The Absolute: Humanity's Second Chance

[ Yes, lord Adonis. As you wish ]

The divine will responded, holding back the excitement bubbling up within it.

Even as a godly entity, it could not help but become excited at the freely given opportunity to grow even stronger than it already was. It couldn't!!

"Well, while we are waiting for that, as well as for Damien to return, allow me to give you a little heads up, your highness." Juliette abruptly said, as she was also able to view the notifications from the divine will.

"A heads up?" Adonis questioned back in surprise, his focus moving away from the Class Inheritance prescription.

Sixth, Ninth, Harold, Lloyd and even Kiara were also interested.

Their interests were piqued, and their ears spread out wide open. Anything related to the Silver couple, was always spicy information.

That was for sure.

"Yup. Heads up... When the Silver Association is completely built, we will give you and Fiona 40% rights to it. Isn't that amazing." She responded as such, with a blooming smile.

"What?!" And Adonis was left shocked. Not only him, even Harold and his fellow peers were shocked beyond belief.

40%? Did she just say 40% rights?! How could that be?!

They had seen the building plans of the Silver Association, and what effect it would have on humanity as a whole. Having just 1% of it would be a godsend, let alone 20% each. That was a free income of money!!

They all thought. Meanwhile, Sixth and Ninth cared less about that.

They already had enough money on them, and weren't in desperate need of any. Plus, Damien's money, was as good as their money as well.

"Well, it's not necessary like that." But then abruptly, out of the blue, Damien's voice descended from above, as he soon also descended with Fiona within his embrace. "The 40% is also shared amongst two others for now." He added.

He then gently led Fiona down, and stood besides Juliette. "And in the near future, when all twelve kings are collected, it will be shared amongst all fourteen of you. Hence enjoy the 10% while it still lasts." He concluded, dousing out the rising ambition of some.

Adonis being disappointed for the third time today morning.

"..."

Fiona glanced at her uncle, who sighed in disappointment, again, from the sidelines. He did not even try to hide it away, and just let it show. 'Uncle... you're embarrassing me.' She thought in defeat.

"But... 10% is still enough for now." Adonis nodded, already calculating how much he would make even when it was shared amongst fourteen individuals. 'Still, shares of 2,86% will still be enough, right?' He once more consoled himself.

"Of course, that being the case, you're are also obliged to pay 10% of the overall cost of the Association's buildings from here on out. Until the shares decrease." Damien added, dropping a massive bomb shell that had everyone freezing in shock.

They had to pay... 10% the cost?

What?

Did you know?

Just the overall cost of this coming Institution only, was way above a million gold coins in value. A million gold coins to build just a small town sized institution.

And a single gold coin was equivalent to a hundred silver coins, which equated to a thousand bronze coins. And ten bronze were equivalent to a single US dollar. Thus this project cost ten billion US dollars to create.

And they had to pay 10% of all of that? Wasn't that still a hundred thousand gold coins at minimum? Could they afford it?!

"I... I should have expected that. I'm sorry for getting overly excited." Adonis immediately relented his thoughts, and now thought of how to cover the cost of his shares.

Consolement? He gave up at this point.

"...Yes, it's our fault for expecting yet another free gift from you guys." Fiona also lowered her head in embarrassment. A hundred thousand gold was all that they had though!!

And this one Institution was just one out of twelve others to be built. And whose to say that, the Silver Association will not choose to sponsor another project at the same time?

Their pockets were in for a run for their money.

And they, were in for a tough life up ahead. 'I guess... my niece is suffering enough. I can't target her. But my brother is suffering as well. Ahhh... Such a bothersome life, such poor family members.' Harold thought in more disappointment.

More, apparent disappointment that he did not hide away from the others, including Fiona, resurfaced on his face. 'Uncle... please, at least show some minimum courtesy.' She sighed once more in defeat.

Life...

~~~~~

Time trickled by, and the day went by. Soon, it was evening of the next day.

Adonis sent out invitations to all the nobles of Avarice, where they would attend a banquet the coming weekend to welcome him as the new city lord of Avarice.

The suggestion was from Fiona, as she believed it would be to his benefit if he were to meet those in power, and begin making connections as soon as possible. And Adonis had to agree with her.

The Lanzelet scandal showed them that their appearance here was not at all jovial accepted, and welcomed by everyone.

There would be those that were against him. And they would poison those who were neutral and unaware of the situation, thus getting everyone against him.

'Ruling a city with both internal and external enemies is not to my liking.' Adonis thought, sighing as he leaned back on his chair, looking up at the golden moon through the window.

'Calm. And pretty... I think I've fallen in love with the moon.' He subconsciously thought to himself, with a subtle smile on his angelic face.

He was just about done from dealing with all the replies and responses from the sent out invitations.

And reading each letter was a chore in and of itself, and coming to dislike 80% of them was more so.

It was tiresome.

Thus he deserved the rest.

He sighed, looking up at the bookshelves to his left.

"..."

He was within the study room, and wore relatively loose clothes to better breathe, and catch a break.

Plus, no one would uncharacteristically barge in on him, at this time of the night, hence why–

"Adonis, I brought you some midnight snacks." Fiona knocked on the door, reporting just as she opened it and gracefully entered, all smiles and jovial as always.

Quite a contradiction to his now shocked, but still lethargic appearance. But that was not the focus of the matter right now. Not at all.

"..."

Adonis froze, and could not help but look up at her with an expression of shock and stupor, cursing his luck a million times. 'By the gods' grace, why...'

His hair was messy, his shirt was barely buttoned up, his table a mess as well, his posture was a bit too languid.

Embarrassing!!

That was what it all spelled out!!

"Oh?" Fiona also realized the condition he was in, and froze at the door.

She then quickly turned around and instructed the maid she had brought with her. "Th–Thank you, you can give this to me now. Oh, and may you please boil us some water?" She added.

"Yes, my lady." The elderly maid paused, then responded, and handed the small tray of desserts to her, before lowering her head, as she turned to leave. "Thank you."

Fiona thanked her, then entered back into the study, and closed the door.

And by now, Adonis had tried to fix himself up to at least be presentable, and not seem too wild and carefree.

"I didn't expect to see you in such a mess, lord Adonis." She jovially said, laying down the tray on the table, that was a bit presentable now. "My apologies for barging in unannounced." She added with a bitter smile.

She just now realized how much work he was in today. It has not been long since he took over this city, and had a lot on his agenda.

She also kind of felt sorry for him.

"No, no. It's fine, my apologies for lacking manners." Adonis forced out a smile as he responded, still dying inside due to embarrassment.

He thought that separating from his older siblings, would reduce the amount of times he was embarrassed and humiliated, but perhaps that was only wishful thinking.

"Fufu~ This is your castle, why are you apologizing?" Fiona chuckled at his desperate attempts, finding him quite adorable. "You look adorable trying to hide away your embarrassment." She bluntly added.

"..."

And Adonis found himself speechless. At her bluntness, and also at her beautiful smile.

A smile that made him subconsciously think of a vibrant sun, compared the moon he just saw. 'Pretty...' He thought.

He had nothing to say. There was nothing to say to that. And thus, he could only lower his head in silence, and kill himself mentally.

And seeing him as such, Fiona couldn't help but subconsciously smile brighter. Teasing Adonis was a recently attained hobby of hers that she never knew she had.

A hidden talent, perhaps?

Knock~ Knock~

"My lady, your highness, greetings. I've brought your water."