He is bluffing there was no way that he could pay so much. But what if.. His eyes glowed with greed. Velmore tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair, the sound soft yet sharp in the quiet room, showing his authority.
"Generally these kinds of contracts have conditions from both sides. But I will agree as long as others do. Bring the contract, we will sign it." he announced in a calm and kind manner befitting for an elder.
It took only a second for others to pick up his clue. They all nodded at once staring at Elias with their faces practically glowing with greed.
"Yes, since you have given us a condition, we should add one of ours too. We assume you won't object to a small condition, Lord Crestford," said the crooked-nosed merchant, pretending civility as he leaned over the table. "If, by some tragic twist, you fail to pay the amount you promised then you must bear the loss."
"Yes, and since you do not have wealth, your estate shall be confiscated and auctioned to cover the loss," finished the wiry noble with a smirk. "Fair is fair, wouldn't you say?"
Elias didn't flinch. He merely inclined his head, the calm smile never leaving his lips. "You would suffer losses if I refuse , that would cost my whole estate?" The faint smile on his face looked taunting but before they could feel shame or give an explanation, he softly nodded. "Alright, I agree."
For a moment, there was stunned silence and then laughter broke out. They have met many fools in the past, but they have never met someone of Elias' level. How easy it was to fool this man. They believed they had him cornered.
"Get the scribe," Velmore ordered, already imagining how Elias's crumbling manor would look under his name. Maybe he would tear the whole thing down and build something worthy of his station.
It didn't take long. One of the men accompanying them produced parchment and ink. The terms were dictated, written, and reviewed. Each word was measured to favor the investors. Elias would pay double the market price, and they, in turn, would relinquish all managerial control. But should he default on time, or on the amount they had full rights to seize and sell his estate.
It was all Velmore's doing, but the others signed with eagerness. Every signature etched into the document felt like a nail in Elias's coffin. They all looked at him as if he was already dead and the estate belonged to them now. When Elias signed last they could barely continue to sit. Then he pressed the seal of House Crestford onto the wax. It was a faded sigil, but its presence made the paper official.
Elias leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning each of the men before him. His smirk was small, almost imperceptible but nobles took it as a challenge.
One of the nobles chuckled darkly. "Oh, the irony of this seal being used moments before its estate changes hands."
The golden-ringed noble chuckled too, muttering, "The man signs away the last of his dignity."
Velmore's smile widened, but the flicker in his eyes betrayed unease. Elias's stillness and his lack of desperation didn't fit with their plan. They man had not tried to save his position and his estate at all. He had expected bluff, perhaps even a breakdown, but not this quiet confidence.
But how could he offer gold! And the contract was signed. Watching him sitting silently at the insults of others, Velmore shook his head. He was thinking too much. Perhaps the man's pride did not let him bow to others.
"Well," Velmore said, clapping his hands together. "Now that all is legal and binding, perhaps you would be so kind as to bring us the gold you so confidently promised?"
"Yes, we have all waited quite patiently," another added mockingly. "Bring out your treasure, Lord Crestford, or are you planning to spin it from that tattered rug of yours?"
Elias said nothing at first. Then he rang the small bell on the table beside him. It echoed in the vast, crumbling manor. The young maid reappeared once more and bowed silently but her presence earned immediate ridicule.
The trader with the golden rings sneered, "Tell me, Crestford, is she your entire staff? Or is the rest of your household haunting the halls in shame?"
"A single maid in a house this size?" scoffed the crooked-nosed merchant. "No wonder the place is falling apart. Can she even lift a coin chest?"
"She looks like she hasn't seen food in days," the wiry noble added. "Then again, judging by your curtains, perhaps she has been stitching them into meals."
The laughter rippled again, louder this time. Their unease had completely gone after seeing the girl again. They had nothing to worry, Elias was poorer than they could ever imagine. He was just good at pretending. But Elias didn't look at them. His eyes were fixed on the girl.
"Let's not comment on the girl. It is his master's mistake that he could not provide for her. I am sure Elias would have done something for her, if he could." Elias did not respond to them. He stared intently at the girl infuriating them. Earlier, he had noticed her calm face when she had come to inform them about their arrival.
What she did not know was that he had heard their whole conversation already. How they have insulted her and treated her. But he did not say it because she did not care about it. But now that they were targeting her, the girl stood there with her hands clenched and eyes narrowed as if she wanted to teach them a lesson. One command and the young girl would start attacking them.
He smiled at that thought. A small, satisfied curl of the lips that stunned everyone. Could it be that he was a masochist? Was he enjoying their insults?
But he ignored their petrified gazes and looked at the girl. "You know what you need to do. right?" he said simply.
She hesitated for just a breath, then turned on her heel and disappeared down the hallway without a word. The nobles scoffed behind her.
"Look at her!" said the youngest noble. "She walks like she was carrying the crown jewels already!"
"Indeed," Velmore drawled. "Shall we expect her back with a pot of copper coins? Or perhaps a letter of apology from the bank?"
"You still have a chance, Crestford," said the crooked-nosed merchant, his voice dropping mockingly. "Admit the truth now, and perhaps we won't spread the story too far. We can understand that this was a moment of heat. Sometimes, a man's pride get ahead of his purse. We will keep this quiet, perhaps. No need to tell the others that you lured us here with lies and illusions."