Chapter 49: Making Alliances

"So let me make this clear... you want House Historia to become your unofficial vassal in exchange for handling the Bank of Aurion for us?"

"Yes."

Aqua couldn’t hold back her laugh, a small, lovely sound that escaped before she covered her mouth to reclaim her composure.

"That’s quite... predatory of you, Lord Brimstone. Using our situation so House Historia becomes effectively subservient to yours once this is over."

Her lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

I wasn’t offering to be their savior. But I wasn’t offering to make them prey either. If anything, it was both.

"I won’t deny it."

I said, leaning back in the chair she’d gestured me toward.

"But consider the alternative. The Bank of Aurion isn’t offering to save your house. They’re offering to own it. I imagine your family already knows what happened to the Fillaunetes and has drawn their own conclusions about what happens to houses that refuse to act."

Aqua uncrossed her arms and moved to the window, her back to me as she stared out at the darkening academy grounds. Genuinely at a loss for words.

My offer wasn’t something she could simply accept or refuse. It would require considerable foresight to determine the correct decision, and that uncertainty was exactly what I intended to leverage.

"Tempting, but... may I have more time to consider? At least until my House is truly beginning to lose."

She smiled as she said it, fully aware of what she was requesting. She wanted to delay acceptance until it was in her family’s absolute best interest, not to accept now, when the Brimstones held the greatest advantage.

The last thing she needed was to convince her family to ally with me over a problem they might still solve themselves.

"Think about it, Lord Brimstone. It’s still too early to decide, and you’re effectively asking us to be subservient over a problem whose severity we can’t yet measure."

"And that’s why I’ll accept."

Aqua raised a brow. "Really?"

Of course I would. After hearing my father complain in the study and seeing Trish’s extensive support, I doubted House Historia would last much longer.

Both were ducal houses, but House Brimstone held slightly more power than the Historias, and even then, father was having trouble. I didn’t need to make the deal now; I could wait. Besides, the more trouble they’re in, the more leverage I’ll have anyway.

"I’m not here to corner you. I’d rather have genuinely loyal and thankful allies than resentful ones."

I smiled.

"And if I wait until House Historia is truly in trouble, that just gives me more leverage, doesn’t it?"

Aqua laughed at my provocation, clearly taking it as teasing.

"Still, I find it better than making a deal with you now, before knowing how strong the Bank of Aurion actually is."

I stood and walked toward the exit.

"Send me a letter, directly to me, not my father. If you want proof I can handle the Bank of Aurion, feel free to ask."

✧ ✦ ✧

I visited three more houses before the night ended. Each was a future villainess, women I’d noted from the novel and intended to recruit eventually.

But to my disappointment, none of them seemed particularly impressed that a Brimstone had arrived at their gate, knocked on their dorm room doors, or approached them directly while they roamed the capital.

It was a bust. According to each of them, the Bank of Aurion hadn’t targeted them yet. In fact, they barely seemed aware anything was happening at all. That honestly surprised me.

So the Bank wasn’t launching a full suicidal offensive yet. They were only targeting major houses for now.

That meant House Ylla, House Lionheart, and House Crimson, the three I’d visited, had been left untouched.

But that was fine. I’d get to them sooner or later...

"Reyn, welcome back."

Trish was waiting for me inside my room. She moved to help me out of my clothes with the same quiet efficiency she’d developed over the past weeks, then helped me into the fresh set she’d prepared beforehand.

If I wasn’t imagining things, she’d grown more comfortable and touchy by now. Almost like Anna had, once she’d gotten used to helping me after P.E.

"How was your trip?"

"Decent enough. And good news, I already found a favor I could ask of you."

Trish beamed at that, finishing smoothing down the back of my shirt before circling around to face me.

"I’m happy to serve! What did you have in mind?"

She really had been waiting for this, hadn’t she?

"You’re helping my father with the bank, right? I want you to prepare yourself. I might have you help another House as well."

"Another House?"

"Let’s just say I want more allies, and you’re the key to that."

Trish looked a little bashful at the compliment, scratching the back of her head.

"That’s... a lot of trust to put in me, Reyn."

"You did say I could ask for anything, right? Should I find something easier instead?"

Trish smiled at my reply.

"No, it’s totally fine."

"Oh, and I almost forgot."

I reached into my bag and pulled out a packaged candied apple. Trish stared at it for a beat, then let out a soft laugh, shaking her head in amusement.

"...Really, Reyn? Again?"

"What? I thought you liked them."

"I do, but you keep buying them like it’s a ritual now."

She took the candied apple from my hand, turning it over with a smile that was half grateful, half genuinely entertained.

"Would that be so bad?"

"Only if my teeth rot before I finish paying you back."

She hugged the candied apple to her chest, still smiling.

"But thank you. They’re not even my total favorites, though."

"And what is your actual favorite?"

"Not telling."

Her smile softened into something more private.

"Not until I’m finished with my work, at least. I want to receive it from you once I actually deserve it. Since I know you’ll buy it for me if I reveal it immediately."