Chapter 109: Contract
"Sign this."
"W-What is this?"
"Something that ensures what you just said and prevents you from going back on your words and betraying me later."
Vaan spoke with a smile on his face.
Seraphina frowned, she took the paper from Vaan's hand and the more she read it, the more her expression changed.
It was an official contract.
DEBT REPAYMENT AGREEMENT
This Debt Repayment Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement") is entered into on this 23 Syltember 5039 by and between:
Party 1:
Vaan Astra Vesta
(Hereinafter referred to as the "Creditor")
Party 2:
Anderson Stormweaver
(Hereinafter referred to as the "Head of the Stormweaver Family")
Party 3:
Seraphina Stormweaver
(Hereinafter referred to as the "Debtor")
This document is a Debt Repayment Agreement between Vaan Astra Vesta the "Creditor", Anderson Stormweaver the "Head of the Stormweaver Family", and Seraphina Stormweaver the "Debtor".
The central issue addressed is a debt amounting to 1,000,000 Elemental Stones owed by the Stormweaver Family to Vaan Astra Vesta, in light of their present financial incapacity, the Stormweaver Family is unable to discharge the aforementioned debt. In lieu of immediate repayment, the agreement establishes an alternative arrangement.
Under the terms of the agreement:
1. Seraphina Stormweaver, the daughter of Anderson Stormweaver, shall serve as Vaan Astra Vesta's personal secretary for a fixed duration of 50 years, commencing from the Effective Date of the Agreement.
2. Seraphina Stormweaver is obligated to diligently perform her duties and responsibilities as assigned by Vaan Astra Vesta in her role as personal secretary.
3. An essential component of this arrangement is the requirement for unwavering loyalty from Seraphina Stormweaver towards Vaan Astra Vesta. She is prohibited from engaging in any activities or actions that may undermine Vaan's interests during the 50-year service period.
4. The agreement grants Vaan Astra Vesta the legal right to pursue actions against the entire Stormweaver Family in the event of a breach of the Agreement's terms. This includes breaches of duty, disloyalty, or any actions perceived as detrimental to Vaan Astra Vesta's interests.
5. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Debt Repayment Agreement as of the Effective Date.
Party 1:
Vaan Astra Vesta
Vaan Astra Vesta.
Date: 12 Syltember 5039
Party 2:
________________________
Anderson Stormweaver
Date:
Party 3:
________________________
Seraphina Stormweaver
Date:
When Seraphina read through the entire contract, her mind blanked out.
A debt of 1,000,000 Elemental Stones!?
What kind of absurd number is that!?
Even if all the interests were piled up at the rate of 10,000%, the debt still wouldn't increase to this point! It was absurd! Vaan simply put any random number that came to his mind without any thoughts about it at all.
Even if they save every penny they make and pile their wealth for centuries, they still wouldn't be able to gather that many elemental stones.
Heck, Seraphina doubted if even the Vesta Family made the pure profit of 1,000,000 Elemental Stones every year!
"H-How do I owe you 1,000,000 Elemental Stones...?"
In the end, Seraphina couldn't hold back and decided to question Vaan.
"You do not."
Vaan replied honestly.
"W-What...?"
Seraphina's expression changed.
A big smile then appeared on Vaan's face and,
"I was told that I cannot legally ask you to serve me for 50 years without giving you the chance to repay your debt, so I put in that number to ensure that you never get out of the debt and can only 'repay your debt' through serving me.
Of course, you can always not sign the contract if you disagree with anything here, but...
Be ready to face the consequences of doing that.
I still have the option to call the Vesta Mages, you know?"
Vaan's smile turned demonic.
Seraphina's body trembled.
Just as she expected, this was no different than a Slave Contract. Not just the absurd debt, but everything else inside this contract made it clear as well.
She was expected to 'diligently perform her duties and responsibilities as assigned by Vaan Astra Vesta in her role as personal secretary', what duties and responsibilities? What was expected of her? A good contract should have all those things mentioned in it.
This contract, however, just skipped all that information.
Legally, Vaan could come up with whatever reason he wanted, saying how she 'breached her duty', a duty she wouldn't even know existed, and then under clause 4, Vaan would have the power to take legal action against not only her but her entire Family.
It was an absurdly unfair contract, however, Seraphina had no choice but to sign it. With trembling hands, Seraphina grabbed the pen. She was going to be turned into a Slave, legally.
Her eyes then fell on the date Vaan had signed the contract,
12 Syltember 5039.
To think this man prepared this contract 11 days ago...
Seraphina couldn't help but smile wryly.
This was another indication of how she was utterly defeated and had no chance of 'winning', at all.
In the end, Seraphina just stopped thinking about it and signed the contract before passing it to Vaan.
"Mention the date too, you idiot."
"..."
Seraphina turned silent.
She mentioned the date, Vaan grabbed the contract, then nodding with a satisfied smile on his face, he glanced at Seraphina and,
"Alright, stand up, let's go to your father and make this contract official.
His signatures are required as well."
Seraphina didn't say anything and just stood up. The two of them walked towards Anderson's room.
...
"What in the hell is this!?"
Obviously, the moment Anderson saw the contract, he screamed in rage as he threw the contract away.
This was the first time Anderson Stormweaver had shown such a strong reaction and how could he not? Signing this contract was no different than giving his daughter's freedom away and putting the entire Stormweaver Family at risk.
There was no way he would sign this contract.
Vaan expected this reaction, to add insult to Anderson's injury, he turned towards Seraphina, signaling her to pick up the contract her father had thrown.
Seraphina stared at Vaan for a while, then, she momentarily glanced at her father, then, she avoided his eyes and picked the contract.
Anderson's expression changed.
Seeing his daughter acting like this, he realized that something wasn't right. Then, he thought of another possibility and his eyes widened in horror.
"Is your head finally working now?" Vaan questioned.
"I must say, you are quite daring for someone who could be executed at any moment."
Anderson stared at her daughter. Seraphina stood there, with her head low. Standing like this in front of her father was extremely humiliating for her. The feeling of helplessness she felt...
It was overpowering.
"Oi, I don't have all day.
Sign the contract or let me call the Vesta Mages.
You decide."
"Is Young Master aware that his actions could be seen as threatening?"
Suddenly, Anderson spoke up.
Vaan frowned and Anderson continued.
"In accordance with the regulations of the Vesta Family, contracts entered into under duress or coercion may be subject to nullification.
Not to mention that once revealed, the party responsible for the coercion will also face consequences.
Does Young Master Vaan really wish to foll-"
"Is it just you father and daughter pair, or is the entire Stormweaver Family just this dumb? Or do you feel like everyone other than you is a fool?"
"..."
"..."
Seraphina and Anderson turned silent. Vaan glanced at Anderson and,
"Do you even realize your situation? Dreamweave was found in your daughter's room, if it is revealed, it is over for the entire Stormweaver Family.
Sure, the contract will be voided if it is revealed that I threatened you to sign, but what then? How were you threatened? How did a 2nd Circle Mage manage to threaten a Magic Family Head?
How would you answer that?
Would you say I used my Family's influence to do so?
That would be no different than saying that you didn't trust the Vesta Family's justice and signed the contract thinking the Vesta Family would come for you if you didn't. If that was the case, the entire situation would become absurd since in the end, you are still asking for Vesta Family's help to void the contract.
Everything would be investigated.
What do you think would be worse?
Me threatening you, or your family dealing with Dreamweave?"
Vaan questioned.
"..." Anderson turned silent.
It was just as his daughter had said, Vaan had changed. If it was before, Vaan would have never been able to catch the flaw in his words and would have been intimidated by thinking about the 'consequences' of threatening others.
'He wouldn't have pushed us this far if he was still the fool he was before...'
Anderson sighed inwardly.
"Old man, this is the last time I am saying this if you don't sign the contract within the next 10 seconds,
I will report everything to my family, and the first one to be executed would be your daughter."
The contract was then signed and was officially effective.
Seraphina Stormweaver had become Vaan Astra Vesta's sla- personnel secretory.