Chapter 34: 34. Just A Business Partner?
"Since your wife will be due any day now, it doesn’t sit well with me to see the two of you cramped in that little potion store in Tarot Town." Rowena replied and added.
"She’ll need all the care and support she can get, and my maids will be more than happy to aid her in her delivery if you wish them to."
"So, all I’m asking is for you and your wife to spend at least a month here in my mansion, so that Nora will have a really good place to rest and take care of her baby."
This was the primary reason why she wanted Austin and Nora at her mansion, but it wasn’t the only reason either.
This was because, with Nora being pregnant and about to deliver, most of the scouts and spies sent by other nobles must have already been able to notice Nora’s presence.
And this meant that it wouldn’t be farfetched to assume they might be waiting for her safe delivery before taking action.
In other words, they could hold the baby hostage in return for the recipe, or in return for Austin’s allegiance to work for them.
Since verbal agreement couldn’t be achieved, Rowena wouldn’t be surprised to see Austin’s kind resorting to more brutal means to get the recipe for themselves.
She had lived for centuries and was wise enough to predict what these humans were capable of doing.
And this was the other reason why she had brought up the topic of having Austin and Nora live with her in her mansion.
Already, Austin had completed his final batch of potions and pills for the month, remarkably within eight to ten days out of a possible month.
Aside from that being impressive, Rowena understood Austin would have planned for this because he wanted to spend the remaining weeks of the month being close to his wife, and Rowena wouldn’t want to come between him and his goals.
Since he had clearly completed his agreed task for the month, just like all the previous five months, Rowena was more than happy to let him use her mansion as his respite until they were certain there would be no threat to her business partner or those dear to him.
Meanwhile, Austin finally understood Rowena’s reasoning and agreed to do as she had suggested.
Seeing this, a huge grin appeared on her lips.
"Good. I’ll see to it that a maid gets a room ready for you and Nora."
"Thank you." Austin thanked her, because until now he hadn’t considered the possibility of other nobles harming him or Nora just for the potion.
Of course, they might not outright kill him, but he was certain they would most likely do unspeakable things just to get the recipe, and Austin blamed himself for being too complacent and not thinking ahead about Nora’s safety.
All he had been thinking about these past few weeks were thoughts of spending time with his wife and future child.
But instead, he should have been focused on ensuring their safety as well.
And he probably still wouldn’t have been thinking about it if it weren’t for Rowena reminding him of how important it was.
And this was why he thanked her sincerely from the heart.
Meanwhile, Rowena heard his thanks and nodded with a smile before watching him lift his own mug to his lips.
However, the moment he took a sip of his tea, Austin instantly made a face that showed how displeased he was.
"You don’t like it?" Rowena asked with a subtle smile, surprised to see someone not enjoy green tea.
"Yeah, I don’t like it."
"But it’s green tea."
"Yeah, I still don’t like it." As a man from a modern era, Austin was used to chocolate and black tea rather than what was in front of him right now.
"If you don’t like green tea, I wonder what you’re going to like since you’ll be living with us now." Rowena stated with a genuinely curious expression on her face, but both she and Austin instantly turned toward the door upon hearing a knock.
*Knock* *Knock*
"Who is it?"
"It’s me, my lady."
"Cedric? Come in."
Cedric stepped in and immediately bowed to both Austin and Rowena.
Just like the maidservants in the mansion, Cedric had developed a feeling of respect toward Austin, especially since he had heard about everything the young human had accomplished over these past few months.
But as for running his son ragged until the young man looked like a zombie, Cedric certainly didn’t mind.
After all, his lazy son needed the work, which had given him a sense of meaning and belonging.
"What is it?" Rowena asked as she watched him step into the room.
"It’s Commander Aldren, my lady." Commander Aldren was the highest-ranking official in Rowena’s garrison guards and in her military altogether.
"They’re back?"
"Yes, Countess, and he said he and his men had located the whereabouts of the goblin hideouts and settlements. The Commander is also requesting the new batch of weapons you promised to provide for them."
"I understand. Have the weapons arrived?"
"They arrived this morning, my lady."
"Very well, give him what he wants, along with the crates of 5% impurity-free healing potions as well."
"As you wish, my lady. Will that be all?"
"Yes, Cedric."
"Then I shall take my leave, my lady." Cedric bowed respectfully before doing the same to Austin, and Austin watched as the old elf walked out of the room.
Meanwhile, staring at Austin, Rowena could see how he kept watching Cedric leave, and a strange notion came to mind, but she refused to believe it.
Still, she asked just to be certain.
"Seeing as how you’re staring after Cedric, I hope it’s not because you’re considering joining my guards in exterminating the goblins?"
"Will it be weird if I say I want to join them?"
"Yes, it would. You are my guest here and a very important business partner to me. The last thing I would want is to put you in danger."
"Oh, is that all I am to you? Just a business partner? I always thought we were something more. Well, at least, that’s what I thought."
