D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad-Chapter 821
Chapter 821: Chapter 821 Jaraโs Pitch
โHow? No... what? No... how... how could she say that? I... I donโt understand?โ even ask Zuhra formed the words she found herself lacking understanding. ๐๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ธe๐๐ฏ๐๐ฏe๐.c๐๐
Kat gave a shrug, โI can explain it the simple way or the long way,โ offered Kat.
โI... I donโt understand why thereโd be a difference... or even how sheโd think that I should give Apep a chance in the first place... I... I just donโt get it...โ said Zuhra.
โWell, the simple answer is that she doesnโt want you to end up like her, but the long answer is of course more complex,โ said Kat easily.
โWhat? But... why not? Sheโs the owner of a successful business, has more intuitive understanding of people than anyone else Iโve ever known, her business has nearly doubled in size since she took over from her father, she was able to raise a son by herself perfectly well just because she decided not to have a husband. Sheโs one of the most well respected merchants in the city and the nearby countries. She might not have the largest merchant house but she is very well known. Sheโs highly educated in matters of both literature and economics... why would I not want that?โ asked Zuhra. ๐๐๐ewe๐ฏ๐๐ผัต๐ฦ.๐๏ฝ๐ฆ
Jara looked to Kat with a โyeah can you explainโ face, so Kat sighed and brought forth the memory of Belle and answered, with a sombre tone. โBelle doesnโt want you to become her because sheโs a shell of a person,โ Kat started to mark of things on her fingers, โshe lives in her office. She doesnโt go on trips as often as she used to, she hasnโt visited her house in over a year, she eats spare products instead of proper meals, she works by a single lantern in her office, the business continues to exist mostly because of her former success and none of her current action, she canโt let go of a vendetta despite having virtually no evidence, and she has no idea what sheโll do when she accomplishes it anyway,โ
โI... I... I didnโt think things had gotten so bad...โ said Zuhra softly.
.....
Kat gave a shrug, โI donโt know what to tell you Zuhra. Belle still has her mind, her body hasnโt completely fallen apart and despite her bad habits sheโs still better of than most... but she really is running on fumes in many ways. She doesnโt have that spark of life you see in most peopleโs eyes anymore. It feels like she runs on spite and the occasional flashback to better times. She can fake being alright pretty well and maybe some of the ideas I suggested to her will help but... frankly sheโs not doing well...โ
โI hadnโt noticed...โ said Zuhra as she folded in on herself somewhat. โI should have been there to help her...โ
Jara sighed, โI think thatโs part of the point Zuhra. She doesnโt want you to turn out like her so I imagine she was intentionally putting up a good front whenever you had the chance to see her. Iโm also not sure she wants the kind of help youโre talking about. As bitter and angry as she seems from Katโs explanation... and as much as she doesnโt want you to become her... I get the sense sheโs... well not content but perhaps... unwilling to move past it? Accepting of it as her fate?โ suggested Jara.
โBut it shouldnโt be! Sheโs so successful... sheโs done so much for her company... so much for so many small villages... she might play it off as โgood business senseโ but most of the other traders still donโt bother... I just canโt understand it...โ said Zuhra.
โConsider this then,โ said Jara, โyouโre younger than her, just as well educated and currently working for one of the ten guardians. Youโre also in a position to if not marry, at least become close to the heir to a second. I think thatโs just as impressive if not more so considering youโre younger age... you could have a bright future you know?โ Zuhra just gave a saddened shrug, โWell, seeing as youโve calmed down now, even if it is perhaps a tad too far, what are your real thoughts about Apep?โ
Zuhra sunk further into the chair as she finally decided to give the question itโs proper weight. What were her thoughts on Apep? The answer was still unclear. She hadnโt ever looked at him that way... or anyone at all since Gaston. A lot of things just... sort of happened in the background to her since his death. Nothing in particular stood out and without Jara forcing her to take breaks regularly Zuhra would be hard pressed to know how long itโd been or what day it was.
โI... I donโt really know?โ offered Zuhra as her answer eventually. Seeing Jaraโs unimpressed look directed at her from the side she tried to continue... โI mean... heโs cute... but more like a little boy I guess? Maybe thatโs unfair but... Gaston was... he was impressive always. He had muscles that looked strong enough to break wood with just a flex. He had martial training he... he was... no... he felt POWERFUL. He had a sort of presence that drew you to him...
โIt actually surprised me to find out I was someone he had a crush on... he was always showing off, flashing his teeth that I swear he had to polish instead of clean... he was more of an unreachable figure you know? I appreciated him, at the start, like one would appreciate a statue. Impressive from a distance, nice detailing up close, but ultimately not something to strive for. It is a statue at the end of the day...
โExcept apparently not. No apparently he was very real and interested in me... and I just... I donโt really know how I could love someone else like that. Could replace him... I mean... Apep... Apep is so many things that Gaston wasnโt... and... I suppose I really donโt like the idea of replacing Gaston at all in my heart...โ
Jara gave a small smile, โNobody is asking you to forget him... but maybe this is good? Allow Gaston to be that larger than life figure. The one who swept you off your feet with muscles the size of boulders and a smile that outshines the sun. A wonderous magical encounter you can always remember...
โBut perhaps you can also find a place in your heart for Apep. He is loyal, and while not as strong physically heโs smarter than he gives himself credit for a much stronger politically. Where Gaston would probably show off at a party to prove himself worthy of you time and time again, Apep would be happy to stand by your side. Iโm sure theyโd both offer you everything in the world if they could... but Gaston is not Apep and maybe itโs better that way. Instead of staying alone or finding a knock-off Gaston... why not look to Apep for a different kind of romance?โ suggested Jara.
Kat turned her full attention to Zuhra. Jara had probably given the best pitch possibly, certainly better than anything believed she could think of. Lily was of a similar opinion. It was a great way of framing this development to Zuhra. It was a chance for Zuhra to move on without truly moving on. Perhaps she would in the future, perhaps not but it looked to be an excellent place to start, โI... Iโm sorry but I just donโt know if thatโs a good idea...โ said Zuhra.
And it fell flat.
โSurely itโs worth giving him a chance though?โ asked Jara carefully to make sure it didnโt sound like she was begging.
โJara... this... youโre not talking about a new flavour of tea or I guess in your case testing out a new crossbreed of plants. Jara this... and please understand this time I mean you no ill will... but I donโt think you CAN understand. This... itโs a delicate matter and... sure maybe Apep is different enough... but I donโt want to just casually date him. Not only is giving him unfounded hope cruel I donโt want to even date someone I donโt at least have a small crush on. I just... Iโm not sure I can see it going anywhere. I... Iโm not saying no just yet... because Iโll admit that like Belle was worried about... I didnโt really see much of a future for me anywhere really... but I canโt see this working out yet...
โHmm...โ Zuhra turned to Kat and Lily. โWhat about you? What would you both do?โ
Kat winced and glanced at Lily before deciding to go first, โYouโre asking a hard question Zuhra. Iโm asexual like Jara and I... well honestly I probably would just... not? I mean if Lily died NOW Iโd end up like Belle no question about it... well thatโs not true we bound ourselves together so it would literally kill me not figuratively. I... I donโt really know how to answer you Zuhra. The situation isnโt really all that similar and weโve taken steps to avoid something like it... even if they were accidental.
