The carriage flew past her and disappeared into the town's complex roads, as if all that had happened was a mirage.
"Libby? Libby! Are you okay? What are you standing there staring into nothingness for?"
Brian's voice woke her from her daze and she quickly replied, "Ah, n-nothing!"
"Let me help you with these pots and then we will go back to the store for the bones. It's a little much so be careful."
Libitina was so distracted by this new discovery that Brian became worried about her. But she cooperated and worked her arms hard for the pots of meat and bones. By the time Brian and Libitina returned back to the shop, the customers were bustling in the restaurant and the entire shop had come to life.
"Lady Briar, Lady Briar! Here."
Libitina found Briar pulling a customer's carriage towards the stable and quickly returned the money bag that Brian had passed to her.
"The potatoes costed $30, the meat $250 and the bones $60. I've checked the change and the receipts; they should be correct."
Briar looked at Libitina placing her hands submissively on her tummy, respectfully waiting for her evaluation. She asked, "You know how to count and to read?"
"Ah?" Libitina nodded. "Yes…"
Libitina saw Briar deep in thought. Did she say something wrong? Was being literate unusual in this game?
Finally, Briar asked, "Well, do you know how to wash dishes?"
"Ah? Yes! I do." Libby staggered. She must have overthought.
"Brian, let her try to wash the dishes. Monitor her. Libby, ask him if you have any queries."
"On it, sis."
"Thank you, Lady Briar, I'll be sure to work hard!"
Libby did a low bow towards Briar and did a small fist pump when she turned her back towards Briar. It seems like things are going well for now. Let's work hard!
As Libitina half-hopped after Brian to the back of the shop for her new task, she wrinkled her brows.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she seemed to have seen a familiar outline of a carriage. But when Brian called her name, she shook her head and tossed the idea to the back of her head. Lunch time has started, and the lunch traffic was bound to induce a kitchen war that required her full attention.
…
'What a familiar-looking face…'
Yurian deliberated in confusion. He was sure he had never seen that brown-eyed girl in overalls before, but the sense of familiarity she gave off unsettled him. Was he mistaken?
"Yurian, slow down! Are you crazy? We are in town now; you need to respect the rules! The rules!"
Sylvester's annoyed and desperate voice sounded out from the carriage. Yurian could picture his look of frustration, but he really wanted to let go of his inhibitions after three days of continuous travelling.
When Persephone escaped from the confines of the Palace core, they had taken a night to rest and pack up for the search. The search was to be a secret mission, for fear of instigating chaos in the population and increasing international tension.
Standing in the main church of Auglarus, Marianne had conducted a clairvoyance search across the kingdom. With the magic remnants the Demon Spirit had left behind as a clue, Marianne's eyes had shone pearl-white as she raised her staff and pointed north, the path towards Clomodor, before proclaiming that the Demon Spirit had reached the borders of Clomodor and Auglarus.