Late that night, cries filled the Main Family's Manor.
Klein stood outside the Manor, the reason for those cries: she had returned, burning with vengeance.
Dordoni Main was one of the Flower Capital's Nine Great Wine Merchants. He frequented noble banquets and royal estates, an important man by any measure.
But now, that important man was wiping sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, head bowed as he pleaded obsequiously with a Heavy Knight.
"Two hundred thousand Gold Coins is far too much. All our money is tied up in the Winery..."
Klein stood at the gate like a statue, ignoring the fawning man who had nearly killed her.
Dordoni Main tried another approach. "My lady, there are nine of us. Could we pay the money together...?"
He no longer cared how much money was actually in the Magic Ring.
Klein gave her first response of the night. "Then each of you will pay Thirty Thousand Gold Coins."
"Wasn't it two hundred thousand...?"
"Either you pay two hundred thousand yourself, or you and the other seven split two hundred and seventy thousand."
Annan had gotten one thing wrong. Klein was an honest Knight, but honesty had never had anything to do with revenge.
Revenge, like justice and honesty, was etched into the souls of the Knights of the Holy Grail of Faith.
"We'll split it! Split it! Please wait here. I'll have the Butler gather the money at once!" As if afraid Klein might change her mind, Dordoni Main shouted for the Butler standing nearby to prepare the money.
Thirty Thousand Gold Coins was better than two hundred thousand. It would only sting a little.
Take all the responsibility himself? Impossible. With eight old associates sharing the burden, Dordoni Main might even manage a smile as he handed over his