Chương 22: "Pawperwork"

Celestia von Reingarde pressed two fingers against her temple and exhaled slowly. The past two days had been a relentless torrent of revised calculations, accelerated timelines, and contingency plans built atop contingency plans. Every strategy she'd carefully laid out over the past month had to be re-evaluated in light of recent developments. Several initiatives she'd intended to implement gradually over the coming year had been moved up the pipeline, compressed into a far more aggressive schedule.

The strain was beginning to show. Even with Martha's capable assistance, Celestia found herself working late into the night, reviewing contracts, scrutinizing ledgers, and drafting correspondence until her eyes burned and her hand cramped from holding a pen.

'At this rate, I'll burn out before I even get to the good part,' she thought with a trace of dark humor. But there was no choice. The story's momentum was changing, and she had to stay ahead of it. Still, even in the midst of exhaustion, there were moments that made it all worthwhile. Earlier that afternoon, Celestia had taken a brief respite from her mountain of paperwork to check on the accommodations Martha had arranged. Jade was settled into the modest but comfortable quarters with his pregnant wife.

The quarters weren't lavish by noble standards, but they were clean, well-maintained, and far superior to anything a retired adventurer could typically afford. Jade's wife, a gentle-faced woman with honey-brown hair and work-worn hands, was refurnishing the place.

"Hun?" she asked, "Are you really sure this is our home?"

"Mhm," Jade replied gruffly as he carried a box filled with what looked to be weapons.

"As long as I work for the Lady. We won't have to worry about the future." Celestia had observed the scene from a distance, choosing not to intrude on their private moment. She didn't want to develop too much of a connection with Jade; sentiment was dangerous in this world, and attachment was a liability. Of course, sentiment or not, Jade was an investment, a valuable asset who would play a crucial role in her plans.

The fact that helping him also happened to be the right thing to do was merely a convenient coincidence. Over the next few days, Celestia had overseen the acquisition of several small businesses throughout Summit and surrounding territories. None of them were particularly impressive on their own: a modest trading company here, a small transport service there, a warehouse near the merchant's quarter, a supplier of adventuring equipment in a secondary market.

To any outside observer, these purchases would seem scattered and inconsequential. House Reingarde was wealthy enough that dabbling in minor commercial ventures wouldn't raise eyebrows. The businesses were all legitimate, profitable enough to justify their acquisition, and small enough to avoid attracting undue attention from competitors or regulatory scrutiny. But only Celestia knew their true purpose. These weren't meant to generate immediate profit.

They were infrastructure, pieces being carefully positioned on the board for moves that wouldn't come for months. When the time was right, these businesses would form the foundation of something far more ambitious. For now, they remained on standby, operating normally under their existing management with only minor oversight from Martha's network of contacts. The real work would come later. The next phase of her plan, however, required a more delicate touch.

"We'll need our workforce soon," Celestia said, setting down her pen and looking up at Martha. The maid stood before her desk, posture perfect as always, hands folded primly at the front of her waist.

"Of what nature, my lady?" Martha inquired.

"Slaves," Celestia stated bluntly. Martha's expression didn't so much as flicker.

"Of course, my lady." Celestia leaned back in her chair.

"We'll be focusing on two categories: debt slaves and those whose crimes amount to misdemeanors. Nothing too violent that would indicate a dangerous temperament. Prioritize those whose offenses were born of desperation, theft, breach of contract due to impossible circumstances, misdeeds bordering those." She paused, organizing her thoughts.

"Additionally, I need you to search for a specific individual, a female beastkin with these notable characteristics." Celestia pulled a sheet of paper from her desk drawer and slid it across to Martha.

"The details are here." Martha picked up the paper.

"May I ask what purpose—" Martha began, then stopped herself.

"Forgive me, my lady. That was presumptuous." Celestia waved a hand dismissively.

"You're allowed to be curious, Martha. Trust that there's a reason for everything I do."

"I never doubted that, my lady," Martha replied smoothly, tucking the parchment into her apron pocket.

"I shall begin inquiries immediately. The slave markets are quite active this season." As Martha turned to leave, Celestia called after her.

"And Martha? Ensure that Jade is informed about his new responsibilities. He'll be overseeing the training of the slaves. The details can be worked out once we have everything ready." Martha curtsied.

"I shall relay the information to Sir Jade at once." After Martha departed, Celestia allowed herself a moment to close her eyes and rub at the persistent ache behind them. * In his new quarters after being visited by Martha, Jade sat at the small wooden table across from his wife. His mind was churning with questions. Lady Celestia was spending an extraordinary amount of money on him: comfortable lodgings, a generous salary, provisions for his wife and unborn child. It didn't entirely make sense.

Yes, he had experience, but there were plenty of younger, more capable adventurers who could do the same job. Even if he was the one who trained her, it still wasn't enough of a reason to choose him. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. So why him? He glanced at his wife, who was humming softly to herself as she folded linens. The sight made his chest tighten with a complex mixture of emotions. But then again... did it matter?

Jade's hand unconsciously moved to rest on his coin purse, feeling the reassuring weight of the advance payment Lady Celestia had provided. With this kind of money, he could send his child to a private school. Let his child have a real education, not just the basic literacy and numbers that common children learned in church schools. His son or daughter could even have tutors. That thought alone was enough to quiet his doubts.

Whatever Lady Celestia's reasons, whatever strange plans she had in motion, Jade was going to do his job to the absolute best of his ability. He owed her that much. And more importantly, he owed it to the tiny life growing in his wife's womb. * The following day, Celestia found herself once again buried in paperwork at her office. Spread across her desk were contracts, ledgers, acquisition documents, and most importantly, the draft contracts for her future workforce.

She'd spent the better part of the morning on a contract template that would govern the treatment and compensation of the slaves she planned to acquire. It was meticulous work, requiring her to implement standards that simply didn't exist here. Martha entered quietly, bearing a fresh pot of tea. She set it down on the corner of the desk and poured a cup without being asked.

"Thank you," Celestia murmured, not looking up from the book she was reading. After a moment, she slid a thick stack of papers across the desk toward Martha.

"Ensure that the slaves are treated well. Make me a contract with these specifications." Martha picked up the stack, her eyes scanning the first few pages. Her expression remained professionally neutral, but Celestia could see the slight widening of her eyes as she read. The contract outlined the living quarters to be provided; clean, heated rooms with proper beds and furnishings. Living expenses would be covered: food, clothing, and basic necessities.

There were benefits listed that sounded more appropriate for paid employees than slaves: weekends off unless emergency circumstances required their presence, access to medical care when injured or ill, and perhaps, the most shocking of all, regular pay.

"My lady," Martha said carefully, still reading, "these terms are... extraordinarily generous for slave contracts."

"I'm aware," Celestia replied.

"Nevertheless, these are my requirements." Martha flipped through several more pages, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"It shouldn't be a problem… Technically, there's no law preventing an owner from treating their slaves well or providing compensation. It's simply… not done."

"Then we'll be the first," Celestia said. She took a sip of her tea, savoring the warmth.

"I need these people to be functional, Martha. Desperate, starving, poorly-treated slaves won't have the strength or willpower to do what I need them to do. They need to be fed, rested, and healthy. Moreover, they need to have something to work toward, a reason to live." She leaned forward and tapped on her table.

"The pay isn't just a means of charity, it's a line of incentive that will let them save money and purchase their own freedom eventually if they're diligent enough. Give them hope, and they'll work harder than any amount of whipping or threats could ever achieve." Martha was quiet for a long moment, studying her young mistress.

"You continue to surprise me, Lady Celestia," she said finally.

"Shall I begin drafting the formal contracts based on these specifications?"

"Yes. And Martha, ensure that everything is legally airtight. I don't want challenges from other noble houses or accusations of impropriety."

"Of course, my lady. I'll have the first drafts ready for your review within two days." As Martha left with the stack of papers, Celestia turned her attention back to the remaining documents on her desk. There was so much to do, and still so many pieces to arrange. But slowly, her vision was taking shape. As Martha reached the door, Celestia called out once more.

"Wait a moment." She pulled out a sealed envelope from her desk drawer, nearly forgetting she even wrote it in the first place.

"Have this letter sent to my father. Word of the events at the academy may have worried him." Martha accepted the letter with a practiced curtsy.

"Of course, my lady. I shall see it delivered immediately." The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Celestia alone in the quiet office. She turned her attention back to the mountain of paperwork awaiting her. There were still more acquisition forms that needed her signature, contracts from the various businesses requiring final approval. Celestia picked up her pen and began working again. The hours passed in a steady rhythm of the pen's scritch scritch on paper.

Outside her window, the afternoon sun gradually moved across the sky, its light creeping along the polished wooden floor of her office before finally beginning its descent toward the horizon. By the time Celestia set down her pen for the last time, her hand ached and the light filtering through the window had turned golden with the approach of evening. She flexed her fingers, working out the stiffness. She stood from her desk and crossed to the window.

Summit stretched out before her, its rooftops catching the last rays of sunlight. Somewhere out there, in the shadowed corners of the city that the majority of polite society pretended didn't exist, preparations were being made. The underground auctions would begin soon. Celestia moved to her wardrobe, her fingers traced along the row of carefully organized garments until they found what she was looking for. The dress was exquisite, though not ostentatiously so.

Deep midnight blue silk with black lace accents, elegant but subdued enough not to draw unnecessary attention. Madame Vernisse had outdone herself, as always. The tailor had an uncanny ability to create pieces that walked the fine line between memorable and forgettable, perfect for occasions where one needed to be present. Beside the dress, carefully wrapped in soft cloth, was the colombina mask. Celestia lifted it from its place, studying the delicate craftsmanship.

The mask was lacquered black with subtle silver filigree along the edges, designed to cover the upper half of her face while leaving her mouth visible. Celestia set the mask on her desk and began changing out of her day clothes. The events of the past week had thrown her carefully laid plans into disarray. The future had become murky but not entirely unclear. There were still certainties. Still fixed points she could work with.

And tonight, one of those fixed points would appear at the underground auctions, a character whose existence she knew about from the original story. Someone valuable. Someone she needed to secure before circumstances shifted again and that opportunity vanished. Celestia fastened the final clasp on her dress and picked up the mask, turning it over in her hands.

'Every advantage mattered now.' She tied the mask securely in place and checked her reflection in the mirror. The girl staring back at her looked like she belonged in the darker corners of the world, elegant enough to command respect but anonymous enough to avoid scrutiny. Perfect. Celestia turned from the mirror and brought with her a small box filled with coins and gems, tucking it into a hidden pocket in her dress. Since the underground auctions dealt in cash, she had prepared accordingly.

The carriage was already waiting outside. Time to go.