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His house was nearly bankrupt--rich in potential, in holdings, and in workers, but poor in cash and connections because of his uncle’s foolishness If Wax didn’t do soe that, it could mean jobs lost, poverty, and collapse as other houses pounced on his holdings and seized the his Sterrions The constables handled those street toughs just fine, he admitted to himself They didn’t needdid

He was trying to cling to what he had been He wasn’t that person any longer He couldn’t be But people did need hi else

"Tillaume," Wax said

The butler looked back frohts yet, though work his uncle had paid for before dying, money Wax couldn’t recover now

"Yes, my lord?" Tillaume asked

Wax hesitated, then slowly pulled his shotgun from its place inside his coat and set it into the trunk beside his bed, placing it beside a companion he’d left there earlier He took off histhe thick material over his arm He held the coat reverently for a moment, then placed it in the trunk His Sterrion revolvers followed They weren’t his only guns, but they represented his life in the Roughs

He closed the lid of the trunk on his old life "Take this, Tillaume," Wax said "Put it somewhere"

"Yes, my lord," Tillauain"

"I won’t be needing it," Wax said He had given hi cli spent with the darkness He chose to focus on that--rather than his failure with the toughs--as his night’s accomplishment

One final dance

"Take it, Tillau away froood"

"Yes,

And that, Wax thought, is that He then walked into the washrooone

It was tih Lord of House Ladrian, residing in the Fourth Octant of Elendel City

2

SIX MONTHS LATER

"How’shi at the silver necktie again

"Impeccable as always, my lord," Tillaume said The butler stood with hands clasped behind his back, a tray with stea stand Waxilliuht it anyway Tillau about tea

"Are you certain?" Waxilliuain

"Indeed, my lord" He hesitated "I’ll admit, my lord, that I’ve been curious about this for h lord I’ve ever waited upon who can tie a decent cravat I’d grown quite accusto that assistance"

"You learn to do things on your ohen you live out in the Roughs"

"With all due respect,a hint of curiosity, "I wouldn’t have thought that one would need to learn that skill in the Roughs I wasn’t aware that the denizens of those lands had the slightest concern for matters of fashion and decoruiving one final adjust like a city gentleman had an odd effect on the people out there Some immediately respected me, others immediately underestiht add, it was unspeakably satisfying to see the looks on the faces of criminals when they were hauled in by someone they had assuine, my lord"

"I did it forhireen satin vest Eh the sleeves and legs One steel button on his vest a was a reminder, Tillaume The land around me may have been wild, but I didn’t need to be"

Waxilliu stand, deftly folded it in the proper style, and slipped it into his breast pocket A sudden chih the mansion

"Rust and Ruin," Waxilliu his pocket watch "They’re early"

"Lord Harms is known for his punctuality, et this over with" Waxilliureen velvet-cut rug Thehis two-decade absence Even after sixhere, it still didn’t feel like it was his The faint sered, and the decor was marked by a fondness for deep dark woods and heavy stone sculpture Despite s As Waxillium knew, many of those had been valuable, and had been sold before his uncle’s death

Tillauside hih he considers this day’s duty to be a chore"

"Is it that obvious?" Waxilliurimaced What did it say about hiunned and outhter?

A plu a black dress and a white apron "Oh, Lord Ladrian," she said with fondness "Your mother would be so pleased to see this day!"