The raindrops pelted down from the sky, hitting the glass window and outside walls, creating a form of rhythmic noise. It was enough to form of distraction for Ainara as she continuously flipped through the pages of the financial sheets left by her father. It wasn’t as though she hasn’t seen any of it before, rather, she is baffled by how much mistake a man who is as young as their financier could make. She could perfectly remember the payment for the hoard of cows her father had bought not just a week ago, for the price of two pounds. They were healthy cows with a good promise of gallons of fresh milk, pounds of meat, and offspring. What she found disturbing is instead of recording two pounds of gold, it was five pounds of gold, a hundred and fifty percent increase from the original price. That wasn’t the only one she found lacking in a proper record. There was also the amount of land they sold off, the payments of the staff, the selling of produce and many more. How her father had missed this when he was alive but yesterday is still questionable.<br/><br/><br/>Ah yes, her father. Lord Devereux Stoikos. A very influences lord at court who reigns the enormous land of Auster, where the Southern Border lies and the half of the Legion of the Crown is placed. Lord Stoikos held great power and wealth, and along with it is great enemies for just last night, he was found dead. Poisoned from the wine he drank just before bedtime, which was served by his valet two hours to midnight. Not only that but a month ago, her uncle, a nobleman from the Western lands was assassinated. Four months ago, her mother’s two brothers were in a horse “accident”, where their horses had gone wild during a hunt, and they fell to the cliffs. The first death was that of her mother’s sister, her aunt, who was married to the House of Nox, a powerful lord from the Northern border, died in a fire. The now widower head of the House of Nox, is looking for a bride. Her aunt’s death happened during the yuletide season.<br/><br/><br/>Closing the book, Ainara rubbed her temples, praying that a headache would not come. This very morning, with not much ceremony, her father was buried in the family’s private cemetery just a few miles from the Stoikos Manor. It was a sudden death, but it’s family custom to let the dead rest, with no more bustle of a guest. It was a ceremony consisted only of her and the household staff. Her mother had already died years before, who, like her aunt had died in a mysterious accident. Listing all the deaths, she was the last living heir to the Stoikos fortune and power, which is both a good thing and a bad thing.<br/><br/><br/>Her Uncle from the Western lands holds about half the fortune of the Stoikos fortune, and her father the half. He has no heir to this fortune, which means it goes to his immediate family her. Her mother’s two brothers who also presides in the Western lands own a fortune through their business of trade. It was a lot, since they trade with several kingdoms, both near and far, and had great influence on the relations of the kingdoms. Also, their fortune goes to her since they are both a bachelor, and her mother and aunt are dead.<br/><br/><br/>That leaves all the money to her.<i>How does the guild think of that</i>, Ainara thought to herself as she stood up from the uncomfortable chair on her father’s very untidy desk.<i>Moreover, what will the court say about a lady inheriting all the fortune</i>? Ainara wanted to laugh. She was pretty sure, someone from her mother’s family, who she believes have a relative from the lords of the eastern borders, will stake claim to half of her now acquired a fortune. Or worse, marry her. That thought earned a chuckle from Ainara.<br/><br/><br/>She was stopped by her thinking when there was a knock on the door to her father’s study. “Come in,” she called, patting the skirt of her black gown, to straighten it. Came knocking was her head servant, with two gentlemen, one she was sure is her father’s solicitor and the other an investigator.<i>Showtime</i>, she thought, putting on a soft and fragile façade.<br/><br/>“The gentlemen are from the Southern Court Office, who wishes to see you,” the servant said in a deep emotionless tone.<br/><br/><br/>“Yes thank you, do bring something for the gentleman to drink,” Ainara ordered, her voice a little shaky.<br/><br/>As the head servant left with a bow, Ainara guided the gentlemen to sit by the chair at the hearth, signaling for them to sit. “What can I do for you this morning my lords?”<br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="24" data-username="@The Red Duke" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/24/">@The Red Duke</a>