--
"I'm sorry for calling you here, Ms. Secretary," I started, putting on my best innocent look. "But this guy here claims the task is too much for someone of his high status and said it would embarrass him if he had to clean. That's why he won't do it. He even offered me 10 gold coins to do it for him...Oh, and he says he's from the noble Water Clan, and that this kind of punishment is something only maids should do. It seems like he thinks the punishment isn't tough enough for him, so—"
"Hey, that's not what I said!" Thomas cut in, his voice on edge.
"I heard him say that too!" Anne jumped in, arms crossed as she stepped forward. "And I even heard him call us 'lowly born,' which is why he hasn't helped with the cleaning."
She threw me a quick wink.
"Yeah, we heard him too!" the Shadow Clan siblings added, their sly grins widening as they both glanced at Thomas.
