Scheme
By the looks of it, Francis truly failed. He sat next to the fire with his posture hunched over just as he did before. He didn’t ask for the lease from me, either. I wouldn’t blame him; the lease was pointless at that stage. I only sold him one right, which was the right to develop the land. Without minerals there, the block of land was just a hill of dirt. Therefore, it was totally normal for him to not want the block of land.
I could accept the loss. I just happened to gain nothing. I never received the five-hundred gold coins; hence, I could write off the loss and brush it off. After all, my only loss –if it was considered one – was no income. Technically, I lost time and money travelling, but the money spent on that was minimal. More importantly, the failure was a lesson for me to burn to memory. The take-home message for me was to not trust the dwarves. I would rather trust Lucia. At the very least, the elves were trustworthy and wouldn’t trick me.
I didn’t console Francis or even speak to him again. I, instead, stood up and left with Veirya. She seemed to want to say something to her old friend but followed me when she saw me get up. We had to separate in the end, after all.
I couldn’t let Veirya see Leah and, thus, we separated. I felt somewhat lonely after our separation that night. Apparently, Veirya also felt somewhat lonely. She stopped at the entrance to our tent for a while before turning to leave. It was just a few minutes in her arms, but it was an especially blissful experience for the two of us.
I returned to our tent. Leah was able to stay amazingly optimistic no matter where she was. She slept soundly despite where we were. I caressed her head and lay down next to her. I was originally flustered and furious, but I had calmed down considerably. I, in fact, tended toward the optimistic side. I thought I had changed. To be specific, my thinking started to change. I used to be solely focused on how to make money to take Leah away from the North. At some point, money couldn’t hold a candle to Veirya.
Even if I couldn’t purchase a property in the imperial capital, I was willing to stay in the North with Veirya. The elf diplomat was also a remarkable teacher. Leah wouldn’t be a fool under her tutelage. To add, I had gotten my hands on more books; the elder’s books were going to be given to Leah. Hence, Leah wouldn’t be undereducated even in the North. As a matter of fact, she’d be even more educated than those in the imperial capital.
I didn’t get too sleep for long as a sudden voice from outside woke Leah and I up. Leah was still in her adult form. Afraid, she grabbed the blanket and wrapped herself up. I placed my hand on her head and focused in on listening to the voice. I heard Veirya’s voice, but that wasn’t the predominant voice that I heard. Francis’ breathing was the loudest sound. I told Leah to not speak or be scared then draped my cloak on and exited.
I initially thought that Francis planned to steal, only to catch sight of him kneeling on the ground and quaking. Veirya crouched down next to him and patted him on his back. In front of us was a rack for meat and clothes. There was a rope dangling from the rack. Francis was coughing on his knees, while Veirya comforted him. It all pieced together for me in that moment.
I revealed an indifferent smile. Francis wasn’t conned. He tried to con me. Francis had planned it all out. Until I saw the scene, I wasn’t certain. Francis’ suicidal act confirmed my suspicion. He had no reason to suicide. Plus, he didn’t need to do it right outside our tents. It was all a ruse that required him to victimise himself. He intended to perform the show for me. Actually, I take that back. His act was dedicated to Veirya.
Francis struggled to look up at me. He gasped for air and wrestled with his body to lift his chin: “Sorry, it was all my fault. It was all my fault. I’m Veirya’s friend, yet got you tricked. I can’t go back and face my people. I was certain that I’d win this bet, but I’ve failed. I utterly failed. I can’t go back, and I can’t repay your losses. Therefore, I must die before you to redress my blunder.”
Veirya replied, “There’s no. Need. I. Don’t mind.”
“Veirya…” Francis emotionally clutched Veirya’s hand. Voice trembling, he said, “Thank you, Veirya. Thank you. You truly are my good comrade. If it was someone else… I can’t pay the sum… and… and… if I don’t have anything, if I don’t have the five-hundred gold coins or the lease, then I can’t go back… I can’t go home now…”
“Can you, at least, have some shame?” I jibed.
I was done; I couldn’t stand Francis any longer. You can be shameless, but you just can’t be as shameless as he was. He had failed, yet he was still trying to lie his way out. Using pity to lie is as shameless as shameless gets. I fumed, “You’ve been completely defeated, yet you’re still trying to act pitiful to con me? I’d have some respect for you if you used a more classy idea. What’s with the fake hanging skit?”
Francis yelled while his snot and tears flew off his face, “I’m not lying! I genuinely want to die! I have nowhere to return to anymore! Veirya has you; Lucia has the forest. What about me, though? Where can I go if people are going to ridicule me?!!!”
Veirya also looked at me. She lingered for a moment before saying, “He’s. Not that sort of person. So, Help him. Please.”
I had a strong urge to flatten Francis face with my fist. I knew that his act wasn’t for my sympathy but for Veirya’s. Veirya, being pure as she was, wouldn’t know what the dwarf was after. She wouldn’t believe the conniving piece of manure was angling to swingle her. She would unconditionally trust her comrade in spite of her him taking advantage of her friendship.
I fumed to myself, “Lucia tricked her. Francis tricked her. What sorts of sacks of shit are the people around Veirya?!!!”
I crunched down on my bottom jaw: “What do you want?’
“Five-hundred gold coins or the lease.”
I resolutely replied, “I’ll give you five-hundred gold coins.”
Francis froze. He then began to panic: “No, no, no, I don’t want money; just give me the lease. I’m not after your money; I’m not that sort of person. Haven’t I already bought the land? I just want to take it back. I don’t need you to give me extra money.”
Tone unwavering, I argued, “No, you said five-hundred gold coins or the lease. I’m now refunding you your capital. But, I won’t give you the land. This block of land belongs to Veirya now.”
“You…”
I silenced Francis with my response. I held up the lease and ripped it up in front of him: “You didn’t hesitate to play dirty to acquire the land. That means you definitely have ulterior motives. That’s why I won’t possibly let you have the land. Ever. Out of consideration for Veirya’s feelings, I’ll give you five-hundred gold coins. Now, pick your ass up, and get out of Lord Veirya’s territory!!”
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