Dear Lady Ver'Sarn… Esteemed Lady Ver'Sarn… Lady Aranya…
Lady Ver'Sarn… Lady… Lady…
"When the fel will they all just get it right?"
Arcanist. Not lady. Aranya had said it a million times to a million different faces, and still, her desk was now covered in letters that all addressed her as one addresses a noble: Lady Ver'Sarn.
She disliked it. Even without the history behind it, it made her uncomfortable, like someone was trying to put some heavy crown on her head that she shouldn't have and didn't want.
Aranya placed both palms on her desk, and leaned in a slump over all her papers with a sigh. She was supposed to be looking over things for Kurel. She would be seeing him very soon, to return his coat and talk over what else they could now do for each other.
The arcanist had buyers and sellers catching word of mouth and addressing her as "lady," looking for the better deals which the Eclipse Syndicate could connect them with. She had gradually been gaining operatives, appraisers, and people who could get jobs done. She still needed to secure a good midway point, positioned between all her deals, for storing and shipping, and crews to take the merchandise - above-board or smuggled, whichever they felt brave enough to take on.
Kurel had Sunspire - to say nothing of Northrend - and the free port of Sunspire was just damn perfect.
He called her "lady," too, sometimes, didn't he? The first time was done erroneously, but any other time after that that she could remember, it was like he wanted everyone in earshot to respect her as he did. Making a point.
Garog had told her she might as well get used to it, that it didn't matter what her ancestors had made a tradition of since the dawn of Quel'thalas. It didn't matter that Thiodron Ver'Sarn had given up his lordly title and noble rights to rebel against Azshara, as the ancient elf queen brought the Legion upon Azeroth. It didn't matter that every generation after him had honored his sacrifice in never bearing noble title again. It didn't matter.
"In the eyes of the people, you are noble," the orc had said. "Your actions, your spirit. You are their lady."
A lady of the people…?
It could be supposed that there were worse things to be.
Didn't make it any less uncomfortable.
No freedom, no glory, nothing truly worth having is ever without cost, without sacrifice. ~ Lord Thiodron Ver'Sarn
