Chapter 204: Chapter Two Hundred And Three
The carriage rolled slowly down the narrow, dusty streets of the lower city. The metal-rimmed wheels bumped rhythmically against the uneven stone pavement, making a loud, hollow grinding sound. Inside the carriage, Camilla sat comfortably on the soft velvet seat.
She rested her chin in her hand, looking out the small glass window. The busy streets were filled with poor commoners, dirty stalls, and the smell of cheap coal smoke.
Finally, the carriage slowed to a gentle stop.
Camilla looked out and saw the wooden sign of Allen’s textile establishment. The shop looked small, quiet, and slightly run-down. The front display windows were clean, but they were completely empty of any bright, beautiful fabrics.
The carriage door opened with a soft creak. The driver, wearing his neat black uniform, stood by the step and offered his hand.
Camilla gathered the skirts of her simple brown traveling dress and stepped down onto the stone street.
Allen was standing just inside the entrance of his quiet shop. He had been holding a broom, trying to sweep away the dust, but when he heard the carriage stop outside, he quickly walked to the door.
When Allen saw Camilla step out, his eyes lit up with a small spark of hope. But then, he looked behind her.
The carriage driver and another helper were struggling to lift a chest from the back compartment of the carriage. The wood groaned under the immense weight of the five thousand shiny gold coins inside.
Allen stopped dead in his tracks. He stood on the wooden threshold of his shop, his mouth slowly dropping open. His eyes widened to their absolute maximum limit in shock. He looked at the chest, and then he looked back at Camilla’s calm face.
His hands began to shake slightly, and he almost dropped his broom. He swallowed hard, trying to find his voice.
"Wh... where... where did you get all that money, sister in law?" Allen stammered. His voice was high, shaky, and filled with disbelief.
He knew the Benson family was wealthy, but seeing such a massive chest of pure gold delivered directly to his cheap shop in the lower city felt like an impossible dream.
Camilla saw his shocked expression and let out a very soft, quiet chuckle. She adjusted the dark wool shawl around her shoulders. She gave him a very warm confident smile.
"Don’t worry about that, Allen," Camilla replied smoothly. Her voice was calm, relaxed, and unbothered. She stepped closer to him. "Where the money came from is not your concern. All you have to worry about right now is how to make a real, clean profit from that money."
The carriage driver stepped forward, wiping a thick layer of sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. He bowed deeply to Camilla.
"My Lady," the driver said respectfully, his voice slightly strained from the physical effort of holding the heavy box.
Camilla turned her head slightly. "Take the chest inside," she instructed the driver clearly.
Then, she turned her eyes back to Allen, who was still standing frozen like a stone statue.
"Help him, Allen," Camilla said with a gentle nudge in her voice. "The chest is extremely heavy. It weighs almost as much as a small boulder. One man cannot carry it over the threshold alone."
"Oh, yes! Yes, of course!" Allen snapped out of his paralyzed state.
He quickly set his broom against the brick wall. He ran down the small stone steps to the carriage. Allen grabbed one of the leather handles of the chest, while the driver grabbed the other.
"On three," the driver grunted, his face turning a light shade of red. "One, two, three, lift!"
Both men pulled with all their strength. Their leather boots scraped loudly against the stone pavement as they slowly carried the heavy box. The wood of the chest creaked, and the gold coins inside made a loud, metallic shifting sound that made Allen’s heart beat wildly against his ribs. It was the sound of a true fortune.
They walked slowly and carefully, their muscles tensing, until they finally crossed the threshold and entered the quiet shop.
Thud.
They set the chest down onto a sturdy, flat wooden table in the center of the room. The old table groaned slightly under the weight, but it held. The driver took a deep breath, bowed to Camilla once more, and walked back outside to wait by the carriage.
Allen stood by the table, panting slightly. He looked down at the chest. He reached out a trembling hand and slowly lifted the lid.
Instantly, a warm, golden light reflected from the inside of the box.
Thousands of minted, polished gold coins greeted his eyes. They were stacked in neat, beautiful rows, filling the chest completely to the very top. The golden glow illuminated Allen’s face, making his eyes sparkle with emotional tears.
"Five thousand gold coins..." Allen whispered softly to himself, his voice shaking with gratitude. He felt an incredible wave of relief wash over his chest. This money was enough to pay off all his business debts, buy the finest materials, and keep his doors open for years.
He turned his head and looked directly at Camilla. He bowed very deeply and respectfully from his waist.
"I do not know how to thank you, sister-in-law," Allen said, his voice full of genuine emotion. "You have saved my life today. I swear I will work night and day to make sure you do not regret this investment."
Camilla waved her hand casually, encouraging him to stand up straight.
"Save your thanks for when we actually make a profit, Allen," Camilla said with a confident smile. "Now, let us get to work. We have a business to build."
Allen nodded quickly. He walked over to his small wooden desk and opened a drawer. He pulled out a sheet of parchment paper. It was a formal business contract that he had carefully written down the night before.
He placed the document gently on the table next to the chest of gold. He handed Camilla a dark feather quill and a small bottle of black ink.
"This is the partnership contract, sister-in-law," Allen explained politely. "It details the split of the profits. Since you are providing the entire principal capital, I have written down that you will receive sixty percent of all the earnings, while I will take forty percent to manage the daily operations and logistics."
Camilla picked up the paper. She did not sign it immediately.
She was a modern woman and had to be cautious. She read the elegant, curving handwriting very carefully, line by line. She checked the terms, the liability clauses, the profit-sharing agreements, and the provincial taxes. She wanted to make sure there were no mistakes.
As she read, she noticed how honest and fair Allen had been. He had not tried to hide any costs, and his math was perfectly correct. He was truly a decent, highly moral gentleman.
Camilla smiled, fully satisfied.
She dipped the feather quill into the black ink. With a smooth, elegant motion, she signed her name, Camilla Benson, at the very bottom of the parchment.
"Perfect," Camilla said, setting the quill down. "The contract is official. Now, let us discuss your first shipment of goods."
