Arc 7.15

After giving birth to my son, I had to immediately attend to the Kritz family business. In the absence of Krik, many issues arose, such as countless business partners using this opportunity to cannibalism our company.

They broke down relations between us and many of our partners, and made offers to our employees, which caused a mass loss of workers; they even dug up info from my past and used it to paint me as a money-grubbing harlot. This brought up lots of issues when negotiating with nobles and other merchants; they wouldn't even give me the time of day.

Dealing with them wasn't the only issue; simply, the day-to-day running of our business became an issue. Understanding the value of Skydust goods and finding the right prices caused us issues, especially since we didn't have Krik's naturally charismatic approach.

We also started to get many complaints from the people of Skydust, the supplies they ordered weren't delivered on time, or the payback cycle of their goods was too long.

Then the upkeep of all the Zterytavis was another issue; they are quite clingy wonderbeasts, so when they noticed they hadn't gotten a visit from Krik recently, they all started to act up and wouldn't fly anywhere.

Up to this point, I had always thought I understood the true weight of Krik's job, but I hadn't in the least. He always kept up social interaction with the people of Skydust to make sure he understood the value of their craft and when they needed supplies. The constant battle he waged against business rivals day in and day out, and the upkeep he did with the Zterytavis, and despite having all of that on his plate, he still had a smile on his face.

The pressure of all the work was completely crushing, to the point I thought I was going to die from stress, but the pests flying around me also noticed this.

Sitting down in my office, I say to the merchant in front of me, "Tyler Anwunta, head of the Anwunta family a notorious group of backstabbing money grabbing twats, what do I owe the pleasure."

"Oh, my lady, the pleasure is all mine."

As he sits down, I ask him, "Is there a certain reason for your visit?"

"It is just that I came to check on you. I have heard things have been rough."

"Well, all those articles your company have been spreading around definitely haven't helped that. Also bribing my worker to go to you is quite an asshole move."

"What vile language, but what else could I expect from someone born in the dirt?"

"Watch how you speak to me, paid nobility like yourself has no right to even breathe the same air as me. Now my patience runs thin, state your purpose."

Letting out a sigh, he says, "Women shouldn't be so blunt, but what could I expect from you. The reason I am here is to give you an offer: marry me and pass on all of your husband's assets."

Slamming my hand against a table I say, "DON'T FUCK WITH ME YOU MISERABLE CUNT!"

"Merchants rule number 1: always keep a smile on your face, but I guess you can't even do that."

"DO I LOOK LIKE SOME SORT OF CLOWN TO YOU?"

"Yes, you do, look at all that makeup you're wearing to cover how exhausted you are, not only that, but your clothes and hair are messy, and you have barely had the time to take care of them. No woman should have to go through that, so I am offering you to marry me and let me take care of all the annoying things."

"You must be demented if you ever think I am going to agree to that."

"Am I really? Take a look at the situation the Kritz family is in, no supporters, no control, and all its money is evaporating at a ridiculous rate. If you let this go on, your dear Kirk's family will be dragged through the mud."

"Don't you dare use my husband's name, I don't want it ruined by you."

"But my lady, you're the one who is ruining it, if Krik married a woman from a family that actually had power this whole situation wouldn't be happening, but since he married you a woman who is so easy to discredit the fall of the Kritz family has been proceeding faster than expected. So, if you actually care about the legacy of the Kritz family, you will accept my offer."

Hearing this, I calm down and stop for a moment, and truly begin to think over what he says.

"Oh, looks like you have calmed down, that's a good trait someone who will soon be my wife will need."

"Wife, huh." Picking up my chair I smash it against, Tyler's skull and say, "Go fuck yourself, I only have one husband from now till the day I die."

Getting up, Tyler says, "You dumb bitch, how dare you attack me, I swear to god that I will pay you back a hundredfold for this transgression."

"Bring it on you bitch!"

Like a child, Tyler storms out the door, and from the open door, Elliot and the head maid, Sandra, walk in.

"So, you two were listening in."

"Please forgive us, but we were worried about what that man wanted."

"Well then, you both are rather well informed on the situation, we are about to be destroyed, and the parasites are trying to salvage what they can from us."

Getting on their knees, they both say to me, "My lady, we promise we will let no such thing happen."

"It is probably too late now."

"No, it isn't."

"My lady, you have fought hard for Krik more than anyone since his passing."

"So let us tell you this now."

"No matter what, we will help you."

"No matter what others offer us, we will not leave."

"We owe our lives to Krik and to you, Dush."

"And these words are the will of all the servants and workers still with us."

"So please, my lady, stand and lead us."

The words they both said are nice, but I am not naïve enough to believe them or so I would think, but just like the foolish human I am, I always give in to my emotions, "Thank you both, I will also put my faith in you as well, no get up we have work to do."

On that day, all of us were pushed into a corner, but due to that, our resolve grew a thousandfold. With a wave of passion and a few years, we were able to pull our company out of the red and re-establish it as a giant.

Through my shared work with everyone, I started to regain power over my situation and was finally able to rest, but the time I had to rest was brief since an issue I had been ignoring had started to rear its head at me.

"Mommy, may we play today?"

"Sorry, Tusk, I have other business to attend to."

"But I thought you were free today?"

"And who told you that?" Looking around. I stare directly at my son's butler, Surgoth. When he notices my gaze, he averts his eyes from mine. "I don't know what anyone told you, Tusk, but I have no time for you today."

With tears in his eyes, Tusk runs off and says, "I hate you, mommy."

In response to this, all I could do was walk away.

"My lady, please, why won't you talk to your son? Don't you realise how harsh your words are on him?"

"I am no fool, I realise how harsh my actions to Tusk are, but I simply can't bring myself to be around him, the more he ages and grows, the more he looks like Krik, and that terrifies me."

Moving to the corridor, I hear Surgoth say, "He has no father, please don't deny him a mother as well."

So I avoid Tusk whenever I can, using whatever excuse I can muster; the only times we ever talk are during meals, outside of that, he never sees me. Due to my own foolishness, I made the act of living in my house a challenge; the only place where I can have any peace of mind anymore is with my work.

Though the more I worked, the more I realised a horrible truth, that I am truthfully no match for Krik. I managed to save the company, but it is merely a shell of what it should be now. When Krik was in charge, it grew year after year nonstop, but now we aren't even as amazing as we were in our heyday day not to mention future growth.

The constant feeling of inferiority made work a horrible experience. Every time I did anything, in the back of my head, all I could hear was Krik would do this better, Krik would do this better.

And in the middle of all that, the suffocating feeling of being on Skydust returned, living in a country with all those creative, impassioned people made my heart sink even more.

Whenever I had to talk to them at parties or meetings, I was reminded how pathetic I am, how below them I am. The joy they expressed with every single breath they took was something that crushed me completely.

Whether I was working or not, I couldn't have any freedom or happiness, so all I could do was wallow in my despair.

"Mother, look at this!"

"Why are you here, Tusk? Didn't I tell you I am busy?"

"But I just wanted to show you."

"GET OUT!"

With a desolate expression, he drops what he was holding and runs out. Grabbing the sheet that fell off the ground, Surgoth places it on my table and says, "Read it, madam."

Picking it up, I stare at this and say, "What the hell is this?"

"Your son used a few of the family assets to use for his small business."

"Who the hell authorised such a thing?"

"Just read the page, Madam."

Looking through, I say, "He tripled the value. How?"

"He has seen how obsessed with your work you are, and to get some time with you, he has been studying commerce nonstop like his life depended on it just to get your attention."

"But this is ridiculous, in only 1 month."

"You would be surprised at the lengths a child will go for attention."

Getting up from my seat, I rushed out and gave Tusk a hug.

"Mommy, what's wrong?"

With tears running down my eyes, I say repeatedly, "I am so thankful you're alive, I truly am."

Hugging me back, Tusk says, "Mother, I love you."

Holding my son in my arms, all I could do was cry and smile. I finally had what I wanted, something to perfect like all the rest on Skydust, my very own creation, my very own treasure.

"Tusk, from today onwards, we will see each other every day."

"Really, Mommy!"

"Yes, I promise, because I will be completely in charge of your education from this point on."

From that day forward, I personally hired the best teachers that money could buy and trained Tusk harshly in, all things a young man will need: languages, commerce, philosophy, the arts, arithmetic, etiquette, and even combat. All things necessary to raise the perfect boy.

"TUSK, your posture is 5cm off. Get it right!"

"I am sorry, Mommy, but it is hard, especially in these clothes."

"A nobleman such as yourself will have to wear these clothes when attending parties, so you have to get it right."

"But Mommy, when will I get to play outside?"

"YOU HAVE NO TIME FOR THAT TUSK." Walking up to him, I grab him by the shoulders and say, "Do you not want mommy to be happy? Do you hate me that much?"

"No, I want you to be happy, I love you, mommy."

"I see, then let's go from the top. This is your 147th time, get it right!"

"Yes, mommy." Just like the perfect angel my treasure is he got it right when given the right motivation, I am coming soon, Krik, I will finally reach the place you and everyone on Skydust has reached.