Terms And Conditions

The traders did not feel as secure as before. They looked at each other but even when they were dismissed by him, they did not leave the room.

Though Elias had offered a way forward, they did not trust him like before. a chill still clung to the edges of their mind that he was not as simple as they had thought. An ominous feeling that they would be abandoned just like lord Velmore had been tricked by this man and had become a fool in the society.

 they exchanged glances as uneasiness seeped into their bones. None stood to leave, yet none spoke either. Their minds were racing, questioning if this was truly a reprieve or another trap they failed to notice.

Elias's smile didn't waver. He tilted his head slightly, observing their discomfort with the same ease as they watched the nobles treading over the slaves.

"I see your hesitation," he said warmly with a hint of amusement in his voice. "It is natural to worry about the business deal until they are on papers. So let me offer you something more concrete."

He gestured lightly, and the maid stepped forward with a stack of neatly prepared documents. It had contracts bound in heavy parchment, bearing the official seal of Crestford.

"These are written contracts," Elias explained in a voice smooth as velvet. "Since you can not trust my verbal promises, I have laid everything out in ink, so you no longer have to rely on trust alone."

The traders leaned forward. Their eyes scanned the documents, skimming the lines with growing interest. And slowly, their expressions changed. They looked at him with surprise, then wondered.

"The terms are generous," one murmured.

Elias offered an almost cheerful nod. "As I have promised, I have doubled the market rate for construction. Each of you will receive your share. You can choose the contracts you want from the stack and apply your seal on it. There were projects like construction of bridges, tea houses, rowboats, inns, and more. Your firms will spearhead the new face of Crestford."

A murmur of relief spread among them. Their shoulders finally slumped and tension slipped away. They nodded, almost in unison as they held contracts like salvation in their hands.

But as they flipped to the last page of each document, the air stilled again.

"What is this?" one asked with his brow furrowed. "You have changed the penalty clause too?"

Another read aloud, voice tinged with disbelief. "Failure to deliver a project within the agreed time limit will result in a fine ten times the remuneration amount?"

All heads turned sharply toward Elias but he only offered them a smile with a nod.

"It is just a formality. You might not know but the payment of fines is always proportional to the remuneration. The remuneration I am offering you is just double the market rate. There were many who would object and it would end up in clashes. But if I increase the penalty clause too, I would have something too, reply to them. If I don't do it, the contract mightn ot even pass in the royal court." Elias said lightly, brushing invisible dust from his cuff. "You are all experienced men. You are masters of your trade. These terms won't affect you at all, because none of you will fail. I believe in you."

He beamed, his eyes glinting with a sharp edge but they still felt trust in them. "You have completed larger projects for Velmore with half the money. I am merely putting in writing what you are already capable of achieving."

The traders sat straighter. Some puffed out their chests and others nodded with solemnity. one even let out a small laugh, shaky but genuine. Their egos, once bruised, now felt carefully mended and polished. The praise wrapped around their pride and they nodded at once. 

"Yes, of course. This is well within our reach. In fact, I can complete the construction of the bridge in less time than you have offered to show my sincerity."

"Time limit won't be an issue since we can hire more workers with the large advance you would offer us."

"We have done harder for less, we apologize that we doubted you even for a second."

They said it to reassure themselves, but their confidence had returned. One by one, they signed the contracts, dipping quills in black ink with renewed determination and applying their seal on the documents.

When the papers were collected, Elias clapped once, softly.

"Now then. Shall we enjoy the tea?"

He gestured toward the long-forgotten tray. The maid stepped forward again, this time receiving polite nods and even murmured thanks. The aroma of jasmine and cardamom no longer went to waste.

This time, the traders sipped freely and reached for the snacks, praising the blend and Elias's hospitality.

"You are truly generous, my lord," one said, chewing on a flaky puff. "Doubling our pay shows your vision. We all hope that our partnership would not even with this one project. If it went well, we will share the future details with you too. You know in our continent, there are still many lands which have been left untouched."

Elias inclined his head with a smile. "Of course, I would be looking forward to the work you perform for me."

"Yes, of course. You would be earning a lot of gold at the end of this project and everyone would understand their value." But behind their polite compliments, behind the sweet talk and laughter, lay a thin film of contempt. In their minds, they had taken advantage of a noble too eager to please, a ruler too desperate for grandeur.

Fool, they thought. You have just overpaid us for something we were going to do anyway.

They drank his tea and ate his sweets. And Elias, watching them carefully, drank nothing at all. He only smiled with his eyes glinting like a blade just below silk. He clapped his hands and two strong men entered the room with large boxes in their hands. The traders recognized one of the men. He was Velmore's slave. Their eyes widened but before they could ask, Elias offered,

"Since everyone is settled, I will clear the land in a week. By then, you must be prepared for the construction and to show my sincerity, this is the advance I will offer you."