As I opened my eyes, the strong sweet smell of vanilla overtook my nostrils. I woke up in a dark yet familiar room. "Is this Madison's room?"
I stood up to find my shoulder and all other patched up in bandages. I walked down a flight of stairs hoping to arrive at front counter. But instead, I ended up in an unknown hallway, I heard footsteps in the corner room and the door knob moved as it opened.
Marie holding multiple heavy boxes walked out of the room. "Oh? What are you doing here?"
Naturally, I took one of the boxes from her hands. "I just woke up, where is Mr. Red?"
Marie smiled in gratitude. "He is out, making deliveries."
As we make our way through the hallway, I raise my eyebrow in question. "Out? What if the knights arrested him? He made bunch of mess clashing with Myleane."
"They would never. Guild fully controls this city, they manipulate every last factor to make the workers believe that everything is good. News about tiniest inconvenience never leaves one alley to other. For the guild and this country, mines must keep on running. Take a walk outside, no one has a clue about last night. Even the knights are kept in dark, only high profile people and guild executives has an eye on you."
I follow her into another room and put the heavy boxes down. "The destruction we caused? The bombings? And the train crash? Surely some people know about it."
Marine leans down in front of me and peels open the wooden box with her bare hands. I quickly look away as her cleavage is right in front of me.
"Maybe a few. But they are powerless. Guild already took actions on that, multiple kidnapping and convenient 'accidents' happened overnight. Regardless, it is safe to assume that you can move around the city, just wear a mask and avoid confronting knights head on."
To help her, I dug my fingers in the hard wood and rip of the lid with bit effort. Marie stands straight up and looks at me, impressed.
Sweat dripping from her forehead all the way into the gap of two generous peeks. She is probably used to working in sweat and heat as her attire was only a skinny top with exposed shoulders and loose cotton pants to dissipate heat.
"Why are you looking up?" She asked me in a mischievous tone.
"I-It's nothing! When will Mr. Red will come back?"
Marie giggled as a wave of nostalgia hit her. As she walked pass me, her hand brushed through my hair. "Come, I have few more boxes that I need to move."
Flustered, I walk behind her and use mana to enhance my muscles to lift multiple boxes.
In one trip, we managed to move all the boxes which really impressed Marie as he patted my head. "Aren't you strong, young man?"
I quickly take step back and face the other direction to begin walking. "We should head to the main counter now! I think Mr. Red is back!"
Marie chuckles as she puts her fingers on her lips. "Haaha. You truly are Mel's brother."
I froze midway and turn back. "You know Melsier too?"
Marie smiles once more and walks ahead indicating to follow her.
'God, if she smiles one more time, I think Mr. Red might kill me in the future.'
"I don't personally know Ryhard, I heard about him only through Lambert. I saw him once during reception of our wedding, he seemed like a good person. He brought Mel and Hel with him. They talked with Lambert for a long time and the next thing I know is my husband begging me to bring the kids on the honeymoon."
"What? Mel and Hel?"
"I know right? Lambert was convinced that Mel has talent with swords and decided to train him. It was one of those rare moments where he genuinely showed emotion for something other than cooking. I couldn't say no."
I couldn't help but to flash an apologetic smile. "Still honeymoon is rather special, bringing strangers-"
Marie waved her hand. "No worries. The only thing I had to look for was Mel stealing all of my husband's attention. That's when I set Hel with him."
I let out an exaggerated gasp. "You set them up?"
"Kids they maybe, but their feelings were very mature. And Lambert was extra energized in our nightly activities."
My face quickly turned red as I forced my mind to not to go in that direction.
Marie got close to me and smiled in cheeky way. "I mean our night talks, what did you think?"
Her face was bit too close, I took a step back and almost slipped.
She burst out laughing at my stunt. "Hahaha. Perhaps I judged you wrong. You are just like Mel. When we first met, he too was mesmerized by my beauty which made Hel really mad. It took him months to hold an eye contact with me."
'And you took such kid on your honeymoon? Is your head okay?'
I slapped both of my cheeks and the pain helped me in regaining my posture. "Ahem! Can you stop teasing me?"
"Sure. Sure." Marie agrees as she pats my head.
We descend one more floor and arrive at the kitchen which is just behind the counter. The kitchen was empty as Mr. Red was out, Marie walked up to the oven to check something while I made my way to the counter.
Once I peeked through the pass counter, I saw all the tables jam packed, everyone dinning with a smile. They were eating not only cake but a whole bunch of food stuff and it looked very delicious.
"What are looking at?" Marie's sudden touch on my shoulder startled me. "Stop spacing and put this on."
She handed me an apron with the Madison bakery's logo on it. "It's peak hours, take this outside! Chop chop!"
Suddenly I was in pressure as she handed me a plate full of food stuff and a second plate full of multiple drinks. "Hand them out!"
"Wha-"
Before I could even ask anything, she pushed me out. As I balanced the plates in my hand, everyone looked at me. I redone my poker face and strode with a professional look. 'But where am I supposed to serve these?'
Marie did not give any explanation whatsoever.
"Oi! Stop spacing out." I turned to side to find Alexia, in a maid costume. She took one plate from my hands. "Hand the drink to those gentlemen in the corner."
I was too flabbergasted to say anything and quietly followed through, even though I was handing out drinks, my eyes were glued on Alexia. 'She looks really cute.'
A custom made apron with a knee length skirt along with a cute ribbon on her back looked good on her. Not to mention, her long free white hair added style to the entire black attire.
"Can you take our order?" The man sitting with his friends called me out.
"Ah? Yes. Yes."
In a row, they took names of dishes which I never heard in my entire life, but I memorised them and went on my way.
At the pass counter, I found Marie looking out for me. "What do you think?"
"What?" I hand the empty plate to her.
"Alexia. She looks cute right? I gave her Madison's uniform, with bit of sewing it really fits her."
I stare at her for a second, knowing well enough if I answer I would fall right in her trap, I change the subject. "We have an order, it's-"
As I take the names of various dishes, Maries carefully listens and quickly disappears in the kitchen. 'I hope she stays quiet for a while.'
Alexia comes next to me and puts her plate on the other side. We both open our mouths at the same time. "Actua-" "Well-"
We both make eye contact and giggle. "You go first." I offer.
"Well, Mr. Red told me about your plan to save Madison."
I slightly frown at her words. 'Not again.'
"And I want to help."
I sigh and rub my forehead. "Look Aleixa. We already talked about this. You can't dungeon dive."
Alexia's face looked very determined for some reason. "Why?"
"Because… It's dangerous for you and you are needed in the house, who is going to look after the kids?"
'Also, because I suspect that you are a man devouring witch!' I eat my last words in my mind.
Alexia smirks at me as if she confident about this. "Your opinion doesn't matter. The leader has already agreed."
"What?"
"The partner you told me about, Mr. Red. He has agreed to include me."
"He did?" I scan Alexia's face and mana signature to see if she is lying but she was not.
"Yes! He did!" As I was getting worried about Mr. Red's actions, the main door opens and I notice some familiar mana signature.
Marie walks up to the pass counter peeks through to wave at her husband. "Oh dear! You are back?" Mr. Red looks at me but I am not looking at him.
"Oh? You brought more guests?" Marie waves one more time.
Myleane flashes her canine teeth at me. "Hey brat."