Novel Full Chapter 185. Emily the Heavenly Merchant
Chapter 185: 185. Emily the Heavenly Merchant
“My lord has recognized your talent in trade and commerce, it’s SSS ranked, and he does not wish for your potential to be wasted.”
Maris delivered the statement in an even tone; her posture was relaxed.
The words struck Emily with such force that she instinctively gasped.
Her fingers tightened against the fabric of her borrowed dress, and her widened eyes searched the masked woman’s face as if hoping to detect any form of deception.
“How?” Emily whispered, unable to mask the disbelief in her voice.
Maris allowed a faint smile to curve beneath her mask. “The lord is omniscient. His perception and judgment extend beyond what we mortals can comprehend. The manner in which he sees the world is far beyond our capacity to measure. All we can do is serve beneath him and follow his direction.”
These lines were not something William had told her to say; she was just adding them on her own judgment.
Emily’s shock refused to fade away.
If someone could identify the nature and rank of her talent without ever meeting her, then that individual could not possibly be ordinary.
The thought unsettled her deeply. For years she had guarded her secret carefully, revealing it to no one. Not to her husband, who would have exploited it.
Not even to the woman she called sister. Not even to her own parents when they were alive.
The knowledge that a distant figure had discerned it was both terrifying and miraculous at the same time for her.
Maris observed the confusion and fear playing across Emily’s expression and continued calmly, guiding the conversation ahead.
“My lord wishes for you to work under his protection,” she said. “He intends for you to oversee his business ventures across the whole continent.”
Gradually, understanding began to take shape in Emily’s mind. The pieces aligned. She had been taken from the slums because she had a use for this lord.
Now that she knew that she had some worth in their eyes, she sighed in relief, thinking that at least she won’t die with her baby like she had been thinking till now.
“Under normal circumstances,” Maris went on, “I would instruct you to express gratitude and accept my lord’s offer without question. However, I have been given explicit orders not to coerce you with such words.”
“My lord values choices. He has directed me to present you with two options.”
Maris lifted two fingers before Emily.
“The first option is refusal. If you decline, we will release you with sufficient gold to secure comfortable housing within the capital.”
“You may raise your child in dignity and attempt to build your life independently. However, there can be no guarantee regarding your safety or stability. The world is unpredictable, and raising a child as a lone mother in this empire is quite a challenge.
Emily listened without interrupting.
“The second option is to accept my lord’s invitation. You would formally become a subordinate of my lord and take charge of his commercial enterprises. In return, you would receive resources, authority, and support.”
“You would hold influence within our organization and be elevated to a position of leadership. You would gain access to cultivation materials capable of extending your lifespan. Your child would grow under protection. You would possess the opportunity to transform not only your own fate but also that of your entire bloodline.”
Maris allowed the weight of those promises to settle before continuing.
“Your safety and that of your son would become a priority for us. Your talent would be useful on a scale far beyond what you could ever achieve alone. You would no longer remain a simple, weak slum dweller in alleyways. You would soon become one of the foremost names on this continent.”
Emily’s expression shifted repeatedly as she processed Maris’s offer carefully. Confusion gave way to hope, then to a bit of excitement, and finally to deep contemplation.
Maris leaned slightly forward and delivered the final persuasion.
“Do you know the greatest advantage of the second option?” she asked.
Emily’s gaze lifted instinctively; anticipation flickered in her eyes.
“You would have an identity. You would belong somewhere.”
The words struck her more profoundly than promises of wealth or power.
Belonging had never been part of her life. Her whole life she had been a daughter without protection, a wife without a choice, and a mother struggling alone in poverty.
“Take your time,” Maris said as she rose from her chair confidently. “You have one day to decide.”
She turned toward the door and was about to leave.
“There is no need.” Emily’s voice stopped her mid-step.
Maris paused and looked back.
Emily had already evaluated the proposal through her Heaven’s Merchant talent.
The instinct born from that talent had guided her countless times during her life.
She trusted its insight completely. The scale of opportunity in front of her outweighed the risk.
“I accept,” Emily said firmly. “I will serve under the lord.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Maris’s face.
“A good decision; you won’t regret it,” she replied as she approached.
Emily remained seated while Maris stood before her and placed a steady hand upon her head.
“Do you agree to become the Eternal Sovereign’s servant?”
“I agree,” Emily answered.
The moment the words left her mouth, energy surged outward from the Mark of Servant etched within Maris.
A current of subtle energy flowed into Emily’s body. She felt warmth spread through her core as a mark formed within her.
The connection between William and her was established cleanly.
When the mark formed completely, Maris withdrew her hand.
“Rest for today and feed your child. From tomorrow onward, you will have some work to do.”
With that, she left the chamber. Shortly after, several maids entered quietly to attend to Emily, ensuring she remained comfortable and cared for.
Meanwhile, Maris proceeded toward Duke Rizwell’s office and entered without delay. The Duke dismissed the documents he had been working on and focused on her arrival.
“May I ask who the woman is that you brought from the slums, Miss Delta?” Rizwell inquired, unable to conceal his curiosity.
“She is Emily,” Maris replied evenly. “She will manage the business operations on behalf of the Cult of Eternal Sovereign.”
Rizwell’s confusion deepened.
“Miss Delta,” he said cautiously, “why select someone from the slums? She lacks any education, talent, and noble etiquette. Such a person could jeopardize the entire venture.”
Maris looked at him for a moment before saying.
“This decision was made by my lord,” she answered. “I do not question his judgment. On the contrary, I have absolute faith in it.”
She allowed a brief pause before continuing.
“You may consider expanding your perspective, Lord Rizwell. The deep cutting scar on your back was inflicted by a man who originated from those same slums. He rose to prominence, albeit dishonorably, but still, at least this proved that people from the slums can shift the course of events for people at the top.”
Rizwell’s composure faltered instantly.
“How do you know about that?” he demanded.
Fifteen years ago, he had received that scar while battling the Demon Lord Bellial’s cult on the southern frontier of the Riverdale empire.
During an ambush, an unknown enemy had struck him fiercely. That opponent later emerged as a renowned elder within Amon’s cult.
Only after the man’s identity became public did people learn about his origins in Riverdale’s slums.
“The Eternal Sovereign knows all,” Maris replied calmly, answering his question. “He stands beyond the comprehension of gods themselves. His insight surpasses mortal understanding.”
Her tone was like a fanatic believer, and if William was hearing this right now, he would die from cringe.