I learned that Emma had been working in an inn after she had left the orphanage.
The inn itself was located on the other side of the city. It wasn't famous enough to have a name and was rundown, almost as rundown as the orphanage itself, I was told by the owner of the orphanage.
Which made me curious as I looked outside the window of my carriage on my way to the inn.
Why would Emma want to work there? A lot of other places were available to work at, such as The Little Bell cafe, where Anastasia had chosen to work. Instead, she chooses that particular inn?
The only reason I can assume for now why she would want to work there is to be as far away from the orphanage as possible. Which says a lot about the hate she harbors for that place.
Is that something that I can use to my advantage? Perhaps I can use my influence, how little that may be, as the daughter of a noble to close the orphanage down in exchange for valuable information about Anastasia.
Still, from the stories I heard about Emma, she sounds like she is the type to hold loyalty in high regard. How annoying.
Later than sooner, we finally arrive at the two-story inn. I look at the wooden door of the inn that is full of splinters and has a small hole where mice might be able to get through the bottom of the door.
I slowly pushed open the door, and a high-pitched squeaking sound filled the air.
There were three people inside the inn, all of them either sweeping or wiping tables. One was a middle-aged-looking woman, another was a middle-aged-looking man, and last but not least, a young brown-haired woman with brown skin. Emma.
My eyes fell onto her skinny figure and messy short hair that was tied in a bun. She was holding a dirty-looking broom. Despite her ragged-looking state, not a second later, she greeted me with the biggest smile I've seen since coming to this world.
'Hello! How may I help you today?'
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After motioning for the old couple to leave and that I needed a moment alone with Emma, we were the only two left in the room. The room had many tables and chairs, and there was a small bar in the middle of the room which showed their drinking selection.
I then took a seat on one of the chairs near where Emma was previously sweeping. Gesturing to Emma that she should take a seat opposite me, she then waved away my gesture and took a seat right next to me.
'So, what do you want to talk about?' she asked with eyes full of curiosity.
I wonder how she can be so energetic. If I were to be in her situation, I would have been incredibly suspicious of the stranger that wanted to have a word with me out of the blue.
I sighed and just assumed that was her personality.
'My name is Elaine,' I purposely did not say my last name worried she won't talk to me if she knows I'm a noble, 'I believe you know Anastasia? She is currently working in my cafe, you see, and I would like to know more about her personality.' This is the reason I came up with, not the strongest reason, but with every lie, there is always a grain of truth.
At the mention of Anatasia's name, she became even more cheerful, if that were possible.
'I was wondering if you could tell me about her?'
At this question, the air around us seemed to change drastically. What was once a face full of smiles became a menacing glare.
'Why are you so curious about your employee?' she asked. Huh, so she isn't as stupid as she looks.
Still, I could not fault her since my reason for wanting to know Anastasia through Emma was weak at best.
I then told her the story between Anastasia and Alex and told her how she was trying to steal Alex away from me. I didn't say this at first because I was embarrassed to admit my fiance was being seduced by another woman. Hopefully, I was convincing because I don't know how long I can keep talking about this bullsh*t.
'Th-that doesn't sound like her.' Emma seemed to look flustered, but I picked up on the fact that she did not seem surprised.
'Are you sure? Then why were you not surprised when I told you it was happening?'
'Ugh... Fine. I suppose that that is something Anastasia could do.' Finally, I could feel some of her walls going down.
I kept pressing her on the matter when she refused to look me in the eye, and she finally gave up and said, 'Anastasia is a good person. Really. It's just that I always knew she wanted to live a different kind of life. That might be why she is trying to steal Alex away from you.'
'A different life, you say?'
'Miss Elaine, please believe me. Let me talk to her. Anastasia will listen to me. I'm sure I can convince her to leave you and Alex alone,' she completely ignored me.
I mean... I don't know at this point if I should keep Alex and Anastasia apart or not. There seems to be something else that is causing the empire to be in trouble. As if someone is actively trying to create harm to the empire.
Now that I think about it, no matter how stupid those two are, can it really lead to the destruction of the entire kingdom, as the king said?
Suffice it to say, I would rather not be involved with Alex or Anastasia, so their relationship is not really my top priority anymore.
'I don't mind if Alex doesn't love me, but I just want to make sure the person he ends up with will treat him well,' I say with the most sincere tone of voice. Hopefully, Emma buys it.
'Still... What she doing isn't right. I promise to go talk to her.'
Oh no, if she meets Anastasia, my current behavior might seem suspicious, and she might know I lied to her. If that happens, I can't get the information I wanted anymore.
'Please don't,' I grabbed her hand as she stood up, 'Save me from the embarrassment.'
She then sighed and sit back down on her chair.
'I understand. But I am still her friend. I won't badmouth her in front of a stranger I just met.'
'Yes. That is very loyal of you. I just wanted to know more about this woman that has interfered with my life, is all. In return, I am also willing to do you a favor.'
'A favor?'
'Yes. How about I destroy that orphanage you seem to hate so much?' I proposed to her the idea that I had on my way here.
'No! What are you talking about?!' Huh? Was my assumption wrong?
'Do you not hate that orphanage?' I tilt my head slightly in confusion.
'No! Well... maybe. I mean, of course not!'
'Your response is very confusing.' I told her bluntly.
'Just... don't destroy the orphanage. It is a place for kids like me who have no home. The only thing I hate about it is the owner,' she said.
Well, well. That can also be arranged.