Chapter 543: One Million Dollars and a Cup of Tea (Patreon)

Kenway Keep — Philadelphia — The Holy Commonwealth of Pennmere

"No."

Alaric remained seated behind the desk for several seconds after Kassandra rejected his suggestion that avoiding William Penn might be a perfectly reasonable solution to the morning's problems.

Kassandra had already begun gathering the Vanguard reports she intended to take with her, and when she glanced up again, she found her husband looking thoughtfully toward one of the side doors as though the architecture of Kenway Keep itself might provide an escape route from political responsibility.

"You are thinking about running away."

"I prefer to call it strategic relocation."

"You are not strategically relocating away from William."

"Look, my love," Alaric sighed and rose from his chair. "I'm not avoiding him."

Kassandra tucked several reports beneath one arm.

"You suggested avoiding him less than a minute ago."

"That was before I developed a better plan."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Which is?"

"I'll meet him somewhere quieter."

"That sounds suspiciously like avoiding him where fewer people can witness it."

Hearing this, Alaric smiled.

Kassandra stared at him for a moment before shaking her head. She had enough problems waiting inside Vanguard headquarters without spending the morning supervising two grown men who had governed a continent together yet could still behave like irritated relatives whenever they disagreed.

"I have meetings with Reuben and two of the deployment coordinators," she explained as she turned toward the door. "Then I need to review the proposed Vanguard allocations for the land front, and Shakoka apparently wants to alter part of the group-combat training schedule."

Alaric nodded. "Go. I can survive William."

"You are immortal. That does not mean I am convinced."

"That hurts."

Kassandra paused beside him and gave his cheek a quick kiss. "Try not to provoke him."

Alaric looked offended. "When have I ever deliberately provoked William?"

Kassandra opened the door and did not answer.

Alaric watched her leave before murmuring, "That was unnecessarily judgmental."

The servant waiting beyond the doorway carefully pretended he had heard nothing.

Alaric looked toward him. "Actually, perfect timing."

The servant straightened. "Your Grace?"

"William is coming."

A small hesitation followed, it was subtle enough that most people would have missed it, but Alaric did not.

"You already know."

"The household was informed that His Majesty's carriage entered the grounds several minutes ago."

Alaric looked toward the windows. "That fast?"

"His Majesty apparently instructed the driver not to waste time."

Alaric smiled faintly.

William really was angry.

"Alright. Tell Jonathan I'm receiving him in the old private wing."

The servant blinked.

"The western private wing, Your Grace?"

"Yes."

Kenway Keep possessed enough unused or rarely used spaces that entire sections could remain silent for weeks. The western private wing belonged to an earlier period when Alaric expected significantly more visiting dignitaries than he eventually tolerated. Its drawing rooms remained maintained, its furniture remained covered whenever unused for extended periods, and its corridors offered enough privacy that William could complain without half the household learning precisely what words the King used.

Alaric continued, "Have Jonathan send William there when he arrives. Tell the butlers to open the main sitting room, light the hearth, and bring Celestial Tea."

"Which blend?"

"Hmm…" Alaric considered it. "The most expensive one you can mix with it."

The servant managed not to smile. "Yes, Your Grace."

"And food."

"Of course."

"Something William likes."

"I believe Mr. Jonathan will know."

"Jonathan knows everything. It's unsettling."

The servant bowed before departing.

Alaric remained where he was for another second before glancing toward the little note Kassandra had left upon the desk.

'Going out. Possibly several days.'

He picked it up with a smile.

The message still looked perfectly reasonable to him.

With a shrug, he slipped it into his pocket and left the room.

Kenway Keep — Western Private Wing

By the time William Penn arrived, Alaric had already made himself extremely comfortable.

The rarely used sitting room possessed tall windows overlooking a quiet interior garden, several upholstered chairs arranged around a low table, and a fireplace whose flames had only recently begun warming the space. Celestial Tea filled an ornate porcelain pot between plates of pastries, fruit, and small sandwiches prepared with the unnecessary perfection expected of Kenway Keep's household staff.

Alaric occupied the deepest chair.

One ankle rested over the opposite knee, while fresh cigar waited between two fingers, though he had not lit it.

The door opened and Jonathan Hugh entered first, looking immaculate, as always.

Behind him came William Penn.

Alaric immediately noticed the paperwork.

William carried enough folders, memoranda, sealed correspondence, treasury summaries, and folded reports beneath one arm that the collection looked less like government administration and more like a weapon someone had improvised from bureaucracy.

Alaric raised his eyebrows.

"Good morning."

William stopped inside the doorway as his eyes settled upon Alaric.

Then he looked toward the tea, then back toward Alaric.

Jonathan stepped aside with the expression of a man who had no intention of becoming involved.

"Your Majesty," Jonathan said smoothly, "Celestial Tea has been prepared. Should you require anything further, the household staff remains outside."

William's eyes never left Alaric. "…Thank you, Jonathan."

Jonathan bowed.

Before leaving, his gaze moved briefly toward Alaric with the smallest hint of amusement appearing.

Alaric narrowed his eyes, but Jonathan already closed the door.

Silence followed.

"…"

"…"

William continued standing.

"…"

"…"

Alaric gestured toward the opposite chair.

"Sit."

William dropped the paperwork onto the table.

THUMP.

Several folders slid sideways.

Alaric looked at the pile, then at William. "You brought evidence."

William slowly lowered himself into the chair opposite him. "I brought the work that continued while you were going out."

Alaric's lips twitched.

"Alaric," William noticed immediately. "Don't even..."

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

"That is speculation at its finest."

William reached into his coat.

Alaric watched him withdraw another folded piece of paper.

His own handwriting stared back at him.

Alaric blinked in surprise. "Kassandra gave you a copy?"

"I requested one."

"Why?"

"So that whenever I begin doubting whether the note was genuinely as absurd as I remember, I can read it again."

"Oh, come on," Alaric leaned back. "I think everyone is exaggerating."

William unfolded the note, then his voice became painfully measured. "'Going out. Possibly several days.'"

Alaric nodded.

"Yes."

William stared, and Alaric stared back.

The fire cracked softly behind them.

"You are the co-founder of a continental Commonwealth currently engaged in open war against Spain while France moves soldiers against us," William said at last. "Pieces of Eden exist. Custodians exist. We have spent years discovering that ancient civilizations left enough impossible weapons behind to make conventional strategic planning occasionally meaningless."

He held the note between two fingers.

"And your contingency plan was five words."

Alaric tilted his head.

"You and Kassandra were the ones who told me to stay out of the war."

William paused as Alaric spread one hand.

"That part seems to keep disappearing from everyone's memory."

"It has not disappeared."

"You specifically wanted Pennmere to fight without me deciding every engagement by myself."

"Yes."

"Kassandra agreed."

"…Yes."

"You wanted the generals to command the army, the admirals to command the fleet, William Penn to run the Commonwealth, and Vanguard to intervene where appropriate."

"Yes, Alaric."

"So I went somewhere else."

William closed his eyes. "That does not mean vanish from existence."

"I didn't vanish from existence."

"For everyone who needed to find you, you effectively did."

Alaric considered arguing, but William raised one finger before he could.

"The purpose of keeping you away from ordinary military operations was to ensure Pennmere did not become dependent upon one overwhelmingly powerful man solving every battle personally."

"That was my understanding."

"It was not an instruction to make yourself impossible to reach during a war involving Pieces of Eden." William said as he leaned forward. "If Spain suddenly unveils an Apple capable of destroying an army, who do you think we want available?"

"Kassandra."

"And if Kassandra is already committed elsewhere?"

"Vanguard."

"And if Vanguard encounters something beyond its capacity?"

Alaric smiled faintly.

"Then I assume someone starts regretting telling me not to participate."

William stared at him.

"…"

"…"

Alaric held the expression for several seconds before finally sighing.

"Fine…"

"Wow, lad," William's brow rose. "That sounded dangerously close to agreement."

"I understand your point."

"You understand it now."

"I understood it before."

"Then why leave that note?"

Alaric looked toward the fire. "Because what I had to do was important."

William's irritation eased by a small amount. "What?"

Alaric remained quiet for a moment while William waited.

Only Kassandra knew there was another world.

Even she did not know everything that happened there, and Alaric had no intention of widening that circle simply because William deserved a better explanation for his absence.

"It was something important."

"You already said that twice," William's eyes narrowed. "That is not an explanation."

"It's the explanation I can give you."

William studied Alaric and saw that the humor had faded from latter's voice.

That changed the conversation.

"You cannot tell me."

"No."

"Does Kassandra know?"

"She knows enough."

William leaned back before his fingers rested against the arm of the chair while he thought. "Was it more important than Pennmere?"

Alaric answered without hesitation.

"No."

William watched him.

Alaric continued, "It was equally important."

Something in his tone stopped William from pressing further.

Whatever Alaric had been doing, he genuinely believed that.

William knew him well enough to recognize the difference between evasiveness used for amusement and silence attached to something Alaric considered dangerous to reveal.

He released a slow breath.

"Then next time, leave more than five words."

Alaric frowned. "How many do you require?"

"Oh my goodness…" William's expression tightened. "That is what you took from that?"

"I'm trying to establish the minimum."

"Then make it enough that the government knows whether you are alive, whether you expect to return, how long you may be unavailable, and who should act if something requiring your specific capabilities occurs."

"That sounds like an entire paragraph."

William gave him a look.

Alaric wanted to argue just for fun but decided against it and sighed. "Fine… I'll work on it."

"Thank you."

William finally reached for the tea.

A butler entered silently, poured a fresh cup, and disappeared almost before either man acknowledged him.

William took a drink and his shoulders relaxed slightly.

Alaric noticed.

"See?"

William glanced toward him.

"This is why I ordered tea."

"You ordered tea because you knew I was angry."

"Exactly."

William took another sip.

Alaric smiled.

"Also, Pennmere isn't defenseless without me."

"I never claimed it was."

"Vanguard exists."

"I am aware."

"Even the weakest fully trained Vanguard soldier is, what, five times stronger than an ordinary human at minimum?"

William gave a small nod. "At least physically, yes."

"And you know that firsthand," Alaric gestured toward him. "You have the Asura's Crest yourself."

William's fingers briefly touched the fabric over his chest.

The Crest had changed everything itself for him in ways ordinary medicine could never reproduce, restoring strength, speed, reactions, resilience, and physical capability that should have belonged to a much younger man.

Alaric continued, "Benjamin has it too."

William smiled faintly.

"Benjamin enjoys reminding me."

"Good. Means he can physically drag you away from your desk if necessary."

"He has threatened to."

Alaric laughed a little at this.

William looked toward the government documents as Alaric continued.

"Also, Vanguard is still independent from the Pennmerian Army."

"It should remain that way."

"I agree," Alaric leaned forward. "But independence doesn't mean you cannot communicate with it. If something happens while I'm gone, speak to Kassandra."

William looked back at him. "She is Vice Leader."

"Exactly."

Alaric tapped one finger against the armrest.

"When I'm not present, her decisions within Vanguard carry the same authority as mine. If she says Vanguard deploys, Vanguard deploys. If she says a threat requires intervention, treat that as if I made the decision myself."

William became more thoughtful. "You are formally confirming that?"

"I thought it was obvious."

"Government functions poorly when its procedures depend upon what Alaric Jonathan Kenway considers obvious."

Alaric gave him a wounded look. "That was targeted."

"Brat… it was intended to be."

William took another drink of tea.

Alaric watched him and saw that there were dark traces beneath the older man's eyes.

His posture remained strong, particularly after receiving the Crest, yet exhaustion had accumulated in ways enhanced biology did not completely erase. The civilian machinery Kassandra described had passed through William's hands repeatedly, and even with ministers, governors, clerks, advisers, and administrators carrying most individual responsibilities, the burden of final accountability remained his.

Alaric's amusement softened.

"How long since you spent a full day with your family?"

"Why are you asking?" William looked at him. "That is irrelevant."

"That means too long."

"I have seen them."

"Oh, you know full well that wasn't the question."

William reached for one of the folders but Alaric placed a hand over it before he could open it.

William stared at the hand.

"William," Alaric stared back. "There have been enough war meetings."

"We are currently at war."

"I noticed."

"The situation with France alone requires—"

"Kassandra just briefed me."

Hearing this, William paused.

Alaric continued, "I know about the land front, the French formations, the fleet, the casualties, the privateers, the civilian administration, the banks, the supply problems, Vanguard's possible land deployment, and the institutional strain."

William looked genuinely surprised. "She gave you all of that already?"

"Yes."

"How long have you been back?"

"Not long."

William glanced toward the ceiling as though asking Providence why Kassandra could accomplish in one morning what the rest of the government had spent days attempting.

Alaric smiled. "Take one day."

"One day?" William's gaze returned. "For what?"

"With your family."

"I cannot simply take a day."

"Yes, you can."

"I am the King of this Kingdom."

"You have ministers."

"I am responsible for them."

"You have governors."

"I am responsible for them as well."

"You have an army."

"Which answers to the Crown."

"William."

"Look, lad…" William placed his cup down. "You make it sound simple."

"It is simple."

"It is not."

Alaric leaned back. "Benjamin says the same thing, doesn't he?"

William's silence answered.

"Oh shit," Alaric grinned. "He does."

William sighed.

"He has been telling me for three days that I should leave the government chambers before midnight."

"Smart man."

"He threatened to lock my study."

"Smarter than I thought."

William rubbed his forehead. "He keeps saying I should spend time with my family."

"Then listen to him," Alaric said. "That man basically knows you more than even your wife, he knows when you should take a break."

William looked toward the windows.

For a moment, the King disappeared beneath the man.

When he spoke again, his voice carried less irritation. "It is different for me."

Alaric did not interrupt.

William rested both hands around the warm cup.

"I know there are officials capable of handling individual departments. I know the generals can fight without me telling them where to stand, and I know the Treasury will continue counting money if I sleep for eight hours."

His gaze dropped toward the tea.

"But I am the King."

The title did not sound boastful. No… it sounded heavy.

"If a regiment is destroyed because supplies were late, I am responsible for the government that failed them. If refugees go hungry because two offices argued over jurisdiction, I am responsible. If taxes become abusive because wartime spending grows faster than oversight, then responsibility reaches me eventually."

William paused.

"This Kingdom carries millions of lives now."

Alaric watched him.

"So you see," William gave a tired smile. "It is difficult to relax while remembering that."

For once, Alaric did not joke immediately. "…That's probably why you're good at it."

William looked toward him.

Alaric continued, "A bad King worries about what the throne gives him. You worry about what it makes you responsible for."

William's expression softened.

"But that doesn't mean working yourself into the grave is useful."

"With the Crest and whatever power you have, that may take a while."

"Don't challenge yourself."

A quiet laugh escaped William as the tension finally diminished.

He reached for another pastry.

"There," Alaric nodded approvingly. "You're relaxing already."

"Do not ruin it."

"I'll be quiet."

William ate in peace for approximately twenty seconds.

Then he cleared his throat. "There is another matter."

Alaric looked at him because the tone had changed.

This wasn't war or anger, this was something else.

"…"

"…"

William placed the pastry down with suspicious care.

"I need to borrow money."

"…"

"…"

Alaric slowly raised one eyebrow. "You?"

"Yes."

"Need to borrow money."

"Yes."

Alaric sat forward. "What happened to all the money I gave you?"

William's expression became extremely composed.

"The money you gifted me personally?"

"Yes."

"And the gold?"

"Yes."

"And the additional holdings?"

"Yes, William. All of it."

William smiled confidently. "I invested in some stuff."

Alaric stared at William's smile that remained. "What stuff?"

"Investments."

"That is what people say when they do not want to identify the investments."

"They were sensible."

"Where is the money?"

"Working."

"Doing what?"

"Economic things."

Alaric's eyes narrowed as William reached for his tea.

"I invested in some stuff…" He paused long enough to add the justification with impressive dignity. "…but for the Kingdom, of course."

Alaric stared at him.

"For the Kingdom…"

William nodded solemnly.

"For the Kingdom."

Alaric leaned back.

"What did you invest in?"

William drank his tea.

"You know…" He lowered the cup. "This and that."

"…"

Alaric stared at him for two seconds.

Then three.

William maintained eye contact.

Something clicked.

Alaric's eyes widened slightly.

William saw the realization arrive and internally cursed.

"…"

Alaric's mouth opened.

Then he laughed, and it wasn't a polite one.

He slapped both hands against his thighs and leaned forward.

"HA!"

William closed his eyes.

"You bought Celestial products, didn't you?"

William smiled.

The smile was dignified, royal even… but it was also absolutely guilty.

"Oh my god," Alaric laughed harder. "You did!"

"I made diversified acquisitions."

"You bought my products with money I gave you!"

"That description lacks nuance."

"What did you buy?"

William said nothing.

"Tea?"

Silence.

"Cigars?"

William's expression remained regal.

"Salves?"

There was a faint shift.

Alaric pointed at him. "Oh, you bought Salve too."

William lifted his chin. "Celestial products retain value extremely well."

"You sound like a merchant justifying why his cellar is full of luxuries."

"I am King. A King should understand strategically important commodities."

"You could have asked me!"

"That would have undermined the investment."

Alaric laughed again.

William allowed him to enjoy the moment while maintaining the patient smile of a man who had governed millions of people and refused to let embarrassment defeat him in a sitting room.

Beneath that smile, he was cursing his inability to lie convincingly to Alaric.

Eventually, Alaric wiped at the corner of one eye. "Alright… heh… hehehe…"

William raised a brow but allowed Alaric to continue.

"How much do you need?"

"Not much," His answer came with complete calm. "About one million dollars."

Everything stopped.

"…"

"…"

The fire continued crackling while the clock continued ticking.

Somewhere outside, a bird sang in the garden.

Alaric stared at the King who reached for his tea. "One million."

"Yes."

"Pennmerian Dollars."

"Preferably."

Alaric leaned slowly back into his chair. "What are you buying, Portugal?"

William's mouth twitched.

"No."

"A fleet?"

"No."

"Another continent?"

"Not currently."

Alaric stared at him another moment… then he shrugged.

"Okay."

William stopped moving.

"Okay?"

"Yeah."

"You are not going to ask for collateral?"

"No."

"Interest?"

"No."

"A repayment schedule?"

"Eventually."

Hearing this, William's brows rose.

Alaric gestured casually. "It's one million dollars."

"Damn, so you're that rich," William gave him a flat look. "To the point that you have ruined your understanding of money."

"Probably."

"That is more money than many noble families will see across generations."

"And?"

William sighed.

Alaric reached for his tea. "But there's one condition."

William immediately became wary.

"What?"

"Stop spending your own money on Celestial products."

William stared.

Alaric continued, "Whatever personal Celestial products you want, I'll have them delivered every month."

William's expression changed.

"For how long?"

"I don't know," Alaric shrugged. "Lifetime?"

William froze. "Tea?"

"Yes."

"Cigars?"

"Within reason."

William leaned forward. "Toothpaste?"

"Yes."

"Toothbrushes?"

"Yes."

"Shampoo?"

"Yes, William."

"Liquid Soap?"

"This is getting long..."

"Beauty Masks?"

Alaric stared at him. "You use Beauty Masks?"

"No," William stared back. "For the family."

Alaric sighed.

"Yes."

William's face lit up with such immediate, undignified happiness that Alaric almost started laughing again.

"You are serious?"

"Yes."

"Every month?"

"Every month."

"For life?"

"For life."

William shot to his feet. "HA!"

Alaric blinked.

The King actually raised both hands for a moment as if Pennmere had just won a major battle. "This is excellent!"

Alaric started laughing. "You're happier about free soap than one million dollars."

"It is not merely soap!"

William pointed toward him with the enthusiasm of someone who had temporarily forgotten every casualty report sitting on the table.

"Do you understand how difficult it is to acquire certain Celestial products without administrators assuming that because I am King, every purchase is secretly a state order?"

"You could buy them under another name."

"Benjamin tried that."

Alaric laughed harder.

William sat again, still smiling broadly. "I am informing him immediately."

"Tell him his supply is included."

William's eyes widened again. "Benjamin too?"

"Sure."

"My family?"

"They live with you, William."

"That is not an answer."

"Yes, your family too."

William looked genuinely moved.

"Alaric…"

"Don't make this emotional. It's toiletries."

"It is a lifetime allocation of the most desirable consumer products in the known world."

"When you put it like that, I regret agreeing."

William opened his mouth, undoubtedly preparing either a thank-you or a demand that Alaric put the arrangement in writing but the door opened first.

Both men turned and saw that a woman stood in the doorway.

Linette Kenway held several thick ledgers against her chest, accompanied by a smaller stack of folded commercial reports secured with ribbon. She had clearly walked through the private wing with the confidence of a woman whose family name made asking permission to enter most sections of Kenway property largely ceremonial.

Her eyes first found William, then the tea, then the government paperwork. Finally, they settled on Alaric.

Linette's expression brightened.

"'Laric, my nephew…" she said as she stepped into the room, adjusting the ledgers beneath one arm. "It's good that I managed to see you."

Alaric looked at the amount of paperwork she carried.

His smile slowly disappeared.

Linette walked farther inside. "…I need to talk to you."