Top Tier Perversion: Dual Cultivate Secretly

Chapter 26: Negotiations

Wisp of smoke unfurled from the tea placed before a man wearing a suit bearing D’Arc’s crest.

This was the fourth cup of tea served to him as he sat in the intricately decorated waiting room.

A butler stood by a pristine white door, ready to serve the D’Arc steward’s needs.

Moments passed.

The slanting sunlight seeping from the stained glass windows turned straight as midday approached.

The tea went cold.

The butler took precise steps and replaced it with a cup of freshly made hot tea.

This was the fifth cup.

The D’Arc House’s steward felt the weight of his eyelids getting heavier as he glanced at it.

He closed his eyes for a brief few seconds, then took out a worn leather notebook from his suit’s inner pocket.

He placed it on the table and took out a metal pen and a small ink bottle.

Opening the latest page in the notebook, the steward dipped his pen’s steel nib in the inkwell, and wrote a remark. ƒreewebɳovel.com

House of Kane: refused audience.

The steward then placed his belongings inside his pockets and stood up.

"I have another appointment to attend. Please thank Viscount Kane for the tea."

The butler gave him a curt bow and opened the door, escorting him to his carriage.

...

Clear glass chandeliers scattered sunlight into bright illumination inside a luxurious study.

A young lady in a well fitted black dress, wearing a silver brooch with D’Arc’s crest on it sat by a polished wooden table.

She calmly stared at the empty chair opposite to her, taking small sips of tea periodically.

As her tea was close to finishing, a maid walked out of the study.

Just as the young lady took her last sip, the doors of the study opened and in walked a middle-aged couple.

"Apologies for keeping you waiting, young lady." A deep voice said in a slight cheerful tone.

The young lady of D’Arc House stood up and faced the couple.

She placed her hand on her chest and bowed slightly. "Greetings, Count and Countess Williams."

Count Williams’ gaze shifted to the slightly exposed skin on the young lady’s chest. It was smooth and without any blemishes.

It was brief and his gaze went up, staring into the young lady’s eyes.

"Let’s drop the formalities. We are both Count Houses, ho~ho~ho~..."

The young lady stared back into the Count’s eyes and shook her head.

"My apologies, but I’m just a servant of D’Arc House."

Count Williams squinted his eyes.

Countess Williams’ smile faded slightly and she couldn’t help but stare at the silver brooch, confirming the young lady’s identity.

So she really wasn’t a noblewoman...

As realization dawned upon the two, the reception grew visibly colder.

"I see." Count Williams said and walked up to the young lady.

He lightly slapped his hand on her shoulder and asked with a slight smile, "What brings you to my humble house?"

The young lady glanced at the hand on her shoulder, then looked at Count Williams.

"I’ve been sent to negotiate a deal. I’m sure the Count will find it worthy of his time."

Countess Williams held the Count’s hand and brought him to his seat.

She stood beside him while staring at the D’Arc stewardess.

"How can it be worth our time if House D’Arc hasn’t been courteous enough to send someone with authority to strike a deal?"

There was little politeness in her voice as she said so.

"Now, now... let’s not talk about such matters." Count Williams chimed in and waved his hand.

He looked at the young lady and flashed a small smile.

"How many members are there even in the D’Arc House? Two? Three? It’s an extremely small family so it’s definitely not possible for them to visit so urgently."

His eyes turned crescent.

"Isn’t it, young lady?"

The D’Arc stewardess curtly nodded.

"Please be assured that I have complete authority over these negotiations. So, would you like me to propose it?"

The young lady was still standing as she said so. She wasn’t asked by the Count to sit down.

Count Williams smiled warmly and shook his hand again.

"What’s the rush? Before we proceed, I’d like to know more about how Countess Vivienne is doing. I’m worried about her mental state. Knowing your child was involved in an assassination is bound to cause nightmares to any parent."

The young lady shook her head and said, "My apologies, but I cannot answer that."

"A pity." Count Williams said while shaking his head with a smile on his face. "Then how about you tell me if Countess Vivienne’s son is recovering well or not. I am concerned about the future D’Arc patriarch’s health."

This time, the young lady did not look away. She stared into the Count’s eyes and said, "Such sensitive information cannot be divulged. My apologies."

Before the Count could ask another unnecessary question, the young lady swiftly said,

"I’m merely sent to discuss whether the Count would like a few ships passing through the Red Sea and a few rail lines connecting the Capital with neighboring kingdoms."

A flicker of interest flashed through Count Williams’ eyes.

Countess Williams went completely silent and stared at the young lady.

The middle aged couple knew how valuable those ships and rail lines were.

Count Williams placed his elbows on the table then interlocked his fingers, resting his chin on them.

He stared at the young lady and said, "Again, what’s the rush, young lady? I’ve always been a well wisher of D’Arc House, and you’re breaking my heart by not stating whether they’re doing good or not."

The young lady could see absolutely no sadness or pity on the man’s face.

She did not respond. Instead, she took out a small leather notebook from her sling bag hanging at the side.

There was a clicking metal pen attached to it.

She pressed the button and an ink-laden steel nib emerged.

She quickly wrote a line of words at the latest page.

House of Williams: Refusal.

She then scribbled something really quick below it.

Personal note: Upon learning I am a servant, stood a quarter of an arm’s length close. Placed hands on shoulders. Asked sensitive questions about D’Arc House. Wasted time.

She held the notebook at her side, and with the other hand, placed it on her chest and lightly bowed.

"My apologies, but I have to cut the conversation short. There’s another appointment scheduled."

Count Williams’ face expressed surprise as he leaned back on the chair.

"Oh, what a pity. I really wished to know how the Countess is doing. Seems like I’ll have to ask her personally later."

The young lady calmly glanced at the man and wrote what he just said in her notebook.

"I thank the Count and Countess for their audience and the tea."

After saying so, she did not wait for their approval and turned around, leaving the study.

As the doors shut after her exit, the smile on Count Williams’ face vanished.

Countess Williams turned to her husband and asked while knitting her brows, "Ships and rail lines in exchange for a few grains was a mighty favorable outcome for us. Why refuse?"

The Count crossed his legs and folded his hands. Without looking at his wife, and confining to stare at the closed doors, he said,

"Sooner or later, we’ll have it anyway. What’s the rush?"

The Countess raised her eyebrows, understanding the implications.

She turned to stare at the closed doors too.

...

Viscount Blaise’s House.

A young stewardess of D’Arc House was immediately granted audience with Viscount Blaise.

It wasn’t just Viscount Blaise but a pretty girl stood beside him as they met the stewardess in their mansion’s study.

None of them sat on chairs as the meeting was swift and immediate.

"...of course, how could we reject a deal with D’Arc House after what was witnessed last night." The girl cheerfully answered as she remembered how domineering Vivienne D’Arc was, and how jealous she got of Leona accompanying her.

"Daughter..." Viscount Blaise knitted his brows and looked at her, gesturing her to keep her mouth shut.

The young girl slightly stuck her tongue out. "Father, give them all the grains we have! There is no better time than now to establish a relationship with the D’Arcs."

Without waiting for her father, the girl turned to the young stewardess of D’Arc House.

"You were saying you’d give us mining resources, right? We refuse. We don’t want anything but a happy and cooperative relationship with the D’Arcs in exchange for the grains. We don’t have much to offer anyway, so the deal would’ve been really one-sided."

"Daughter!" Viscount Blaise said sternly.

The young girl trembled. She then held the man’s sleeves and said with slight tears in her eyes, "Father... I’ve never asked you anything. You weren’t at the ball so you don’t know, but we must establish this relationship! Please, please, I beg you!"

Looking at his daughter’s pleading eyes, Viscount Blaise felt a sharp headache.

He continued to keep his brows knitted and flicked her hand away from his sleeves.

"Ow, father!" The young girl exclaimed.

"This is the fourth time this week that you’ve said you never ask me anything. Go to your room. Don’t make a scene in front of our guests."

Viscount Blaise then turned to the young stewardess.

"My apologies for my daughter’s crude behavior. I’ll teach her to be better."

The young stewardess found herself in an awkward position but maintained a professionally neutral expression on her face.

"It’s but a trivial matter, Viscount."

Viscount Blaise nodded and turned to his daughter again.

She was still standing and looking at him with an expression that stated she was wronged.

"Why are you still here?"

"You haven’t agreed to the deal yet. Sign it, and I’ll not show you my face for a week." The girl pouted.

Viscount Blaise closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

After a few seconds, after contemplating everything and still keeping his eyes closed, he replied, "One month. I don’t want to see your face for a month."

"Two weeks." The girl replied swiftly.

"Three."

"Deal."

The girl smiled and immediately rushed out of the door.

Viscount Blaise opened his eyes when he heard the door shutting close, his complexion appearing as he had aged for a few years instantly.

"Do you have the papers, young miss?"

The stewardess nodded and handed the Viscount a set of papers.

He took it and went to his study to read them and sign.

After a while, he crossed out the parts that stated he would be given mining resources.

There was no transaction done. Instead, he ’gifted’ whatever grains he could to the D’Arc House.

The young stewardess took out a small leather notebook from the pouching hanging at the side of her waist.

On it, she wrote with a metal pen:

House of Blaise: Agreed.

Personal note: Viscount Blaise’s daughter urged to exchange the grains for friendship and future cooperations. Role of Viscount Blaise — signing the papers only.

She closed her notebook and placed it back in her pouch.

The papers were eventually signed and the young stewardess rushed to the D’Arc mansion in the capital.

It was close to afternoon tea time and she could see multiple carriages lined at the mansion’s gates.

She walked out of hers and entered the mansion.

What met her sight were servants lined up before a figure seated on a cushioned chair in the middle of the main hall, appearing extremely focused on something held between her fingers.

The young stewardess got in line and maintained a professional composure, awaiting further instructions.

As she looked closer, she could see the Madam holding a small vial.

Continuing to stare at it, Vivienne asked calmly, "Is everyone here?"

Standing beside her was a brown-haired maid. Linda. Vivienne’s personal attendant.

"Everyone is here, Madam."

Vivienne’s eyes left the vial for the first time as she glanced at the servants lined up.

She stood up and walked towards the servants, standing just a foot away from them.

Her eyes briefly met the young lady returning from the House of Williams as she slowly said,

"Vincent was poisoned."