RFC-Miniarc-An Average Day-7 (Maxine) (Patreon)

It took all of one second for Maxine to realize the meeting was going to be particularly unpleasant. Her visitor did not wait near the door, ready to greet her with a hug like loving family. Nor did they have a smile and firm handshake prepared, as they would for a respected business partner.

Instead, an older woman sat behind the desk, her desk, with the store’s ledger in hand and her legs crossed. Nonchalant but dominant. Declaring she was in control with an ease that said it was expected, that it had been ludicrous for Maxine to be in charge for even a moment.

A blatant insult but that was par for the course. Maxine cleared her throat. “It’s good to see you, Marcy.”

Marcella Guiness. The marquis’ fourteenth child and fifth daughter. The two sisters were quite similar in appearance, being birthed from the same mother. They shared the same honey complexion, black hair, and smoky grey irises. However, they would never be mistaken for one another, despite Marcella’s youthful looks.

Maxine thought of herself as attractive. She had to be or else, her father who had an eye for beauty would have given her no consideration.

However, she was a simple beauty, the kind that came from having access to alchemical aides to clear her skin, ensure her hair remained lustrous, a healthy diet, and a proper grooming routine. Her face was rather plain. Comely, one might call her. The face of a farmer’s boy childhood crush.

Her sister, on the other hand, had the kind of sinful beauty that brought men to their knees. High cheekbones, long lashes framing her almond eyes, and a small beauty mark at the corner of her mouth to draw attention to her full, pink lips. She had the curves of a courtesan paired with the grace and confidence of a noblewoman.

She used both to tease and charm those around her. A woman who used overflowing passion to hide a cold heart that only cared for profit and didn’t begrudge any method to obtain it.

Marcella smiled and leaned forward. Maxine’s eyes were drawn to the front of her dress, where her bust threatened to spill out of the dangerously low neckline. Scandalous and borderline inappropriate. That summed up her sister perfectly.

“Maxie~ Forgive me for not going to greet you first. You know how it is in the family, business before anything else.”

“Not at all.” A brief glance around the room showed the second chair she kept around for the rare times she saw someone in the office was nowhere to be found, forcing her stand. One of her sister’s games. “You have a lot to catch up on as the new manager.”

“Not that much. You did a great job keeping everything together until I got here.” Marcella closed the ledger and set it aside, putting her chin in her hands and hunching her shoulders. The gesture showed off more of her impressive bust.

Maxine held back the urge to look away. Kierra had done much worse with even less shame. Her sister expected her to flinch so Maxine met her gaze head on. “There’s only one problem. I don’t see the transactions with Kierra Atainna.”

“They aren’t there. I keep a second record exclusively pertaining to her and Lou.”

“Oh? And why is that?”

“When I arrived, I had to work under our cousin and had reservations about making such information available. Seeing as he was later detained for treason, I’d say it was an accurate assessment.”

“Quite. Certainly, you don’t hold the same opinion for your dear sister, do you?”

Maxine briefly ground her teeth before smiling. “Of course not. I will make them available as soon as we return to the house. I assume you’re staying with me?”

“Yes, at least until I find more suitable accommodations. I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable, as I frequently entertain…guests.” Marcella chuckled. “I was hoping that would include Lady Tome and her wife. I don’t suppose you can make that happen?”

“I can send them an invitation on your behalf but I don’t know if they will accept.”

Marcella tutted, shaking her head. “Maxie, I’m disappointed. Surely you haven’t been wasting your time on this store? It’s good to make money but you seem to have forgotten the reason our father sent you to this city. Your priority is the elf. Only the elf. You’ve had several months and you can’t even reliably invite them to lunch?”

Her tone remained pleasant but was full of accusation, her stare hard as stone. “Really, I thought you were better than this.”

Maxine resisted the urge to sneer. “I’ve made all attempts to befriend them. I can confidently say we are on good terms but anything more is beyond my means. I have explored all avenues. The problem is they simply do not want anything our family can provide outside of trade.” The silent I doubt you can do any better didn’t need to be said for her sister to understand.

Marcella’s eyes narrowed as she hummed. “Really~ I don’t think that’s quite true. I think there’s something Lady Tome might desire that you didn’t want to give~”

“…I know what you’re insinuating. Lou’s reputation is greatly exaggerated.”

“Oh? I heard she walked out of her qualifiers without a scrap of clothing and stood that way for hours comfortably.”

Maxine winced. “Perhaps exaggerated is the wrong word. Lou is unquestionably the horniest woman I have ever met. The only one who can rival her is her wife. I…I believe if I offered, she would have certainly accepted.” And she had thought to, many times. Only one thing had stopped her and it was not her inexperience. “However, that is not the way to obtain her cooperation.”

Marcella laughed, sitting back in her chair. “And how, by the saints, would you know that?”

“It’s difficult to explain until you meet her. Lou isn’t like the men you wrap around your fingers. She’s…” Maxine paused as she tried to find the proper words. It would easy, and oh so enjoyable, to watch her sister ruin her chances by underestimating the summoner. But to ruin Marcella’s chances was to ruin the family’s chances and invite her father’s ire. She would beat her sister, but it would have to be on a level playing field.

“She is lustful, certainly. Perhaps a touch foolish. She is also pragmatic and incredibly cautious. Her suspicion toward nobles, or anyone in power really, is beyond measure. She will not fall for your promises and empty words.”

Maxine smiled genuinely, the expression containing mockery. “She is also not the sexually repressed lords wedded to girls who have never had another partner. Kierra is as shameless, and I suspect as experienced, as a whore and she has contracted a thrall. Much as you act like a succubus, I don’t think your…skills can measure up to one.”

Marcella let out a full-bellied laugh, covering her eyes with one hand. “Good! You’ve certainly grown bolder.” The older sister dropped her hand and smothered her laughter, though a small smile remained in place. “Oh, Maxie~ I’m so glad you didn’t try to misdirect me. I would have been sad if I had to discipline you.”

Maxine shivered at the thought. She wondered what her sister’s admirers would think of her if they ever watched her “discipline” someone who had disappointed her. The cruelty she was capable of could make hardened soldiers lose their dinner. “We both answer to Father. To sabotage you is to sabotage him and we both know I wouldn’t survive such. Besides, I haven’t been recalled to the capital.”

“Yes. The old man loves a good competition. Unfortunately, this won’t be much of one. If you haven’t made any progress with this much time on your hands, I doubt you’ll make any with me beside you.”

Maxine didn’t fight her frown. “Then tell me sister, what is your great plan?”

“Hm? I’m going to seduce them, of course.” Marcella touched her pursed lips with a finger. “Lady Tome, I think. While seducing an elf sounds interesting, it’s better to go after the softer target. Do what you know, as they say.”

“I just said—"

“Yes, sister, I know what you said and I expect nothing less from you, sweet thing that you are.” Marcella stood and walked toward her, a noticeable sway in her hips. Thin, elegant fingers grasped Maxine’s chin, forcing her to meet her sister’s gaze.

“I know what you think of me, Maxie. My methods may not be, hm, respectable to upstanding members of society, but there is a reason I use them. Or myself, I should say.” She chuckled darkly. “I don’t plan on using pleasure to sway them. As you say, I am no thrall.”

“Then—"

“However, a physical relationship will undoubtedly bring us closer. Our family has offered Lady Tome everything under the sun in hopes of forming an agreement and she continues to reject us. No one is without desires. We simply aren’t able to comprehend what she wants. So, I’m going to get close to her. I’m going to find out exactly what she wants. And then I’m going to give it to her. Okay?”

Maxine nodded with difficulty, letting out a sigh of relief when her sister released her. Marcella’s nails had dug into her skin, hard enough Maxine was surprised she hadn’t been cut.

“Though I say that, it’s quite obvious what she wants.”

Maxine scoffed before she could stop herself.

Her sister didn’t miss the gesture, raising one perfectly sculpted brow. “Oh? Think I’m bluffing? I can tell you, if you want. Though I have to admit, I’m disappointed you didn’t figure it out yourself.”

“Then enlighten me. What did you figure out that not even our father could?”

“Oh, daddy would never have guessed it. He’s far too cold for such a romantic motive.” Marcella chuckled. “She married a woman, contracted a thrall, and, from what I hear, has had relations with at least two other women at the Hall. Add into that the mother she lost as a child it all becomes quite clear.” Marcella paused, taking a moment to drink in Maxine’s clear anticipation. “She wants love.”

All of Maxine’s expectations deflated. “You’re right,” Maxine said scornfully. “That is obvious. Lou makes no secret of her desires. Father already tried drowning her in women at the capital.”

“See, this is why you haven’t made progress. All you can see is the carnal. I’m saying she wants love.She wants to love and be loved. And she’s particularly weak to a certain kind of affection. Haven’t you noticed the way her wife fawns over her? Shields her? Mentors her? That’s not the shy romance of two innocents, the respectful love of two equals, or the eruption of passion between two people consumed by their desires. It’s a mama bird taking a cute little baby bird under her wing.”

“So…you’re saying you want to be…her mother?” Maxine asked in confusion, prompting another bout of laughter.

“Not literally, Maxie~ I’m saying I doubt she’ll protest being smothered between these.” Marcella put her arms under her breasts, emphasizing them further. “Maybe a few head rubs and ‘good girls’ will go a long way. I’m saying she’s desperate to love and be loved. I think, if I give her any reason, any reason at all, then she’ll happily fall for me. And that will be that.”

It would be cruel and reprehensive if it didn’t sound so outlandish. “You’re overreaching. I’ve met two of her other interests, Alana James and Cloudy Blood Moon. Neither can be called ‘motherly’. Alana is your exact opposite and Lou is crazy about her.”

If her words contained any bitterness, it was because Maxine resented exactly how fast Lou had become utterly fascinated by the blonde. She’d known the summoner for months prior and hadn’t received the slightest interest. Meanwhile, the initiate with the bearing of a soldier had Lou drooling over her despite constantly rebuffing the summoner’s affections.

It was a little frustrating.

“And that’s where you come in.”

“Me?!”

“Yes, silly. While I’m pretty confident in my guesses, there’s already someone filling my role. I certainly don’t want to compete with Kierra. Even if I steal Lou’s affections, she’s the one we’re really trying to impress. A bit counterproductive. Which is why you’re my backup plan.”

“You want me to…”

“Oh, yes.” Marcella smiled. “Big sis is going to teach you some tricks~”