Resolve 3

"Tell them to wait. I will be back after freshening up," Evelyn said and strolled towards her room, wondering who arrived to meet her. The maid bowed and followed her orders. 

After showering, Evelyn dressed in a gown, changing from her trousers. She was now comfortable with trousers as she wore them almost every day due to her sword practice with Earl. Letting out an exhausted sigh, she thought she would get some rest but now she had to attend the anonymous guests. 

Reaching the guest room, she recognised the two men who sat on the couch in eerie silence. A wide grin plastered on her face, looking at their tensed face. She quickly put back a stern face as she approached them. 

Hearing the footsteps, Mr Hamon and Mr Martin stood up greeting the princess. Evelyn nodded back. 

"Any help you are seeking, Mr Hamon?" She asked politely, gesturing to them to take a seat as she sat on the couch in front of them. "And the same goes for you, Mr Martin as it's a miracle for you two to be in a single room and the room being peaceful," she remarked, glancing at both of them. 

She saw them lower their eyes, staring at the floor like toddlers when get caught doing mischief, maybe due to embarrassment. Mr Hamon appeared clueless about how to begin and how to convince so that the firm would restart. 

Mr Martin being the elder one, cleared his throat and said, "Miss Evelyn, we are here to request to you to restart the firm. And I, being the elder one, take all the responsibility for the inconvenience caused back in the past. You can take action against me but I plea you to restart the firm." His voice held an apologetic tone and she noted how he stressed the words on reopening of the firm. 

Averet looked at Garry in shock as he hadn't expected him to take all the blame. He was touched by this small gesture of Garry. 

"I am sorry to interrupt Miss Evelyn, I need to apologise as well as and I take equal responsibility for the cause," he said, apologizing. 

Evelyn's eyes shone and her face held a smile of accomplishment. She felt relieved as she can start the firm again without worrying about the minor conflicts anymore.  

"I appreciate the gestures of you both, Mr Hamon and Mr Martin. I hoped you would come earlier," she said looking at two pairs of attentive eyes, gazing at her in the hope to get a response they aspired to. 

She smiled and continued, "But I am happy that you both realised your missteps and I hope you won't repeat them. As for the firm, it was opened the day you both were remorseful." 

"Will the firm restart?" Averet asked to confirm even though it was clear from the princess' words. 

"Of course Mr Hamon. You can both join from tomorrow onwards," she said in a cheerful voice. 

She saw them sighing in relief. Why? Well, why not? After all, the guilt which they both were carrying on their shoulders was finally taken off. 

"Now the question arises, whom should I make the head?" She asked seriously. Usually, she would have decided, but she wanted to see their response. 

"I advise making Mr Martin as the head as he is the most experienced one and would be beneficial for the firm," Averet said humbly. 

"Well, I prefer making Mr Hamon as he did his job perfectly last time and knew how to manage the firm," Garry gave his opinion. 

Looking at the two men taking each other's name, Evelyn felt reassured about zero conflicts between them in the future. 

"My apologies for putting you in a dilemma for choosing one of us to be the head, Miss Evelyn. But we assure you, we would accept your decision without holding any grudge against each other," Mr Martin said after failing to get a response from the young princess, thinking she was confused in making decisions. But instead, the young princess smiled, taking him in surprise. 

"How about making two heads?" She asked. Looking at the perplexed faces in front of her eyes, she continued, "One would be head of the management, managing the staff and the other would be head of Design and Tailoring."

"I would be head of the management and Mr Martin's would be head of designing," Averet said to which Garry nodded, satisfied with the decision. 

"Alright then. The firm will resume again from tomorrow. Good luck with it," Evelyn said, smilingly. 

After Mr Hamon and Mr Martin left the palace, she strolled towards Earl wanting to share the good news. She found him at the carriage stand talking to a coachman or more like scolding him. 

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Earl glanced in her direction. His stern face now held an appealing smile. He gestured to the coachman to wash the carriage properly and moved towards her. 

"Greetings my lady, you appear happy. Did the plan accomplish according to you?" He asked, sensing the cheery vibes from her.

"Yes, the firm will be reopened from tomorrow," she said. Each word said displayed how excited she was.

"Congratulations my lady," he said, bowing at her. 

"It's good that everything was sought out before the council exam. Now I can concentrate on it without worrying about the firm." 

"How many days left for it again?" He enquired. 

"Five more days to go," she said nervously. 

"Everything will be fine, Eve. You will perform well." 

"I hope so," she murmured, nodding at him. 

She knew that it was a tier two exam which was the real eligibility test for a councilman and where most of them either back off at the last moment or fail miserably. Only extraordinary performers succeed. After all, it was the game of survival as they say.