Maidservant (7)
As evening approached and the shop was empty, Anna brought the rice dishes to an empty table in the backyard. Dougto looked at the table laden with food and figured the nobleman couldn't possibly eat it all; he'd save the rest for himself. The two waiters kept swallowing hard, secretly planning which dish to eat first as soon as the nobleman left.
"What are you looking at? Eat." Mi looked at Dougto standing motionless by the table.
"Food for me?" The shopkeeper, Dougto, stared at the rice in astonishment. This nobleman was cooking for him?
Mee nodded, then looked at the two waiters and said, "You two come and eat too." Fried, who had been with Mee for days and knew her decisive nature, was the first to step forward and pick up a pancake to eat. Seeing Fried do the same, Dougto also picked up a fork and started eating. The two waiters, seeing Mee smiling as Dougto ate, and Anna encouragingly watching them and handing them two forks, couldn't resist and started eating lamb.
"We're too rushed today, so we can't make anything fancy." Mi watched as the group went from being cautious at first to eating without any regard for manners. Doug Toh pressed down on the plate of mutton, moved it closer to himself, finished the mutton, and even used a pancake to scrape off all the sauce.
“This is delicious.” Doug Tor’s mouth was full of food; he preferred meat, and he placed the meat pancake in front of him. Fried had never eaten such a refreshing side dish, even better than the cabbage from yesterday. The two waiters were too busy stuffing their mouths with pies.
"Boss, would you like me to be the head chef?" Mi looked around the small shop. It was just a small storefront with seven or eight tables. Even if it was full, there wouldn't be too many people. The best part was that the kitchen was in the backyard, so the chefs didn't need to go to the front to serve customers.
"Huh?" Dougto was stunned. "You're going to be my cook?" He swallowed the food in his mouth and reluctantly ate a few more bites of fruit before stopping. He quickly racked his brains. No adventurer noble would ever work as a cook in such a small shop. Oh, no, even the grand restaurants couldn't hire adventurers as cooks. Did she want this shop? Dougto said awkwardly, "My lord, this shop is my family's heirloom. Um, my lord, you can't take my shop away. The Adventurers' Guild is right next door, and the Adventurers' Covenant is hanging in the lobby, my lord—" In any case, this shop was his. Weren't nobles just collecting protection money? He had never heard of any noble taking a fancy to such an inconspicuous little restaurant.
“I don’t want your shop, I just want to work as a cook in your shop,” Mi interrupted Dougto.
“My lord, I can’t afford to hire you.” Doug Tor thought that Mi just wanted his shop. What adventurer would be reduced to working as a cook in such a small shop? If the King’s Guard found out, he would be arrested and sent away.
How much does the cook next door earn?
“A regular cook costs two silver dris, a head chef costs five silver dris, plus a share of the profits.” Doug Tor seemed to know the market. “As you can see, my little shop simply can’t afford a head chef who costs five silver dris. Sir, you must be joking with me.”
"I want 50% of your store's profits, and I'll decide the menu."
"Alright!" Dougtor agreed without hesitation, but hesitated after speaking, "Can an adventurer noble like you really work as my cook?"
“This is my business, just don’t go around talking about it,” Mi instructed Dougto. “You didn’t pay me a salary, so it doesn’t count as employment. I’ll take 50% of your profits as protection money.”
"Yes, yes, I promise I won't say a single word about adults."
After deciding on the dishes they needed to buy, Mi left with Anna and Fried, leaving the shop owner, Doug Tor, and his two waiters looking at each other in bewilderment. The fatter one said, "Uncle, do we really have an adventurer noble as our chef?"
The waiter, who was acquainted with Fried, exclaimed, "A nobleman indeed! Your skills are so excellent, and your pastries are so delicious!" As he spoke, he licked the oil off his fingers. "Boss, could I take the rest home? My father has never tasted anything made by a nobleman before!"
"Shut up! No way!" Dougto, clutching his stomach, paced around the yard. "Nobody can tell you about this, understand? Go back and keep your mouths shut. She's just a protection collector, not our cook. The adults like to stay in the kitchen, got it? You two remember that." The shopkeeper emphasized his instructions to the two waiters. He had been blinded by Mi's skill and the cheap price, agreeing to let her be the cook. Now, calming down, he realized it wasn't a big deal. As long as they pretended they knew nothing, and she was just an adult who liked to stay in the kitchen collecting protection money, what could Dougto do? He could only give up the kitchen. He envisioned a bright future: "With this kind of cooking, we'll be rich soon, hahaha! With money, what can't we buy for your dad to eat!"
“Yes, yes, yes,” the chubby waiter nodded. “That’s why you’re the boss; you have a better eye for things than we do.”
"Boss, this order?" the thinner one asked, holding up the note. "None of us can read, who's going to buy it?"
"Hey, you know that guy who came today, Tom Fried? Go find him later and buy him for me first thing tomorrow morning!"
“But—” the slightly chubby waiter, named Philip, was a distant relative of Dougto. “Uncle, how long can she stay?”
“Go back tomorrow and call your sister over,” the boss, Doug Tor, frowned and thought for a moment. “Your sister who cooks so well, what’s her name again? Even if she just learns today’s dishes, she could set up a stall at the market.”
“April, my sister’s name is April,” Philip muttered. “I don’t know if she’ll come if you try to make her cry.”
After leaving the restaurant, Mi and Anna strolled along the entire restaurant street. Fried found a lively little pub and slipped inside to gather information; he really didn't miss any opportunity. As evening approached, the streets were filled with heavily made-up girls. Mi stared at these girls for a while; those who came out to eat were either social engagements or single men without families. This place gathered the most extravagant and willing-to-spend customers in the entire Sun City.
"Why did you choose such a small restaurant?" Anna originally thought Mi was going to a big restaurant to collect protection money, but she never expected that she really wanted to be a chef.
"I don't want to do so much work." Mi walked slowly along the street toward the inn.
“But if you go to the Four Seas New Goods, sir, you only need to take out one gold coin and you won’t have to do anything.” When Fried found Anna, she was told that Mi was an adventurer with gold coins, and she came with Fried without paying any fees. Seeing Mi, she knew she was badly injured, and she carefully cared for her, watching her recover little by little. Anna originally thought she would soon be going on adventures again, but unexpectedly, she found a daily job. After all, adventurers are meant to go out and explore; they can’t stay in Sun City for long.
In the Flower Kingdom, nobility is divided into three types: The first is hereditary, such as the royal family and some long-established nobles, who are born with titles and are mostly descendants of nobles; the second is the Longevity Seed title, a legendary title, supposedly held by nobles, but no one dares claim to have ever seen one; the third is a special contribution title held by adventurers, generally without a formal title. Recipients can choose to receive a fief and residence or a special noble-made gold coin. The Marigold Coin is a special noble-made coin; although holders of Marigold Coins do not have a noble title, their status is the same as nobles, and ordinary law enforcement personnel are subject to the nobility.
Mi couldn't explain the origin of the Marigold coins to anyone, so she could only accept this noble status. In the entire Sun City, the nobles were all high and mighty, and no one dared to provoke Mi. Sometimes Mi wondered what Annie had done to acquire so many Marigold coins. One Marigold coin represented a noble title, and Annie had given her a handful of over ten. She had given away five at Border Post 17, and Mi still had five or six Marigold coins left.
Mi found a job smoothly, and she was in a good mood. The little shop was nice; it wasn't big, but there were plenty of customers, the owner was a good person, she didn't have to work too hard, and the income was good. Soon she would be able to pay Anna's salary, and then return the money to Sheila, and she could get back the marigold coin that Sheila had been holding onto.
Anna and Mi walked slowly, towards Theater Road, which was brightly lit. Anna looked at Mi: "Are we going to the Snow Theater tonight?"
Now that Mi knows Anna's identity and she has found a job, she can no longer pretend she knows nothing: "How should I pay you?"
“That’s fine, sir, that’s fine.” Anna lowered her head; she knew the job was done.
“Anna, my name is Mi. Thank you for your company these past few days. I’m all better now.” Mi looked up. “If you don’t mind, I think we can be friends.”
“Oh, sir, thank you.” Anna curtsied. “So, shall I return now?”
“Well, you know I don’t have any money right now,” Mi shrugged. “If you don’t mind, I’ll make up the difference with my salary.”
“It’s alright, sir.” Anna looked at Mi. “Thank you for being my friend. It’s rare for a maid to have friends.”
“How could that be? You guys are so kind.” Mi looked at Anna in surprise, and added, “Don’t worry, I’ll make up your salary later.”
"My lord, perhaps I could ask you for a favor?" Anna looked at the lights in the distance, where songs were coming from the theater, and the streets were full of women in gorgeous dresses and men out seeking pleasure.
“Anna, my name is Mi,” Mi said, holding Anna’s hand and looking at Anna’s gentle face. “I think we can be friends.”
“Okay, Mi, can you do me a favor?” Anna readily changed her form of address, Mi hoping that one day they would become true friends.
"Okay, you tell me, as long as I can do it."
“My daughter is at Countess Aldrich’s house. She’s injured and needs a doctor.” Anna stared at the ground, tears streaming down her face.
"Countess Aldrich, a noblewoman?" Countess Aldrich was King Derek's niece. She was known for her indiscriminate sexuality, taking any girl she fancied home, even the daughters and wives of minor nobles. Now the problem was, Mi couldn't afford to provoke the royal family, and Anna's daughter needed treatment. Perhaps she could steal her away. She asked Anna, "Is your daughter well-protected? I mean, is she under strict surveillance?"
“She’s locked in the woodshed,” Anna said urgently, clenching her fists. “No one is watching her, and no one dares to let her go. I received word that she’s dying, and no one leaves Earl Aldrich’s mansion alive. They’ve abandoned my daughter in the woodshed to fend for herself; no one is looking after her or caring for her.” Anna said helplessly, “The woodshed at Earl Aldrich’s mansion is a girl’s grave.”
Miranda told Anna to go back: "Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, you can come and hear the news."
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