New Resolve (3)

I had felt somewhat discouraged before, but the solution to my problem was rather obvious. If I needed my own money, why not start a business?

It seemed painfully obvious, but it made sense. I could use my monthly allowance to start a business just fine, and while it might seem a little strange to the Duke, as long as I was successful, it would be no damage to my reputation. And any profit I made from the services I provided, would flow directly into an account of my own, that my father had no reason or right to monitor.

The question was, what kind of business would I build?

I had to take into consideration, the advanced magic of this world. Many people here were capable of using it, and it made their lives much more convenient in a period before industrialization. This world's technology was not very advanced, and I could use that fact to my advantage. If I were to sell an item of convenience, available to everyone, not just users of magic, I was sure to make a hell of an income.

But I knew this would take some thought, and furthermore I'd need to find a master craftsman capable of making whatever item I wished to produce.

I decided I would take a walk through the grounds to clear my head, and perhaps come up with a product on my way.

The Hessian estate had quite an extensive garden, and I had taken to walking it's grounds whenever I needed some fresh air. I did however, run the risk of bumping into a family member any time I went outside, and today happened to be a rather unlucky day for me.

As I was admiring the scent of our rose bushes, I heard a huff of disapproval behind me. I rolled my eyes as I stood to face the offender.

Garret stood only a few feet behind me on the path, with his arms crossed and brows furrowed. It was obvious he wished to pick a fight.

"It is unseemly for a man of your stature to be bent over in reverence to a rose bush," he griped.

"Oh, so I am a man of status to you now?" I smirked.

Garret's face went crimson red with my teasing, and again I noticed how similar in appearance we were. It made my dislike for him greater. Well, at the very least, I had the better body.

"Don't put words in my mouth, you useless coward! I don't know what's gotten into you this past month, but you're dreaming if you think you'll ever catch up to me in the rights to succession. I've been training for this my whole life, unlike you! All you've ever done is cower in some corner while you begged for father's love. You're pathetic!"

I observed him closely as he ranted on about my cowardice, and his speech and tone of voice made me wonder about something.

"I'm well aware father does not love me," I said matter-of-factly, "But what about you? Just out of curiosity, has he ever shown you affection?"

I hadn't actually meant to antagonize the guy. It was a question asked out of genuine curiosity. Isani, before I inhabited him, was a timid child. But then, most children were. It made sense for any kid to crave their parent's love and affection. Even if Garret's personality had been different, how had he avoided falling into the pattern of an neglected child in the same way Isani did? My question was soon answered.

"He did! Before you came along and killed mother-!"

Garret slapped a hand across his mouth, obviously regretting his outburst. I doubt he was worried about scaring me, but perhaps this was a subject banned from discussion by his Grace the Duke.

So my mother had died giving birth to me.

Isani, you poor, poor child.

It didn't stop me from being angry though. Obviously, it had not been Isani's fault their mother died in childbirth. The way they had treated him was still inexcusable. But it did provide an explanation. Isani might not have been able to say anything in the presence of the family he chose to love. But these people were not my family.

"It is pathetic," I began as Garret's eyes widened, "That you believe your behavior towards me to be acceptable. Who in their right mind could place the blame for a mother's death, on the head of the child she died giving birth to? Do you think I asked to be born? Do you think I could have prevented what happened to her?"

I was getting carried away with my emotions. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. When I opened them again, I found Garret speechless and fighting to hold back tears. I doubt he felt bad for the years of abuse I'd endured from him, but my outburst must have been enough to shock him into some form of rational thought.

Suddenly, I felt a wet drop on my cheek. I looked up and found the sky had clouded over during the course of our conversation. I was then greeted by a downpour of rain, and I rushed to get inside the manor. I didn't look back, but Garret never followed me inside. He must have stayed unmoving in the pouring rain for quite a while because I was later informed he had fallen ill with a cold.

What a foolish child.

But the encounter had given me an idea for my business. When I came inside after being soaked by the rain, I noticed I was not the only one with drenched clothing sticking to my back. Many of the servants that had been outside tending to the garden suffered the same fate. And then the idea struck me.

It was about time I introduced water-repellent cloth to this world.