THIRST ➴ Illumi x Reader

FOUR ♘ 𝒓𝒆𝒅

A soft knock rasped against the office's door. It creaked open slowly, and the aid cleared their throat before announcing their purpose. "My lady, I've your mail."

I signed the last paper of a large pile of investments, purchases and sells, my eyes flickered up, landing on the seaweed hair of Mr. Doln, he was a lean older gentleman, a new hire after Marie was fired. A lot had changed these past months. Doln was polite and efficient. His dark swirly moustache twitched as he lowered the silver tray onto the cluttered table.

"Thank You, Mr. Doln." My hand reached for the first coal coloured envelope, the paper was smooth and thick. I was expecting a single letter, it was surprising that I had two. The letter below was enveloped in a blood-red velvety paper.

"Also, Mr. Kurapika is waiting in the parlour." Mr. Doln stood in place as I inspected the dark envelope addressed to Y/N L/N. How unusual... To be addressed with my maiden surname. My eyebrows furrowed, and my fingers passed over the silver ink, that swirled in beautiful handwriting.

Peculiar... Could it be? I flipped the envelope and the silver seal had the Council's crest stamp. "I'll be there in a moment."

I waited for the door to close behind Mr. Doln to pry the letter open and unfurl the missive written on expensive parchment.

I was well aware that the entirety of the Council had been murdered at the last event, which had happened a month after my husband's death. Not a single of the attendees had managed to survive. I wasn't part of the Council, my husband's family sneered upon the idea of an alliance of powerful and wealthy families. Ever since Palin Vedridian, they had vehemently refused to be involved in the dealings of the Council.

The Council had very particular rules, and it seemed that upon the total annihilation of the current members, the surviving founding families would start anew, cultivating and inviting other powerful families into the group once more.

So, Charles Terrence, as a member of a founder family, would have access to the new Council and would be able to influence its decisions.

I had thought it curious, that Charles was the only one to win in this situation. As the family had been banned in the previous cycle, no member of the Terrence family was in attendance of the ball. With everyone gone, the Terrences had now access to the group once more without a casualty.

Wasn't that just convenient? Had anyone else taken notice of it?

I shook my head and skimmed over the letter, which started with the combination of various Coats of Arms. The Vedridians weren't part of the founding families... I hadn't expected to be invited to the first meeting, at the start of the new year, to be held at Terrence Manor.

Curiously, it appeared that I was a descendant of one of the founding families, but out of all the descendants, I was the only one with enough amassed wealth to be given a seat. I had known my family had been well off in the much distant past, but I never knew they had been that influential.

I couldn't help but doubt this letter, who had pulled the strings to get me into the Council? I had to look into it. Nothing ever happened by mere luck... Not something as huge as this...

The massacre had happened in June, it was now November. My investments were returning far more than I had anticipated. I had taken advantage of the disorder caused by the Council's misfortune and tripled my fortune by buying out businesses from the affected families, covering their debts, and many other small things...

No matter if this was an offering from fate or a plot to lead me to my demise, there was only one possible way of answering this invitation.

I penned a most pleased acceptance on the card that came with the new Council's card, enclosed it in a thick green envelope, and sealed it with the Vedridian stamp.