"Mmm," Celine muttered, turning to the side and hugging the woman next to her.
It was morning, on the eleventh day since Blanc left, and she found herself sleeping longer than usual, since last night was a hectic night.
The arrival of a few letters sent everyone to the inner mansion for a Concord, where the contents of the letters were discussed. Nobody expected Blanc, a bit over a week after he left, to send a gift this way. A gift that Blanc, more than likely, did not realize how valuable it really was for Lucien.
"Thank you, everyone, for coming so late after dinner," said Lucien, sitting down in his chair in the middle of the room.
All the adults from both Bloods were present.
On one side of the room, on the side of Blood Denegis, Celine and Miyanna had been invited to sit with Mera and Auren, an offer they accepted gladly.
On the opposite side, on the side of Blood Maroux, Lea, Manon, Salina, and Sophie stood in silence, waiting for Lucien to speak.
"Did something happen, Lord Maroux?" Mera asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Celine and Miyanna watched quietly, the worry Mera's question brought made them touch their stomachs in unison.
A quick prayer to the Vita, perhaps. A prayer that the father of their children was fine and well.
"First, no need to panic," Lucien began, "Blanc is well; he left the Domain three days ago."
At his words, many sharp exhales of relief were heard from both sides. Celine placed a hand on Miyanna's, both smiling at each other at the good news.
As the sound calmed down, Lucien continued, "Although it was faster than expected, he is now safe in the Domain of Blood Elna. The issue, however, was that on the evening of the sixth day, they met brigands on the road. Brigands who were keen on raping a group of six women, which Blanc and his companions dealt with before they got a chance to harm the women. However, among the six women, one was the daughter of the leader of a Merchant Company, Alfred Rotunda."
Lea looked downward, her lips moving as she strained her brain for any information she had about them.
When she found it in the depths of her skull, she got to her feet.
"The Rotunda Merchant Company, with its base of operation in Lupa, stands as the fiftieth Merchant Company in terms of influence in the Empire," she said, before sitting down.
"Thank you, my dear," Lucien smiled her way, before his eyes turned back to the letter, "Once they rescued the six women, five of whom were the servants of Olivia, Alfred's daughter, they took them back to Lupa, where Alfred received them in good company. For the aid, rescue, and return of their daughter, Blanc asked for rewards. One for Iskahul's princess and her protectors, who, as it appears, had close to nothing to their name, including… food. Next, Blanc requested that all involved refrain from spreading the word of what happened, and for an…"
"For a what?" Celine spoke up, curious.
"For an alliance between our Bloods and their Merchant Company," Lucien muttered, his echo enveloping the room.
None spoke as Lucien's eyes rushed through a few of the letters, his blue eyes moving like a fast water current across the words, trying to make sense of all that was said in them.
Once done, Lucien left his hands filled with letters fall on his knees, as he closed his eyes.
He, a Crownbound, was dumbfounded, once more baffled by his Son-in-Law, and the weirdly genius things he came up with, in the most random of moments.
He couldn't help but start chuckling, a chuckle that soon developed into a laugh as his face turned towards the ceiling.
"This man…" he exhaled, trying to calm down, "I apologise, I should have read all the letters before I called for you."
"What happened?" Sophie asked, her yellow eyes sharpening even more.
"Blood Elna was the one who sent the brigands, trying to take this Olivia as a concubine despite her family's refusal, even after Blood Elna tried to ruin them," Lucien began his explanation. "Seeing this, and sensing an opportunity, Blanc proposed an alliance to Alfred, the leader of the company. An alliance in which we protect them by pressuring Blood Elna to leave them be, and in exchange, we receive, and I quote this as Blanc wrote it, help with anything that needs to be handled."
"What does that mean?" Salina wondered out loud.
"He does not say," Lucien shook his head, "He and Alfred only tell us to set up a meeting between the Merchant Company and us, in which we discuss all that needs to be discussed."
"I apologise for my son's lack of patience, Lord Maroux," Mera said, jumping to her feet, "It clearly was something he rushed on doing, perhaps for a reward, perhaps out of-"
"Please wait, Lady Mera," Lucien said, raising his hand and interrupting her, "I never said it was a bad thing, but on the contrary."
"On the contrary?" Mera asked, confused.
"Indeed," Lucien nodded, before he began his explanation, "The fiftieth most influential Merchant Company in the Empire, not the smallest, and not the largest. One with not that much power, which makes them less likely to be egotistical in their standing, but with enough power to have connections that we do not have in the lower parts of society. Merchants, farmers, mercenaries, crafters, blacksmiths, trade routes, and perhaps even in the dark markets, which means untapped, unseen power. And all for what? A letter to Blood Elna threatening him with stopping his supplies of wood and grain?… Ha! This man might be the best thing that has happened to us all."
"Do you see that much value in it, Father?" Sophie asked, her golden yellow eyes staring straight into her father's deep blue ones.
"No promise of riches, no promise of marriage, no promise of anything, besides protection," Lucien replied, "And we receive all their connections by using them for their services… brilliant, absolutely brilliant."
"I doubt they won't attempt to secure their position in this alliance," Celine began, "And marriage does sound like the most likely way to do it."
"Of course they will," Lucien nodded, unbothered, "Anyone in their position would do so, but between talking about it and doing it is a long, treacherous way, so do not worry about that."
"Who said anything about being worried?" Celine giggled, "They should be the ones worried."
There were many things that have been, and had to be discussed, but at least by the end of the Concord, they agreed on a date, two weeks from now, for the Rotunda Merchant Company to meet with them here, in the Domain of Blood Maroux.
All were proud of Blanc, grateful for this gift that, as the Concord continued, seemed to gain more and more value in the eyes of all present.
Celine opened her eyes slowly as recalling the events of last night robbed her of sleep.
She had Miyanna's face in her arms, with Miyanna using her chest as a pillow while she slept.
Miyanna was a bit worried during the Concord, afraid that another woman had set her eyes on Blanc. But, right before they left for their room, Lucien gave them a letter that Blanc had written for the two.
The first part of the letter was the sweetest, most loving thing the two of them had read, expressing his love, his desire, and how much he missed the two.
The second part of the letter detailed the events and conversations that took place during his stay at Rotunda's house, written with the awareness that Celine would have questions, and Miyanna would no doubt be worried.
Which not only calmed her down, but also made her cry, as Miyanna repeated 'He knows me so well' over and over for a good half an hour.
With a quick giggle at the memory of Miyanna crying, Celine pecked her forehead before she stretched her hand, grabbing one of the two pieces of parchment that stood on the pillow Blanc used to sleep on.
As Celine brought the parchment closer, Miyanna, who appeared to be awake now, spoke.
"You are reading it again?" she asked, chuckling lightly.
"Good morning, sister," Celine said, smiling, "I wonder how many times I've read this part already."
"I did four times," Miyanna replied as she turned to the other side, seeing the first part of the letter Blanc sent them.
"I stopped counting after the tenth time," Celine giggled, holding a corner of the letter.
"Let me help you with that," Miyanna said as she grabbed another corner of the letter, revealing the writing inside.
"Do you want to read it a fifth time?" Celine asked, whispering into her ear.
"Of course," Miyanna nodded.
Both began reading, lingering on every word etched into the parchment, imagining their husband as he wrote, his gray eyes tracing each line, his fingers brushing the page with the tenderness of his thoughts, each stroke of ink carrying a piece of his heart back to the only place he really felt he belonged.
In their smiles, their embrace, and their love.