As they were about to step away, Rex suddenly paused, as if something had just crossed his mind.
"Ah, I almost forgot"
"Ayana, the commission money.
He turned to Ayana with a small nod, signalling her to handle the matter. However, Tia's grandmother simply shook her head, her expression unchanged.
"Lord Baron, Lady Ayana," she said, her kind voice was rather firm,
"As I said, there is no need"
"Consider it a small gesture of goodwill"
Ayana frowned slightly but didn't insist further. Rex, watching the exchange, merely smiled. He knew that while they were rejecting the money, this wasn't pure generosity it was a way to build a connection, a favour that they could call upon in the future. Still, he didn't mind.
"Very well"
With that, he and Ayana turned and continued on their way, the two figures of the grandmother and granddaughter waving them off until they disappeared from view.
__ __ __
The next day,