scrolls. Ascathon looses no time to reclaim his position with a grumpy expression.

Meanwhile I start reading the scrolls. Everything seems to be in order and as agreed upon.

Ascathon already signed the magical document and infused his mana into it. Almost all documents of value in this world work like that. It's impossible to fake such a signature.

Eeeh... how lazy.... if I would give this to someone else I could marry the hermit to ~anyone~. If that wouldn't be fun! Should I trick Sarah into signing it? Or Den! ~Yes~! Den and the hermit are a perfect match!

I should found a marriage-bureau. Maybe I will do that in my next life.....

Aaahhh.... But if I do this there will be no principality for me. Sometimes you have to bite into something sour to appreciate your life.

I sign the document and smile at Ascathon. “Dear husband! Have you already thought about a place to hold a proper ceremony and spend our honeymoon?” Ah, it's so fun to tease peo....

Ascathon draws two other papers out of his pocket and slams them on the table. “One week on an abandoned island in the Nation of Mist. A ship captain whom I know will hold the ceremony.”

Eh!? Why would he think of something like that under these circumstances? Is he the romantic type? Why would he?

“Don't get the wrong idea! I did it just for Liandra and Violetta. Do you have anyone you would want to invite.” He looks at me with a questioning gaze.

Eh? Ehm? “Let's see... most of the people I know are affiliated to Mislow and Jamaian. So, no? Unless they open the borders all of a sudden.”

Ascathon shakes his head. “Won't happen. That means I will just invite Kane and his girlfriend, Den, Sarah and Stefan. There is no need for our staff to sit around on their asses while the mansion is empty.”

“Kane? Where did I hear that name before?” I mumble to myself while I think hard.

“A little smaller than me. Brown hair, rich merchant....” Ascathon starts to explain when I remember the person who was always hanging out with him in school.

“Ah! I know! The creepy guy whose family is involved in all sorts of dubious trading actions and businesses which are very close to being illegal!” I snap my fingers as I remember the rumours about that guy.

Both Ascathon and Kane were loners. They never tried to associate themselves with anyone else.

“Even if a trade is close to being illegal, it doesn't mean that it is illegal.” Ascathon defends the honour of his friend.

“Who would have thought that you two are close enough to keep contact even after your graduation.” I smile at the hermit.

The hermit sighs. “Well, you should thank him for being such a creepy fellow. It's thanks to him that I was at that slave auction to walk into my own doom.”

“Ah... now a lot of things become clear to me. I asked myself for quite a while why you were there! Let me guess. He was the other masked fellow. I ask myself if he knew beforehand that I was there.” I tap my chin while speaking loud.

Ascathon's expression turns dark and he starts to mumble.

“I will have little private talk with him when I see him again.”

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