The lantern light flickered softly over the wooden tables of the small restaurant, casting warm glows that danced across the plates of steaming food. The air carried the rich scent of roasted meats, fresh bread, and spices, mingling with the faint chatter from a few other patrons scattered around the room.
Lys, Mira, and Mitsu had claimed a corner booth, away from the main bustle, where the shadows softened the edges of the day's events. Skewers of grilled vegetables and tender chunks of lamb sat in the center, alongside bowls of creamy stew and a basket of crusty rolls still warm from the oven.
Mitsu sat with her hands folded in her lap, her green dress smoothing out neatly under her, but her eyes darted nervously to the food. She picked at a small piece of bread, tearing it into tiny bits before popping one into her mouth, chewing slowly as if afraid to take more. Her shoulders hunched slightly, and she glanced at Lys every few seconds, her cheeks flushing under his gaze. The commotion in the market square lingered in her mind like a dark cloud, but here, with them, it felt a little farther away, until she thought about the bill for the food she was eating.
Mira noticed first, her sharp eyes catching the way Mitsu hesitated before reaching for another skewer. She leaned over, her red hair brushing Mitsu's arm, and whispered close to her ear, low enough that Lys couldn't quite hear. "Hey, relax a bit. You don't have to worry about the cost or anything. My brother's treating, and trust me, he won't let us pretty women pay a copper, no matter how much we eat. Go on, dig in, it's all good."
Mitsu's eyes widened a fraction, her fingers pausing mid-reach. She glanced at Mira, then at Lys, who was busy tearing into a skewer with a contented grin. A small smile tugged at her lips, easing the knot in her stomach just a bit. "Really? I... I don't want to impose, though," she murmured back, her voice barely above a breath.
Mira winked, nudging her gently with an elbow. "Hey, what impose? Please. Look at him, he's enjoying this more than we are. Eat up, or he might start feeding you himself."
That drew a soft laugh from Mitsu, light and tentative, imagining Lys feeding her. She reached for a skewer this time, pulling off a piece of lamb and dipping it into the stew before taking a proper bite.
The flavors burst on her tongue, savory, with a hint of spice, and for a moment, the awkwardness faded. Lys caught her eye and smiled, raising his own skewer like a toast. "See? Told you this restaurant might be the best in the village. I could tell it just from the smell coming out of it."
Mira narrowed her eyes, jokingly mocking Lys, "Yeah, like we needed to be told that. Everyone knows Miss Gemma's skewers are the best in our village. Even if you didn't point it out, I would have guided us toward here anyway."
Lys gave a laugh, "Yeah, I'm sure you would have!"
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They fell into an easy rhythm after that, the table filling with the sounds of clinking utensils and shared bites. Mira launched into a story about the time she tried to haggle for a bolt of fabric at the market and ended up with twice what she needed, her hands waving animatedly as she mimicked the vendor's exasperated face. "And then she says, 'Fine, take it all, just stop talking!' I swear, I walked away feeling like a queen."
Lys chuckled, leaning back in his seat, his arm casually draped over the back of the booth. "Yeah, I believe you. Just stop for god's sake!" He glanced at Mitsu, pulling her into the fun. "And what about you, Mitsu? Any market disasters in your past?"
Mitsu swallowed her bite, her eyes lighting up a bit as she thought. "Well... once, I was carrying a basket of herbs for the apothecary, and a stray dog knocked me over. Everything spilled, dried lavender everywhere. The whole street smelled like a flower shop for days." She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand, and Mira burst out laughing, slapping the table lightly, like she hadn't heard a joke as funny as that in years, though Lys felt she was overdoing it a little. He was glad that she was trying to make Mitsu not think about what happened earlier, but still. At this rate, even a child would figure her out.
As they ate, the conversation flowed like the stew in their bowls, warm and comforting. Mitsu, though, was listening intently, her gaze softening whenever he spoke, as if his words were pulling her out of her shell. Mira kept the mood light, tossing in teasing comments that had them all grinning. But underneath it all, a subtle tension hummed.
Lys caught Mira's eye once or twice, a silent exchange passing between them. They both knew trouble might be brewing, but neither wanted to voice it here, not with Mitsu finally relaxing.
By the time the plates were cleared, the restaurant had quieted, the lanterns burning low. Mitsu leaned back, her hand resting on her stomach, a contented sigh escaping her lips. "That was... really good. Thank you."
Lys waved it off, pulling out a few coins to settle the bill with the server who hovered nearby. As the man nodded and walked away, Lys turned back to Mitsu, his expression shifting to something more serious, though he kept his voice gentle. "Hey, Mitsu... about your work. That commotion happened right in front of the inn where you work, didn't it? With the bucket and all. You think you'll be okay going back there tomorrow?"
Mitsu's smile faltered, her fingers twisting the edge of her dress. She stared at the table, her cheeks paling slightly. "I... I'm not sure. The owner is strict about keeping things quiet for the guests. And with Lady Selene involved, now..." Her voice trailed off, uneasy, like she was afraid to say more.
Lys frowned, trying to read her face, but the reason eluded him. Mira, though, caught on quickly. She leaned toward him, her voice a whisper against his ear, warm breath tickling his skin. "Dummy, don't ask her that. That mess got huge because of you, and everyone saw it. Of course, she's going to get fired over this. No one's going to want trouble with the priest's family."
Lys's eyes widened briefly, then he nodded, his jaw tightening with understanding. The thought gnawed at him; the humiliation of Mitsu in the square might not end just there. Priest John could make life hard for anyone involved, including them. But seeing Mitsu like this, vulnerable again after such a good evening, stirred something protective in him. He rubbed his chin, pondering in his mind about something.
'Should I say it? Won't she think I'm pushing too hard, or even think that I'm having pity on her? But... It's not, though. We could really use the help at home, with the big house, and she'd be safe there, too.'
He pushed the doubt aside, taking a breath, finally deciding to ask her what was on his mind. "Mitsu, listen...Uhh, if things don't work out at the inn, or even if they do but you want a change... uhh, would you consider coming to work for us? I mean, as a stay-in maid at our house?"
The words hung in the air like a sudden hush. Mitsu's head snapped up, her eyes wide with shock, a flush creeping up her neck. Mira's mouth dropped open, too. Her skewer forgotten in her hand as she stared at her brother. "Wait, what? Brother, you... You're serious?"
Lys nodded, keeping his gaze steady on Mitsu. "Yeah. I'm sure Mom's going to have a hard time cleaning the big house, the extra chores coming in with it, and such. And you are also going to focus more on making stuff, I guess. You bought everything today for that, right? So, won't everything be a big hassle for Mom to handle all by herself?"
Mira scratches her ear with her free hand, "Yeah, I guess, you are right about. It might be a little hard for Mom to handle everything on her own, but still…"
Ignoring her, Lys continued, "What do you say, Mitsu? You'd have your own room, meals included, and... well, you'd be with us. Safe. No more market square dramas."
Mitsu blinked, her hands trembling slightly as she set down the glass of water she had in her hand. The offer swirled in her mind, the warmth of their home, the kindness they'd shown her already before. But the shock of his sudden offer made her heart race. "I... I don't know what to say. That's... really generous. But.."
Mira recovered from her daze, a grin breaking through her surprise. "Well, I guess it's not a bad idea, actually. We'd have fun! And hey, no more worrying about bosses like your innkeeper. Let's do it, Mitsu."
Lys leaned forward, his voice soft, reassuring. "No pressure. Just think about it. We don't want you stressing over something you barely thought about till now. So, let's take it slow, shall we!"
Though he says 'let's take it slow', but both Mira and he were still staring at her for an answer.
Mitsu looked between them, the warmth in their eyes chipping away at her hesitation. But after a long pause, she nodded slowly, her voice quiet but firm. "Okay... I'll do it. I'll be your house's live-in maid."
Author note: There is a side chapter to this. It has Mitsu's side story, her life till now from her perspective. If you want to read that, then support the story on my Patreon. Direct link to Chapter 84.5 is below.