Date- 12 Oct 22XX
Time- 18:29
Location- Central Region, Capital city, Duskborn Mansion
“Did the commander really agree to these terms?” Ellen’s father said hearing the terms of the contract discussed by his wife and commander, these terms were too good to be true. He had confidence in his skill set and felt they were worth the price but his commander didn’t have to offer these terms as anybody else in the market wouldn’t offer as much.
“Yes, if you have doubts you can call him,” Ellen’s mother said with very little interest as if his decision did not matter to her.
“No need, I trust you,” Ellen’s father said but seeing his wife continue to remain apathetic he added, “Since you have already discussed the terms, I guess you would not mind setting up a date for me to sign the contract.”
“Sure,” Ellen’s mother agreed without displaying much emotion on her face or tone. It was unclear whether she was happy with her husband’s decision.
“…” Seeing the emotional distance between his nephew and his wife, Fifth elder was more assured about the plan going through without a hitch. And then said, “Little Nephew, what have you planned about the buy-in money for to become a partner?”
“Fifth elder, two years is more than enough time for me to gather that amount,” Ellen’s father replied confidently. He was not being arrogant but he had that much faith in his skills. Back when he worked for the army, nobody would dare to claim first if he were to claim second. That’s how good his skill mastery was, their prestige rounded through the military and beyond.
With his reply, hearing his passion for his work and skills, his wife’s eyes sparkled but were son swallowed by her indifferent gaze.
“Good. Still, the family would like to provide the buy-in money as an appreciation for your selfless duty towards the family,” Fifth Elder said that the family was willing to pay the buy-in money to become a partner in Sansa’s father’s firm that his nephew required.
“Fifth Elder, I appreciate the family’s gesture but there is no need for you to these lengths for me. The family’s finances are stretched thin as they are now, I can gather the money in time, so please stop worrying,” Ellen’s father said rejecting the family’s help not because he worried that they would interfere in his new life later. Instead, he was worried that the family could not afford it.
“The family money is stretched thin after all the fifth elder just brought his granddaughter an S-rank hovercar, it must have cost a lot,” Ellen’s mother scoffed hearing her husband’s reason to reject the money he earned with his blood and sweat when offered to him.
“That’s different, she needed it to commute to the college. This is safer and cheaper than having her live near the college,” Ellen’s father defended the fifth elder’s unscrupulous spending of family money for his personal use.
“What about our daughter? With the inflation at its peak, I don’t even dare to hail a cab and have to use public transportation to send her to kindergarten. Don’t you think it would be safer for me and your daughter if we had our vehicle?” Ellen’s mother did not want to dig this up and bicker with her husband but seeing her husband be so submissive to Fifth Elder and openly support his hypocritic behavior, all the resentment for this damned family she had buried under her indifference suddenly burst out like a volcano.
“You would not have to if you did not insist on enrolling Ellen in that kindergarten instead of a nearby one,” Ellen’s father argued.
“So, it is my fault that I want the best education for my daughter?” Ellen’s mother could not believe the words that came from her man’s mouth and wondered how she ever fell for this man. What did she see in him?
“Stop it, you are embarrassing me,” yelling that Ellen’s father turned to look at his uncle and apologetically said, “Sorry, Fifth elder, I let you see something unsightly.”
“Forget it, which couple doesn’t fight? Besides what your wife said is not wrong? You should have informed me about this. I would have thought of something to help her sooner,” Fifth Elder spoke with a warm smile, and summoning his grimoire, he took out an AA-rank hovercar from the cardholder and passed it to his niece-in-law adding, “For now, this is the best I can do, I will get back to you when I can get my hands on something better.”
“No, Fifth Elder, you don’t have to,” Ellen’s father once again tried to reject the help offered by Fifth elder but the card had already exchanged hands and was now in his wife’s possession. Who read the card name and added, “AA-rank AA-4 Stromwheel hovercar, this will do. I guess one has to be fortunate enough to own a brand new hovercar.”
Ellen’s mother said taking a dig at how Fifth Elder’s granddaughter got a new hovercar and she got a used one. Ellen’s mother would not have taken the card as it would undermine every little and big thing her resentment stood for but the thought of having the luxury of not having to wait for public transportation made her weak.
Seeing his wife not only take the card but also dare to complain about it Ellen’s father threw a cold glare at her and thanked the fifth elder knowing that his wife would not, “Thank you, Elder.”
“No need to thank me, as one of the family elders, that is what I should do. And little nephew I have transferred the buy-in money to your account and there is a little extra, buy something for my grandniece,” Fifth Elder was so generous today because compared to what he stood to gain from the plan his niece-in-law proposed this amount he used to win his nephew’s heart and quell a little bit of his niece-in-law’s resentment was pennies.
