Senator Celsa’s living room, if that was the correct term, reminded Jadis of a bordello. Not that she had much experience with such places; Jadis had never set foot into a bordello in her life, current or previous. However, the senator’s décor matched everything she had ever seen in movies or pictured in her mind’s eye, except for the obvious lack of scantily clad prostitutes.

The walls were covered entirely with red velvet curtains that had been trimmed with golden tassels. All of the furniture was made from dark mahogany and plush cushioning, with crimson red continuing to dominate the color scheme. Several marble statues had been placed throughout the room, all depicting nude figures in various artistic poses. One particular sculpture almost made Jadis jump, as it was so similar to Techne that for a moment she thought that that he had somehow shown up in Thracina without her knowledge. The likeness was so extreme that Jadis wanted to ask who the artist was who had crafted the statue. Maybe it was one of Alphius’ ancient works?

The senator herself fit nicely into the image of a high-class bordello. Obviously older, but still stunningly gorgeous and exuding a refined air, Celsa gave off the impression of a confident madam who had firm control over her dominion. The dress she had chosen to wear did nothing to dissuade the impression, as the neckline was nearly scandalous, and the purple cloth was cut high up her leg to reveal her flawless outer thigh. Jadis couldn’t deny that the woman had attractive legs, and the dress emphasized them nicely. She was tempted to ask Celsa where she had gotten the dress, so that she could surprise Aila with a gift.

“Please, have a seat,” Celsa directed all three of Jadis towards a surprisingly large couch. “I hope you find my accommodations comfortable. My family has always modeled our furnishings after the ancient Nephilim styles.”

Jadis wasn’t too sure about the senator’s claim, since all of the art she had seen in the Hall of Memories showed interior decorations that were far less… showy than what Celsa had chosen. Then again, she doubted that all Nephilim had the same sensibilities, so Celsa’s home décor might have been perfectly in line with what some homes in Astera were like. Regardless, the couch was honestly quite comfortable, and more importantly, sized large enough that Jadis didn’t feel like she was an adult trying to fit into a booster seat.

“It’s all very nice, thank you,” Jay said as she arranged her selves onto the couch. “I also wanted to say that I appreciate you taking the time to see me.”

“My door is always open to you, tesoro,” the senator smiled charmingly as she took a seat in a large chair that was at an angle to the couch Jadis had occupied. “Even if I were not here, know that my staff have been ordered to make every effort to accommodate any request you might make.”

“That’s good to know,” Dys responded neutrally. “You’re very considerate.”

“Naturally,” the woman grinned. “For you.”

Celsa pulled her legs up under her, sitting leisurely on the large, cushioned armchair so that she had one elbow leaning on the armrest as she leaned towards Dys, who was closest to her. The position looked natural and, under any other circumstance, Jadis would have assumed it was just for the woman’s own comfort. But the way her dress revealed so much skin in the pose without actually showing anything indecent had to have been on purpose. That, or the senator was just so practiced in being sultry that she was putting on alluring displays without any conscious thought.

The vast difference between Celsa’s effortless sexiness and Yaz’s utterly awful attempts at seduction was almost laughable.

Before she could say anything more, the servant from earlier entered the room carrying a golden tray laden with crystal goblets and glass decanters. A selection of wines was offered, and Celsa took a glass of a deep red one with a name that Jadis thought translated to holy mountain, though she wasn’t certain. For herself, Jadis took a glass of each of the other three options that had been made available, lightly tasting the wines without drinking much.

Once the servant, Gloria, Jadis recalled, had left the room, she spoke again.

“Not to be rude, but I’m going to cut right to the point of my visit,” Jay announced without preamble. “I have a limited amount of time, what with all the work that needs to be done to get everything in order for the campaign. I’m sure you are busy, too, with your own duties to the republic.”

“Duties that have already been eased by your arrival,” Celsa nodded. Then, almost as though the Hero was an afterthought, “And Wilhelm as well.”

“I’m not sure what you might have already heard,” Dys began as she set her glass of blue wine down on the table. “But I am interested in purchasing some property. More specifically, I want to buy land from Volto.”

“There are many fine estates in Thracina that I could direct you towards,” Celsa said with an expansive wave of one hand. “Or further afield. I would be happy to facilitate any negotiations. Has a particular property caught your eye?”

“Not here in Thracina,” Dys clarified. “And I don’t mean that I want to buy a house or a farm.”

“I want to purchase land directly from Volto,” Jay continued. “So that the land is fully mine and Volto would have no territorial claim to it, at all.”

“No taxes, no government interference, no owner but me and mine,” Syd finished. “A complete separation.”

While a small amount of surprise showed on Celsa’s face, the beautiful woman’s smile didn’t dim as she regarded Jadis with a keen gaze.

“How interesting… such a bold proposition. And would this idea have anything to do with the trips you have been making north to ancient Asteria?”

“Yes, actually,” Jay readily admitted. “The wilderness there is beautiful.”

“It sort of calls out to me,” Syd added. “It resonates with my soul, I guess you could say. I want to spend a lot more time there, in the future.”

“I want to build a place there, for my family and my children,” Jay continued her explanation with a carefully chosen earnest tone. “It’s the kind of environment I’ve always dreamed of living in myself, and I think it would be a perfect place to set up a small community and raise a family.”

“However, I don’t want to have to deal with any interference from government officials who might have ideas that run against how I want to live,” Dys further explained her position. “I’ve already seen a lot of resistance to Alex, and I don’t want that sort of attitude to reach our child.”

“I don’t plan on living a separatist lifestyle,” Syd laughed as she leaned casually to one side. “But I’d like to have a place that is safe, to fall back on, just in case.”

“From what I understand,” Jay shifted forward to look at Celsa more directly, “you might be able to help me with that.”

Everything Jadis had told Senator Celsa was true. More or less. What she did not bring up was the existence of the Hall of Memories. The real goal behind buying the land outright from Volto was so that no one would be able to try and lay claim to the archive and take possession of it. If Jadis owned the land legally, then no one would be able to impose rules or restrictions on the archive without her consent. Having an area where she might build a homestead in the future was more of a long term, fanciful thought. Securing the Hall of Memories was what mattered the most in the deal, which was why Jadis wanted to make sure she had full control of the territory.

“Nephilim living in Asteria once again,” Celsa sighed wistfully. “A dream I did not think I would ever live to see. Of course, I am not surprised that you are drawn to your ancestral home, no matter how far removed your birth may have been from Asteria. Even those with no connection to the land are bespelled by the beauty of old Asteria.”

“It’s a gorgeous place,” Jay agreed readily. “The mountains and forests of Weigrun are beautiful, but Asteria is something special.”

“Of course, I would be happy to lend you my aid in whatever way I can,” the senator continued as she shifted slightly in her seat. “Buying land and removing it from Volto’s control, though, is a difficult request. Nations are not in the habit of selling their territory. It is not an impossible task, mind, but a significant challenge.”

Good. Celsa wasn’t rejecting the idea outright, which meant that even if the plan was difficult to achieve, it was possible. So long as there was room for negotiation, they could work something out. It was just a matter of hammering out the details.

Jadis had done some preliminary research, and she knew that what she was asking for wouldn’t be easy. Separating a territory into its own independent state wasn’t unheard of in either the history of Volto or the Empire, but it wasn’t common, either. Jadis couldn’t imagine Prince Hraustrekr ever allowing a city or district to leave Alfhilderunn, but emperors in the past had done so, essentially allowing certain areas to govern themselves as allies. It was more like becoming a vassal state than truly independent, but it was a greater degree of freedom than simply buying a property from the local duke or whoever was in charge. The same principles held true in Volto, theoretically, though the last time a senator had tried to split his city off from the republic, the result had been a short but bloody war.

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Starting a rebellion was the last thing on Jadis’ mind. All she wanted to do was buy a bit of territory that wasn’t being used by Volto anyway. Hopefully, she could channel a little of her former nation’s historical luck and succeed in making her own Louisiana Purchase.

“I have no doubt that there will be some in the senate who will object to the idea of completely giving up an area that has been in Volto’s control for a very long time,” Jay nodded in agreement. “That’s why I came to you. I want your help finding a path to a deal that will satisfy my needs and also keep everyone in the senate happy.”

“Reasonably happy,” Dys amended. “I’ll step on toes if I have to. But I want to be fair.”

“Reasonable and fair,” Celsa repeated thoughtfully. “It can be quite difficult to achieve those conditions, when it comes to affairs of state.”

As she spoke the pale woman rested her chin on her hand, one finger tapping her cheek as she regarded Dys with lovely pink eyes. Her words were carefully said and uttered with a precision that overrode her otherwise strong accent. Celsa made sure to hold Dys’ gaze, unwavering and open.

“I can understand wanting to protect yourself from the fickle whims of a government that you do not agree with. That is why here in Volto, we do not have emperors or kings, but senators who are elected by the citizens. If a senator’s service proves to be inadequate or harmful to the people, they are replaced.”

“A very unique system,” Dys nodded along as though the concept were alien to her.

“Not everyone will be happy with the end result, of course, but so long as the will of the majority rules, I would argue that is a far more reasonable and happy state than one where a select few reign uncontested.”

Again, Jadis nodded in agreement, willing to go along with Celsa’s statements. She wasn’t there to debate politics or systems of governance, after all. She just needed the senator’s help with achieving her goal. That the woman was arguing in favor of democracy was just a nice bonus, since Jadis didn’t think she would be able to hold her tongue if Celsa was arguing for a tyranny to take control of Volto, or something of the like.

“I understand that you have personal experience with unfair rules impressed upon you by those in power.”

That assertion brought Jadis up slightly, but she kept the smiles on her faces and responded without giving anything away.

“I’ve had a couple of run ins with authority figures.”

“More than a couple, I am quite certain,” Celsa smiled knowingly before her expression turned sympathetic. “Quite honestly, I think what they did to you is unconscionable. If I were in your position, I would not have stood for such disrespectful maneuvers. You have more control over your emotions than I. Considering what they did, I do not blame you at all for wanting to make a place for yourself, where unfair laws will not be able to put pressure on you.”

“Well… I’m doing well enough now,” Dys stated while trying not to let her confusion show.

Jadis felt like she had lost a beat somewhere. What disrespectful maneuver was Celsa talking about? Her first thought went to her earlier interactions with Vraekae, back in Weigrun, where they had butted heads over everything. But how would Celsa have heard about any of that? Maybe the senator had heard of the problems between her and the princes, but Jadis wasn’t sure about that, either. It felt like Celsa was talking about something specific, yet wasn’t naming it out loud because there was some kind of false belief that they were in agreement on the particulars.

“Be that as it may, you should not have had to make such a deal in the first place,” Celsa insisted. “I feel I should support your choice to create a territory beyond the reaches of the empire for that reason alone, if no other.”

“Ah, well,” Jay fumbled with her words for a moment. “Look, I’m sorry, but I think you lost me. What deal?”

The senator blinked at her with obvious surprise.

“Why, the one you made with the temples, of course. Being forced to breed as though you were some form of chattel; a rare beast to be preserved through law-enforced intercourse. Deplorable! The high priests in Alfhilderunn should be ashamed of themselves for having you sign such a demeaning contract.”

Jadis was, quite frankly, stunned.

Everything Jadis had learned about Senator Celsa and her family indicated that they were obsessed with preserving the Nephilim bloodline. That was why the woman looked so much like a Nephilim herself; her ancestors had descended from Nephilim. At least, that was what Maeve had found out about Celsa during her research. Jadis had fully expected Celsa to try to use the opportunity to bargain for some kind of breeding rights of her own. She had no intention of accepting such a condition just to get Celsa’s help with buying land, but Jadis had planned on working some kind of agreement out with the senator that, in all honesty, probably would have been similar to the contract struck with the High Temples in Eldingholt. Instead, it seemed that Celsa found the whole idea morally repugnant.

“You look shocked, dolcezza,” Celsa commented with a slight pucker between her delicate eyebrows. “Does it surprise you that I know of the deal you made in the Empire?”

“A little,” Dys admitted after a slight hesitation. “If I’m honest, and I hope this this doesn’t offend you, I’m more surprised by your, um, aversion to the deal.”

Celsa looked taken aback for a moment, before she let out a soft laugh of wry disbelief. Reaching and taking Dys by the hand, the senator gave her a gentle squeeze.

“Tesoro, how wronged you must have been in the past to think that I would try to force something as sacred as children upon you. Let me state clearly for you, so there is no confusion. I would never trade your rights, either of the seed or of the womb, as though you were an animal. Never let the thought enter your mind again.”

Dys opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She was too stunned to even know what to say.

“That said,” Celsa gave her a smile and a wink, “I will be equally honest in saying that I would still love to have one or more of you all to myself in my bedchambers.”

“Ah—wha—” Dys sputtered while her other two selves let out shocked gasps of amusement. “You don’t mince words, do you?”

“I have never seen the need to,” the senator put the tip of her finger between her teeth as she gave all three of Jadis an openly lustful look. “Especially not when it comes to things that I crave. As your bellezza Fetch has no doubt informed you, I have no husband. I do have five daughters and six sons, however, and I assure you that they were not made from magic and dreams.”

Jadis couldn’t help but laugh at the audaciously stated claim. Settling more comfortably in her seat while her other selves leaned in against her, Dys assessed the bold woman with a new eye.

“Alright, I can respect a woman who knows what she wants,” Dys grinned at Celsa. “But are you sure this isn’t just some sort of roundabout way of trying to seduce me into doing what the temples did by contracts?”

“Mi cara, you are the one who is seducing me with your beauty and charms, not the other way around,” the senator insisted impishly before taking a slightly more serious tone. “Now, I will say that if in the future, you or one of your progeny happens to gain an interest in my family… well, that would benefit us both. Even if nothing blossoms between us, there are others in my home who may foster interest. I shall not mention my sons, as they are not to your tastes and they are all married in the first place. However, two of my daughters are not yet wed. I would never try to force a relationship, but I see no harm in at least introducing them to you?”

Dys thought the idea over, then shrugged. If it wasn’t a contingent for cooperation, she didn’t see the harm either. Jadis wasn’t looking to expand her harem; she never meant to have one in the first place. Still, if talking to Senator Celsa’s daughters made the woman happy, Jadis could accommodate her in that much, at least. Besides, maybe they would make for good allies in other regards? Certainly, Celsa herself was seeming more and more like a good person for Jadis to have on her side in Volto.

“I won’t call it a date,” Dys finally said. “But yes, I’ll gladly meet with them.”

“Splendida,” Celsa exclaimed. “Now, back to the business that actually brought you to my home. If we are going to develop a plan for you to purchase a territory in old Asteria, there are a few details I will need to know, starting with—”

The rest of Jadis’ meeting with Senator Celsa went as smoothly as she could have hoped. By the end of a handful of hours, she felt as though they had managed to construct the framework of a proposal that would be accepted by a majority of the Voltonian Senate. With a little luck, and a lot of goodwill that would hopefully come from a successful retaking of Kastoria, Jadis felt as though she had a good chance of getting what she wanted.

“Senator Celsa,” Gloria, the senator’s servant, called out from the open door of the plush red room. “I am sorry to interrupt, but Donna Jadis’ companion, Donna Severina, has come to fetch her.”

“Has so much time passed already,” Celsa mused. “Very well, Gloria. Let the good Seraphim know that I will release our bella Jadis to her warm wings in just a moment.”

“Thank you again for all your help,” Jay said as she shifted and moved to stand from her seat. “It’s been a pleasure talking to you, really.”

“Of course,” Senator Celsa said as she, too, rose from her seat. “The pleasure has been mine, as well. Before you go to your lovely companion, I have a message that I would ask that you pass along to one of your other innamorata.”

“A message?” Jay tilted her head to one side. “Sure, I can do that. What’s the message, and to whom does it go?”

The senator reached behind her and pulled a small envelope from… somewhere on her person, and passed it to Jay. She saw that the envelope wasn’t sealed, though she didn’t examine the contents right away.

“I believe that her name is Maeve, no?” Celsa mirrored the way Jay’s head tilted in question. “Let her know that this is a letter of introduction to one of my contacts who deals regularly with smugglers. She should be able to get much further, more quickly, with his assistance.”

“How do you know about that?” all three of Jadis asked the senator, her expressions having turned to concerned confusion once again.

“Arancia is not the only one who has ears and eyes in Thracina,” Celsa responded playfully. “I pay well to stay informed.”

“The fact that you know what we’re doing could mean a lot more people with deep pockets know our plans, too,” Dys frowned at the statuesque woman. “That’s not a comfort.”

“I do not think you need to worry as much as you presume,” Celsa assured her with a little wave of one hand. “Tell your Maeve that Vibi sends her regards, and I think she will agree with me.”

Jadis wasn’t as certain about the confidentiality of Maeve’s work as she had been a minute before, but rather than stress over the potential leak without effect, she decided to just accept Celsa’s words at face value for the moment. She could discuss things with Maeve later. Turning to leave, Jadis began to head for the door, where she saw Gloria was waiting to lead her out of the manor. The sight of the girl caused a thought to pop into Jadis’ head. Acting on the spontaneous idea, Syd turned back to whisper in Celsa’s ear while her other selves continued forward.

“Just so you know, I have an aura skill that passively helps people with their fertility. If any of your children are trying to conceive, let me know, and maybe we can arrange some time where they hang around me and get a little boost. Just make sure you pass that invitation along to Gloria and any other servants you have in your employ, okay?”

Grinning widely, Celsa stood on her toes and gave Syd a kiss on her cheek.

“Tesoro, you are my hero.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep