Haaahhhh...
A woman was looking at a passing carriage while standing on the edge of the 4th Rock, her long hair tightly tied into a bun. She wore an off-shoulder beige blouse with wide sleeves rolled up at the cuffs and a low neckline trimmed with simple embroidery. A thick brown leather corset-style belt wrapped around her waist, decorated with metal buckles and small pouches. Her pants were dark brown and fitted, tucked into tall boots with folded tops. She also wore fingerless gloves, hoop earrings, and a necklace, giving her a confident, adventurous look.
But her mind was not at all confident as she looked down below the rock, seeing the shining crops. She kept looking down, thinking something. As her body tilted slightly, she heard a voice.
"I can't understand that you like or hate our city crops so much that you're staring at them so hard, but with a sad expression."
A sweet young woman's voice sounded beside her.
The woman at the edge saw the young woman coming towards her while holding a animal, seeing her the women smiled sweetly and said "Hello there, young lady. Sorry for everything I said at our meeting."
She bowed apologetically.
"Hmm, don't worry about little details," the young woman said. "Are you alone here? Where is your dead-fish-eye husband?"
"Hahah! My husband is busy with his other friends. I'm all alone in this new place, so I was just, you know, walking around, seeing this place. By the way, what's your name, young lady?"
The woman still standing at the edge asked.
"Hmm, Sasha Carney. What's your name, ma'am?"
Sasha asked as she also came beside her, looking at the city and the passing people in the sky.
"Evangeline Wilson. My name is Evangeline Wilson."
Evangeline turned and also looked at the passing people.
"So? You didn't answer my question. Did you like our crops or not?"
Sasha smiled, still looking forward.
"Hmmm, they are beautiful for sure, but I can't see their beauty," Evangeline said while looking downward again.
"It's strange, right? Two people looking at the same scenery—one finding it calming and relaxing, while the other don't."
Sasha said while looking at Evangeline, who was still looking downward.
"Hmmm, strange indeed."
Evangeline smiled, giving a glance to Sasha, as she continued, "So where is your brother? Seeing you all alone kind of feels incomplete."
Evangeline straightened her back and put her hands on her hips, trying to calm her messy thoughts.
"Oh! How did you know he's my brother, not my lover? Many people do assume us as lovers."
Sasha seemed happy to see someone recognize their relationship at one glance.
"Well, because you being so close to him only can have two options while removing 'friends' from the list. If it was your lover or husband, then he would be checking your skimpy outfit a lot. If he was not showing interest in you even with your beautiful outfit, then either he's not into you, or, you know..."
Evangeline smirked while saying this and continued, "What I saw was a young man clearly interested in the woman beside him, but there was no lust in his eyes—only the warmth of a close loved one."
Evangeline smiled.
"Ohhh, that's why your husband was checking you out at that time. Did you have a lot of fun afterwards?"
Sasha smirked.
"Hey, hey, you said he was checking on you?"
Evangeline asked in irritation.
"Hahah! I could see his dead-fish eyes focused on your back like a hungry tiger, not bothering with anything at all! Hahah, you are blessed with a good husband, Miss Evangeline!"
Sasha smiled while giving her a nudge on the shoulder with her shoulder.
"Hmmm..."
Evangeline looked upward and sighed and said, "But my husband is not really lucky to have me."
She said with a sad face.
Hearing this, Sasha didn't say anything but asked, "Hey, since we are friends now, why not you work with us? We are going to harvest some crops. Since you were so eagerly looking at them just now, why not go there and do some work, It's good to move around, you know!"
Sasha asked in excitement.
"Auhhh! You want your new friend to work? Is this how friendship works in this city?"
Evangeline asked in annoyance, clearly not interested in working.
"Now, now, don't be shy. Let's go!"
Sasha grabbed her arm and started to pull her toward three people coming from far away.
"Hey, hey, I didn't say yes! Wait, Sasha, waiitttt!"
Evangeline's protests didn't bear any fruit as they gathered up.
"Hey, everyone! I want you to meet our new friend, Miss Eva! She'll be helping us for the work on the fields."
Sasha introduced her.
"Hmm, my name is Evangeline Wilson. It's nice to meet you."
She bowed and looked toward Zack and bowed deeper.
Seeing this, Zack smiled and said, "Miss Eva, it's nice to meet you. My name is Zack Carney."
"Hello there! I am Fia O'Hurley."
As she came forward for a handshake, which Eva returned with a handshake too.
"I am Blake O'Hurley. You can call me Big Guy, Miss Eva."
He waved, saying hello, to which Miss Eva nodded, smiling sweetly.
"She will join us for the harvest. Is it okay?"
Sasha asked again.
"Hmmm, she doesn't really have a permit and tools to work on the ground, but since they need more people, I could just let you work for today. There will be no problem," Zack said after pondering.
"Hmm, is it so hard to get work on the surface?"
Miss Eva asked in surprised.
"Yes, Miss Eva. Working on the surface is more dangerous than flying above since something can hit you from out of nowhere, and there is a high chance to get an overdose there. Many people reported they feel as if they are going a lot more to energy absorbers if they work on the ground surface," Fia said while standing beside her.
"Then are you guys okay?"
Miss Eva said worriedly.
"Heheh!"
Everyone laughed, not saying anything.
"Yes, we will be fine. We are strong," Sasha said laughingly as they turned and started walking with three ladies in front and two boys at the back and with a flying animal hovering around, making the scene warmer than before with only her lonely back.
.
"Ugh, my back, my back!"
Miss Eva stretched her back in pain as sweat dropped on her cleavage, slipping inside and making her skin tingle.
Fia gently patted her back and said, "Miss Eva, you should stretch your body a little. You have a good body. If you do some exercise, then your body will feel lighter."
"Ah, sorry for not doing it all this time and making my body heavier. Ughh, ow, ow!"
Miss Eva said in slight discomfort.
"Haha, that's not what I meant! I am talking about the feeling of lightness, not your weight. You are not that fat to be called truly fat." Fia said with a cute laugh
As she stretched her hand outward and puffed her cheeks, doing a mimicking of an obese person.
"Haha, thank you for your compliment, I guess."
Miss Eva laughed and looked around, seeing lots of people working with some straps attached to the ground to maintain balance and some gear to save them from occasional things coming from above. She smiled as she continued working. As she bent down, her huge breasts dangled, stretching her top and making men steal glances at her cleavage.
Sasha, seeing this, sighed and checked her own breasts, which were big but not that big.
Lurr lurrr ! lurvi while plucking out the crop from her mouth, Lurvi looked at Sasha and voiced her opinion in her own way, saying you also have beautiful breast.
Thank you lurvi but still that is too outrageous! Sasha glared at Miss Eva breast !
"Hey, hide those big watermelons of yours! I'm feeling like I'm losing or something," Sasha complained as she said to her while taking out crops from the ground, making her hands muddy.
"Huh? And how should I do that?"
Miss Eva smiled at her stupid question.
"Agh! Having such huge breasts is a pain! Can you even see the ground below? How many kids did you have to make them such huge things? You can feed four babies at once with those huge things!"
Sasha complained.
Miss Eva, hearing this, slumped down and knelt as she put her head down on her knees and said with a low, broken voice, "I don't have any kids... sigghhhh..."
Clearly very tired with her recent outgoings.
Seeing this, Fia and Sasha came to her to check on her. The boys also saw it but didn't interfere and worked faster instead.
"Hey, are you okay? Geez, I am sorry! I didn't know that. Sorry, I hit your nerves without knowing."
Sasha apologized as she also knelt in front of her, and Fia gently patted her back to calm her down.
"Hmmm, it's okay. It has been so long. I was just in a lot of emotional roller coasters these few days, so it's tiring me out. Thank you—being with you guys here is not making me that sad."
Miss Eva smiled and looked at both of them.
"Sigghh, it's good you are okay. So, are you blaming yourself for not giving any child?"
Sasha said while thinking about previous talks and her strange behavior.
"Hmm, it's true. My husband doesn't have any problem—I couldn't get pregnant with his child."
She slumped down again, remembering her years of trying.
Fia also knelt down and said, "I don't know the feeling you are having, but I do know that blaming yourself will not take you far. The road you have to walk, will require you to depend on each other if you're going to reach the end of it."
Fia said as she looked at her brother, who was the same—always blaming himself. Stupid brother, she thought in her mind.
"Hmm, I can understand. If my baby suddenly went away, then I would be equally sad like you."
Sasha shuddered with that thought.
"Huh? Your baby? You're still young! Where is your baby? Are you married?"
Miss Eva was shocked and asked her.
"Hahah!"
Fia explained how Sasha takes care of Zack like her own kid.
"Ohh, like that. I guess you are also blessed. But don't you want your own child someday?"
Miss Eva asked while touching her lower belly.
Sasha also touched hers and said, after long thinking, "Maybeeee. I don't know. If I could find an equally loving person like my Zack, then maybe I will. But for now, I am happy with what I have."
As she looked at slumped Miss Eva and continued, "I truly hope you will get pregnant someday."
Sasha stood up, and with the sun going down behind her back and sparkling crops making the scene more beautiful, she clasped her hands and said, "I truly hope everyone's pains go away in this City of Eirs and their bodies heal through my soul, and Miss Eva gets her a cute little baby."
She prayed as the wind blew, with it lurvi floated like a fairy, turning the moment into something breathtaking. Amid the shimmering light, a faint flash glimmered for just a millisecond—reflected in the small globe of the locket hidden beneath her clothes.
"Thank you!"
Miss Eva said as she suddenly felt a lot better and stood up and smiled as the sun slowly went toward the horizon.
.
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"Hmm, tasty! Bring more, bring more! I am hungry like a beast!"
A woman was eating with a full mouth as a maid with a laughing face served the lady in front of her.
"Hey, hey, slow down! You're finishing a week's worth of food! And why are you eating in my house? Doesn't Mother Isafold provide you with food or what?"
Oliver said while looking at Maren.
"Huh? What's your problem? I eat here or there—it's fine anywhere. I even came to check on you. Is this how you treat your friends, haan?"
Maren pointed the leg meat of an animal toward Oliver.
SLAP!
A slight slap at her wrist by the head maid of Oliver's house.
"Hey, don't point with food! It's bad manners, young lady. Sit properly and eat."
The head maid glared at Maren, who, seeing this, obediently sat and started eating.
Oliver smiled as he got up, saying, "I will go for a walk. Everyone should eat and go home early. Sorry for the commotion today."
"Young master, you haven't eaten yet. You can go afterwards," the head maid said in concern.
"It's okay."
Oliver smiled warmly as he went outside.
Sigghhh...
Everyone looked down, seeing Oliver's back, except Maren, who was focused on eating a lot and burping now and then.
Oliver just walked casually while putting his hands in his pockets, different voices in his head ringing.
This is it! I have found a way to recover all the losses our house has made! This time, I will surely make everything right!
Oh, hahaha, everything is according to the plan! This will work surely, don't worry! Everyone, this handsome young master will bring the Coghian house to prominence once again!
Don't worry, Head Maid, I am gonna help you and others. I have found something good this time for sure!
Yeah, yeah, for sure! I will return everything with interest. I have learned a lot—100% win!
Ah, yes, for sure I can do it!
Hmm, yes, don't worry!
This time for sure!
Yes, this time!
For sure!
Yes!
I... I th...
"Aghh, how many timessss? I am tired now."
Oliver sighed as he sat on a bench, his head looking upward, looking at fast people and clouds running past by him, making him feel left out, not able to achieve anything significant in his life.
As he was still looking up, he saw someone.
"Hmm, it seems someone is leaving early. Haha, I guess leaving early from work is a bliss. How would I know? I don't have any work to do."
He closed his eyes, not wanting to go to her. Maybe I don't want to show my pathetic side, or maybe it's no use since who wants a failure to be sticking close to them?
Oliver closed his eyes, avoiding anything that came his way.
Maid Emmy was happy with meat and an early leave. As she was flying past the 5th Rock, she thought of what happened in Oliver's house.
Hmm, should I check on...
Guhhhh! There he is—shampoo bastard sleeping like a log!
Maid Emmy saw him sitting there as women went past by him, giggling and speaking in low voices.
Tsk, even in sleep he's a womanizer. I was just worried about nothing. He's doing just fine.
Maid Emmy thought as she flew by his side, not bothering anymore.
As Maid Emmy flew more forward, her speed got less and less, finally stopping and shouting in her mind, "Gguuuhhhh, you shampoo basstarrd! Can't you hold two women by your side as you sit there? Why sitting alone with that sad face? Tsk, here I thought I would enjoy my time with my little ones. Shit!"
Can I do it this time? Will it be worth it? Will it be another failure?
As Oliver's mind was racing, he smelled a gentle, warm scent. He opened his eyes and saw Maid Emmy sitting beside him with a straight posture, with no expression, looking ahead, not bothering to speak anything.
Oliver's eyes, which were lifeless, suddenly got some color inside them. Suddenly, he wasn't thinking about those thoughts as he smiled handsomely and fixed his messy hair and slid closer to her and said, "Hey there, beautiful fake girlfriend, did you miss me?"
Oliver said while bringing his face closer to her face.
She didn't budge—just glanced at him and said, "What nonsense are you babbling about? I just came because Princess Natalia was worried about you and told me to check on you on the way, so I came when I saw you. Nothing else."
Maid Emmy said without any expression.
"Hmmmmm, I wonder about that. Fine, I believe you. So, ask me how I am."
Oliver gently looked toward her.
Huh? Aren't you speaking nonsense? I think you are more than fine, you bastard, Maid Emmy thought, looking at his irritating face, and said calmly, "Young master, you look fine to me, so I will take my leave."
She got up and bowed.
"Hey, hey, where are you going? You haven't even asked me how I am! Don't just assume—look inside my heart and see my darkness within. Hmm, what is this?"
Oliver, speaking nonsense, saw a big container bag being held by Maid Emmy. He, without asking, just bent down and took a peek inside and smiled.
"Hey, you shampoo basstarrd, don't just be shameless and look at someone else's bag!" she roared in her mind
Maid Emmy backed a bit and said, "Young master, please behave properly in public."
As she said this, she turned around, going away.
"Hmmmmm, hey, don't leave me behind! I haven't eaten anything. Let's go to your place. I want to eat the meat prepared by you. Of course, this handsome man will help you in preparing it. But don't expect much since I don't want to have any cutting marks on my beautiful fingers."
Oliver said while coming closer to her and showing his fingers.
Maid Emmy calmly said, "Sorry, young master, I can't. If you want, I could cook for you in the palace, but coming to a lowly maid's house is unacceptable. I refuse. Please go away!"
Maid Emmy barely able to control herself. Tsk, why did I turn back? Now I have to deal with a whining kid, she thought while coming to the jumping platform and rode the winds, leaving behind a dumbfounded Oliver's back. She glanced back and sped up, not thinking much.
Agh, not again! Why do I feel so weird? Aagghh, annooyyiinnng! So annooyyiinnnggg! I will go to my little kids and heal myself!
Maid Emmy sped up more without thinking too much.
"Sigghh, I guess that's it, haan?"
Oliver turned but stopped and said to himself, "Fine, fine, I will let you ladies have a fun time while this handsome prince will go toward the beautiful maid."
Oliver spoke to himself while posing beautifully, thinking, Since you came to me, I will come to you also. Once only—yes, one time only.
"Mom, that man is weird," a child passing by said to his mom.
"Shhh, don't point fingers! And don't become like that man in the future."
The mother and child went away, ignoring Oliver.
"Agh, I will follow her."
Oliver also took a board and started following her. Or rather, he knew she lived at the orphanage since there were very few of them—he could still guess with her direction....
.
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END OF CHAPTER
AUTHOR NOTE:
You know… this chapter reminded me how everyone carries something unseen—quiet worries, old hurts, hidden hopes. And yet, a simple moment of kindness can change everything.
Evangeline found comfort just by having someone stand beside her. Oliver felt less alone because someone cared enough to stop and sit with him. It shows that even small gestures—a smile, a gentle word, a shared laugh—can lift someone's heart more than we realize.
So let's remember to be a little kinder, a little softer with each other.
We never know whose day we might brighten… just by showing up.