CHAPTER 203: LET’S DO IT

Morning light filtered through the curtains. Pale and soft.

Alaric’s eyes opened slowly. He lay there for a moment. Just breathing. Letting awareness settle back in.

Then sat up. The sheets fell away. He swung his legs over the side of the bed. Feet found the cool floor.

Today. Start dismantling Valtair’s operations.

He thought and moved to where his new purchases from yesterday sat folded on a chair.

The plain merchant clothes.

He dressed quickly. Pulled on the gray tunic. Then the black trousers. Sturdy boots he’d worn yesterday.

The wide-brimmed hat came next. He adjusted it. Let the brim shadow his features properly.

Then the scarf. Dark charcoal. He wrapped it loosely around his neck for now, could pull it up to cover his face when needed.

He checked his reflection in the mirror.

He fastened his cloak and moved to his door. Opened it.

The manor was just waking. Early morning sounds drifting through hallways. Servants beginning their routines.

He made his way through.

Didn’t want to run into Elina. Especially not after last night’s disaster.

Just get out. Start working.

He reached the main entrance. Slipped through it.

He headed straight for the gates. The guards stationed there straightened as he approached.

"Young master."

"Opening the gate. I’m heading to town."

"Of course, young master."

They pulled the gates open. No questions asked. No delays.

Alaric walked through.

The road stretched ahead. Leading back toward Gramwell’s market district.

He set a steady pace. Not rushing. Not dawdling. Just purposeful movement.

The morning was still early enough that traffic was light. A few farmers with carts. Some early-rising merchants. Nothing crowded yet.

His mind worked through the plan as he walked.

Delphine and Teryn will forge documents. Create fake contracts redirecting Valtair’s shipments. Impersonate his agents and make deals that fall through.

Hit his revenue streams. Make his business partners doubt him. Create chaos in his supply chains.

Death by a thousand cuts.

And none of it traceable back to me.

Twenty minutes brought him to the market district’s edge. Buildings growing denser. Streets narrower.

He navigated toward the side street where the siblings operated. Found their modest storefront exactly where he’d left it yesterday.

The stall was still covered. Not open yet. Too early.

But he could see lamplight through the window. Movement inside.

They were awake. Working already.

Good.

He approached the door. Knocked. Three times.

Silence for a moment.

Then footsteps. The lock clicked.

The door opened a crack. Teryn’s face appeared. Sandy brown hair messy. Eyes wary.

Recognition flickered when he saw Alaric.

"Lord Alaric." The title came automatically. Respectful. Nervous.

"Let me in."

Teryn stepped back immediately. Pulled the door wider.

Alaric entered. The interior was lit by several lamps. Brighter than yesterday evening.

Delphine sat at the workbench. Already dressed. Her brown hair pulled back. She looked up as he entered.

"My lord." She stood quickly. Gave a hasty bow. "We weren’t—we didn’t expect you so early—"

"Sit." Alaric’s voice came firm but not harsh. "We have work to do."

He moved to the table. Set down a small leather pouch he’d brought. It clinked softly.

"It’s payment for materials, bribes, whatever you need."

Both looked nervous. Uncertain. Still processing their new reality.

Alaric pulled out the hat. Set it aside. Then unwrapped the scarf slightly. Made himself more comfortable.

He leaned forward. Hands flat on the table.

"Here’s what we’re going to do."

His crimson eyes fixed on them both.

And he began laying out the plan in precise detail.

How to forge the documents. Which merchants to approach. What deals to sabotage.

Delphine and Teryn listened. Taking mental notes. Their expressions shifting from nervous to focused.

Understanding what was expected.

By the time Alaric finished, the morning sun had risen higher. Light streaming through the windows more strongly.

"Questions?" He looked between them.

Teryn hesitated. Then spoke. "When do we start?"

Alaric’s lips curved.

"Today. Right now."

He stood. Grabbed his hat. Settled it on his head. His scarf wrapped loosely around his neck.

"Let’s go ruin someone’s morning."

-----

Twenty minutes later, they stood in the eastern district. Near the Crown Warehouse but not directly in front of it.

A smaller merchant office sat two buildings down. The kind of place that handled contract negotiations and shipping arrangements.

Alaric adjusted his hat. Pulled the scarf up slightly to obscure more of his face.

"Teryn. You take the clerk inside."

Teryn nodded. His hand went to the documents tucked inside his coat. "Got it."

"Make it quick."

Alaric’s eyes shifted to Delphine. "You’re with me. There’s a trader two streets over."

Delphine’s face had already started flushing. But she nodded. "What do you need me to do?"

"Distract him. Keep him focused on you."

Her fingers twisted together. Then she nodded.

He turned toward the street. "Come on. Teryn, meet us back at the stall in an hour."

Teryn headed for the merchant office. His posture already shifting into that confident trader persona.

Alaric and Delphine walked in the opposite direction. Weaving through the mid-morning crowd.

They reached the textile trader’s shop. A decent-sized establishment. Well-maintained.

They pushed through the door. A bell chimed.

The interior smelled of dyed wool and cotton. A portly man stood behind the counter, balding, round face, expensive rings on his fingers.

He looked up. His expression shifted from neutral to interested the moment he saw Delphine.

"Good morning! Welcome to Grevin’s. How may I assist you today?"

Alaric stepped forward slightly. "We’re looking to establish new textile contracts. Heard you work with some of the larger operations in the region."

"Indeed, indeed!" Grevin’s chest puffed out. "Very prestigious connections."

"Excellent. My associate here..." Alaric gestured to Delphine. "Handles our quality assessments. She has very... particular standards."

Delphine stepped forward. Her smile in place. Professional. Warm.

"I’d love to see your inventory." Her voice came out steady. "Especially anything you’re currently contracted to supply."

Grevin practically beamed. "Of course! Right this way, my dear."

He moved from behind the counter. Delphine followed along. Asking questions. Touching the materials with careful fingers.

After ten minutes, Alaric couldn’t find an opening.

She wasn’t properly distracting Grevin, kept her distance. Her body language closed rather than inviting.

She’s not doing it.

Finally, Alaric shifted tactics. "Actually, could you show my colleague those imported silks you mentioned? I think she’d appreciate the quality difference."

"Oh! Yes, absolutely." Grevin gestured toward a back section. "Right over here, miss."

Delphine followed. But as Grevin reached for a bolt of silk, Alaric caught her eye.

Gave her a pointed look.

Now. Engage him properly.

Delphine’s face went pale. Then flushed. Her hands clenched at her sides.

She opened her mouth. Stepped slightly closer to Grevin.

He turned. Smiled expectantly.

"I-I" Her voice wavered slightly. "This is very... nice fabric."

The words came out flat. Mechanical.

Grevin blinked. "Er, yes. It’s from—"

"Very nice." Delphine spoke quickly and took a step back. "I think... excuse me."

She turned. Walked quickly toward the door.

Alaric’s jaw tightened.

Damn it.

"My apologies." He said smoothly to Grevin. "She’s feeling unwell. The heat. We’ll return another time."

He followed Delphine out. The bell chimed again as the door closed behind them.

She stood on the street. Arms wrapped around herself. Face still flushed but now with shame rather than embarrassment.

"I’m sorry." The words came out immediately. "I couldn’t, I tried but—!"

Alaric sighed. Pulled his scarf down slightly. "What happened?"

"I just, it felt disgusting." She looked away. "It made my skin crawl. I couldn’t do it."

Alaric studied her for a moment.

Then sighed.