Chapter 5: The Shadows of Debt

The air was charged with tension as Kaidën's family met in the great hall of his mansion. The room that was formerly so richly decorated with furniture now seemed tattered and worn through, as though it were reflecting the family's own declining fortunes. The walls that were formerly hung with rich brocades now stood stark and faded. The floors that were formerly burnished to a bright glow now creaked and complained underfoot.Duke Arin stood in center of the room with sunken eyes that showed his worry. He looked about the room to see his worried family and faithful servants standing. His eyes fell on Kaidën standing silently in a corner with his eyes open wide and scared and uncertain."We're standing on a crossroads," began Duke Arin with his stern and gravelly voice. "Our businesses are failing, our treasuries are depleted and are threatened with a very real chance of losing it all."The mining sector that was a profitable venture for decades has been hit with a series of catastrophic accidents and unfortunate incidents. The agricultural sector that was a source of familial income for decades has been hit with a combination of adverse weather and poor harvests. And manufacturing sector that was a source of pride for the family for innovation and progress for decades has been struggling to compete with cheap imports from overseas.Kaidën's mother, Princess Sofia, also nodded in agreement. "We've done it all, Arin," she said with a shuddering voice. "We've cut costs, we've let people go, we've even sold some of our properties. None of what we're doing seems to be paying off."Duke Arin scrunched up his face in a scowl. "I know," he said. "I've done all I can think to do. But it seems no matter what we do, we are digging ourselves deeper and deeper into debt."While discussing the financial position of the family, there was a knock on the door to break the depressing ambiance. One of the family's older servants was standing there and whispered something in Duke Arin's ear.Duke Arin's visage became serious and he nodded curtly. "Good. Admit them."The servant bowed and departed and returned with a team of stern, unbending World Bank officials. They were dressed in black somber suits and inscrutable faces."Ah, Duke Arin," said one of them, his voice dripping with condescension. "We've come to collect on what you owe."The eyes of Duke Arin fired with wrath, but he repressed his temper. "We are not in a position to pay," he said firmly.The representative snorted. "Sorry, Duke Arin," he said. "It is not possible. You borrowed a tremendous amount of money from us with a return rate of 30% per annum. You knew what you were doing that you borrowed."Duke Arin scrunched up his face into a scowl. "I do know what I did," he growled. "It just didn't come this far."The representative shrugged. "Not our problem, Duke Arin," he said. "We're interested in getting paid. And you're not in a position to pay, then we're going to have to use other methods."Kaidën stood by helplessly while it was all happening. He understood that his family was in peril, but he didn't know what he might do to help. He began wondering whether there was anyone behind them controlling what was happening to his family.World Bank officials departed and left Kaidën's family to deal with the stark reality of their financial standing. Duke Arin stood with his back to the wall, his eyes unfilled with worry. Princess Sofia tried to calm him down, and still she too was obviously upset.Kaidën approached his parents slowly. "Father, Mother, what is it?" he cried his voice shaking.Duke Arin forced a weak smile. "It's merely business, son," he stated. "There is no cause for alarm."But Kaidën understood. He saw it in his parents' worried look and felt it in the desperation that clung to the air. He knew that there was something seriously amiss.In trying to make the best out of what was to happen to them, there was a knock on the door that broke that depressing ambiance. One of the faithful servants of the house appeared and whispered some things to Duke Arin.Duke Arin grew darker and he jerkily nodded. "Good. Take him in."The servant lowered his head and departed and returned with a burly man of large build and dressed in black with on his lapel a silver badge on which was etched the World Bank logo. His eyes were calculating and cold and appeared to see through to Kaidën's family."Ah, Duke Arin," he said with a smug tone to his voice. "I see that you are having some financial struggles."Duke Arin's eyes blazed with fury, and he was forced to suppress his temper. "What do you want, Mr.""Ravenwood," he said again with a widening smile. "And I am come to offer to you a. resolution to your dilemma."Kaidën was shouting to his own intuition to watch his step, but he didn't know what to make of Ravenwood's offer. There was just something about this guy that didn't sit right with him, that made his flesh creep.Duke Arin narrowed his eyes as he regarded Ravenwood. "What kind of resolution?" he asked.There was a laughter that was cold and humorless. "Oh, I think you'll find it is quite. generous," he said. "We're extending you a loan with a decreased interest rate."Princess Sofia regarded Kaidën questioningly. "There has to be a catch," she said in amazement.There was no waver to Ravenwood's smile. "There is no catch," he said. "At least not that you'd know about right away."Kaid shuddered as he listened to what was said to him by Ravenwood. He was conscious that his own family was in trouble, but he was sure that they couldn't trust Ravenwood.Their eyes met with Duke Arin's own eyes blazing with stubborn resolve. "I reject your offer," he growled with resolve. "There has to be some other way that we can resolve our financial crisis."There was no faltering of Ravenwood's smile. "Excellent, Duke Arin," he said with his voice heavy with condescension. "But let me warn you that sanctions for refusing my proposal will be extreme."Turning that corner, Ravenwood departed and left the Kaidën family to fate. Kaidën stood there and continued to watch them go, with a sense of dread that he couldn't escape.It grew more and more difficult for Kaidën's family to confront reality about their finances. They cut costs to absolute bones, laid off employees and sold properties and nothing was improving. Debt was just amassing and getting more and more desperate.Years went by in a whirlwind of three, yet the family finances remained in a mess. The grand mansion was a sight to see with walls that crumbled and gardens that grew wild. The rich and luxurious family meals that it was used to now remained shallow and stingy.There was news of the decline of Kaidën nobles that spread with speed among nobles and before long those who used to smile and show them respect began to turn their backs on them.Eight-year-old Kaidën watched in horror as his home life continued to break down. He could do nothing to prevent it and became increasingly angry every day.The duke stood before them with sunken worried eyes. One day he called for a gathering of his family. "There is no other choice," he whispered. "We must take Ravenwood's proposal."Princess Sofia looked down on him with discouragement. "But Arin, rumors? What about what might happen because of it?"Duke Arin scowled on his face. "We do not have any other alternative," he reiterated. "We are going to have to take his offer and hope for the best."And with reluctance, Duke Arin consented to Ravenwood's proposal.But he didn't know that accepting Ravenwood's offer would add to his woes.It couldn't get any more terrible. Then catastrophe. A plague that appeared to spring out of nowhere began to spread with a rapidity that was breathtaking. They were dropping like flies left and right, and what was formerly faithful subjects of the Kaidën dynasty were now catching and perishing.Duke Arin was in a quandary. He thought that accepting Ravenwood's offer would put his woes behind him, and now he was faced with a larger catastrophe. Plague was sweeping through rapidly and it seemed that no one was immune.Kaidën's parents were worried to death, and the boy was forced to stand by and watch his family situation go from bad to worst. He couldn't do anything to stop it and his frustration grew with each passing day.What was to come? Would the Kaidën family manage to stay whole despite this latest crisis, or would they become a victim of the plague and to Ravenwood's treachery? The story goes on