VII

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  Arc VII Chapter 15

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  19th Aqua Solar XI AAC 753

  “...” The maid, however, remained entirely unimpressed. A blank, disinterested stare and a furrowed eyebrow was all that she got. “Dangerous ... You mean ‘dangerous’ in the sense of this being by far one of the safest districts in the entire city? With guards and eyes around every corner? And you’re trying to tell me that getting here was dangerous?”

  Aurora averted her eyes. As loathe as she was to admit, the woman had a point there. “Well, if you put it like that ... I guess that the journey was only long then.”

  The woman remained stubborn. “Look, little one, I’m not stupid. I know exactly where the adventurer’s guild is located. And I know how long it takes to get from there to here by foot. So don’t come to me with this kind of ‘long journey’ story. If you want, you can try to sell your little sob story to somebody else, but not to me. One kreuzer and two coppers, and not a single copper more. That’s all you get. And now gimme the damn letters and get out of my sight, you guttersnipe!”

  “Ursula, what is this entire commotion supposed to be about?” A voice interrupted their ongoing quarrel, a respectful voice even, distant but polite.

  Aurora and her doll discreetly peeked around the angry maid in front of them that was blocking their view, looking down the hall, up the stairs. A woman was standing up there, her hair strands blonde and sleek, her posture straight and composed, accentuated by a heavy red dress and a beautiful red necklace, both expensive judging by her choice of fabric and the amount of gems adorning her. And not just that. A hue of mana surrounded the woman. It was weak, almost indiscernible, but it was there. Ignis without a doubt. It tingled her senses. Her appearance ... Her countenance ... The mana ... Was she a noble? That would make sense.

  The woman looked at them from above, even smiling at them. With a gentle nudge, the woman opened her hand fan, which reminded Aurora that she needed one as well. “Please, Ursula, enlighten me, what is going on here?”

  The maid turned around immediately, completely ignoring her from one moment to the next. Ursula lowered her head and gaze in respect. “My apologies, Lady Annabel, it’s nothing that should trouble you. Just an unruly child. She demands an unreasonable amount of payment for delivering mail.”

  “I see, an unruly child. How spirited.” The lady folded her fan. “I wish to see her.”

  “Lady Annabel, as said, it’s nothing that you should trouble yourself with ...” The maid protested, but her words went ignored.

  Lady Annabel came walking towards her, slowly and steadily, before appearing right before her. Her lips smiled at her, and yet her red eyes gazed at her, examining, evaluating her in a cold, calculating way, which did not escape Aurora. The woman was definitely a noble. She was judging her. “So you are the little troublemaker that Ursula was talking about?”

  Aurora and her doll happily nodded. “That’s correct~.”

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  Ursula boiled, glaring daggers at her. “Hold your tongue, child! Who do you think you are to address Lady ...”

  Lady Annabel raised her hand, silencing her trusted maid. “No need to raise your voice, Ursula. Let her speak. I wish to hear what the little one has to say.”

  The woman turned her attention once again to her again. “So, from what I was able to gather, you work for the adventurer’s guild, and you are delivering mail. I also gather that you wish to be paid, child?”

  Aurora merely nodded, still playing her cute, little girl act. It was her best card to play. “...”

  Lady Annabel smiled with a hint of amusement. “Now, tell me, how much do you want?” It sounded like a trick question. It probably was a trick question. But to what end?

  “...” Aurora raised her index finger and tilted her head, thinking. “Well, I would say about thirty kreuzer.”

  The maid ground her teeth in the background, her fists clenching. “Thirty kreuzer?! Have you gone insane, girl? That price is outrageous!”

  Lady Annabel ignored her maid’s comment, simply smiling instead. “Thirty kreuzer. That is three full taler, little one. That seems a bit much for just delivering some mail, does it not?”

  Aurora elaborated, her index finger raised in a persuasive and sagely manner, supplemented in a large part by her inherent cuteness. “Under normal circumstances, yes, but it was a long and dangerous journey~ for a brave~, little postgirl like myself~!” The time had come to resorted to her most secret weapon in her arsenal, deploying her feared and infamous kitten eyes.

  Lady Annabel giggled, delighted by her response. She leaned down towards her, her red eyes gazing right into her purple eyes. “Hehehe, you know, you are quite the adorable child, little one. Your unblemished face ... Your fluffy cheeks ... Your tiny nose ... Your near perfect posture ... Not to mention, your eyes ... They are beautiful. The shade of purple ... It is a rare colour to have ... even among ... Tell me, child, what’s your name?”

  “...” Aurora stiffened for a moment. Did she know? Unlikely. Improbable. “My name? My name is ... Edelgart.”

  Lady Annabel smiled, treating her with much friendliness. “Edelgart ... Edelgart ... It has a certain ring to it. I see that you also have a cute doll with you. She even looks exactly like you. She must surely have a name as well, right?”

  Aurora wondered where this was going, but in her experience entertaining bored nobles had always turned out to be hugely profitable, in both of her lives. They tended to be generous when in a good mood. Thus, she proudly presented her doll. “Yes, of course, her name is Edelgart~.”

  Lady Annabel giggled. “So both of you share the same name? How curious. A little bit like sisters?”

  Aurora hugged Dollrora. “In a certain sense, yes.” Even a bit more. Not that she would know. Not that she needed to know.

  Her words amused her. Lady Annabel laughed. “Is that not cute? A girl and her doll. That being said, you are an adventurer, are you not?”

  Strictly speaking ... Aurora nodded vigorously, hugging her doll. “Yes~, that’s correct.”

  The woman continued, “Are you versed in letters and numbers?”

  Aurora nodded. “Yes, I was even the best in my guild class.” She was, although such was owed primarily to the lack and the quality of her competition. Still.

  Her response pleased her. “Do you perchance know anything about magic?” That was a tricky question.

  Aurora pondered her next words. From a theoretical perspective, she should not. From a practical perspective, she did. “A little bit. I was taught a little back at the guild. Mostly the basics.”

  Her words gave the woman pause. “Hmm, well, I guess that it was worth a try ... You cannot have everything. Ursula!”

  The maid answered. “Yes, Lady Annabel!”

  Lady Annabel rose, unfolding her fan. “Give the girl the thirty kreuzer that she demands. I think that she more than deserves them.”

  The maid blinked, utterly stunned, hardly believing her ears. “Are you ... sure, Lady Annabel?”

  “Yes, or do I need to repeat myself. Give her the coins”, Lady Annabel insisted, her voice more forceful than before. “Now, that we are at it.” Her attention turned to her. “I presume that you must like sweets? Every child does. Do you perhaps want to have some biscuits?”

  Aurora marvelled at such abundant benevolence. Not only was she most plentifully rewarded with thirty kreuzer, which would allow her to secure her hot chocolate supplies for the coming weeks, but she also about to receive biscuits! Playing the sweet, little girl had paid off indeed! Once again! “Yes, please~. I would be delighted.”

  Lady Annabel was pleased. “Even so polite. What a well mannered child you are. Ursula, bring her also an assortment of our finest biscuits.”

  “As you wish, Lady Annabel.” Ursula bowed and disappeared. The woman obeyed her mistress’ orders, albeit only grudgingly.

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