Chapter 302 - Job's Done
Nathalia had climbed into the carriage with tears on her face, and Ereka hugged her.
“How did he take it?”
“Not... not very well.” Nathalia said through her sobs. “He... he wanted... to share everything with me...”
“Of course he does.” Ereka said, then knocked on the front of the carriage, and the driver flicked the reins to get the ponies moving. “He loves you.”
“He kept sending me party invites, and I...” Nathalia took a deep breath to try and calm down. “It hurt every time I had to say no.”
“It's okay.” Ereka said. “It was the right thing to do.”
“It didn't feel like it was.” Nathalia said. “I... I had to... abandon him...”
“You're not abandoning him.” Ereka said. “You're just.. letting him go on his way.”
Nathalia laid her head on Ereka's shoulder, and they didn't speak again until they arrived back at House Neram Keep 20 minutes later. They went inside and Ereka went to her bedroom, and Nathalia went into her own bedroom to get changed, then yelled.
“REN!”
Ereka ran from her room and into Nathalia's, and stopped short at the sight. Nathalia had collapsed to her knees in front of a large pile of golden treasures. There were several pieces of parchment on the bed, and Ereka picked up the top one and read it aloud.
| My Dearest Nathalia, It has always been my intention to complete the tasks I undertook; the most important of which was the marriage contract to you. I have provided you with clothing appropriate for a wife; the kitchen items (stove, grill, icebox, etc.) needed to cook meals, and I've even ensured that in case the marriage contract failed (which unfortunately it did), not only would you have a steady income (from the restaurant and the mines), it would be enough to carry you (and the entire House) for as long as you would need it to. The deeds to the lands around the Keep and the city of Dornrach that I've included, ensure this. It's all your land anyways, so you should have the deeds to them. The only thing I hadn't provided, was a place for us to live in. I had started the repairs to the Keep a long time ago; but it wasn't until Tee-one came along that the work began in earnest. Once the cement bags and iron ore started flowing in large quantities, for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, my Dedicated Servant Crafter completed my task. It had been a close thing, especially with my recent banishment; but, Tee-one came through in the pinch. I even had him complete the 30 foot deep reinforced moat. While he worked and repaired the Keep, he entered each room and cleared them of the spider infestation, then looted it. Most of which you can see before you, with a separate smaller pile in Narhilda's room. She said I could keep anything that wasn't hers, so anything that was identified as House Neram, Narhilda's, Thern's, or even owned by the kingdom, Tee-one put in her room. Everything else was placed in yours. With this final task done, even though the marriage can never be official, please accept these tokens of affection and devotion on behalf of a heart that couldn't have survived without you or your love. Yours Always and Forever, Ren
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