The main purpose of Lucius's visit to Dionysia Brewery was to check on how the business was going and so he finished the task first.
"Young Lord Asher, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Lady Alessa greeted once Asher and Kiana stepped into her office. There was a smile on her face as she looked at them and raised her head from writing a parchment.
'It seems like visiting Etara's Cross and being introduced to the circle of nobility has good effects and allowed some exuberance for Alessa compared to how she was before. I was almost suspecting that they might feel some disconcert at being left in the background when Viscountess Blackshield joined us on our way back, but the contrary is displayed.' Lucius thought, observing the situation.
"We've come to check on how things are going on here, Lady Alessa. Is that a document regarding the state of the brewery?" Lucius asked as he motioned to the parchment.
"O-oh, please let me retrieve them first. This is from Baroness Hugh, I'm afraid." Alessa said as she immediately opened some drawers and located the documents about the brewery. "I will also put this away first."
Lucius didn't comment on anything and neither did it show on his face, but he was surprised that Baroness Hugh actually exchanged letters with Alessa already.
'There is quite an importance in being able to network, so it is quite good that Alessa and even Baroness Hugh have connected in ways that are good for the brewery. Baron Hugh will naturally follow once the people from the rehabilitation arrive and that will come in a few days or so.' Lucius thought.
After a moment of consideration, Lucius cleared his throat.
"It seems like Baroness Hugh and you get along well now, Lady Alessa. I am glad of this. From what I remember of her during the banquet, she is quite cold and detached but you two are talking."
"Yes, I was a little nervous about it as well, Young Lord Asher." Alessa said with an embarrassed smile. "But Baroness Hugh has proven to be quite a good person despite her appearances."
"Indeed. One should not let ourselves be conformed by initial perception." Lucius commented in a relaxed tone. He did not necessarily have to get along well with Alessa, but there was the perfunctory role of being a noble and so he asked a little before they settled into discussing business manners.
"We've already raised the prices before, but I think it will not hurt our profit margin if we increase it some more," Lucius said.
Alessa blinked, she knew how much profit the brewery was making and would have been proud of it already, however, Asher was not satisfied. She regained her composure and nodded.
"If that is what you think, Young Lord Asher, I will follow what you have said. I do not think it will be odd at all with how merchants are already increasing the price rapidly. We should take the chance as well. Shall we raise it to 40 silvers per bottle then?" Alessa suggested.
"Yes, let us go with that." Lucius nodded. He briefly checked the documents and ascertained everything was in order and discussed a little with Alessa about the general direction of the brewery.
"The development of new vats and another building is already on the way, Young Lord Asher to satisfy the demand. It has decreased the profit margin a bit but…"
"It is a good choice. I think this is all that I came here for, Lady Alessa. I will be meeting with your husband and borrowing him tonight." Lucius said.
***
Sir John did not have any idea what Young Lord Asher had in mind, but he ended up quite surprised when the man did not take him to the Inanis Mansion but instead to one of the more popular restaurants in the city.
'Young Lord Asher… is not the type of man to suddenly take someone somewhere. I wonder what he wishes to discuss?' John thought.
"Since I've said it is a time of celebration, I hope that you do not mind me taking you here, Sir John." Lucius said.
Kiana was gone and had left to retrieve the materials needed for the Gift Upgrade at the rehabilitation center and was to return as fast as she could.
"I am deeply humbled, Young Lord Asher. I do not have any idea as to what there is to celebrate unless it is a continuation of the festivities from Count Inanis's battle, but I was no participant there." Sir John said.
"It is not about that, but I am referring to the sudden rise of events for you and your family. Life has been good to you, Sir John." Lucius said.
John was a little surprised by the words of Asher. Earlier it was genuine praise but now it became a little serious. It made the man a little frantic on his chair, cautious of what might happen.
'I have not done anything wrong did I? There was the fact that the attempted break in at the brewery was not relayed properly, but Young Lord Asher has been most gracious all this time. I hope that we do not appear like we're trying to take more than we deserve.' Sir John thought with trepidation in his chest.
The Lieutenant was simple in the sense that he cared greatly for his family and wanted the best for them so in the case that he or Alessa may have offended Young Lord Asher in anyway, then it only made sense for him to rectify the situation.
This was for him, his wife and most importantly their baby, Cia.
'I want a good future for me and my family, especially Cia… if we were to dare offend Asher and his family, it will be a difficult thing to do. I must make reparations.' Sir John thought. 'I may have gotten too big of myself and used to their grace. The fact that I allowed that attempted trespasser away without giving chase is truly enough to gain the ire of Young Lord Asher.'
"I apologize profusely for what happened, Young Lord Asher."
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