Date- 12 Oct 22XX
Time- 18:23
Location- Central Region, Capital city, Duskborn Mansion
“Fifth Elder, you called for me-” Ellen’s father greeted the fifth elder entering the hall but paused seeing that the person sitting across him was his wife. After the incident years ago, his wife hardly approached Duskborn’s family members so Ellen’s father was surprised to see his wife meeting the fifth elder.
“You seemed surprised, imagine my surprise when your wife approached me,” Fifth Elder said with a polite smile. His actions were no longer unscrupulous in the presence of his nephew. He seemed to be putting up a gentle and approachable family elder front.
‘Tsk’ Seeing the sudden change in Fifth elder’s demeanor Ellen’s mother clicked her tongue in disapproval. Witnessing this her husband could not help but frown. Ellen’s mother had long since given up on her husband so she did not even try to put up an act.
“Haha, Fifth Elder, please forgive my wife’s offense,” letting out a helpless laugh Ellen’s father apologized to the fifth elder on behalf of his wife.
“…” Hearing her husband apologize to the fifth elder, Ellen’s mother masked her annoyance with an indifferent expression, not letting her true thoughts appear on her face.
“Little Nephew, I don’t blame her. After what happened that day, her little dissatisfaction towards this old man is justified. But now that we all are a single family, I hope we can keep our resentment aside and work together,” Fifth Elder spoke taking all the blame a wise elder should.
“Fifth Elder, you are words are wise as always. Please be rest assured, my family and I are willing to do everything in our power for the prosperity Duskborn family,” Ellen’s father said with a firm resolve.
“Well said, my little nephew,” Fifth Elder praised his nephew, and with a sigh, he added, “If only your cousins had half of your motivation and decisiveness, the days of prosperity for the Duskborn family would not be far.”
“Fifth Elder, you’re being humble, my cousins and other family members are willing to sacrifice for the family. Rest assured the prosperity of the Duskborn family is not far,” Ellen’s father believed what he said. And it was true as each family members were a mere tool in the hands of the family’s elders and leader to lead the Duskborn family to prosperity.
“Haha, you are right little nephew. Now your cousins have grown and become responsible enough to shoulder the burden of the family. The prosperity of the family is not far, so you no longer need to suffer for the family,” After feeding his Nephew’s ego to the brim Fifth elder finally moved the conversation to his real motive.
“Fifth elder, what do you mean?” Hearing the Fifth elder, Ellen’s father asked in confusion. The uncle who always preached about self-sacrifice for the family and the bigger picture suddenly asked him to take a break and be selfish, and Ellen’s father’s confusion was given.
“You heard me, little nephew. How long are you going to sacrifice for the family? You are married and have a daughter now. You need to start thinking for yourself. For quite a while now I have been thinking about this but I did not know how to bring this up until your wife came up with a perfect proposal,” Fifth elder slowly built toward his objective such that his little nephew would drown in the gratitude toward him and the family. This way when he asks his nephew to betray his friend for his family’s interest he would not hesitate.
Ellen’s father threw a cold stare at his wife before explaining to the Fifth elder, “Fifth elder, I don’t know what that woman said but the family’s business still is at the infancy stage, it needs my presence more than ever. If I leave now, decades of work will be in vain.”
“Nephew, are calling your cousins incapable?” The fifth elder’s voice grew colder.
“No, Fifth Elder-“
“But your choice of words enunciated that,” The fifth elder spoke interpreting his nephew’s explanation.
“I am sorry, Fifth Elder,” Ellen’s father apologized.
It was this idiotic loyalty of his nephew that was the reason why Fifth Elder agreed to Ellen’s mother’s plan without much caution. As she knew, no matter the circumstance, his nephew would always choose the family, a hundred out of a hundred times. Fifth Elder trusted his nephew more than his children, his flesh and blood.
With his nephew’s apology, Fifth Elder’s expression softened, and warmly said, “Nephew, you always have the best interest of the family in your mind so I will forgive your offense this once.”
“Thank you, Fifth Elder-“
” Little nephew, I am telling you this for your sake as your uncle. You have a child of your own. Now it’s time for you to start thinking for yourself. Why don’t start by hearing what your wife has to say,” Fifth Elder took all the credit and still managed to keep the possibility of the blame on his nephew’s wife. At the end of this job, his nephew will end up hating his wife, as all he did was give his nephew a wonderful opportunity to pursue the idea his nephew’s wife came up with. When all this was over he was also a victim of his nephew’s wife’s nefarious scheme.
Seeing the old snake skillfully manipulate her husband’s heart, Ellen’s mother was impressed and cautioned herself to never let her guard down facing the fifth elder. Then under the cold stare of her husband she went on to explain what she and Sansa’s dad had discussed.
After hearing his wife’s explanation Ellen’s father fell in contemplation but heard his uncle say, “Little nephew, you have a good wife, you lucked out with this own. She has a sharp head on her shoulder, I think you should consider what she has proposed.”
“But-” Ellen’s father still did not seem to be sold on the idea of working outside the family. Seeing his hesitation Fifth elder persuaded, “Don’t worry about the family, your cousins, I, other elders and the family head can handle it. Don’t let go of such a wonderful opportunity to make something of yourself outside of the family. If you are to make it out there you will be making our family proud.”
