I AM THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR 

The duke set the paper down with trembling fingers. "what do you want? Name the price." He said, and I just clicked my tongue. "Tsk, tsk. It's true. I do want coins, but that's not all. First of all, I want a report of everything that goes on here. Also, I want the freedom to do whatever I want and use your house name however I want. And lastly, I want privacy. No looking into my background or trying to find any blackmail on me - even though you won't find anything. The third one also means no questioning what I do due to number two." I said, listing it off my fingers. "Oh! and I almost forgot. A fourth one too. Don't beat him up." I said, jabbing a finger at Zal, Whose mouth fell open. The duke was now silently thinking. "What are you even thinking about? You're trapped in this situation." I said, still leaning back. What no one saw, though, was the fact that my fingers were trembling with nervousness. With my luck, you never knew when things would go south. Levi wasn't saying anything, and I also couldn't read his face. Ah, well. I'd deal with that later. 

"Fine, I accept. Let's make a contract." The duke said, and I raised my arms in victory. "Yes! Thank you, Duke!" I said happily. 

Twenty minutes later, I wrote my name in scribbly letters with a fountain pen. Huh. Who writes with these things?! Pencils were eons better!! Anyway, the duke rolled up the contract and handed me my copy. Good. "Yay! That's all for now, then. Can I have that seal thing to show the servants?" I asked, referring to the seal Zal had given Cordelia when he became duke - to show that she was one of House Eur. The duke frowned and opened a drawer to hand me a brass medal with an eagle on it. Huh? No. It was silver in the story. "Im pretty sure this is fake. They're supposed to be silver. Come on, dude, be real." I said, handing it back. The duke sighed and opened up a hidden compartment on the bottom of the drawer, drawing out a silver medal with an eagle on it, and the words "AQUILAE" written above it. "Oh, good, it even has the word. This is the real thing. Thanks!" I grinned. The duke frowned. "What are you going to do with it?"

"I don't believe that's any of your business. Is it?" I asked, and the duke pushed me, Zal, and Levi out of the room. Rude. But I kinda get it. "...You have a source?" Levi asked, and I shook my head. "Not outside the door. The geezer is definitely listening to us." 

"The garden, Maybe? Even I think you have a few things to explain." Zal said, and I sighed. Here we go.