"....." Hearing those words from Rihane, standing several steps away, the Director, Professor, and the CEOs just glanced in her direction, blinking, trying to understand if they had heard it right.
After all, the issue isn't that she was offered ten times her salary, which would definitely mean nothing compared to what the CEO or the Director himself earns. The problem was that the man she had just rejected was none other than Marquess Croceaus.
For a rich person or someone influential like him, this is not just a matter of money, since they have enough of it, but pride. In most cases, rich people take small things to heart concerning their ego. In such circumstances, without even lifting a finger, they could rewrite one's fate.
This was also the case for Rihane, which everyone expected except Aecilia, who would now face a hellish life after rejecting the offer.
"It's a pity then," Avendial calmly replied, not feeling the need to push her more to join his side since he didn't see much value in her that would make him go much farther as he turned towards the academy and was about to move.
"I will just join you for free, Marquess," Rihane interjected, clearly stating that she didn't even need a salary, let alone ten times that amount. Lifting her head, she adjusted her glasses with one hand while placing the other over her chest, showing her sincerity about wanting to join Croceaus's estate.
"....and why is that?" Avendial, seeing her enthusiasm in wanting to join his side without asking for a salary, felt at least that she was eager to work with him, but mere enthusiasm wasn't enough.
There is a saying in which Avendial always believes: having no loyal allies is significantly better than being stuck with a mindless loyal person.
After all, some foolishly loyal people, instead of trying to solve the situation, often choose self-sacrifice without considering how those to whom they have shown their loyalty will feel about such a decision.
"Because of two reasons," Covering her face with her hands sewn together like a puzzle, Rihane swiftly held up two fingers with her other hand before giving a sly smirk and responding, "First, you said to join Croceaus's estate, which means I would be able to live lavishly inside the territory ruled by the world's richest man; and second, by not asking for a salary, you will not see me as an investment and sell me to get profit if I don't prove my worth."
'....she is smart.' Hearing Rihane's words felt as if she had just read his mind, causing Avendial to smile slightly.
He appreciated this woman's intellect and bravery in expressing her thoughts in front of him, especially considering how people often cloak their words with lies in front of influential figures to appear likable, mindlessly laughing at every unfunny joke or supporting them without thinking.
"Marquess, by the way, what position will you assign her?" Aecilia, noticing the gazes of the Director and others, who were even though engaged in conversation, were poking their ears to listen in, could clearly understand that these words would soon reach the royal family, prompting her to inquire to clear the mess and suspicion in case the royal family considered Avendial was preparing for treason by creating his own military.
"Just some errand work," Avendial saw through Aecilia's intention in asking the question, feeling somewhat satisfied to be around smart people. He turned towards the academy, noticing the Directors and others glancing in his direction as he called out, "You must be the Director, right?"
'?!'
"Ahem, I am the Director of the Elite Academy," the old man came forward, clearing his throat, attempting to maintain his demeanor as he tried to appear calm and collected in front of the Marquess, while internally his mind was crashing down, feeling for the first time in his 40 years of being in academy that he was jealous of a professor.
"Nice to meet you," Avendial nodded, and slowly other professors and the Director's assistant came forward to greet him, followed by the CEOs who appeared busy due to calls they were receiving from influential government individuals and others asking for the location of the Marquess.
Considering they were themselves at the head of one of the leading groups in their field, the calls were from very prominent leaders and even mayors from particular cities, just so they could invite the Marquess to visit them or to dinner.
"Switch off your phones," Avendial noticed this and clearly instructed all three CEOs and their secretaries to turn off their phones since he wasn't in the mood to get entangled with the formalities of some government employees who wanted to establish a connection with him.
At least for this moment, considering he would need the support of the government in the future, but for today he wanted to focus on the reason he was here for.
"Y-yes sir." With slight hesitation, all the individuals turned their phones off, including the professor and the Director, and it became even more exasperating when Rihane and Aecilia took out their phones to turn off as well.
"You appear to be in the mood to joke, aren't you?" Avendial glanced back at Aecilia, who casually looked at him and shrugged her shoulders, making him shake his head before turning towards Rihane and adding, "Miss Rihane, you need to complete some tasks for me."
"Yes?" As Avendial referred to her, Rihane looked at him with a calm gaze, waiting for his instruction while noticing how the Director and professors also glanced in their direction as they stood just 2-3 steps away, having arrived near them a few moments ago, eagerly waiting for instruction.
"Let's talk while we move around campus." Avendial moved towards the academy's gate as he walked, and Aecilia calmly joined beside him, wearing her black nightgown—not too revealing and loose enough to make her feel comfortable—but even though it wasn't able to completely suppress her curvaceous body.
'My first task?' Rihane also followed along, while the Director and others glanced at each other before they joined them. Moving at a distance, as they understood Marquess wanted to assign the task without revealing the details to them, they maintained a boundary and remained ten steps behind.
"Rihane, how many departments are there in the academy?" Avendial inquired while looking towards an almost green garden where a few students were glancing in his direction, and most of them held the same expression—an unblinking gaze, blushing faces—as both male and female students were looking in their direction.
Even though they were far away, they could somewhat hear whispers among the students.
:: Hey, isn't she beautiful? Is she a model? ::
:: Who is that man beside the professor? Is he some movie actor? ::
Though of course, Avendial couldn't be considered the most handsome man who ever existed, he was somewhat attractive due to his good genes and could easily be considered a top movie star. The same could be said for Aecilia, who, due to her goth style and nonchalant demeanor as she ruffled her dense black hair, was attracting the gaze of the male students.
"They are kids," Aecilia mumbled as she noticed the young men glancing in her direction, displaying typical behavior that made her realize there was a world where no one schemed against each other at the level that noblemen did.
One hand glided through her hair as she took a rubber band from her wrist, tilting her head as she gathered a lock of hair and secured the band in place before walking straight. "Now it's comfortable."
:: Khuck?! My heart! ::
:: Augh?! My nose is bleeding! ::
:: She is a goddess. ::
"....." Avendial, standing next to her, couldn't help but glance ahead, recognizing that she had deliberately aimed to tease those students.