"You're either very brave or outright stupid for coming here looking for trouble without any guards," Bastion said to the young noble.
Bastion stood by the entrance of the shop in full black plate armor, his presence alone enough to deter most trouble before it started. Behind him, the boutique remained calm, its polished shelves lined with neatly arranged bottles of shampoo and personal care items. Customers continued moving around, sampling the products, though their voices had dropped as they glanced toward the confrontation while pretending to focus on their shopping.
The young noble, meanwhile, was a handsome young man of the lynx species with pointy ears, a short black-tipped tail, a prominent facial ruff, large fur-padded paws, and a thick coat of pale silver-gray fur. Based on his species, he was considered part of the upper echelons, as lynx were regarded as predatory by nature and therefore more combative than house cat species.
"You would not dare cause trouble in front of all these people," the young noble declared. "If anything happens to me, you can expect retaliation from my father."
"Not bad," Bastion said with an appreciative nod. "Confrontational, but not too stupid or overly prideful. You use your advantages with bravery and intelligence. You're definitely above the typical noble brat."
"Bring Daisy out now!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the crowd's subdued chatter.
"Or what?" Bastion challenged with a raised brow.
"You cannot afford the consequences of making an enemy of me," the young noble said with a glare.
Since Bastion's Fortune vision didn't activate, he was highly inclined to disregard the threat. This young man didn't possess particularly high noble standing, which meant he was neither especially wealthy nor powerful. Besides, the threat had little to do with Bastion, as Kit would be the one who would stay behind, quite possibly marry Daisy, and have to deal with it.
Even then, Kit was on his way to Rank 1 and had a highly profitable business being built for him. He would eventually have the status necessary to stand on his own two feet, making the young noble more of an inconvenience than a genuine threat.
"I've brought your requested goods, ladies," Daisy said happily as she skipped down the wooden spiral staircase connecting Seraphina's workshop to the shop below, wearing a white sundress that hugged her figure and carrying a basket full of shampoo.
"Daisy!" the young noble shouted. "I have come to rescue you from this evil man!"
"Marcus?" she asked, continuing on without a care. "I see you have managed to find me."
"I…" Marcus said, attempting to move closer, but he was immediately stopped by Bastion's intimidating frame.
"That's as far as you go, lover boy," Bastion said. "Take one more step, and I won't hesitate to make an enemy of your family by severing your head from your shoulders."
"He's done it before," Lilia said from behind the counter. "I wouldn't test my luck if I were you."
"I smell drama!" Seraphina shouted as she slid down the railings with ease before landing behind Daisy. "Who's this? A potential love interest?"
"No!" Daisy firmly denied. "He was one of my more persistent suitors. He stood the best chance of receiving my hand in marriage if it were not for you saving me."
"Saving?" Marcus muttered under his breath.
"Oh? Oho! I can see it now," Seraphina said, twirling with stars in her eyes. "A young noblewoman is forced into a loveless marriage by her family and endures years of quiet suffering until a former loyal servant, whom she had been in love with her entire life, risks everything to help her escape and be with him. He builds a life with her as a businessman, but eventually has to defend himself and his woman from the vengeful nobles. This is peak drama right here."
The crowd's eyes lit up with interest. They were all women, after all, and they appreciated good drama when they saw it.
"Master!" Daisy quietly shouted, bringing both hands to her cheeks as the basket slipped from her grasp and hit the floor, her face burning red as she mouthed the words with a lovestruck expression. "His woman?…"
Bastion tilted his head, imagining the scene, and had to admit it was the most likely outcome of Kit's life had he not come along and inserted himself into their story for his own benefit.
Continuing where Seraphina left off, Bastion could imagine Kit having to fend off the nobles by gaining the attention of the royals or the church, declaring his status as a hero. This would replace one problem with another as he would be taken advantage of while trying to simply run a business and promote a food culture in this kingdom.
Left without a choice, he would marry a princess who had taken a liking to his food, creating a tense atmosphere between Daisy, the woman he loved, and the princess, a happy glutton with dangerous ambition. He would help her ascend the throne over her siblings, and together their happiness would last a thousand years until Kit's task was completed.
It was a story full of love, betrayal, drama, and intrigue that would have built up a far more determined man than the current Kit, who was living under his good graces. Now Kit's problems would vanish into the wind because he was protected by a rich and powerful Rank 2 knight who could fend off such issues with a wave of his hand.
The nobles were easy enough to handle, as he could always have Elyra assassinate them if necessary. Even if the royals took an interest, all Bastion would have to do was sell them a portion of the profits, resolving the situation entirely. After all, being Rank 2 meant he wasn't a pushover like Kit, who likely wouldn't reach Rank 2 any time soon. His rank alone was enough to make others more reasonable, lest they find themselves facing a far more dangerous and immediate threat.
With that thought, Bastion had just acquired an idea to secure the business before they left the kingdom.
"Daisy, come with me now so I can protect you," Marcus said, his voice tightening with urgency as he reached out his paw past Bastion. "Take my paw and leave with me, and no one here will be able to touch you or tell you what to do. You do not belong to them. You do not have to stay in a place like this and work for them like a slave when you could be with me instead. Come with me, Daisy. Be mine, and I will make sure you are kept safe."
Daisy instantly recoiled, stepping back until she bumped into Seraphina behind her and took comfort in Seraphina's supporting hands on her shoulders.
"Marcus, I am not a slave, and I actually like working—" Daisy started before being interrupted.
"What have they done to you that you would lie like this? You are a noble's daughter, Daisy. There is no reason for you to ever work a day in your life. Quickly, it is not too late. Come with me. I will break whatever hold they have over you."
"Marcus!" Daisy yelled back, her patience finally snapping. "How dare you tell me what I should or should not be doing. You have no idea how miserable I was knowing I was to be sold and married off to someone like you. Here I am, finally happy, finally free, and you want to take that from me? And how dare you call me a slave! I am an apprentice training to become a Scribe. Yet you would destroy my future just to make me your plaything? Leave. I demand you leave at once, Marcus. I never want to see you again!"
Applause sounded out in support of Daisy's outburst. Nobles had always had a horrid reputation among the common people, no matter when or where, and none were more common than the prostitutes of any brothel.
"I see you are too far gone," Marcus said, unconvinced. "Do not worry, Daisy. Though you may scold me now, you will thank me when I finally free you from their control. I promise, I will return for you."
With that declaration, Marcus left the shop amid the crowd's stunned silence. Everyone had the same conclusion about what they had just witnessed, Marcus was delusional. He was so obsessed with Daisy that he couldn't see her as a person with her own thoughts and feelings because it broke the image of her he held in his mind. There was no telling what he would do to have her and force his delusions upon her.
"Wha-what do I do?" Daisy asked as panic started building.
"Relax," Seraphina said, hugging the quivering catgirl. "My hubby will take care of it. Right, hubby?"
"Which noble house does he belong to?" Bastion asked.
"House Feliswyn," Daisy answered. "His father is a baron whose responsibility in court is to monitor and investigate merchants who conduct illegal trades in the kingdom. My father wanted the Baron's cooperation to corner the market in illegal business so they could profit together, with my hand in marriage as a condition to guarantee close ties. He has a reputation for shutting down businesses that displease him."
"Shouldn't be a problem," Bastion said confidently, easing Daisy's worries. "I'll have Ely look into it."
Bastion had a feeling this Baron would be a blessing in disguise, someone he could partner with rather than compete against because of a delusional son. After all, all he had to do was play the Baron's game, which should be quite easy given his experience as a duke.
Still, Elyra would need to investigate first to ensure he had all the right cards in hand. Otherwise, he would lose the game before it even started.
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