"If Bulat already bribed them we'll just have to continue without their help"
Esme could only agree with him, she couldn't really think of anything that would be a backup should their neighbours be bought by Bulat, although she believed with Duke Lionmane's backing, It shouldn't be too difficult.
With that said, their conversation died down and Esme promptly kicked him out of the kitchen, citing that he was a distraction. He made an attempt to protest but she was unflinching, so he relented.
Exiting the kitchen with a sigh, he could only look back at her and note that she looked a lot more beautiful than usual this morning before he made his way to the couch.
However before he could reach his seat, his head sharply turned to look at the door to the guest bedroom and let out a hum.
In the event that they do get rid of Bulat, they will still need guards, especially if he's going to have to return to his work eventually, once Bulat is out of the picture, Arthur figured that maybe Darren might work as a guard.
The fact the man was willing to betray Bulat right now, meant that Arthur had to at least give him the benefit of the doubt.
He didn't feel that Darren was trustworthy but he had skills, that only needed to be polished just a bit to make a good enough guard.
Hiring a thief as a guard was certainly an odd choice–
*Knock Knock*
Unfortunately Arthur could not finish that thought, as a knock on the door took his attention.
….
Baron Simon York Wolfram, stood before the closed door, dressed in a dark red coat, with gold accents on the sleeves and edges, over a white shirt tucked into his dark blue trousers and at his feet he wore black leather shoes.
The man was of average height, lean and hair cut into a clean buzz cut and fairly pleasing to look at, one could even call the Baron handsome.
Besides the Baron stood Luke Witherspoon, the captain of the city guard, someone he considered to be fairly competent despite his commoner origins.
Further behind the both of them was a gaggle of knights, dressed in the kingdom's silver and white armor, that had the head of a lion plastered on its front.
The knights accompanied them for a bit of support, should things get violent.
The Baron was not in a particularly generous mood, In fact his mood was quite foul today.
Not only because he had to come here personally, something that is obviously beneath him but also because it seemed the noble court had deemed him so inconsequential that no one bothered to mention there was an Explorer in the kingdom.
Wolfram would admit that as far as nobles go, he was lowest of the low, in fact he didn't own any significant plot of land. The title of Baron was given to his great grandfather ages ago, for what reason? he never cared to know.
He figured it must have been due to some accomplishments in a war of sorts. All that mattered was that he was above the common folk in status
Despite his low status he was still a noble, as such he should have been informed of something like this, yet his majesty had deemed him not worthy enough to know
As the one in charge of the city's safety and public policing, This was an insult to his status and importance. Was he really so irrelevant in the eyes of his colleagues?
He didn't like it, no he hated it. He was a noble for Sol's sake, he deserves more than this.
The Baron understood, it wasn't just because he was a lowly Baron but because his family is still new compared to the older lineages, only a few generations old while the others went back hundreds of years, some going so far back they existed before elves or beastmen were extinct.
From what he understands, the Royal family goes back to even before the fall of elfheim the sky island.
'Those idiots will pay one day!'
He vowed inwardly, pledging to make the noble court pay for their disrespect. Once he gathers enough wealth and elevate his family's reputation, they'll grovel at his feet and he'll enjoy watching them beg.
He just needed money.
However for the time being he simply has to endure it.
He fixed his posture, and patted himself down to fix any creases on his clothes before he knocked, not a gentle knock but loud and hurried one, alerting all those inside that things were urgent.
"Remember, we're using Marquis Bearheart's name, I highly doubt they have anyone higher than that as their backer"
"I know that you fool!"
He snapped at Luke, venom lacing his words. Who did this commoner think he is reminding him of something so trivial. He was a Noble for Sol's sake.
Another thing that made the Baron a little be irritable was the fact, his name as a Baron would not be enough to have this Explorer and his wife buckle to their demands, although he couldn't be too upset at that, an Explorer is more than just a commoner.
The name of a Baron is not something they would be afraid of even if they didn't have the backing of a noble.
The doors opened just as he was losing his patience and was about to knock again.
"Good morning, gentleman. Arthur Bright, can I help you?"
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr Bright, My name is Simon York Wolfram, my companion and I have a pressing matter we wish to discuss with you. May we come in?"
There was a pause, Arthur letting out a hum as he watched the gaggle of people in front of him, he had no doubt that they were Bulat's men, so he debated letting them in however he decided to allow them in.
Although he hadn't expected Bulat to move so quickly, making him regret not speaking to their neighbours yesterday.
He opened the door wide and led the to two man inside, letting the rest of the knights to wait outside.
"What can I help you with?"
He gestured for them to sit as he asked, the Baron took the sit however Luke stood still, hovering behind the Baron like a guard.
"As I'm sure you know of the name Bulat, and we don't need to dwell too much on explanations"
Arthur gave the man a nod, his suspicion having been confirmed,although he had expected Bulat to come himself but Arthur supposed the man learned to keep his distance.
He almost smiled at that, having someone make attempts to avoid you was always amusing, was he really that afraid?
"Excellent, Bulat is a respected resident of this city and someone who has done great good for the city by keeping criminals a bay and offering protection to his fellow citizens…"
Wolfram paused for a moment and cleared his throat.
"As you can imagine such a generous and well meaning man is prone to being on the receiving end of some people's ire simply because he does some good"
Arthur felt the urge to let out a chuckle as such ridiculous words reached his ears, He couldn't truly believe they'd come up with such blatant bullshit.
However he kept it together.
"I understand, however before we continue any further, I'd like my wife to be present for something like this"
The request was met with frown, both men suddenly perplexed. There was no need for a woman to participate in such a meeting.
"I don't see how that's necessary, this is not something that concerns a woman"
Wolfram protested, in his mind such a request was utterly ridiculous. What good could a woman bring to this meeting?
"I believe it is, and besides this is my house, what I say goes"
Wolfram and Witherspoon exchanged glances but could not protest against such an argument, after all Arthur was correct, this was his house.
With a small shout, Arthur called Esme to his side. Exiting the kitchen, she sat right beside him.
"Now, Let's continue"
Arthur instructed however there was a long pause almost too long. Baron Wolfram's eyes focused squarely on Esme almost as if analyzing her very being.
"Something the matter, sir?"
Wolfram discarded the question entirely, his eyes focusing on the familiar figure before him, her vibrant green eyes were a dead give away.
She was the only member of the King's family with such striking eyes and lacked the typical gold pupils of the royal family.
Despite never being treated with the respect he deserves, Simon York Wolfram was at the end of the day a noble, that was a fact as such more often than not, he visits the palace for a variety of reasons and that means he is privy to information or truths that the normal peasant is ignorant of.
This meant that Baron Wolfram, was familiar with the secret Princess Esme Elizabeth Martha Lionheart, the daughter of a lowly peasant concubine and the King
...