~Chapter 16~
“That’s why we have to win the contract with Constantine, no matter the cost. If we can, we must also secure a portion of Constantine’s assets and have him deposit it with our bank.”
My voice felt firm, but the room was weighed down by silence for a moment.
Janus pulled off his glasses, sighed deeply, and pressed a hand to the lines crinkling the corners of his tired eyes. “…Even if our share of the profits is lower than we’d like, that’s the priority, isn’t it?”
I gave a quiet nod.
He was trying to mask it, but I could hear the tension in that long exhale. “Madam, is it truly that serious? Will the bank be… badly impacted?”
I drew a slow breath, choosing my words carefully. “The bank won’t close its doors. But if that much money goes out at once, it will certainly be shaken. Our credit rating might drop a tier—or worse.”
Heres, standing by the side, swallowed hard, tension furrowing the lines of the diligent young man’s face. “I’ll find a way. There must be a precedent, some solution. We can’t be the first to walk this path.”
“Janus will help,” I assured him.
The old man nodded quietly, brushing a hand over the surface of the long oak desk. “Just as one mountain is crossed, another appears. Madam… if I may, I’d like to speak with you privately.”
Heres glanced between us and quietly excused himself, closing the door as he departed. Janus shifted uncomfortably, the deep lines of worry on his face making my heart sink. Whatever this was, it wouldn’t be easy to hear.
It felt as if the air itself pressed down upon me. Lately, every piece of news that came my way felt like another wave crashing down. Even before he spoke, a lump rose in my throat. I pulled in a long breath and said quietly, “Go on. Speak.”
“Please understand, madam, this is not something I want to say.”
“Of course,” I replied, trying to still the quiver in my voice. I tightened my hands together until my knuckles turned pale.
Was he going to tell me he was leaving? That he could no longer bear to stay by my side?
“…The truth is, right now, your reputation across high society, politics, and commerce is not favorable.” He drew in a breath, then added softly, “People have started calling you ‘The Gold Coin.’”
“Ah…” The sound slipped from my throat before I could stop it. So this was it. Not betrayal, not desertion, but scorn. The sting was no less sharp for being expected. My shoulders sank, unable to hold themselves straight.
Even as the Empire of Estus changed, its old ways refused to die. In a world still defined by status, I was no more than the daughter of a baron—and a divorced woman at that.
That fact would haunt every step I tried to take.
“The truth is…” Janus continued quietly, “no worthwhile proposal is making its way to Graham Bank anymore. At this rate, reaching our goals will be nearly impossible.”
I had thought I could rise, even if it meant shedding the glory of the Graham name. But no matter how hard I tried, I was still beating my fists against a wall that refused to break.
Grandfather… Did you truly believe I could do this?
A sting rose in my nose. Suddenly, I longed for that strong, calloused hand resting upon my shoulder, for the voice that had always pushed me forward.
“Charge before you fear, Anna. What can you gain by standing still? If someone attacks you, bite first. You have my permission.”
The memory surged in my chest. My hand tightened until my knuckles ached, and I bit down hard, swallowing the sting of tears rising at the corners of my eyes.
“Don’t cry, Anais. If you cry now, what does that make Janus?”
I drew in a breath, forcing down the sting rising in my chest.
“Moreover,” Janus continued, voice soft yet firm, “there are whispers circulating about you in the marriage market. They’re still wary for now, but it won’t be long before matchmakers—and even those shameless enough to approach openly—start showing up at your door. So, madam… show them. Show them that Anais Barnaby is someone they can never dare to look down upon.”
When Janus spoke this long, it meant he had a point he was trying to make. Slowly, I lifted my gaze to meet his.
“Then allow me to make a suggestion, madam.”
“Go on.”
“Why not bet your life… one more time?”
“Bet my life?”
The words sank into the silence between us.
He adjusted his glasses and pressed on quietly.
“Right now, your reputation in society and in the political and business circles isn’t favorable. Do you know what they call you? The ‘Gold Coin.’”
“Ah…” The sound escaped my throat before I could stop it. So that was the rumor. Not that I hadn’t expected it, but still, it felt like a thorn pressing into the heart. My shoulders sank despite myself.
Even in an Empire that claimed to have progressed, traces of the old order refused to die. In a world where status still ruled, I was merely a baron’s daughter, a divorced young woman—and that was enough to drag at my heels, no matter how hard I tried to run.
“Proper offers aren’t making their way to Graham Bank anymore,” Janus said quietly. “If this goes on, making any real progress will only become harder.”
I had believed that I could rise above it, that I could shed the shadow of the Graham name and stand strong on my own. Yet here it was again—a wall that sheer effort refused to move.
Grandfather… Did you truly believe I could do this?
A deep ache surged in my chest. Suddenly I missed him desperately. The strong hand that used to rest upon my shoulder, urging me forward. The voice that refused to accept fear.
“Charge forward before fear can take root, Anna. What can you gain by stepping backward? If someone attacks, you charge first. You bite. You have my permission.”
My chest tightened until it felt like it would crack. My hand clenched tight until my knuckles turned pale.
“Don’t cry, Anais. Not now. Not when Janus is standing before you.”
“Moreover,” Janus pressed on, “there are whispers of your name in the marriage market. People glance and hesitate for now, but soon enough, matchmakers will circle. Even those with no shame will come crawling.” He leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. “Show them. Show every one of them that Anais Barnaby is a person they can never dare to covet.”
When Janus spoke at such length, it meant he had made a decision. Slowly, I raised my gaze to meet his.
“Then… this is my proposal, madam.”
“Go on.”
“Why not bet your life… one more time?”
“Bet my life?”
He offered a faint, confident smile. “It may not make us the biggest bank in the Empire, but it just might be the quickest way to protect ourselves. Perhaps even the only one.”
I didn’t disagree. Not when Janus was right. Not when he spoke the words I felt deep down, yet hadn’t dared to acknowledge until this very moment.
There were bound to be people saying it by now:
“Why not just give up? Sell the bank for a decent price. Isn’t it just a troublesome mess?”
But to me, the bank was more than a business. It was a legacy — a place steeped in the memories of my grandfather.
“My dear Anna, somehow I always felt you could be a fine owner for Graham Bank one day.”
“Grandfather, what are you saying? I’m not even related to you by blood!”
“Ha! You’re only ten years old, and you already talk like this. You’ll make an old man sad, you know? Do you hate this bank?”
“No, I love it. You said this bank was built from your youth and your hard work. That’s why it can never be allowed to fail. It’s a piece of you, Grandfather — and I want to protect it.”
Since then, I had thrown myself into studying and attending the academy, then came to the bank to learn from him every chance I could. I had worked on countless cases in his place, learned the ropes of every transaction.
This bank was a testament to my three years of sweat and tears. It was all I had left from my marriage. All I had left from that chapter of my life.
It meant too much to just walk away from.
How could I possibly give it up?
“Did something happen today?” Ella asked softly, her voice warm.
“Something is always happening these days,” I sighed.
With that, I sank down at the table and laid my head upon it, too tired to hold myself upright. When I finally lifted my gaze, I met Ella’s worried eyes.
“You seem especially down tonight,” she said. “Of course, you’ve been going through a lot recently, I know, but…”
I shook my head and pushed myself upright, brushing away the heaviness in my chest.
Today, Janus had finally said aloud words he must have been holding back for some time. It only confirmed how challenging the situation had become. Perhaps he had been listening to things said about me that he never passed on, simply because he felt I didn’t deserve to bear that burden too.
He had quietly supported me through it all — especially after my divorce from Egbert.
“Ella, what do you think about the idea of me… getting married?”
“Good heavens! My lady, have you met someone special?” Ella exclaimed, her hands clapping together in sheer delight. “That would be wonderful! Is he a good man? Someone considerate? Perhaps an older gentleman? Someone you can lean on? Someone who can protect you?”
Love?
It felt almost laughable. Egbert and I had married for love, after all. And look where that had ended. What use was falling for a man again?
“No, nothing like that,” I said quietly.
“Nothing like that?”
I gave a faint nod and briefly explained the conversation I’d had with Janus, and the ugly mess Egbert had created.
At the sound of Egbert’s name, a darkness settled across Ella’s face. “That scoundrel. Will he never stop?” she hissed, scorn dripping from every word. “A man like that doesn’t deserve an ounce of respect.”
“Why is he still alive, after all the misery he’s caused?” she grumbled.
“Apparently it’s not his time to die just yet,” I replied, and despite myself, I gave a soft laugh.
Ella, shoulders slumping, sighed deeply. “It kills me that I can’t do more for you, my lady.” Her voice was shaking now, and she wiped furiously at the mist welling in her eyes.
“Thank you, Ella. You’ve already done more than enough.”
That was the truth. To have someone genuinely wishing for my happiness — that alone felt like a light breaking through the cracks of a long, dark night. Thanks to her, I felt a little strength returning. Enough, at least, to share a warm dinner tonight.
