His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 40

Raena reached for her coffee cup, raising it to her lips only to realize there was nothing inside. She stared at the empty bottom with betrayal before setting it down and glancing back at the mountain of papers on her desk. If she hadn’t been convinced about the realness of this world, she was now. There was no way a fictional world existed where someone had to do so much paperwork.

She got up and stretched her arms, glancing toward Davin, who was sitting in Zen’s usual place, frowning at a piece of paper he was reading.

“So what’s the verdict? How bad am l at math2” She smiled, stepping toward him. She had been hesitant at first, giving Davin access to both the North Palace and restaurant’s finances, but she needed the help and she’d rather receive it from someone that already knew her secret than a total stranger. Besides, Davin was tight-lipped and very good with numbers, So she wasn’t worried he’d make a mistake. What worried her was herself – she had become too reliant on other people. First Kara, then Zen, Marden and even the Empress. Now Davin. If one of them made a mistake or did something they shouldn’t do, they’d be dragging her right down with them.

Still, the same thing would happen if she messed up. So messing up was not an option.

“Your math is mostly fine,” he finally spoke when she thought he wouldn’t. “But the numbers don’t add up. I thinkI saw a few purchase slips that weren’t put in the ledger, which may explain why your expenses don’t match the amount paid for products and services.” Raena stared at his face as he spoke, and when he realized that, he shifted uncomfortably. “Mistress, is something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m concerned and impressed.” Raena said. “How does a village boy know so much about accounting? Didn’t you live in a village high in the mountains? Why would you need to know all of that there?”

“Ah, well” Davin chuckled, putting the paper down on his lap. He didn’t reply right away, staring at his fingers that played with the edge of the paper.

“Our father was a merchant and he taught me all those things. He realized that Zender doesn’t have the mind for these things, so he wanted me to learn and take over when he grows old and was unable to go up and down the mountain again. And I was always good with numbers, so I picked things quickly.”

“I see.” Raena nodded, stepping toward her desk and picking up her veil. “Well then, that’s good for me. Let’s look into those discrepancies once I am back.” She added, putting the veil on and carefully adjusting it to cover her face well. “I need to go and meet with my business partner, so I will be upstairs for a while.”

“Yes, Mistress.” Davin nodded, adjusting himself on the couch. “What do you want me to do with these documents?”

“Gather them and put them on my desk. I’ll lock them up once I’m back,” Raena said on her way to the door. She stepped outside in the quiet corridor, heading for the back door. She made her way to the brothel’s back entrance. Only two of the lamps were lit, giving the small space an eerie look.

Despite being an early afternoon, the reception room was half full of men nursing a drink or talking to the girls that were moving from table to table, laughing and conversing while sitting on their laps or having their hair played with.

Raena frowned, looking around until her eyes stopped on Arissa, who was sitting with a half empty glass in front of her. Raena headed toward her.

“Where is everyone? Why are there only two girls here?” she asked, and Arissa finally lookedup.

“Well, they are all working, obviously,” the older woman replied with a smirk. “Some have even been putting in overtime. Thanks to your tricks, we have all been as busy as bees. Even I had to give a few sessions since the customers were getting impatient.”

“Marden will have to get more people,” Raena mumbled, glancing over her shoulder as the men on one of the tables erupted in laughter. “Where is he, by the way?”

“His office,” Arissa said with a sigh, raising the cup to her lips and taking a big gulp.

“Hey, don’t drink so much. Somebody needs to keep an eye on this place.” Raena frowned as she prepared to leave. Arissa gave her a salute without even looking at her, putting down her empty glass and turning in her seat. Raena sighed as she made her way to Marden’s office – he had moved it to a smaller room on the first floor so his room could be given to one of the workers. She hesitated at the door, then knocked.

His voice prompted her to enter, and as she did, she allowed herself a quick look around. The place was even smaller, with a compact desk by the only window and two lamps on the walls – one by the door and one on the opposite side above the small one-person bed. Marden was sitting behind his desk with his eyes closed. A mess of ink bottles, crumpled papers and two empty plates covered every inch of the surface in front of him.

“Would you look at that?” Raena smiled, closing the door. “He is working! And here I thought you’d be banging one of the girls over your desk.”

“l am offended!” he said, opening his eyes and smirking. “I love money almost as much as I love se*x. Of course, I’m taking this opportunity seriously.

“Well, if you’re finished, how about having lunch with me? I have something to talk to you about.” Raena offered, putting her hand back on the handle.

He didn’t move, so she raised an eyebrow. “Give me just a minute,” he said then, looking down. “Hurry up, will you?” Raena frowned in confusion and just as the realization hit her, Marden grunted, closing his eyes and letting out a long breath. A few seconds later, a tiny blonde girl with her hair pulled into two braids rose from between his legs, wiping her mouth and heading for the door. Her eyes stopped on Raena for a second and she blinked awkwardly, as if wondering if she should greet her.

Raena stepped back, opening the door for the girt. She received a grateful nod in return, and after a few seconds, the girl disappeared into the corridor. Raena turned back toward Marden, who was already on his feet and buckling his belt.

“Really?” she scoffed, raising her eyebrows as he glanced at her.

“What? Are you jealous? Wanna take her place next time?” he smirked, fixing the collar of his red shirt and unfolding his sleeves.

“No, thank you.” Raena smiled, shaking her head. “Finished now?”

“Finished!” He grinned, joining her by the door and waiting for her to go first. “Let’s go eat.” Raena scoffed again, leading him back the way she had come from. Arissa was no longer at the bar when they passed through the reception room, but instead, she had joined one of the remaining tables with men and was laughing at their jokes, stroking the shoulder of one of them.

“Arissa said you don’t have enough people,” Raena mentioned as they stepped into the back alley.

“Already ahead of you,” Marden said as he opened the door of the restaurant for her. “It has been like this for the last week, so I went ahead and found more yesterday. They’ll be starting tomorrow.” The two of them swiftly stepped inside when one of the waitresses almost ran into them while carrying a tray full of empty plates.

“Easy there!” Raena said with her hands raised in case any of the dishes moved to fall. “Watch where you are going or we might have an accident. And when you have a minute, bring us something to eat on the third floor.”

The girl’s eyes lingered on Marden before she nodded, hurrying toward the kitchen.

“And something strong to drink!” Marden shouted after her.

As they settled on one of the empty tables on the last floor, Raena made a sign for the guard standing there to leave. They made some small talk while waiting for their food, and as the waitress left, Raena gave Marden an impatient look. He pretended not to notice, digging into his food like a starving wolf.

“So” she said when his plate was licked clean.

“What do you have for me?”

He took his time to wipe his mouth and sip from his wine, then pushed his plate away and crossed his hands on the table.

“They are still new at this, but a couple of them found something interesting. Apparently, thanks to the troubles in Caen, the Gossa region is pushing to take over yet another trade route and strengthen its position as a supplier. They are planning on raising the prices of a few of their export products so that could get a lot of businesses out of the game,” he said with a serious expression, studying her face.

Raena nodded for him to continue. “One of the girls was taking care of a guy in the third prince’s employ and it seems that our youngest prince is back out there fighting.”

Raena raised an eyebrow, and he smirked.

“There is another uprising in that damn Craidal. We won with very few casualties, but something must have happened for the third prince to leave for Craidal in the middle of the night.” He reached out and rubbed his chin where a few days’ old stubble was already forming. “I wonder if they caught somebody. Or maybe somebody important died. This uprising makes no sense. They were outnumbered and out geared. It’s like they were begging to die or something.”

“So the girl couldn’t replace the reason?” Raena asked, picking up her cup of water.

“Hey, their job is to listen and remember. Asking too many questions will get them in trouble,” Marden said with a frown. “Still, you were right.

People are more talkative when they are high on pleasure. It was a good idea to make them gather information while doing their jobs. This will be useful. Imagine how much secrets like these cost”

“For now, just record it and keep it safe.” Raena nodded. “And you’re sure they will keep quiet?”

“Well, it’s in their best interest. The better information they bring me, the better bonuses they get. Not to mention they know that if they open their mouths and say something they shouldn’t, they are out. They are not stupid, they can see where the winds are blowing. They can’t replace another brothel that has this much work and pays this well. At least, not right now. Not to mention, the ones that they got this information from might go after them and without my protection..”

Raena nodded again, her mind going back to what he had told her. It wasn’t much for starters, but it was helpful. So that’s how some of those businesses were going to go bankrupt – and the ones that rose up were the ones somehow unaffected by the price change. She had to act faster and invest now, before they learned of this.

“You said you have something to talk to me about?” Marden’s voice pulled her back to the present. “What is it? You changed your mind and want me to take you as my lover?”

“I think you have your hands full already.” Raena pointed out. “I want to ask first, though. You’re a noble, right?” sighed.

Marden tensed in his seat, his smile faltering. He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment, then just end.

“How did you replace out?” he asked at the.. “The ring you’re wearing has a crest on it,” Raena said, nodding toward his hand. He looked down, as if surprised to see the ring there. “And Arissa told me when I asked her. Is it supposed to be a secret?”

“What? No. It’s just not that important to me,” Marden said with a sour expression. Raena watched him for a few seconds longer, then leaned back in her chair.

“Well, it’s important for what I am about to ask,” she said, receiving a confused look in return. “As you probably heard, we are providing the food for the Empress’s birthday celebration. As the caterer, I got a special invitation to attend the ball, but I don’t feel good about going alone. And since you are a noble, you will receive an invitation. So, Your Grace, would you want to be my escort?”

The surprise on Marden’s face was more than evident. A moment later, a smile blossomed on his face, but then suddenly, he frowned.

“Wait, what about your guard? I don’t want my neck broken just because I took your hand. Where is he, by the way? | haven’t seen him around.”

“The banquet is for nobles only and personal servants or guards are not allowed,” Raena explained. “So will you do it?”

The smile returned to Marden’s face.

“Aren’t you afraid to be alone with me?” he smirked, moving his hands behind his neck with a smug expression. “I might take my chance to make you mine while your good puppy is not around.”

“l sincerely hope you have more business sense than that,” Raena scoffed. “You shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds you, as they say. Or you might replace yourself in even more debt than before.”

“You are one tough woman to woo, my lovely Lydia!” Marden chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright, “I’ll be your perfect gentleman escort. But what would I get out of it? I don’t really like to go to those events.”

Raena licked her lips, her finger tapping on the edge of the table.

“How about a new source of income for the brothel, then?”

“Oh?” Marden grinned. “That sounds promising. What is it?”

“It’s a secret,” Raena replied, her eyes going to Davin who had appeared at the door with a nervous expression on his face. She frowned, giving him a sign to get closer. He made his way to the table, glancing at Marden before leaning down and whispering in her ear.

“We have to go back immediately. The girl that is pretending to be you – she is dead.”