[X] An envoy from a Knight Order came.
[X] Ito Kenta
Guest Audience Room (Book'd by Terun)
"Well, the suggestions you gave last time seemed to work out a bit," says Kenta as the two of you look over the papers Kenta brought back with him. Data collected from the implemented suggestions you passed over to him a month back. "But there's a bit of a problem," he says as his finger comes to a stop at a particular point on the page, "it's not working out as well as projected."
You glance over it and frown slightly, a negligible action in more informal instances, and of course, between friends. "Hm...," you sigh and rub your forehead slightly, "I seemed to have overestimated adjustment needed for the scaling to work optimally."
"Onee-sama shared the same opinion of it, though it is at least workable without a net loss," Kenta pauses for a moment as he trades a glance with you, "without harming all involved parties, except for a bit of reduced income of course. But the improvement already makes up for it well enough, it'll take about two to four seasons before we break even from that investment."
"I'll cover the difference if it doesn't break even after 4 seasons," you say, preemptively waving off Kenta's usual complaints about you footing the bill for and over things that don't directly benefit your own Family, but instead help out his Clan's situation. "And well, it doesn't cover the increased benefit one that ratio's fixed, no? If no further complications occur of course."
"Well yes, if no further complications occur," repeats Kenta with a nod, "I don't think anything should pose further issue though, there's much fewer factors to deal with than what your Family has to handle."
"Aside from that matter, any other family matters?" you ask as the two of you start organizing the papers into one organized stack.
"Well... other than Father pressuring Onee-sama over
that matter again," Kenta sighs as he visibly refrains from rolling his eyes over it, "there's no other Family matter that I've came over for," Kenta pauses for a moment as he scratches his head for a moment, glancing around cautiously before nodding slightly to himself, "though do say, how
do you manage to put up with the girls."
You open and close your mouth without speaking you mind. Mostly because you spotted Mari again off the corner of your vision, a position that Kenta won't notice. It's not anything bad per say, but you know better than to just outright cause potentially unnecessary trouble. "Let's just say that dwelling on it is the last thing you'd want to do."
Kenta freezes, figuratively, his neck turning slowly to his left, only to find a certain Maid already at his side. He know well enough, a bit, when hes' caught the wrong side of the situation. In other words, he failed to properly make sure that there was no one else amongst us eavesdropping on him. It's understandable what with Mari appearing out of odd places here and there at times- even if it's locked or what not.
Mari curtseys from her position a meter away from Kenta, and holds it as she reports, "Master, your Mother calls for you. Your friend can tag along if you so wish."
"Kenta?" you ask. The lack of switch to formalities is for a very simple reason, Mari is
your Maid and... well, let's just say that she gets along like cats and mice with Hanako. Probably a good thing that Hanako's absent today thus far.
"Yeah, sure thing," replies Kenta. "Please finish the organizing then. I'll be taking it back with me later."
"Please do so," you say, as you turn to stand, with Kenta following suit after you.
"Yes Master," says Mari as she makes a quick bow while holding her posture, "Though Ito-dono, would you prefer them arranged like how you arrived? Or the daily special?"
Kenta immediately pales for a moment upon hearing the words 'daily special'. "No, just like when I arrived. Today that is."
"I understand, I'll make sure they're all cleaned up as well."
Kenta merely just blinks, his head still processing it. "Wh... wha...t...."
"We'll be going now Mari, Mother's in the main audience hall correct?" you say as you quickly move and proceed to push the stunned Kenta out the room.
"Yes, that is so," comes the reply. With the door immediately sliding shut after your quick withdrawal from the room.
"Come on, let's go Kenta," you say as you lead the way. Not that you really need to, he's been around at your place long enough to know how to find his way around the place. Usually anyways.
Of course, once you're sure you're out of earshot, you say, "The more you worry about it, the more likely she'll do something to them. So it's best to just roll with whatever the girls try."
"I'll try to keep that in mind Kentaine-dono," is Kenta's formal response. Though you're pretty sure he's just smirking behind you as well over the experiences you've suffered through to obtain such precious knowledge, knowledge that no one imparted upon you like you did for him.
---
Main Audience Room
As you approach you hear some bits of the more loudly expressed opinions and views from the inside.
"-as I've said , at the absolute minimum, we're only asking for a Hall and the fee waived."
"It is not my place to decide such matters," replies your Mother. "You can wait here until my husband returns or should my Son come."
The Knight sighs, but stays silent and seated. Which makes identifying his short, fiery red hair and crimson with red ting armor… easy. Like he's trying to paint himself on fire, or maybe that's his coat of arms… nah.
The two of you simply slip the doors open and stride right on in, kneeing as per appropriate for audience chambers, "Mother, I've arrived. Please allow for Ito-dono to be present for the remainder of this if it so pleases you."
She nods and motions for you to rise and come over to take your seat at her side. Which you do, while motioning for Kenta to take a seat off to the side. It takes but a brief moment, but in that moment, you feel and see the red eyes of the Knight bearing down upon you.
"Start from the top," orders your Mother. One that the Knight merely bows while nodding in agreement.
"The Order of the Scarlet Knights would like to take ownership of a small Guild Hall in Kitasawa, at minimum of course. Though we'd prefer your… sponsorship if not participation as well-," says the Knight with great haste.
"Start. From. The. Top," snaps your Mother. She just glares at the Knight's insolence. Well, it'd seem she dislikes him, while the feeling seems to have been because of the Knight's action(s).
"But I already-" the Knight restrains himself from raising his voice, but… it's rather obvious he's doing that.
"Do not test my patience," says your Mother with finality.
[ ] [Ask/Demand] the envoy of the Order of the Scarlet Knights to start from the top like your Mother said to. Then you'll consider it.
[ ] [Ask/Demand] the envoy of the Order of the Scarlet Knights give you the simple schematical breakdown of their wants, and the benefits and complications of it all.
[ ] [Ask/Demand] the envoy leave while you and your Mother are still feeling generous towards his life.
[ ] [Ask/Request] your Mother for a short break in the session so you may think upon it more… or converse with your immediate subjects and friends. Or with your Mother.
---[ ] Who do you converse with? (Pick any number and order; Cannot converse with the Knight.)
