Chapter 16: Roaring Golden Lion (1)

Smoking Tower City was in a state of uproar. The death of a young heir was enough to sharpen the blades of battle and beat the drums of war. It felt like the entire city was thrust into a state of fight or flight, everyone realizing just how fleeting their lives truly were.

Everyday became a struggle for survival. Shops closed early, most only left their homes out of need, and the streets seemed to lack a liveliness they once had.

With the Quota Check fast approaching, it had already felt as though a noose was quickly tightening around their necks. This event was like a sudden pull to the rope, leaving their feet dangling and their airways severed.

**

"Darling Sofia, you've been around a lot more frequently these days. Be careful running around, it's been quite chaotic outside."

The sound of a mature woman's voice rang through the open glass doorway and into a well furnished garden space. There was a hint of care in the tone, but it also had a tangible loftiness to it. One could almost hear the prim dress and pearl necklace the person who spoke them wore.

"Yes, Miss Joseph! I'll be careful!"

Sofia's reply came with a politeness one wouldn't expect from her. She was on her best behavior, her posture a little too proper given the circumstances. Even her clothing was less revealing than usual, her slender legs and deep cleavage nowhere to be seen.

Sofia sat at a small round table served with tea. Across from her was a smiling Rosemary, a teasing light in the latter's eyes.

"What's with that look!?"

"Nothing, nothing."

Rosemary's smile was too bright for her words to be believable. She tried to hide it behind a teacup with an edge of gold, but the bubbling of the liquid as she laughed gave her away.

"I'm glad you can still laugh." Sofia crossed her arms in a humph. "You know how much I hate coming here."

Rosemary felt a little bad hearing this. Sofia had been coming over everyday ever since that day just for her sake. She would be lying if she said it hadn't made her feel much better.

"Sorry…"

Sofia sputtered with laughter. "You're too quick to apologize. If it was really so horrible, I would have just let you drown in your tears."

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"Sof!"

Rosemary pouted in protest, her expression looking every bit as adorable as it always did. She had the face of a teenage girl despite the fact she was already in her 20's. It made Sofia want to reach over and pinch her cheeks.

The two women giggled and teased one another as they always did. The life of a young noble woman was quite leisurely and carefree, at least when you have the talent to contract a Spirit Beast like Rosemary and Sofia. If not for this, how could they already be so old and childless? They were blessed by talent that saved them from a life of swollen feet and ankles, bearing babies for a man two or even three times their age.

"Are things on the outside really so bad?" Rosemary asked, leaning forward as though she was speaking about something naughty.

As scared of Rosemary's mother as Sofia was, Rosemary was even more so. Though, maybe fear wasn't the right word. It was more like a healthy respect mixed with a hint of trepidation and tiptoeing.

Rosemary wasn't allowed to leave the house unless it was by Sofia's side. And, even then, she had a curfew to meet and would likely only be given permission only if she was going to see her grandfather or attending a noble function.

With everything that was going on, even these privileges had been snatched away. Before she had awoken to her talent, Rosemary had already been the anchor protecting her mother's place as the Joseph family's Mistress. After she was found to have such talent, her mother's position skyrocketed and that translated to overprotection.

Sofia was the lit path to the outside world for her.

"It's only getting worse," Sofia leaned in with a whisper, keeping her words from the maids in the surroundings likely listening in on their conversation. "My brother told me that Francis and two of his guards were killed at the city gates. The culprit was someone they dragged out to punish, but the guards don't know who he was because something had been covering his face. All they know is that…"

Rosemary blinked, her large eyes sparkling with curiosity. She had been listening with intent to hold onto Sofia's every word, but she had suddenly stopped.

"Know is what? What do you know?"

Sofia opened her mouth and hesitated. She had been avoiding this topic because she knew the inevitable end. Since she had thought of it, she knew that Rosemary would immediately think of it as well.

"… That they wore a large wooden box on their back."

"Ah…"

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