Chapter 2036: New Home

The following afternoon, Della stood outside Lord Black’s new home with a parcel tucked against her stomach, wondering whether they should have bought something else.

Beyond the gate, a paved path wound between flower beds toward the mansion. Somebody had polished the brass fittings on the front door until they shone.

Their gift suddenly felt rather light.

"We should’ve brought wine," she murmured.

"You said we shouldn’t bring wine," Brena reminded her.

"I know what I said."

"You said he’d have better wine."

"I know!"

Tavi leaned around them to peer through the bars.

"Do you think he sleeps in the room with the balcony?"

Both women turned toward her.

"What? It’s a lovely balcony."

"You haven’t looked at the balcony once," Brena replied.

"I’ve been admiring the possibilities."

Before Della could ask what that meant, a maid came down the path and opened the gate.

"Miss Della? Miss Brena and Miss Tavi?"

The three adventurers straightened.

"Yes. We’re here for... He invited us. Lord Black."

"He’s expecting you. Please, come in."

Expecting them.

Della followed the woman through the gate, clutching the parcel while Tavi’s hand found her sleeve. Behind them, Brena stopped to scrape a speck of dirt from her boot before hurrying after the others.

"I’m Nessa," their guide told them. "If there’s anything you need during your visit, please let me know."

"Nessa? From Lord Black’s inn?" Brena asked, looking more closely at their guide.

"Yes! I worked there until this morning, and... he offered me a position here."

Tavi’s eyes widened.

"He poached you?"

"No!"

Nessa stopped so abruptly that Della had to pull the parcel back against her stomach.

"He did no such thing! The inn is being repaired, you see. There are big holes in the building due to some... unfortunate circumstances. He spoke to the innkeeper properly!"

"I’m sure he did," Brena said.

"And he paid her for the inconvenience of losing an employee. She was quite happy to let me go."

The maid hesitated, remembering that conversation.

"Very happy, actually..."

Brena looked at Della.

"He poached her."

"He certainly poached her," Della agreed.

Tavi giggled while their guide puffed her cheeks into a thoroughly indignant pout.

"You’re making him sound awful! He was very kind!"

"We know," Della assured her, smiling. "We’re happy for you. How is it, working for them properly now?"

At that, Nessa glanced toward the mansion. Her indignation faltered as she looked at the house she’d be returning to after every errand, with a room waiting inside that was hers to sleep in.

"Lady Lucille walked over with me after I collected my things. I still can’t believe I get to live here."

"You lucky thing," Tavi breathed.

"I know... It’s a dream come true."

The smile spreading across her face made Della smile back, though Brena glanced past the maid at the house.

"You’re looking after all of them yourself?"

"Yes. Master promised he’d employ more maids, but he hasn’t had time yet."

"Oh, we love his family," Della said. "But keeping up with all those women alone... I’m not sure I’d call that a dream job."

"And that’s before you get to him," Tavi added.

"I didn’t mean there’s nothing to do!" Nessa protested. "There’s plenty. But they’re so much fun to work for. Everyone talks to me, and they’re always laughing, getting excited about something they want to do, or teasing someone, most often me..."

She started up the path again, slowing as they reached the front steps. Laughter carried through the front door, and her smile grew at the prospect of joining the people inside.

"I’ve never been in such a lively home. Even when I’m cleaning, I can hear them enjoying themselves. It makes me happy just being here."

The work clearly mattered to her. She wanted these people comfortable, wanted to have what they needed ready when they reached for it.

"And until the others are hired..."

Nessa pressed a hand to her chest, positively swelling with pride.

"Keeping this unruly household from falling apart rests on my shoulders. My shoulders alone!"

Brena nodded gravely to Nessa.

"A grave responsibility."

"It is."

"Then we’d better behave ourselves," Della said.

"I’d be very grateful."

The maid held her dignified expression while Tavi bit her lip. Then Nessa’s gaze dropped to her apron.

"Though... I’ll admit that changing their bedsheets alone is quite a trying task..."

The three adventurers burst out laughing. Della hugged the parcel while Brena caught her arm, and Tavi made a breathless sound that only sent her friends off again.

"Please don’t repeat that," Nessa whispered, her cheeks burning. "It was unbecoming of me. I need to work harder to become a worthy maid."

"We won’t repeat it," Della managed. "We promise."

Opening the front door gave their bashful guide somewhere else to look. She stepped aside to admit them, keeping her eyes firmly on the hinges while they recovered.

"Thank you."

Black waited in the entrance hall, his armor’s red eyes turning toward them.

"Come in, ladies."

Nessa closed the front door behind the visitors and led them through the hall to the dining room at the back of the house.

Beyond its broad windows lay a garden far larger than the beds beside the entrance path. Sera and Lyra were tending the flowers, while Aurora knelt among her herbs with Morgana holding a basket beside her.

Nessa opened a rear door and called to the women in the garden.

"Our guests are here, my ladies. Would you like to come in?"

Sera waved to the visitors and came inside with Lyra and Aurora. Morgana followed after setting down the basket, only for Sera to shut the door in her face.

A moment later, the former queen opened it again.

"..."

Sera smiled sweetly at her. "Oh! There you are~"

Morgana stepped inside and closed the door behind herself.

From a long table near the windows came a girl’s indignant protest.

"It was falling apart! I had to eat it!"

"Into your mouth, apparently," a familiar older voice replied.

Felicity sat beside her father, holding the surviving half of a pastry. At the sight of the visitors, she brightened and waved to them.

"You’re here!"

Feng looked up from the plate between them. Whatever she’d been about to say disappeared when Tavi hurried across the room.

"Oh, look at you two!"

"We’re fine," Feng said quickly.

"I can see that! You look so much better."

The freckled adventurer bent to embrace her anyway. Feng’s hands hovered beside Tavi’s back before she gave in and returned the hug, looking profoundly embarrassed by the whole affair.

Felicity had already left her chair to meet Della.

"Father said we could stay here for a while! Mister Black offered us rooms."

"That’s wonderful."

Seeing the girl clean, fed, and happily getting crumbs down her dress brought an unexpected tightness to Della’s throat. She could still remember those shackles against the cavern wall.

Here, the only danger Felicity seemed to face was being caught taking another pastry.

"Has everyone else found somewhere too?" Brena asked Alexios.

"There’s room for us," he answered, rising to greet them. "You’ve come at a good time. My daughter was beginning to worry that the food might survive until dinner."

"Father!"

"You were doing your best."

Felicity huffed at him, then took Della’s free hand to lead her toward the table.

"Come sit with us? Feng’s being annoying."

"I’ve barely said anything!"

"Your mere presence is enough."

Della forgot the reply forming on her tongue when Black joined them at the table and let Synchra withdraw from his face.

The armor softened into a shirt, its sleeves drawing back to his forearms. With the exterior doors closed and the windows reflecting the garden to anyone outside, he could enjoy his own home uncovered.

Unfortunately, Della still hadn’t learned how to look at him without forgetting what she was doing.

Tavi’s hand tightened on Feng’s shoulder.

"Ow."

"Sorry!"

"I’m glad you came," he said, smiling at them. "I hope the place wasn’t difficult to find."

"Everyone knows where it is," Brena replied.

Della turned toward her.

"I mean, we asked for directions."

"People were very helpful," Tavi added.

His amusement made Della want to put the parcel over her face. Instead, she held it out before her friends could explain exactly how helpful the people of Sarthal had been about locating their favorite adventurer.

"We brought something. For your new home."

Black accepted it from her.

"You didn’t have to."

"We wanted to," she said quickly. "All of us."

He loosened the string and folded back the paper, revealing a blue-glazed teapot. White flowers curled around its belly, and a plump little bird formed the handle on the lid.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Della wished she’d chosen the wine.

"The lid fits properly," Brena offered. "We checked."

"And it pours well," Tavi added. "The woman at the shop showed us."

"She poured it several times," Della admitted.

Black lifted the lid by its bird and looked inside, his smile widening.

"A thorough inspection, then."

"We didn’t want to give you something that leaks."

"Thank you. It’s lovely."

"Oh, let me see!"

Sera came around the table, brushing soil from her hands. Black held the teapot where she could admire the painted flowers.

"That’s adorable. Look at its little face!"

"You like it?"

"Mhm. It looks very pleased with itself. Nessa, let’s put it to the test right away."

"Of course, my lady."

The maid collected it with the empty wrapping. Della watched her carry their gift through the kitchen doorway, then looked at the table, where cups and plates were already waiting.

His family was going to use it. Today, with Della and her friends sitting at their table.

Her worry gave way to such fierce happiness that she had to press her lips together. They’d wanted to give his family something to enjoy, some little part of this beautiful place that came from them. She’d been afraid the whole idea was foolish.

Beside her, Brena was smiling at the kitchen door.

"May we help with anything?" Della asked.

"You can sit down and enjoy yourselves," Black told her. "You’ve already brought a gift. I’d be a poor host if I put you to work too."

Black chuckled and drew out a chair for Della. She sat before her knees could embarrass her, with Felicity immediately claiming the place beside her.

"Do you like these?" the girl asked, pushing the pastry plate closer. "They’re very good."

"We noticed," Alexios murmured.

"Father, please stop telling everyone how much I’ve eaten."

"I haven’t told them how much. I don’t even know myself, for I lost count a long time ago."

Felicity’s eyes narrowed at him, and the voice with which the teen addressed her father could’ve frozen any river.

"Father."

"...I wish to take my comment back, if I may."

"You may."

"Thank you, my lady."

"Good! Don’t let it happen again," she giggled.

Black chuckled at the older man.

"She walks all over you like a doormat. You’re far too soft of a father."

His wives turned toward him with such wry expressions that his amusement faltered.

"What?"

"Hubby..."