The next day Lucis wakes up in the bed of his new room that Leonard lent him, and as he gets up from the bed slowly limps towards the wardrobe with his cane in hand, and looks inside to see dozens of expensive suits in different styles and colors, and as he is going through them he can't but reminisce about the past, but before he can get lost in his thoughts he is abruptly interrupted by Leonard carefully knocking on his door and with a light yet noticeable tone he speaks through the door
"Sir Lucis, the breakfast is ready"
"Yes, I will be right there, thank you, Leonard"
From the wardrobe, he puts on a simple yet extravagant blue suit with grey elements, and as he leaves the room, he sees a slightly open door next to his room, he peeks inside to see Olivia lying on the floor next to the bed wearing a white nightgown with her face pressed against the smooth wooden floorboards, so out of concern he decides to walk inside and check if she is all right, but concerned with being rude he slowly and carefully kneels next to her and softly whispers
"Miss Olivia, are you all right, are you in need of assistance?"
At the sound of his voice, she slowly opens her eyes, still confused and with blurry vision she says
"Oh yeah I am fine, but...who are you again?"
This catches Lucis off guard, and flustered by her question he swiftly answers
"Whatever do you mean my lady, you yourself said I should spend some time in your territory, you even landed me a bedroom next to yours"
"Oh, that's right you are the limping hooded guy, so how do you like your stay here?"
"I am enjoying it, thank you, I was just headed for the dining room as the breakfast is ready, after you have changed I will gladly accompany you there if you would like"
"Sure I don't mind, and by the way, have you decided what would you like to do while staying here?" Olivia asks as she stands up on her feet
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if you have decided to live here you will need work to, well live so I am asking what will you do from now, start a shop, be a farmer, or something else entirely?"
"Ah, I haven't yet decided," he says while the thought never even crossed his mind up until this moment
"Well if you say so, I am kinda curious to see what you as essentially a noble will choose, so tell me when you decide and I might help you," she says as she walks towards the wardrobe in the corner of the room
"And why would you help me, how am I deserving of your assistance, if I may ask?" He says as he swiftly turns around towards the table, to look away from Olivia while changing
"I am not sure myself but I feel like you are someone I should keep my eyes on"
"W.well if that is how you feel then I will not stop you but I can assure you I am just an ordinary man," he says with a clear sign of discomfort in his voice, while out of curiosity reading through the document lying on the table in front of him, he asks
"It would seem as if you have trouble with your finances, are you in debt Miss Leisten?"
"No, not yet but with how things are going, it might happen any day now, but how do you know about that"
"Oh, I must apologize I read the documents on your table"
"It's fine, everyone here knows our situation anyway, but I almost forgot you know how to read," Olivia says while she walks towards Lucis in the freshly changed clothes, wearing similarly to yesterday a simple yet comfortable-looking white wool shirt and leather pants, an outfit like those wore by commoners but made in considerably better quality
"Yes, as I mentioned before I have been schooled, thus my education is better than that of the majority and I can read, write, and use mathematics"
"That's impressive, you could probably work as some nobleman's assistant or adviser with that"
"Well if you are interested I could work as your assistant if I am to live in your territory"
"Why would you want to work here when you know our situation, this march will probably soon go bankrupt and fall into ruin, or be overtaken by surrounding territories"
"If that were to happen the ones to suffer the most are the common people, and just the thought of that makes me quite upset, thus I feel like it is my duty to help if I have the power to do so, don't you think miss Leisten"
"Well if that is your decision then sure, I will employ you, but know that it is at your own risk"
"Thank you Miss Leisten, now then I shall escort you to the dining room"