Merchants with Cavern Stories

Chapter 4

It had been a week. Lisa and Bobby's mother would be coming home soon. Bobby was more excited. She might come home with dessert like the last time.

Lisa powdered the dough and kneaded it with her hands. A bit of sweat dripped down her forehead. Lisa worked in the bakery in the early mornings. Her hair was braided and she wore neater clothes for making bread.

"Your mother coming home today, Lisa?" Mrs. Harley asked after she brought the new batch out of the oven. "Yes, she is." Lisa replied and got out a dull knife. She then cut the dough in smaller pieces. Mrs. Harley got another batch in the oven. The heat made her narrow her eyes.

Mrs. Harley thought about giving them some cheese bread. Lisa's mother, Maine, was a good friend of hers after all. That was probably why Mrs. Harley gave Lisa a job in her bakery.

After Lisa was done cutting the dough, she placed them in a platter. Working at a bakery wasn't so bad. The smell of bread wasn't the type of scent you get soiled on. It was the kind of smell that you'd prefer to smell than reeking off the market. Lisa narrowed her eyes once she was done.

Mrs. Harley eyed the girl. Not much was in her mind. Just bored.

It wasn't long until Lisa's shift was over. She had finished her task already and was sitting down. Mrs. Harley packed some cheese bread and called Lisa. "Take these to yer mom and go."

Lisa couldn't help but grin. "Thanks, Mrs. Harley."

Lisa left the bakery and look at her surroundings. She wondered how people were kind to them. Probably because they knew and pitied them. Was that alright? Lisa thought other people shouldn't pity them. But she wasn't complaining about what they give them either. Oh well. Lisa thought.

Along the way, Lisa had bumped into her mother. "Mama?" Lisa cracked a smile and ushered to her mother. "You're here! Bobby's been excited waiting fer you." She grabbed her mother's worn-out basket.

"Yes well, I didn't bring desserts. The mistress wrecked havoc among us maids."

Lisa furrowed her brows. "Why?"

"Apparently her son had a relationship with one of us. And ye know what those women think of us." Status. Social Status meant everything for the nobles. If they were stripped from their title, then that'd mean they were like every body else. And they would never accept that.

Lisa couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Let's just go home."

Charles looked around the market. There were a lot of cheap items, and the expensive ones were mostly fake. Not to mention, he did not like the smell of the whole market. Why was he there anyway?

Well, today was a rest day for many servants in their house. Charles figured he would sneak out of the manor and blend among the tired people.

He had covered himself with a cloak. Though he wished he hadn't. It was a hot day. The sky, clear as day and no clouds in sight. There might be a storm coming. So if it rained, where would he stay? Charles and no place to go.

He was quite lost.

He had never been on this side of Couerhort. But he wanted to, otherwise the places he'd frequent would recognize him. And then word would spread to his mother. Who knows what she'll do to him then.

Charles gave a tight-lipped smile to himself and blinked. "Well, I was only following a maid." Maybe he shouldn't have. Oh well. Charles thought.

Serena spotted the dashing young man. His face wasn't like what she'd ever seen before. Quite on the fair side.

Most likely a noble. Serena thought with her eyes that sparkled with desire and fascination. He seemed to be lost. Serena narrowed her eyes and told her father she would be back in which he gave a sigh at his daughter.

Charles was then approached by a grinning and quite possibly strange girl. "Hello there. I don't think I've seen you 'round before. I'm Serena." She stuck her hand out and Charles looked at it and then back at her. He made a bewildered face and gave a charming smile. Do you think I could possibly shake hands with that dirty hand? Charles thought.

"Hi. I'm just looking around."

Serena's smile faltered and she lowered her hand. "Well, I could show you around if you'd like." Charles bit his inner cheek and thought for a moment.

"I'm actually looking for someone. Maybe you'd know who she is."

"Mama!" Bobby ran and greeted his mother a hug. Maine patted her son's head and smiled at her cute boy. "Did ya miss me?" "Yes!"

"Sorry I didn't bring sweets like last time." Maine crouched. "It's okay. At least yer back." Bobby replied and kissed his mother on her cheek. Sweet boy. Maine thought. In return, Maine kissed his forehead.

Lisa smiled and set her mother's basket in their room. The three of them shared their bedroom. Although not much, a little cramped, but at least they were together. Lisa took a look inside the basket. Inside were her mother's salary and a few other things as well. However, when Lisa opened the pouch, something had caught her eye.

It was something shiny. A ring made of silver, and it had several gemstones adorned, Blue—is it sapphire? Lisa thought. There was also one major crystal, it was clear. Lisa's eyes widened. It couldn't possibly be a diamond!

Before she could entertain all her other thoughts, Lisa shoved the ring back in the pouch and left the room. Was it given to her? Or did mama steal it? The sound of her heart pounding in her ears made her head ache.

Let's not think about that right now. Lisa tucked a strand of her dark hair behind ear and licked her lips.

Charles looked bored. Beside him was Serena who talked and talked and talked. What was she talking about? Charles didn't care. Last he heard was about a festival. "And I hope you would come visit this place again at that day." Serena smiled as she glanced at the blonde boy.

Charles smiled in return and replied, "Maybe. I'd keep that in mind." But like hell he would. Visit? Attend the festival? How could he possibly visit a place where the commoners smelled heavy of fish and body odor? Ridiculous.

"Is the house too far, still?" Charles looked ahead. A few children played ran as they played tag, running from here to there, all over the sides, front, and back. Others played hopscotch at the side.

"Hum, well... I guess it's quite near now." Serena shrugged before she licked her lips and bit her inner cheek.

A bit of strand strayed on his face which made Charles ran his fingers through his wavy hair. To think that maid had enough courage steal my ring. Charles narrowed his eyes and sighed.

Although that ring didn't really mean anything to him, Charles still kept it. It was given to him from his past fiancee after the hunt three summers ago. An arrange marriage didn't really suit him. Sure the lady was beautiful but she looked rather plain-looking and followed him wherever he went, and it irked him to a degree.

Charles himself doesn't know why he kept the ring. He also plans to retrieve it.

The blonde boy hummed a thought. Serena looked up at him and admired his beauty. He has quite a prominent face. Serena thought. She also noticed several small beauty marks across his face; beside his right eyebrow, on his right cheek, beneath his lower lip and quite at the center, and on his left jaw.

Charles noticed although her pretended not to. He knew how attractive he was and thought it was only right for her to appreciate his looks.

That maid. Charles narrowed his eyes when he spotted the head of the maid. The maid who would prep his room in the afternoons. He looked at Serena and flashed a smile. "Thank you for taking me thus far. You be off, milady." "Wait—" Serena held her out to tug on his clothing but Charles had already gone off immediately. A sigh escaped on the girl's rosy lips as she watched her nobleman's man.