Bab 14: Preparations
Becca and Lady Zula where the first to pledge their alliance to Ariana. Seeley, Clawdean and Sammy all nodded to each other before they pledged. Brian on the other hand lifted himself off the ground before he gave her a murderous gaze. "How the hell will you accomplish your goals with people after? Greatness you preach but your just a tiny girl with no backing."
Ariana gave him a light chuckle. "Well my dear sir that's where you people come in. I may not be able to leave the brothel and as long as there's not too many people against me, I can take care of myself in a fight. As for the girls training I believe I can come up with something but for know I need them to build up their stamina. With the illusion of me going into perpetual hiding, I will have them in top shape by the time the cafe is set to open."
Brian scoffed at Ariana's arrogance. "Do you really believe that these girls are really capable of doing anything?!" Ariana lifted her head up as she faced Brian. "I believe anyone is capable of doing anything with enough perseverance but if you think I'm just going to give up on a person just because you say so think again! Besides everything was already pre-approved by my mother, you have no say in this matter." she said courtly as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Brian clicked his tongue and moved his gaze towards Lady Zula. His jaw dropped when he saw how proud she looked at Ariana. "Alright! Now that business is settled, Roy, Rin and mother, you guys will finalize the menu. You've already tasted everything so far choose what you believe would be the most cost efficient and best sellers. If you think of anything else for the menu let me know, I will try to make the dish. Becca I want you to itemize everything that's going to be needed to do the renovation."
"I need you to give me options on types of materials and their cost. I don't want it too cheap but I don't want it too expensive either I want something in the middle." Becca nodded and shouted "Yup!" Unable to tear her eyes from the blueprints.
Ariana rolled her eyes, she didn't think Becca would be so entrance but chalked it up as a good thing. She then looked at the guild members. "I want Seeley, Brian and Clawdean to escort the girls on a run every morning. We need to build up their stamina before we start training, we will look over a map and pick a route that would be the most safest for them to run."
"Clawdean and Sammie, I have a special task for the both of you. I want you to talk and observe the girls. I need you both to evaluate them individually, find their strengths and weaknesses. I want to know everything no matter how menial it is, I want reports so I can draft up individual education plans for each of them. If I find that some of them have a talent in something else, it it will be nurtured. Their lives are in your hands.... claws or is is paws? Whatever the point is you two are an important key to this project!" Ariana said as she awkwardly finished giving out their tasks making her have a more childlike demeanor and causing Clawdean to smile mischievously.
Soon enough everyone started to get to work and Ariana supervised them as she carried around some papers and a pencil. Every once in awhile she would stop walking, place the papers done and madly doodle something. Once she was done she would then resume her observations. It took most of the night but they were able to finalize at least the map and the material list which was a good start.
The ladies woke up early to the smile of breakfast this morning they were serving oatmeal topped with cinnamon covered apples, raisins and almonds. As they all started piling into the dining hall, Ariana sat on the counter, patiently waiting till they all took their seats. "Good morning ladies!" she shouted with excitement. "Today will be the start of your new lives!"
The ladies started to mumble to one another as they were served breakfast. "This morning Miss Clawdean , Me. Seeley and Mr. Brian will be escorting you lovely ladies for a run after breakfast while Dr. Grey will be around for your medical needs. So please eat until you are almost full, I don't need any of you throwing up along the route." she explained with stern look.
Of course the ladies were caught off guard, they couldn't help but grumble in defiance. Ariana waited until the room became silent and looked at every one with the fierce glare. "This is part of your training! I promise that you will not have to service men the same way as you did before! That you will be able to buy your freedom back, well this is part of buying your freedom back for the next 3 months we're going to do some rigorous training and learning! You will learn how to defend yourself against attackers, you will learn to sharpen your skills, you will be educated in literature and arithmetic, so that if you choose to leave after you have bought your freedom you will be able to obtain any job within the city or out!"
The ladies were all speechless. They all nervously looked at one another and some of them were starting to sweat but no one dared to speak out. As if reading everyone's minds, Ariel spoke up. "How do you pray tell expect all of us to run after breakfast and just wearing our knickers!" she spat angrily as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Ariana started to laugh as she hopped off the counter and hid behind it for a moment. Later she pulled out what look like a training uniform, a basic white tunic with beige slacks. "My dear ladies don't think that I'm such a barbaric person that I'd have you run in you underwear! You will each get a training uniform and as for shoes I suggest that you wear your flats." the ladies started mumbling between one another anxiously wondering what they would do.
Ariana sensed their uneasiness and gave them a soft smile. "And don't worry about your tabs, If you are willing to train, all that you're giving, uniforms, the materials needed for your education and meals will be on my tab not yours. You will not have your tab increase a single cent if you are following instructions."
The ladies all erupted into cheers and were excited for the new opportunity. They quickly devoured their breakfast and grabbed their uniforms before they rushed upstairs to change. Once they were all downstairs Ariana had had everyone moved to the backyard. She didn't take a step out of the building but she stood by the doorway so she could watch everyone outside.
Clawdean was instructing them on how to properly stretch their bodies so that they wouldn't get hurt during their run. After a good 15 minutes of stretching they all formed a single file line and we're ready to go out into the city. Seeley and Brian awkwardly took the front of the line. Brian voiced out his skepticism at first but was pleasantly surprised to see how motivated they all were to train.
"Gentlemen and Miss Clawdean." Ariana started to say as she stared at Brian but spoke to all. "They're all yours, so please keep them safe. If they get hurt or attacked by an outsider the responsibility for their recovery falls on you." Seeley and Clawdaen nodded while Brian just gave her a cold glare. "Let's go you walking pieces of human toilets! I don't want hear any crying or complaining from any of you babies, so time to march!" Brian shouted as he waved his arm over his head to show them that he was the leader.
"What the f*ck did you just call my ladies!" Ariana shouted with pure rage from the entryway. Causing Brien to flinch, he looked back at the girl and instinctively took two step back. "I'm motivating them like I do my men at the guild." Brian said as he gulped. Ariana stood tall and looked at him with blood lust. "Your men are different from my ladies. Never speak to them in that manner again or you will regret it. You will speak to them with respect now try again."
Everyone outside was dumbstruck, they weren't expecting such a little girl to have such a cold and murderous aura that it would cause them all to shiver. Brian cleared his throat, he knew what she was capable of when she was at her weakest. He would love to test her out again when she was strong enough but today was not that day. He looked at the ladies again and spoke in a more polite manner.
"Alright ladies let's hustle! We're going to have a great run if you can't keep up let one us know, we will not leave anyone behind." he said as he glanced towards Ariana, her gaze softened and she nodded in approval. Brian to his horror let out a breath of relief. He quickly turned around n lead the ladies out.
Ariana was pleasantly pleased as she watched everyone leave the backyard, she turned back inside and went searching for Lady Zula. She found her with Roy and Rin, debating on what to do about the menu. Ariana went and grabbed the papers and pencil from last night and brought them over.
"Mother I know I've already asked for a lot and I'm actually really surprised that Becca is going to be footing most of the renovation bill... so we're under budget by a lot and I was wondering instead of putting this on my tab can we put this under the budget? Last night I started designing a new uniform for all the girls to wear for when they work in the cafe." she said awkwardly as she stretched out her arms, passing the papers to Lady Zula.
"You know the deal anything that has to do with the girls goes under your tab but I will look at this and maybe take into consideration. That is if I have some say in the designs." Lady Zula said with a chuckle as she took the papers from Ariana's grasp.
Ariana nodded her head vigorously. "Yes! Yes, please let me know what you think and what we should change!" Ariana said as she watched Lady Zula look over her designs. Lady Zula's eyes became wide as she happily looked over everything. "I don't even know why I keep getting surprised by you! These are beautiful! Have you chosen a color yet?" Lady Zula asked in anticipation.
Ariana beamed at her reaction. "I was thinking pink since it's a color that makes people think of sweets." Lady Zula nodded her head in agreement. "Oh yes a nice dark pink would really suit the girls and I'll say half of the cost will go under the budget the other half you will carry." Ariana stuck her hand out towards Lady Zula. "Deal!" she said as Lady Zula grabbed her hand and shook it.
Weeks past and everything was coming together a lot faster than what Ariana had anticipated. she didn't think Becca would be so motivated in personally over seeing the project. She even brought over her best and most trusted employees to do the project.
The ladies had given it their all without complaint and had improved exponentially. Among them she found a sous chef, a line cook, a seamstress, a stylist for makeup and hair, an accountant, two bodyguards, a public relations person, a nurse and they all excelled in customer service.
Every girl had something to bring to the table and Ariana was pleased. During that time Ariana continued her belief that Cayden was watching over her. She tried to coax him out and come to her side by leaving him a plate of dinner out in the alleyway every night. She would return every morning to retrieve a clean plate with her handkerchief neatly folded on top of it.
Now that they were three weeks ahead of schedule Lady Zula's demeanor was something extraordinary. She treated every girl as if they were her own child, she floated around happily, like she was on cloud nine. When she finally got the news that the capital had sent her the final document prior to officially adopting Ariana she couldn't be any happier.
When she opened up the letter during breakfast her face became ashen. She looked up from the letter and stared at Ariana. "I need to present you in front of the grand council to finalize the adoption." Ariana looked at Lady Zula curiously. "I don't see a problem with that." she said with a shrug.
Lady Zula pulled out her fan and started to fan herself quickly, trying to fan away her distress. Ariana put down her fork and cleaned her mouth with her napkin. "Mother what's the problem? Were are ahead of schedule, the ladies have excelled way beyond my expectations but are still training rigorously. There's nothing to worry about you can pick a day so we can go down, get this done and over with and then I can officially tell people you are my mother." she said nonchalantly.
Lady Zula gave Ariana a cold glare. "My child have you forgotten that there is a bounty on your head? We still haven't figured out who wants you or what they want from you." Ariana looked at Lady Zula blankly, unaffected by her words. "Right..." she said as she shifted in her chair.
"And don't forget about the fun little fact about your special ability." Lady Zula said as she raided one eyebrow. Ariana looked at Lady Zula defiantly, she started to clutch her hands into small fists as she tried to control her temper.
"I have been working hard to find every possible thing I could touch to unlock everything. I spent a few days sick in bed but I think I'm good now. Plus we can use this trip as a lesson, a tutor can only teach me so much! I need to experience the real world, I've been locked up for a month and a half! Please can we just get this done?" Ariana whined. Lady Zula's eyes widened with shock then she started to laugh.
Making Ariana turn red and avert her gaze. She often forgot that Ariana was only a 12 year old girl and it was rare for her to actually act her own age. She got up from her chair, walked over to her and hugged Ariana's head then placed a kiss on top of it. "My darling one day you will find out how hard it is to be a mother. I want to protect you but I also want you to grow into a well rounded young lady. Fine you win we'll pick a day to go but it'll be under my conditions." she said as she snuggled up with her.
Ariana moved out of her embrace and flashed her the happiest smile. "Thank you mother!' she shouted.
Lady Zula stroke Ariana's cheek affectionately before she looked at the guild members. "I want to get everything ready within two weeks. Can you get it done?" she asked Brian sternly.
Hadiah
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