"What can I get you?" Hado asked while placing down the glass mug under the table. He took a deep breath before flashing a welcoming smile towards one of his Inn's patrons. He fixed his velvet red hair after noticing some of it being ruffled up.
She had stayed for quite a few months already and Hado was pleased with her attitude. Stella wasn't the type to be warm towards others and maintains a cold expression whenever dealing with strangers.
But she wasn't cold to those she was familiar with. Despite having only recently met Grant, she didn't dare treat him coldly.
As his master, she's supposed to be warm and welcoming towards him.
It was that mindset of hers and the guilt of pulling in Grant into this world and subordinating him that made her put on a warm tone when talking to the boy.
Her thoughts often wondered if Grant hates her secretly due to what she had done.
After all, even if Grant was from another world he has a life of his own. Even though she was the former princess of a kingdom, again who was she to just up and separate an innocent person from his home, friends and even family?
She possessed not the authority and the right to do such a thing.
"Did that boy you brought home break your heart? Or was the love between you two just a one night stand?" Hado noticed that sad and distant gleam in Stella's crystal blue eyes and couldn't help but ask such a question.
Stella never brought to the Inn any man even if they were injured. At most, she would cast a heal spell and leave them alone.
Naturally, an old man like Hado who had seen too much of the world through his journeys would have a pretty wild imagination.
He had always expected the unexpected.
"What? No!!!" Stella was distressed upon hearing such words.
It caught her off guard and she didn't know what to think. Immediately, thoughts about Grant started floating inside her mind.
Yeah, Grant was handsome, exotic-looking due to that sunset-colored hair and.
He was quite muscular. The type where the muscles aren't too big but compressed and well defined enough to perfectly fit the body.
And what flabbergasted her the most about Grant's body was that eight-pack. Aren't abs supposed to only reach six-packs?
She was quite sure that if such a person donned a full set of armor except for a helmet, Grant would resemble a handsome hero that was always mentioned in the fairy tales.
"Look's like you are remembering what you two little love birds had done eh? Ah... Youth..." Hado sighed and his eyes grew blank as if remembering a distant memory.
Stella froze.
'Now I remember why I hate talking to this old man...' Shaking her head and clearing it off all thoughts, she pretended to pull out a few silver coins out of her pocket.
When in reality, her nightgown's pocket was devoid of anything. She had just pulled the coins out from inside the storage contained in that golden ring.
The ring was made out of pure gold and had numerous runes written on it. A faint flow of magic seeped out of it from time to time.
It was a type of storage device created using space magic. Only the rich and capable could have storage devices such as these. They were extremely expensive after all.
"Roasted Grouse with Cinnamon and Peach Pie, Glass of Brandy and Steamed Kobold's tail with Artichokes and a glass of Whisky." Stella carefully counted her silver coins before placing them down on the countertop. A total of 9 silver coins which was both expensive and not expensive at the same time.
Normal commoners had a yearly income of at least 20 silvers. And for someone like Stella who was rich and had thousands of gold coins inside her ring, 8 silvers was like a penny for her.
Even if she was rich she wouldn't dare spend too much.
The delicious and somewhat costly food was to celebrate Grant's arrival. She felt like she owed him and therefore she wishes to give her servant the best treatment.
It was her first time having a servant that came from somewhere she couldn't fathom.
She would be dumb if she didn't give him preferential treatment. He was strong despite being Lv 1 only.
And who knows if he has one of those gifts given to him by the gods of this world.
"As much as I want to serve you the food and take those silvers of yours... Sadly my wench of a daughter still hasn't come home." Hado's mood worsened in a second and he continued to grumble to himself lowly. Stella frowned seeing the owner's state.
If Beatry, the Inn's cook wasn't home then who would cook?
No one!
She gazed outside and by the look of things and the position of the sun, It was already midday. The number of pedestrians on the streets were visibly reduced as most have gone home or went to grab a bite.
"Why isn't Beatry home?" Remembering that scarlet haired girl who was just a few years younger than her, she also remembered something about her.
The girl often sneaks out and is quite lazy in terms of inn work. She cooks delicious food with fine cutting skills but her tired eyes clearly expressed her desire to not be in the kitchen.
She also spotted something hiding deep inside her sharp hazel eyes.
The desire for revenge.
"I know you've already have some clues about Beatry's behavior but as her father, I can't tell you much. All I can say is she wants to become like me."
Hado seemed to become older and worried by the second.
The lass always returns before lunch but she had been missing since last night.
"I'll look for her then." Stella left the silvers atop the counter and turned around to head upstairs and inform grant of her short leave but she was hastily stopped by hado.
"You won't be able to find her so easily. As I said she wants to be like me so she deliberately learned a few skills for my type of trade. [Stealth], [Nimble], [Perception] along with [Light Steps] are just some of the skills she has."
Hado's expression was a mixture of a smile and a frown. His face flushed red and he spoke in a low grumbly tone.
He was having a headache regarding that naughty daughter of his. He isn't sure whether or not he should be proud of how capable his daughter was without any guidance or if he should be mad for having a rebellious daughter.
Stella instantly thought about what the old halfling had warned her. By the gist of things, the daughter, Beatry had developed a troublesome skill set that allows for her to be harder to detect and catch.
Even if you found her it seems that she would just run away.
Now, who would be strong enough, fast enough and perceptive enough to catch a tricky rogue?
She immediately thought of Grant and turned to Hado with a smile.
"Grant could find her... And even drag her back here safely." She believed that Grant would be able to do it.
Even if the little lass was suited for stealth and fleeing, she wouldn't be able to escape the brute servant of hers.
And if the girl tried stabbing Grant? Good luck then!
She had seen small stone shaped arrowheads embedded into Grant's flesh when he was summoned.
Arrows seemed to have little effect on him.
Stella giggled as the scene of a little red-headed girl running away in fear and panic from Grant who sported a blank look made its way into her conscious.
"Your man? I don't know..." The owner flashed a murderous look.
From his memory, Grant was damned pretty boy and his daughter liked pretty boys.
He would be guilty if her daughter ends up causing a rift between Stella and Grant.
If only he knew he was mistaken about Grant and Stella's relationship.
"He is not my man Hado! There you go again assuming things..."
"Expect the unexpected girl."
"Don't care... Alright were off to find your daughter then."
Afraid of any further headaches from talking with the Inn owner, Stella waved him away and she walked upstairs. She donned her cloak that she pulled out fo the storage ring and knocked lightly on the door leading to her room.
The door opened and Grant warily peeked out before he closed his eyes in relief upon seeing Stella.
The master was about to tell Grant about the issue with the Inn owner's daughter. She was cut off by Grant's simple statement.
"I'm hungry..." The sunset haired youth couldn't help but mention to his master who was surprised with Grant's sudden desire for food. It was unfortunate that Beatry was still out and about in the town of Zirakib.
Doing God knows what.
"That... Could wait later... We have to find the Inn owner's daughter. You could treat it as our little first quest..."
"Ah... Alright then. Good luck, my lady." Grant blanked out for a moment before nodding and closing the door gently.
Gobsmacked by Grant's action, she asked herself whether the boy had understood that he was supposed to go with him.
Knock Knock Knock!
Knocking on the door once more, Grant's head peeked out and tilted sideways, curiously staring at Stella who had a wry smile and an impatient look in her eyes.
"Yes? Why are you still here if you have to look for the Inn owner's daughter?" Grant was confused. Finding a small child in the town was easy and doesn't need his interference right?
Plus there was no way he was going out to wipe some kid's ass. It's the kid's fault for disappearing despite it being early morning.
Stella had already told him about Hado being the Inn owner as they were heading back to the Inn.
Come to think of it, he did see a small girl that looked like the Inn owner's daughter. She had scarlet hair and he saw her when the two of them were headed towards the cliche guild.
She looked to be a bit nervous and unsure before disappearing into a dark alleyway on her own volition by walking into it.
"Grant, I need you alright? The little girl is a decently leveled rogue and is in possession of a list of skill that makes it easy for her to slip away unnoticed." Stella tried to imply the difficulty of the situation and surely Grant heard her.
He furrowed his brows before wording out his reply.
"I refuse..." Grant grumbled lowly and closed the door.
Leaving Stella there who was smiling wryly. Her eyes narrowed before she let out an irritated chuckle.