Viktor
––––––––
And there, just visible in the distance, the cursed farm. No longer empty, and very intriguing.
His Territory Sense had been pinging for days now. There was new growth there. Vigorous, healthy growth where nothing should grow. It felt like an itch he couldn't scratch—that property had been a blank spot in his awareness for years, and now it was alive but not his to sense properly.
"You're brooding again," said Marcus, his estate manager, entering with the daily reports. They’d been friends for years, and he was comfortable expressing his opinion.
"I'm thinking."
"About the cursed farm?"
"About the woman who's made it productive." Viktor turned from the window. "What have you heard?"
Marcus consulted his notes. "Wren. No family name given, arrived approximately a week ago. Living alone except for a squirrel servant. Has some kind of plant magic—grows unusual crops that actually thrive on that land."
"What kind of crops?"
"Bread. Silk clothing. Soap. Various trade goods. She's already established regular trade with Mei and Madame Lin." Marcus looked up. "The seamstress is apparently beside herself. Says the silk quality is unlike anything she's seen."
Viktor's mind worked through the implications. Plant magic that bypassed the curse. Regular, high-quality production, on land that bordered his holdings. "And she's young, unprepared for the dangers."
"The Marshall's taken an interest. Escorted her around town, made introductions." Marcus's tone was carefully neutral.
Of course Jin had. The Marshall was protective of his territory. And probably already suspicious of Viktor's intentions. "What else?"
"She rides a wooden horse. Has plant-creatures for guards—they call them dandelions. And..." Marcus hesitated. "She's quite pretty, from what I hear. The guards were talking."
Viktor smiled slightly. "Were they?"
He'd seen her briefly at the pastry shop. Dark hair coming loose from its braid, velvet dress, wide eyes taking in everything. Young, yes. Pretty, definitely. And seemingly naive about how valuable her magic made her.
That property had been a thorn in his side for years. Right in the middle of his holdings, breaking up what should be a perfect square of land. He'd thought about buying it a dozen times, but the curse made it worthless. No one would work it, and without a viable crop, it was worthless.
Until now.
"Arrange a meeting," Viktor said. "Something casual. I want to introduce myself properly."
"The Marshall won't like it."
"The Marshall doesn't own her property or her business relationships." Viktor returned to his desk. "I'm simply being a good neighbor. Welcoming a newcomer. Offering assistance if needed."
Marcus didn't argue, but his expression said he knew exactly what Viktor was doing.
"I'm not the villain here," Viktor said mildly. "I'm a businessman. And that woman has made a miracle happen on cursed land. I'd be a fool not to be interested."
"In the land or the woman?"
"Why not both?" Viktor smiled. "Beauty and talent together are rare. And she's alone out there, still learning. She'll need allies. Guidance."
"She has the Marshall."
"Jin keeps people safe. I help them prosper." Viktor pulled out a map of his properties, looking at the annoying gap where the cursed farm sat. "There's no reason we can't work together. A partnership could benefit us both."
If that partnership eventually led to marriage and consolidation of properties... well. That would benefit them both too.
He'd courted Lyra for her weather magic—useful for crops, impressive at social functions. But land trumped magic. Always had, always would.
And if the landowner was also beautiful and talented?
All the better.