Olivia B. Sorah Journals (106 - 115 AF)

Background

Victoria Montgomery, great-granddaughter of St George Montgomery, the founder of modern Hatlynshire and the first Grand Prince of the House of Montgomery. Was born in the year 47 AF. Her reign would begin in the year 67 AF, after the tragic death of her father, Claude Montgomery, by his own hand followed by the disastrous and short reign of her mother, Alissa Cristenwall, as regent on behalf of her brother. Upon her ascension to the throne, she would proceed to bring reform to the government of Great Borough, the ruling body of Hatlynshire. She would do so through actions such as changing the Chamber of the Governing Commission (C.G.C), Great Borough’s main administrative body, from a council of hereditary governors to a democratically elected council. She would also the Great Enterprises, government sponsored business ventures designed in order to limit the power of the New Industrial Movement (NIM), an organization of anti-government businessmen who were becoming the government’s greatest threat.

However, Victoria’s attempts to undermine the NIM would lead to the escalation of tensions, and after several smaller engagements, in the year 78 AF, the government and the NIM went into a full-scale conflict known as War of the Coin.

During the war, in the year 84 AF, Victoria would receive the assistance of Bernard Millfield Sorah, a banker and an elected member of the CGC from the region of Canterberg in Great Borough. Sorah himself came from a family of civil servants and bankers. While his early ancestry remains a mystery due to lack of reliable records, some records suggest that he was the son of a man named Mr. John Sorah, a banker and an associate of the NIM associated Bank of West Borough (the early name for present day Everton Borough). His mother was thought to be Lady Fran Millfield, daughter of former Lord Henrick Millfield, the last representative of Canterberg under the old hereditary CGC.

While some speculate that it was due to the influence of the House of Millfield in Canterberg, and others speculate that it was purely due to Sorah’s alleged charm and charisma, in late 83 AF Sorah would be elected to the seat of Canterberg in the Chamber of the Governing Commission. His victory would be infamous due to him defeating the candidate brought forward by Victoria herself in order to achieve the seat, the consequence of such a victory would be the initial hostility he would receive both from the Grand Princess and the other members of the CGC. However, with the War of Coin still seeing no resolution, Sorah would successfully reverse the attitudes he received by proposing his daring plan to change Hatlynshire’s currency in 86 AF. Such an endeavor, enacted late in the year 87 AF, would bring the NIM to its knees and thereby end the War of the Coin in the year 89 AF, leading to Sorah becoming both a hero and one of the most powerful individuals in Hatlynshire as well (as some allege) Grand Princess Victoria’s lover.

Victoria and Bernard

Theories of Victoria and Sorah’s relationship date back as far back as the 1st Century itself. While it has never been proven beyond a shadow of doubt that it occurred, many historians believe that it did. One of the points of argument regarding this supposed fling is the year in which it began. Some argue that it occurred after the War of the Coin, given Sorah’s new found prestige. Others however, debate this claim, deeming it as false due to the fact that the supposed result of this affair, Bernard’s daughter Olivia B. Sorah, was confirmed to have been born the year 86 AF, a mere two years after Bernard Sorah’s election to the CGC.

After the war had ended, Sorah was made the first Head Treasurer of the Bureau of Taxation and Commerce whilst still maintaining his status as the CGC representative of Canterberg. And to add to this, in the year 90 AF (when Olivia was supposedly four years old), Sorah was made Director of the Hatlynshire City Bank. This position effectively made him the head of the Great Enterprises as the H.C.B was foundation through which all the other corporations stood. Furthermore, the duo’s popularity surged in Great Borough, as, after the fall of NIM, the Great Enterprises became the largest corporations in Hatlynshire. The profit they generated increased government income fivefold. Victorian then ordered that taxes on citizens be lowered by nearly sixty percent, a move made under the advice of Sorah.  This alongside his reputation led to Sorah being called ‘The Prince of Coins’, a name that confirmed his status as the most influential person in Hatlynshire outside of the House of Montgomery. However, it was this status (and his public friendship with the Grand-Princess) that would first attract attention towards his daughter  .

Victoria, for her part, did not hide the fact that she favored Sorah above all her other officials. Between 90 AF until the New Century Conspiracy, she would endorse Sorah’s run for the CGC twice, causing him to be reelected both times. While some argue that this preferential treatment was evidence of a deeper relationship, others were quick to note that both Victoria and her predecessors had a history of favoritism and that her support of Sorah was due to his competency and his loyalty to the crown. Yet Sorah himself inadvertently challenged these arguments. For, despite having a daughter as early on as the year 86 AF, he was never married and no record exists as to whether he made a statement regarding his daughter during Oilvia’s childhood. This was despite him knowing about the rumors about Olivia’s true heritage.

“…There have been whispers in government halls. Some about Victoria and some about me. I do not wish to listen to them yet they fly into my ears nonetheless. They’re mostly about Oli, about her supposed illegitimacy. I can only imagine that there are many here who would be delighted to profit from my downfall, but no matter, I have had worse rumors spread about me, as you know. But perhaps Oli could spend a fortnight or two with you and father. Dare I say, you don’t see her enough…”

- A letter sent by Bernard Sorah in the autumn of 85 AF to his mother Fran Millsfied. (Recovered from the Millfield Archives acquired by the Institute of Records under the Chamber of Education in the year 370 AF)

The New Century Conspiracy

However, not long after the rumors had begun to spread, Sorah’s downfall would come. Since, in late 99 AF, Victoria’s brother Carlton Montgomery alongside his supporters, known as the Liberationists, would initiate what is now called the New Century Conspiracy and depose his sister. Yet, despite proclaiming his loyalty to the crown, Sorah would be among the first to oppose Carlton. Sorah would become the new Grand Prince’s most vocal critic and he would even be accused of aiding the organization of a counter-revolution in 100 AF. Carlton would in turn use these accusations as justification and would subsequently remove Sorah from all his positions of power. By the end of the year 100 AF, Sorah was demoted to a mere assistant secretary for the Director of the Hatlynshire City Mining Company, a position he swiftly resigned from less than a week after being assigned. Carlton would also begin a smear campaign in order to ruin the reputations and the images of Victoria and her allies, including Sorah. He would remind the public of all the destruction that had occurred during the War of the Coin, Victoria’s failure during the Years of Hunger and how Sorah’s currency shift would lead to the oppression and imprisonment of thousands in the Outer Boroughs. Among all the narratives he promoted in order to unite the public against Victoria, her alleged daughter Olivia was his most prominent target. He would accuse Victoria of fostering an illegitimate child with Sorah, claiming that she intended to place Olivia on the throne. The public, who viewed anyone who did not have the Montgomery name as unworthy of the throne, took such accusations incredibly seriously. Some historians even claim that, during this period, there were several assassination attempts on both Bernard Sorah and Olivia during the year 101 AF, which led them to go into hiding. In the summer of 102 AF, Liberationist rioters would ransack and burn down the house of John Sorah and Fran Millfield in Canterberg. A few months later, rioters would assault the ancestral home of the House of Millfield, Millfield Hall, in Canterberg, an incident that would lead to Olivia’s great grandfather, Henrick, her great- uncle, Branson and several other family members being severely beaten by the Liberationist mob. Fortunately, none would perish. However, many suspect that this incident directly led to Henrick’s death less than a month later.

Riots and violence continued as Carlton would attack any who opposed him. His supporters would call supporters of Victoria ‘Steelers’ as an insult to the Grand-Princess’s infamous surname. The Industrialists (leftover after the fall of the NIM) would side with the Liberationists during the Conspiracy with hopes that Carlton would grant them more influence; however, a minority of them would stand with the Steelers, believing that Carlton would be a worse ruler compared to his sister. During this period, the locations of Victoria and the Sorah family (between the years 102- 105 AF) were kept a secret. However, in the autumn of 105 AF, Carlton would face an internal revolt carried out by his own officials due to the incompetence and paranoid behavior he had displayed during his reign. His time on the throne would lead to anti-monarchist and anti-government tensions rising for the first time since the start the War of the Coin, and his mismanagement of the Great Enterprises had pushed the economy of Halynshire to the brink of recession. “Montgomery in blood, Cristenwall at heart” and “Prince Carlton the Bravely Incompetent” would become popular phrases used by anti-government individuals to describe Carlton’s reign after he was overthrown.

On the winter of 105 AF, the Liberationist movement collapsed and Victoria was once again put on the throne. Her second reign would then begin, once again bringing power and security back to her supporters. Bernard Sorah himself would return to the government in the spring of 106 AF, some claim that, directly after her takeover of the government, Victoria had offered Sorah all his previous positions. However, for unknown reasons, Sorah had refused. The only position he actively accepted was the Directorship of the Hatlynshire City Bank. However, the conflict between the Liberationists and the Steelers would have lasting impacts, for it had essentially divided the pro-monarchy movement, complicating what had earlier been a rather simple ideological division between the monarchists and the industrialists.

Mathew Gaft and the Days in the Outer Boroughs

The year 106 AF would also mark the start of Olivia’s significance in the history of Hatlynshire. For, about two months after Bernard Sorah was appointed Director of the HCB, Olivia (now twenty) would join the HCB as a Managerial Apprentice in Great Borough where she would serve for six months (the company standard for the time) before being appointed as the Assistant Divisional Manager of the Bernstein Borough Division of the HCB by Sorah. The reasons as to why Sorah would send Olivia to the Outer Boroughs is unknown. However, after her appointment she would travel to the Divisional Office Gardencourt, Bernstein where she would serve as ADM for more than eight years between the fall of 106 AF and the spring of 115 AF. It was during this time that historian’s believe Olivia first began to keep her own personal journals. These journals would later be recovered by historians after the acquisition of the Millfield Family Archives, with the oldest one carrying entries that dated back to the fall of 106 AF.

“…The Borough of Bernstein seems to be colder than Great Borough, even in the spring. Most likely due to it being the hilliest of all the Boroughs, but also because of the factories, or the lack of specifically. This is a land of plantations and rugged determination, which leaves little room for decent educated folk. By my own observations, work at the bank is slim. Even on so called ‘rush days’ there’s barely a few hundred patrons. Mr. Gotsburg [The Divisional Manager] tells me all the country folk don’t like the City Bank, they blame us for the losses they incurred during the old war. I had assumed opinions change over the decades but perhaps there haven’t been enough decades yet. Either way, even with our considerably low number of patrons we still outmatch whatever competition we have here. They cannot possibly hope to stand up to the might of us. Mr. Gotsburg told me that we exist on friendly terms with our competitors; he called it ‘a stable ecosystem’. I can tell what he thinks of me for he does a drunkard’s job of hiding it. However, he is old, perhaps with another few years left in him. Maybe I can work better with whoever his successor will be…”

- Olivia’s Journals, entry dated on the 331st Day of the year 106 AF.

During her tenure as the ADM of the Bernstein Branch, Olivia would allegedly come into contact with Matthew Gaft, grandson of the late Corsman Gaft and the Assistant Director of the Gaft Mining and Refineries Co. The account of their first meeting would be described in Olivia’s journals and human historians would long debate as to the extent of their relationship given the history between the Gaft Family and Victoria Montgomery, with the Gaft’s being prominent Industrialists and possible Liberationist supporters. It was clear that this was not a mere historical coincidence but in fact the start of something much deeper as Gaft would appear in a handful of journal entries, starting in the summer of 107 AF.

“…Today was very interesting, an exceedingly rare description in these parts. Gotsburg came to me with a complaint. Apparently, one of the tellers upset a client who had come looking to purchase state bonds. From what I heard afterwards, it was quite the outburst and, as per usual, Gotsburg decided to make it my problem.

I had the client summoned to my office; he immediately began complaining about the smallest things like a proper snob, commented on everything from the order of my desk to the color of the wallpaper. Truly, I have never had the displeasure of meeting such an egotist of a man. His sense of superiority was practically bleeding out of his gold-button coat. Yet he is also the first person I have seen here who is not excruciatingly boring. I inquired as to his name, and he said he was a Mr. Matthew Gaft; this was perhaps his most interesting feature. I heard his side of the story; he even had a few choice words to describe the teller boy he almost assaulted. Looking back, he sounded almost childish.

Of course, I gave him our standard assurances and apologies and that seemed to subdue his anger. He did however, have a very pensive stare. He wouldn’t take his eyes off me while I spoke, it was rather unnerving. He asked me about several other things regarding the bank, it was quite possibly the longest conversation I’ve had since coming here. But by the time he left, he seemed almost…happy, which is yet another testament to the effectiveness of Bank mandated apologies. He even asked me my name, to which I said I was Olivia Bernard. I then sent him on his merry way, ending what was perhaps the most entertaining day interaction I’ve had in this dim desk post. I currently contemplate as to whether I should mention him in the next letter I send to my father…”

- Olivia’s Journals, entry dated on the 211th Day of the year 107 AF.

Though it is not clearly stated in the journals (with some claiming it to be purposeful omission), many historians throughout the ages would conclude that Olivia had a romantic interest in Gaft. Particularly after his second appearance in Olivia’s journals, roughly a week after he was first mentioned.

“I was greeted today by a non-pleasant but not entirely unexpected surprise for today, Matthew Gaft – the snobbish complainer from last week – once again found his way to my office. Although I wasn’t exactly furious. The mundane nature of my post was borderline crushing, so his presence was a welcome change of pace. Though, strangely, he didn’t seem to be in fit of rage this time. In fact, he said he came to apologize. My shock quite unimaginable.

Apparently word of his outburst had reached the ears of his father, who (as I’ve been told) is the head of the Gaft Mining and Refineries, one of the largest mining firms in all of Bernstein Borough. It seems the family couldn’t take the shame, so his father disciplined him by having him go on an apology tour. As expected, many laughed. However, I did not quite understand why he was apologizing to me, for I was not an unfortunate recipient of his ill-thought-out rage. When I asked him this, he said he made a personal decision to see me, saying he simply wished to ‘see me again’. Which I found both odd and flattering. He didn’t stay long, he swiftly made his apology and left. I would’ve kept him longer, frankly I wanted to, however I was rather preoccupied by a report Gotsburg had me compile today, that weasel is always shoving his work onto my desk. It would’ve been nice to talk to someone who clearly doesn’t know who I am. It does get awfully lonely at times.

 I have spent months in this rather tight-knit community yet am still yet to make even a single fond acquaintance. Things were always easier in Great Borough. Perhaps I’ll have the pleasure of seeing him again when he inevitably yells at another poor teller boy. An amusing prospect indeed…”

- Olivia’s Journals, entry dated on the 217th Day of the year 107 AF.

Historians debate as to whether the Olivia truly had anything other than a boredom-fueled but otherwise harmless interest in Gaft. However, it was clear that they would develop a friendship in the coming weeks as seen from Gafts next appearance, roughly three weeks after the aforementioned entry. During this time, she had received an invitation to the Gaft Family Gala.

“…I was unfortunately too exhausted to write my day entry last night but it seems that my time here is finally becoming worthwhile. For last night was the gala I was invited to earlier this week. Now, things began quite grim if I do say so myself, for unfortunately, Gotsburg had received the same invitation has me, so my assumption was that I would have to spend the night being his little wait servant. However, my expectations actually fell short of reality (for once). For when I accompanied Gotsburg to see the patriarch of the household, a Mr. Gerald Gaft, who was perhaps one of the oldest men in all Bernstein. And he just happened to be walking with his son, the mildly interesting Matthew Gaft. I was of course introduced to them both, and I was quite amused to meet the man who sent his son on an apology tour. Unfortunately, Gotsburg made the (perhaps intentional) mistake of introducing me as ‘Olivia Sorah’. I could tell immediately from Mr. Gaft’s face what he thought of me after that. He had a Liberationist’s gaze. However, Matthew didn’t seem to understand it. Strange.

Fortunately, before Mr. Gaft could utter a single word to me, Matthew requested that I accompany him. I of course swiftly excused myself from both Gotsburg and Mr. Gaft. We then proceeded to walk across the Gaft family estate. Which, I would note, was rather impressive. It was certainly better than anywhere father and I had lived in back in Great Borough. However, it did fall short of what I’ve seen from the Montgomery Estates…

…we ventured all the way to the estate garden. Looking back, I wonder whether he intentionally took a long route. For while we walked he inquired as to why I didn’t tell him my true name. I simply answered by saying I prefer my middle name. He then correctly guessed that I was in fact related to my father, although he did not assume I was my father’s daughter. I, in turn, merely stated that was a distant cousin of the great Bernard Sorah. He then proceeded to ask me what I thought about my father. Seeing as I was talking to a member of the House of Gaft I obviously was very critical of my father. This appeared to be the response he was hoping to get, for he then proceeded to call my father a loathsome wretch and ‘Montgomery rat’. I found it quite hard to listen to, although I doubt Gotsburg would approve of me talking back to a member of one of the most influential houses in Bernstein, so I pretended to listen while instead paying attention to the nice rose bushes. But aside from viciously slandering the name of my father. He seemed quite… polite, at least, very different compared to what I expected…

…finally, we seemed to reach the end of the gardens and to a pavilion where he seemed to be conducting a small, private celebration of his own amongst what I assumed were his peers (for they appeared about as old as I). I was once again quick to try to excuse myself. Frankly, I was baffled as to why I hadn’t done so earlier, or why he hadn’t simply left. Either way, it seems he wasn’t willing to entertain my desire to leave, for he insisted that I join his little company. I initially refused, for I did not like the look of his peers. However, he did win me over when he said they were indulging in wine brought directly from great Borough. And of course, I could not resist…”

- Olivia’s Journals, entry dated on the 238th Day of the year 107 AF.

It is worth noting that entries made during this time in particular are considered by many human historians to be invaluable. For they contain accounts of Oliva’s encounters with Jacob Bernstein, the former patriarch of the Bernstein Family whose signature would be one of the eight key signatures that would confirm the Great Unity Accord in 128 AF, leading to the creation of the Circle as well as his lesser known sister, Wyla. Moreover, these entries also serve as some of the only confirmed records of pre-Circulions post-War of the Coin. All these factors made this section of Olivia’s journals highly sought after among both human and Circulion scholars.

“…he introduced me to his merry band of associates. If I do recall correctly, one of them was named Frederick Darland III. I do not remember much about him, which would only indicate that he was woefully uninteresting. However, I do remember almost laughing out loud when I heard the number in his name.

But aside from him, two other people were also present at that table, and I doubt I shall ever forget them. One of them was named Jacob Bernstein (a rather creative last name). And he had come to the gala alongside his sister, Wyla, if I remember correctly. Apparently they’re both fairly large landowners, something I could see being very useful to the Gaft mining enterprise. Jacob himself was quite a strange character, mainly because he had brought a living bird to the table, a raven he called Wingston. Now, I cannot recall whether my account is truthful, for I do remember drinking quite heavily that night. Although, if my memory serves, Jacob was very close to his bird, almost to a questionable extent. I even saw him attempting to speak to it, although he seemed to have trouble talking to actual humans. His sister Wyla was no different, for she had a small dog with her, and behavior towards it was equally as strange. But from what I remember, she was a far better talker and she seemed to be quite abstinent when it came to alcohol, which I think is rather unfortunate. I recall us having a chat in the garden, away from the men. Where, in my drunken state, I offered her the services of the Hatlynshire City Bank in exchange for the Bernstein Family becoming our newest clients. However, she rejected me almost instantly, stating that both her and her brother had some ‘personal grievances’ with the state. Something I could understand. Wyla was very friendly, although our conversation never quite recovered after my pathetic attempt at a pitch…”

Olivia’s mentions of Matthew Gaft would continue all throughout her remaining journals. However, none of the entries suggests the existence of any romantic relationship between the two. An entry made during shortly after the aforementioned gala suggests that Gaft discovered Olivia’s true nature not long after the gala had concluded.

“…though today was quite uneventful for the most part in terms of my professional work, ironically, the most noteworthy thing happened directly after I stepped foot outside of the building. It was terribly windy outside to begin with yet the weather was but a minor hindrance when compared to the fact that I had the misfortune of being confronted Matthew Gaft before I had even left bank property. It appeared to me that he had been hiding out in his glided carriage for saint knows how long before finally coming out to confront me, specifically. And to add to my dismay, what he had to say was far from pleasant.

He asked many question and confessed many things. He asked me why I lied about myself during the gala, stating that his father told him about my ‘heritage’. I initially defended myself and told him that I was under no obligation to be truthful towards him with regards to my personal life. He asked me if it was because I feared him and his family, to which I refused to answer. He then confessed to me that my invitation to his family’s gala was only sent because he personally requested it. Now, that caught my curiosity, I asked him why he made such a decision. He stiffly he said he didn’t know and proceeded to call me a dishonest wench and a bastard. I called him a rotten snobbish imbecile. We both then took our swift leaves. Needless to say, we were both came out of that conversation unsatisfied…”

- Olivia’s Journals, entry dated on the 243th Day of the year 107 AF.

This event was shortly followed up by an incident, which involved the Gaft Family pulling whatever resources they had in the H.C.B and engaging in a campaign to undermine it and spoil its reputation. According to the journals, this problem would be solved when Olivia visited the Gaft Family Estate.

“It has been over a month of pain here at the Bernstein branch of the Hatlynshire City Bank. And it appears no one has felt it more than Gotsburg. Unfortunately, ever since he received word of my confrontation with Mr. Gaft a few weeks ago, he has been rather relentless in blaming all the bank’s problems on me. Today he came to me and said that we cannot go on like this forever before accusing me of underestimating the influence of the Gafts. He then pelted me with his uncreative collection of insults. ‘I should’ve never let an idiotic, worthless, two-bit bastard like yourself hold onto this esteemed post for more than a week!’ were his exact words if I remember correctly. He then ordered that I fix this debacle lest I wished to lose my position. He informed me that Gerald Gaft had tragically passed away the week prior and that Matthew would be new head of the House, hence this would be the ample time to make an apology and mend our reputation. However, I informed him that I do not apologize to petulant little children. Unfortunately, he seemed to have run out of tolerance. For he granted me early leave at that very moment and ordered that I visit the Gaft Estate. Stating that my refusal would lead to him ensuring that I never work in state banking again. ‘I do not care if the Steel Queen herself came to my office and demanded that you be reinstated, understood?’

It was under these less than enjoyable circumstances that I had to visit the Gaft Estate. No doubt, Matthew himself wasn’t very happy to see me. Frankly, I’m quite surprised that he didn’t throw me out of the property. Either way, I gave him my condolences in regards to his father’s demise, though it was clear his childish self wouldn’t except them. After some time, I managed to convince him to talk to me. We spoke for what estimate to be at least two hours; in the end, he was even generous enough to offer me some tea. Fortunately for me, Matthew just so happened to be accommodating Wyla Bernstein at around the time I arrived. Wyla was kind enough to speak in my favor, perhaps she pitied me in my time of desperation, or perhaps she pitied Matthew in his time of mourning. Either way, I knew better than to ask.

But even then, it took a fair amount of convincing for both of us to get through Gaft’s thick skull. I would go into detail, but I would rather not have such things recorded in writing. Nevertheless, I emerged triumphant. Gaft assured me that he would stop his families efforts to ruin the bank and I like to think whatever problem we had with each other was very much resolved. Of course, now I must find a way to pay Miss Bernstein some due gratitude…”

The Pultcher Case

In the year 109 AF, Karls Gotsburg would retire as the Divisional Manager and his replacement, a Mr. Horace Pultcher, a Great Borough banker, would last a little more than a year following accusations that stated that he was partaking in embezzlement and fraud in partnership with several local Bernstein banks. Olivia herself would side against Pultcher during what would become the then largest case of financial fraud in Bernstein’s post-war history.

This scandal, known as the Pultcher Case, would result in the Hatlynshire City Bank losing almost thirty five million Sorasy, an astronomical amount for the time. The public outrage would shake the delicate relationship with between the Outer Boroughs and the government, leading to a rise in dissent towards Great Borough. Justin Creed, the Viceroy of Bernstein Borough (Viceroy being a non-elected title established under a Lower Chamber of the CGC in accordance with the Treaty of the Enterprises), commented, “Money be damned, it seems as though the traitors who wish to divide us once more just had their saintly prayers answered,”

Luckily however, most of the outrage would be directed at the bank itself and the issue would eventually culminate in a large mob gathering outside the Bernstein Branch of the H.C.B, demanding to withdraw funds with threats to burn the bank down. Olivia was noted to have been among the staff who would eventually clam down the mob, with assurances that the lost money would be retrieved. Pultcher, who had fled Bernstein in order to hide in the neighboring Angelmore Borough, was arrested, tried and convicted of his crimes before being sentenced to imprisonment. Pultcher would claim that he was but a scapegoat, framed for the crimes of his former colleagues (allegedly including Olivia) who he claimed also profited from the scheme. However, records reveal that further investigation done by the Hatlynshire Government would end up finding no evidence that supported his claim. Pultcher’s life would come to an end in the fall of 111 AF when he would hang himself from the ceiling his own cell.

In the aftermath of the scandal, Olivia would be the one propose a method to recover the lost money. Her strategy involved the bank gaining loans or investment from wealthy Bernstein firms or families using special contracts allowing for various special privileges to their holders. Reportedly, the House of Gaft and their enterprises would be among some of the first to accept the H.C.Bs offer, with some even speculating that the House of Bernstein was also granted these special contracts by Olivia.

For her efforts Olivia would instated as Pultcher’s successor to the office of Divisional Manager in the summer of the year 111 AF. A roll, which she would hold onto for the remainder of her time in Bernstein Borough.

The Final Days in Bernstein Borough

Between the years of 111 AF and 115 AF, the operations of the H.C.B would be relatively stable. Despite the heavy financial burden caused by the Pultcher case and the seceding of special privileges to Bernstein elites through the special contracts, the bank continued to operate without failure. Later historians attribute this stability to the shift in domestic goodwill that occurred after the Pultcher Case, with the H.C.Bs reputation among local Bernstein residents increasing due Olivia’s efforts while, at the same time, the local banks who were discovered to have aided Pultcher in his scheme would end up losing both reputation and customers.

Throughout these times, the HCB would engage in various business dealings with Gaft Mining and Refineries Co. as well other large Bernstein firms. Many would accuse Olivia of engaging in bribery and corruption during this period, accusing her of gathering a vast personal fortune by stealing from the local masses with the aid of the local elites. These claims are thought to date as far back as Olivia’s own lifetime, with the likely originator being Matthew Gaft, who would continue to appear semi-frequently in Olivia’s journals. However, the contents surrounding these appearances would rarely be anything other than a professional matter. Proponents of the theory that Olivia and Gaft had romantic interests in each have long argued that Olivia purposefully omitted such affairs from her journals, often citing how she would often be vague when recording her encounters with Gaft. Other theorists claim Pultcher’s accusations about Olivia were true, and that she was the true mastermind behind the Pultcher Case. Yet even to this day, there exists no outside evidence aside from the journals that could validate these theories. Historians claim that the evidence required to understanding Olivia’s relationship with Gaft and her dealings with the rest of Bernstein populace lie within Gaft Family Records. But at present, the exact location of the records are not known, with many assuming that they have either been destroyed or distributed among the Gaft Family’s branches following the end of the main line.

Additionally, due to the lack of outside records of Olivia’s life, the exact reason of her departure from Bernstein in 115 AF is not known. Many suspect it was due to Victoria, who, fearing the growth and spreading of Liberationist and Industrialist power in the Outer Boroughs, began to impose stricter laws alongside implementing economically suppressive actions such as increasing taxes and trade restrictions mere months prior to Olivia’s departure. Some suspect that Olivia had done something to turn her Bernstein allies against her, thus prompting her to leave. Other theories include one, which states that she was forced to leave due to her father, Bernard, falling ill in the summer of 114 AF, which led to his subsequent retirement during the winter of that same year. Olivia herself would record her departure from Bernstein Borough in her journals as follows:

“…though my departure from Bernstein was a quite unexpected, strangely, I have yet to feel any great sense of sadness over it. Perhaps it is because, for the longest time now, I’ve been longing to see Great Borough again. It has been more than four years since I last saw father, and even longer since, I’ve seen everyone else. Father’s last letter informed me that he was feeling quite sick, and the local newspaper have been screaming about his retirement for days. I find such timing oddly convenient.

I found myself strolling through the halls of the Bank today; despite all the trouble I had to endure here I found it rather fun to reminisce about the happier times. However, sadly, not a lot of patrons came in today. I take it as a sign that the winds here have shifted. Although, I do hope I will get the chance to visit some choice associates before I leave. I’ve learned that Bernstein folk do not take kindly to a quiet exit…”

- Olivia’s Journals, entry dated on the 53rd Day of the year 115 AF.

It was thought that Olivia had visited the estates of several of her close acquaintances on her last day in Bernstein Borough. She was confirmed to have visited the Gaft Estate, where Matthew Gaft had gifted her a portrait of himself. The evidence for this gift was found within Olivia’s Will, where it listed a painting of Matthew Gaft among Olivia’s possessions. The Will also instructed that the portrait be handed over to Maxwell O. Gaft, Matthew’s son, upon her death. It was due to this wish that the location of the portrait now unknown. Yet, it remains as another point of debate among historians, for many hypothesize that this portrait was merely one out of a set of two, with the other painting being one of Olivia that was kept in Gaft’s possession.