The female clerk walked over with a tray, placing the cream puffs and black tea in front of the two, and gave a light bow.
“Please enjoy, ladies.”
After the clerk left, Darlian propped her chin on her hand, speaking in a mild tone.
“What’s so strange about that? How many demonfolk citizens have you seen? It would be stranger if they recognized me.”
Perhaps finding some sense in Darlian’s words, Finihiya lowered her head, picked up a palm-sized cream puff, and silently began to eat.
The crisp, creamy sweetness made Finihiya’s brows lift ever so slightly.
There was something oddly familiar about the taste of the cream puff.
As she pondered in confusion, Darlian stirred her light brown tea with a spoon, glancing over with gently arched brows.
“Come to think of it, I heard the owner of this bakery is from your Holy Nation.”
Darlian’s words made her show a surprised, almost stunned expression.
“…Really?”
“She wrote that as her birthplace on the Chamber of Commerce registration.”
After receiving Darlian’s definite answer, Finihiya lowered her eyes and took a light bite of the cream puff, chewing slowly.
At that moment, she felt an inexplicable sense of kinship toward this newly opened shop—perhaps because they were both living in a foreign land.
However…
Her thoughts reached this point, and she glanced slightly at Darlian.
“Why would someone go out of their way to open a shop here?”
“Isn’t the reason obvious? To be the first to eat the crab.” Darlian paused briefly at this, then continued in a calm tone, “Now that the demonfolk and humans have opened up trade, profit-seeking merchants are naturally bringing goods over to try their luck.”
“Just like this shop: if the products are excellent enough, they’ll naturally reap generous rewards.”
“These past two months, over a hundred humans have registered in Yabadawi, and more are bound to arrive in the coming months.”
“I see.”
Hearing this, a gentle look crossed Finihiya’s downcast eyes.
The sunlight shining through the clouds into the shop gradually dimmed and shrank, turning into narrow golden bands that soon disappeared.
Noticing this, Finihiya tilted her face up, gazing at the sky through the window glass.
The thick, deep clouds still lingered, as if stirring in preparation for a heavy downpour.
While enjoying her cream puff and black tea and gazing at the distant sky, Finihiya suddenly remembered the matter concerning the maids from a while ago.
She cocked her head and looked at Darlian.
Her rich, silky blond hair fell smoothly across her chest.
“The other day…”
“Hmm?”
“I saw a maid using Intermediate Healing Magic.”
“Did you?”
Darlian seemed rather calm about this, as if she thought it nothing unusual.
“Are all demonfolk maids this skilled? Able to use intermediate magic?”
Darlian gave a puzzled “Hm?” and then, as if she realized something, a faint, subtle smile appeared on her lips.
“How could that be…?” Her words trailed off, and only then did Darlian seem to wake from a dream, realizing the true implication behind Finihiya’s words.
“To keep you from misunderstanding—though I hardly think it’s necessary—I’ll explain a bit.”
“Many of the maids at the manor are actually part of my close-guard unit—the elite of the elite. They’re stationed there not only for basic protection, but mainly to prevent another incident like the one with Atena and Luna.”
“They all serve me loyally, never disobeying any of my orders.”
“Is that so.”
After hearing Darlian’s answer, Finihiya gave a small nod.
“If you don’t want me to do things this way, Finihiya, I can replace them for you.”
Hearing this, Finihiya looked up at Darlian, then turned her head to look outside again. Those beautiful eyes seemed to glimpse some dream of dawn as she smiled softly.
“No need. I’m happy that you’re so considerate for me, Darlian.”
“Is that so~”
Finihiya’s answer seemed to please Darlian very much; her reply was noticeably lighter and more cheerful.
When they left the bakery, the sky outside had already turned murky under the thick black clouds.
A cool, damp wind swept through the middle of the street. Not far away, the colorful signboard outside the tavern creaked and swayed in the wind.
Brushing the windblown hair behind her ear, Finihiya gazed up at the dark sky. Then, almost to herself, a murmur slipped from her cherry-colored, soft lips.
“It’s going to rain.”
“Indeed.”
As soon as Darlian’s words fell, the hazy, vast sky began to release rain, droplets splashing onto Finihiya’s delicate cheek.
They walked a few steps along the street, and the rain slowly grew heavier.
“I’ll go buy an umbrella. Wait here for a moment.”
Following Darlian’s gaze, Finihiya saw a general store up ahead selling umbrellas.
Brightly colored umbrellas were stuffed into a large wooden barrel and set outside the shop entrance.
Finihiya wanted to go with her, but before she could say anything, Darlian had already walked briskly over.
Not wanting to run after her, Finihiya stood where she was, taking shelter from the growing rain near a bulletin board.
A middle-aged man wrapped in a thin black coat, a fifty-year-old woman in coarse clothes dragging an old suitcase, a young man with somewhat dull brown hair…
The hurried passersby on the street couldn’t help but cast looks of amazement at Finihiya—an instinctive appreciation for beauty.
Perhaps wanting to avoid meeting others’ eyes, Finihiya turned slightly and looked at the wooden bulletin board in front of her.
The board was plastered with densely packed sheets of paper, many overlapping and covering each other.
Judging from the content, it seemed to serve as a job recruitment board.
(Clerk wanted! Responsible for greeting customers and handling transactions. Pay: 32 Mihol silver coins. -Mokexili Shop)
(Crew wanted! Prior seafaring experience preferred. Pay: 41 Mihol silver coins. -Gelitisi Chamber of Commerce)
(Looking for female staff! Must appear young, monthly salary 2 Mihol gold coins, work involves strolling and chatting with men. —Joy Pavilion)
Glancing over the many recruitment notices, Finihiya’s gaze happened to fall on a particularly odd job posting.
(Looking for female staff! Must appear young, monthly salary 2 Mihol gold coins, work involves strolling and chatting with men. —Joy Pavilion)
Seeing this unusually high-paying job, a subtle, suspicious look flashed in Finihiya’s eyes.
After staring at it for a while, Finihiya shifted her gaze toward where Darlian had gone.
From the barrel of umbrellas, Darlian chose a vivid red one.
Holding the dark red umbrella, Darlian stepped elegantly through the puddles on the street, moving with graceful ease as she walked back toward Finihiya.
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