This time I hadn't brought my little boy with me; it was early morning and I was already passing through the village's natural wood gate, and this time the brown-haired guard who had stopped me before just stared from afar.
As the lady had said before, during that week everything seemed much livelier, with various people walking the streets and even noble carriages pulled by beautiful horses. Probably during the time I was walking, I was almost run over several times.
I kept walking to the restaurant where I would start working. An alley that was once quiet was now bustling with travelers coming and going, and I was welcomed by the smiling lady at the wooden door in front.
-Welcome, Lucia! Finally, we can work together.
I couldn't stay at the door for long, as several people passed by, bumping into my legs. Laughter could be heard from inside the restaurant, mostly coming from old men and knights sitting together at the tables.
I was pulled behind the counter and then into the kitchen, where Mr. Garthel seemed extremely busy peeling onions. Sophia, with her hands on my shoulders, turned me to face her and showed a bold expression.
-Now it's your turn, little one! Obey boss Garthel, because today we will have many customers!
Garthel, from afar, was already telling me my first task, while browning the onions in the large metal pan over the fire.
-Do you know how to peel potatoes?
Sophia walked to the kitchen door and hurried out after hearing new people asking for the menu in the dining room.
-Of course!- I replied excitedly to be at my first job ever in my whole life.
I looked for a stool located behind the kitchen counter, which had several ready-made dishes and chopped vegetables on the wooden board. I picked up the knife next to the vegetables and started peeling the potatoes.
One by one, I filled the basin with peeled potatoes.
-Lucia! I need you to dice the potatoes, cut the carrots, and finally…- I was trying to remember everything he had asked in that short amount of time, until the moment Sophia entered the kitchen bringing the dirty dishes and picking up the new dishes that had been left ready on the counter.
-There aren't usually this many people, so I didn't think we needed to hire more help, but it's extremely difficult to work like this- Garthel complained, with extreme agility, sprinkling seasoning on meat dishes and assembling ready-made soups for Mrs. Sophia to take to the restaurant's dining room.
I was starting to feel anxious in the noisy environment where I was supposed to be as fast as possible. Maybe I wasn't as good as I thought I was.
Mrs. Sophia, who came in flustered, soon asked me to help her take the dishes to the tables after I had finished peeling the ingredients.
I was pulled by the hand to the front, and she handed me some bowls. I started quickly going from table to table, delivering them. Unfortunately, a few dishes were delivered to the wrong tables, but Sophia wasn't angry about it; she just said I could go back to helping her husband.
As time passed and evening approached, many of the people eating there ended up paying for their lodging.
I looked out the window anxiously. I wanted to get home as soon as possible, since Penelope and Cedric couldn't stay with Reon at the mansion until nightfall.
Standing in the middle of the dining room, there was only one last customer sitting at one of the tables farthest from the counter, finishing his last bowl of soup.
He was large and wearing a hood dark as pitch, exactly like that man I had seen at the fair a few days ago.
He got up from his chair and headed towards the staircase leading to the second-floor rooms.
I hurried over, grabbed the bowl from his table, and took it to the back of the kitchen.
-Dear! It's getting late. And as promised, five silver coins for your help! I'll be expecting you tomorrow- Sophia took the bowls from my hands and patted my head after wiping her hands on her apron. I smiled, grateful for the money, and without much ceremony, I ran towards the door while saying goodbye to the lady.
A little before reaching the gate, I asked for help from an old carter who intended to cross through it with his cart. The small, thin old man said I reminded him of his youngest granddaughter and let me climb onto the hay.
-Can you take me to about the road that leads to the tower?- The man didn't question it and just nodded.
When I got to where I wanted to be, I offered him one of my five silver coins, but he refused it. I smiled and thanked the man, who disappeared down the road with his cart.
As I started up the hill, it was practically nightfall, and I couldn't see a hand in front of my face. Luckily, the lights in the mansion were on.
`I should thank them both for looking after the place for me when I get there.`
Warm lights from the fire looked like fireflies guiding me through the dark, but what really helped me get my bearings was the glow of the moon rising in the night sky and the shimmer of the lake reflecting its light.
Getting closer to arriving, what had seemed like a quick walk, I spotted the two siblings with lit lanterns in front of the gate.
-Look, there she is!- said Penelope, pointing a finger in my direction.
I ran towards them.
-Did something happen?!- I noticed Reon wasn't with them when I looked their way.
-Let's go inside to talk first- said Cedric, looking a bit serious. He came over to me and offered his hand for me to hold, as if I were a child. I obviously refused his help; I don't want to be treated like one.
-Right…- I looked at him out of the corner of my eye, suspicious of what could have happened.
`Could they have discovered the bodies on the third floor?!`
I started sweating, even though I had already warned everyone not to go up there, using the excuse that the third-floor couldn't support their weight and might collapse.
[...]
Entering the mansion door accompanied by the twins, I was guided to the study I had made available for Reon's lessons. The table I had repaired was in the center, with several books on top.
-Look… Is it really okay for you two to stay here all day?- I looked at the two of them standing behind me with a trembling gaze.
-Penelope and I took shifts during the morning and afternoon, and we made up some excuses for our parents anyway…
Penelope, with her exaggerated way of expressing herself, entered the room, pushing me aside, grabbed one of the books on the table, flipped through several pages, and showed me, almost rubbing it in my face.
-Do you see this here?- I started to focus my eyes on the leaves she was pointing at with her index finger. It was the book that demonstrated the basics a noble child should know.
-From here to here, the boy knows it all! The only thing he's not good at is the practical part.
I was only a little surprised; from the moment I met him, I realized he knew a lot of things. But what I really wanted to understand was who taught him all that.
-Was that all?- I asked, almost complaining about their exaggeration.
-You have no idea how difficult it was to get him to study…- Cedric answered me, walking out into the hallway and heading towards Reon's bedroom door. I followed him there, and after he opened the door, I found a sad-looking boy lying on the bed and staring out the window.
When he noticed my presence, he quickly jumped up, coming to me with a big, sweet smile, and leaped into my arms.
-He must have missed you terribly- Cedric laughed, covering his mouth with his hand.
Reon and I sat on the immense bed, while Cedric and Penelope sat on the sofa.
-Here's today's report. Reon did very well in the physical exercises, although he was slacking off at the beginning- Cedric noted.
-And in the reading and writing lessons, he was good too…- Penelope seemed somewhat reluctant to praise him; she still seemed to hold a strong prejudice against Reon.
She handed me the notebook in which Reon had written with charcoal. Even though the letters were crooked, it was still possible to understand some sentences.
I ruffled his green hair as a way of rewarding him for his achievements.
-Congratulations, Reon! You're very smart!
Reon smiled back, happy for the recognition. I was also very happy. Since my boy is practically someone I'm raising, feeling proud of his achievements was a common occurrence.
[...]
At night, we went to the dining room and sat around the table. This time it wasn't much different; again, the twins had brought food from their own home, but I ended up feeling it was unfair that I never had anything to offer.
Reon always sat in the chair next to me and waited eagerly for the sweet honey.
-You two… Have you found out anything about your brother?- Adjusting myself in my own seat, I looked around, analyzing their expressions after bringing up the subject.
-If you manage to see him, can you tell me if there's anything about him that resembles Reon?- Cedric asked, his hand rubbing his chin. Since he was still standing, I assumed he would be serving dinner tonight.
He then carefully took out from the basket, using protective gloves on his hands to avoid burning himself, bowls and pots with hot dishes.
-I think so? I'm not sure…-
`It's not like I know much about Reon either…`
Penelope seemed anxious and irritable. She got up from her chair and impatiently brought her face close to mine.
-Cedric told me not to ask, but I think it's strange that a little girl like you, who we don't even really know where you came from, is living here in the middle of nowhere with a little boy you don't even really know. Are you sure you can help us?!- she said rudely to my face. Sooner or later, they were going to ask me about this, since I hadn't told them the same story I told the restaurant lady.
-It's not that I can't, but I don't know where to start… I feel very grateful that you treat me normally without questions, really…- Cedric placed a plate of mashed potatoes and a roasted chicken drumstick in front of me. When my eyes met his, he smiled graciously.
-A maturity beyond her years, no family or surname, but a way of carrying herself like a noble… You know, there are some things we don't need to know.- Cedric retorted, turning his gaze to his sister.
His back straightened after serving dinner, with hot plates steaming as if they had just been made.
Reon, sitting next to me, swung his legs waiting for the sweet pot of honey, which was placed on the table shortly after.
`They must be able to get such a large amount of honey very easily every time they come here…`
Penelope, with her arms crossed, sat back down in her chair, still a little sulky.
Cedric sat down next to his sister after serving the plates, on a wooden chair with old but clean upholstery.
-About what we were talking about before…- Cedric began to speak.
I took a spoonful of mashed potatoes and brought it to my mouth.
-I was thinking of taking you to our mansion, after your service.
Penelope made a noise like a long: Haan?; questioning her brother's words.
-Are you crazy? How are we going to take an unknown child home?- Penelope gestured.
-Really, Cedric, how would Reon stay here alone in the mansion without me? Or were you planning to take him along?- I asked after taking a bite of dinner.
-Right… There wouldn't be another way for you to go without leaving him alone… hmm…- Cedric seemed thoughtful, rubbing his thumb on his chin.
Reon stopped drinking his yellowish honey syrup, as if he understood the topic was about him. His little hand with dark-tipped fingers gripped the sleeve of my shirt.
Cedric, turning his gaze to him, then made a suggestion.
-What if I stay here with him, and Penelope takes you there?
-No way!- Penelope shouted.