The Situation at the Port

Kalina's warning made a strong impact on all the servants, and slowly but surely, those that had embezzled money began ceasing their actions.

The Duchess's mood also improved after the finances began stabilizing a bit. It wasn't much, but it was noticeable. Her complexion became brighter and after crying to sleep that day, she found new strength and was as spirited as ever. The mansion was without a butler for now, but things were going smoothly nonetheless.

A few days after Hubert's dismissal, while she was getting ready, Kalina glimpsed an unfamiliar piece of paper sticking out from under the financial records on her desk. She carefully pulled it out from the pile and read it quickly. It was the list of accomplices that she had asked Hubert to write before he left, as well as where to find them.

"Hmm..." Kalina pondered for a moment, looking down at herself. Her maids had already put a dress on her for wearing around the mansion. It was of high quality, but was relatively simple compared to the outrageous dresses other nobles liked to adorn themselves with.

"Come take this dress off." She motioned to the maids, who were about to leave her room.

"Yes? Miss?"

"I'd like to change into something more glamorous. I've decided to go out today and I want to look my very best."

Thirty minutes later, Kalina was wearing one of her most extravagant dresses–a sky blue dress with lifelike white roses sown onto the bodice. It had been personally made for her by a famous designer, and anyone could tell it was an expensive garment at a glance.

A diamond hairclip parted half her hair to the side in a playful style. Her other jewelry consisted of two jeweled bangles and a brooch with her family's emblem pinned right over her heart. It was quite extravagant for a child to wear, even for one from a high ranking noble family.

It was the perfect suit to wear to throw her power around.

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"How may I help you?"

The clerk at the port's administrative office glanced up from his work to see three cloaked figures walk in. The one in the middle was much smaller than the other two, who followed behind.

The tallest figure strode forward and silently placed a bag of gold coins on the desk. He was a young Ephraim knight that had been recently appointed as Kalina's personal guard, Elliott. He had a stern and quiet character, but was diligent with his work–and, best of all, he could keep a secret.

Money was the prime factor in getting into the circle of embezzlers. The more money you brought, the more respect you would be treated with within the group.

"What's this?" The clerk picked up the bag, and the coins jangled loudly. He'd never seen so much gold before and doubted if it was real.

No one spoke and all their heads were lowered, so that their hood cast a shadow over their faces. It was hard to tell who any of them were.

He was about to scoff and call the guards on them for being frauds when the shortest person shifted a little so that their cloak parted a bit. Behind the black fabric, the clerk caught sight of a slender wrist that was adorned with jewels.

'A noble lady? In a place like this? No, I better let her in first before she gets angry. Ugh, nobles are so hard to deal with.'

He hurriedly put the gold back on the desk and bowed.

"I'm sorry for not recognizing you right away, milady," he said. "Let me quickly prepare the lounge for you and your companions."

The person nodded and the clerk ran off to clean the lounge.

"Miss, did he figure out who you were?" The third figure leaned towards the shortest one. It was Olivia.

"No. He only knows that I'm a noblewoman who wants to do business." Kalina reassured her maid. "Do you remember what I told you to do? Olivia, Elliott?"

"Yes, Miss!"

"Yes, milady."

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The lounge wasn't much of a lounge. It was more of a storage room with a couple of ratty sofas and wooden chairs strewn around a large wooden table. Empty beer bottles littered the floor and had been hastily swept into a pile by the clerk, who knew the room wasn't fit for a noble.

Instead of throwing a fit like the clerk expected her to do, Kalina sat down in a chair primly and folded her hands in her lap. Olivia and Elliott moved to stand behind her silently.

"Ah, I called the boss, he should be here soon."

"That's alright. You may go now." Kalina's voice was sweet and soft. The clerk unconsciously blushed a little before bowing and rushing out.

"Can I expect that my mother won't be hearing about anything that happens today?" Kalina knew that Olivia was faithful to her, but she was still skeptical about her new guard.

Olivia and Elliott both nodded. Kalina was about to praise them in her head for being so loyal when she heard loud footsteps approaching.

Elliott's hand flew to the sheathed sword by his hip and he turned to the door. Olivia shuffled closer to Kalina like it was her instinct to protect her miss. Kalina motioned for Elliott to put his sword away and stand behind her again.

The door creaked open and a group of men sauntered in. They had obviously gone drinking in the afternoon, even though they were supposed to be working. They even brought some alcohol back. Kalina recognized them as the administrative officer in charge of the port and other officials who worked for the dukedom.

"Good afternoon, milady," the leader of the group stepped forward and reached out a hand as if he wanted to kiss her hand.

Kalina found his stench of alcohol revolting and simply stared him down. She didn't want to be touched by something so disgusting. Elliott saw this and immediately stepped forward to his hand away from her.

The man sneered and raised both his hands. "Looks like we have a prissy little princess on our hands, huh?"

The men behind him laughed loudly and hit him on the shoulder a few times. Kalina just rolled her eyes.

He sat down on the chair opposite Kalina and his friends sat down on the other couches around the room, smiling with his eyes narrowed. It was a sleazy look that fit his character.

"Well, what do you need from us, princess?"