厨房从后面挺进李婷

— Just take it and leave.

The man fell into a stupor. They were standing on the street in front of the entrance to the tavern when he was just about to prepare the horses for the further road. The request of his master\'s daughter came as a big surprise to him.

— M-madam, but I don\'t understand…! — he said, — Why are you…

— Don\'t ask too many questions,» Maxie snapped, «just remember that you didn\'t see or hear anything.»

This morning, the girl realized that it would be too risky to leave this man next to them. After all, she did not know at all what could happen in the future. And, besides, it was also for her father\'s sake.

If the marquis finds out that they met a suspicious person on the way, so they also took her with them, he will certainly not leave it just like that. Maxie was afraid that her plan would collapse before it could come to life.

This money was a payment for silence. After all, the coachman also saw Elsa, and transported her on his cart to the tavern.

The coachman, who had faithfully served the Windsor family for decades, blinked. He had known the young lady since childhood, and therefore would never have doubted her pure intentions. If the girl sent him away, then there must be a reason for it.

He nodded understandingly.

— I\'ll do as you say. But… the gentleman will ask questions if I come back without you.

— I thought about it too, — sighed Maxie, — Then stay in the city for a while, for about a couple of weeks. This money should be enough to rent a house for this time. Then come back and tell your father that we have found the elder.

The man listened excitedly to her decree, but did not argue. The girl patted him gratefully on the shoulder.

By then, Maxie really hoped that they would be able to complete the mission. And no obstacles that have come from anywhere will prevent them from doing this.

After that, she turned her heavy gaze to the city where Leriana and Elsa had gone a couple of hours ago. The first one still begged her for a short walk before going to their further destination.

Maxie knew she shouldn\'t go along with her, but she agreed anyway. After all, Leriana hasn\'t had much to cheer about lately. And the girl wanted her to take her soul away at least somewhere.

Even if at the same time she will be with that scoundrel…

Maxie took a deep breath.

Nothing will happen during this time…?

***

I looked at the beautiful tunic with a gold border for a long time, and I couldn\'t take my eyes off it. The price tag on it was somewhat embarrassing, but if you spend money, then in full.

— Girl, do you want to buy? — the seller helpfully offered.

— yes! — I answered right away, despite the fact that there wasn\'t much money left in my pockets.

The delighted seller began to pack the outfit, while Elsa promptly tried to stop me. The girl\'s hands were already busy with packages with my purchases, which I generously made for several hours.

— Maybe you shouldn\'t? — She objected, — I really don\'t need it…

— Yes, it\'s worth it! — I said adamantly, — You don\'t have any things at all. You can\'t hit the road like this!

— But what you\'ve already bought is quite enough…

I took a quick look at the bags of clothes and other goods, and compared that maybe she was right. Just a little more and we won\'t be able to take it all to the tavern…

But the tunic was too beautiful. Elsa will definitely look great in it!

«This is the last time,» I promised again.

The girl sighed.

It so happened that when for the first time in a long time I had money, I got my head blown off a little. I\'ve even turned into a spender that I\'ve never been before.

Before leaving, the Marquis still gave me a small amount of my personal funds, which he had previously confiscated. It was in case of unforeseen circumstances that could happen. However, I did not expect that I would spend all this on my new acquaintance on the first day.

Since the girl had lived in poverty all her life before, I decided to please her with these gifts. But you can\'t tell from the expression on Elsa\'s face that she was glad when I spent my last blood money on her.

When I paid for the purchase and another additional bundle appeared in Elsa\'s hands, I happily inhaled air. How nice it turns out to be to give gifts to other people! Before, I had never had to know this, and I spent exclusively on myself.

This time I swore that I wouldn\'t go into any other store anymore, and we just walked around the town square. The next day we had to shake in the carriage again, so I really wanted to enjoy this pastime.

She looked at Elsa, who was walking beside her, and tears of emotion involuntarily welled up in her eyes. This poor, life-worn child definitely needed to be taken care of. She even frowned sweetly.

But nothing! From this moment on, Elsa\'s fate will completely change. Since we were lucky to meet each other, it\'s definitely not for nothing. The dark streak in her life should have ended when I appeared in it.

When I finally return to the Archduchy, I will make her my assistant. She will forever forget about the difficult past of the mercenary.

When I looked at her with shining eyes, the girl sighed. As if it wasn\'t the first time I\'d seen it.

«Some strange idea came to her mind again…»

We walked for some more time before I suggested we go to a cafe. The long shopping has exhausted me a lot, and Elsa is probably hungry. We took one of the tables in a cozy room, and I enthusiastically began to study the menu.

The last time I saw such an assortment of desserts was only in the Duchy of Cassius. And it was lucky to come here!

— What will you have? I asked eagerly.

The girl flipped through the list I gave her without much interest. A strangely familiar displeased expression appeared on his face.

I saw this in Rachel when, for all her dislike of sweets, she still agreed when I fed her cakes from my hands.

— Order whatever you want.

— Really? — I was surprised, — Take a closer look. Maybe there\'s something you particularly like?

— I don\'t like sweets… — honestly admitted.

— Oh, that\'s how! — I caught myself, — Then I\'ll order you a cocktail.

The girl nodded.

I went to the counter to make and receive an order, and Elsa stayed there waiting for me. At that moment, left alone, she sighed wearily.

Almost immediately after that, a bell rang over the front door, and two men entered the cafe. Tall and strong, similar in appearance to knights. They took a table next to each other.

The waitress brought them alcohol, and they began to discuss something hotly. At first, Elsa did not go into the details of their conversation, but then the following words involuntarily reached her:

«…did you hear that?» This year, the cost of taxes will double!

«Who else doesn\'t know about it,» another chuckled, «the bastards from Azeroth did a good job to ruin our people\'s lives.»

— And then! I can\'t understand where the authorities are looking. A little more, and the imperial dog Cassius will take over their possessions. Let\'s see how they dance then!

There was an unpleasant cackle.

— If it weren\'t for the monsters from this family, Azeroth would have fallen long ago. The pathetic king there obviously won when he placed a bet on them.

— I wonder how much they charge for their services? If you offer a better bone, then the dog will change the owner.

The person who said this laughed, but the next second, a dinner service suddenly flew into his head. The knife flashed just a millimeter from the face, leaving a deep scratch on the cheek. The knight was taken aback when he saw a girl in front of him, whose pupils flashed scarlet.

— Repeat what you said, you pathetic insect.

Both men were terribly indignant.

— What are you doing?! — they roared, getting up from the table, — Did you want a fight?

The more massive of them, who got the blow, raised his hand, intending to respond in kind, as a cry was heard nearby. Leriana had just returned, holding a cocktail and a cherry slice of cake on a tray.

But at the sight of such an outrageous scene, the girl instantly rushed forward, covering Elsa with herself.

— What do you allow yourself? — she got angry, — Are you going to start a fight in the middle of a cafe?

— She started it first! — the knight pointed his finger, — I just want revenge!

Leriana couldn\'t believe that as a pretext for their cruelty, these two had come up with such a ridiculous excuse. Yes, as if she would believe that such an innocent person as Elsa, who would not touch an ant, would start something like this.

She had already done away with her dark past, and now she remained an ordinary civilian. Even in her behavior there was no hint of the aggression they were talking about.

The girl exhaled angrily, then calmed down and took Elsa\'s hand.

— Don\'t be afraid, I\'m here.

Elsa looked at her in surprise, but did not have time to say anything. Obviously, she was as taken aback by what was happening as the other two.

— I will make these villains apologize to you!

— What?! — the men yelled, — We didn\'t even do anything! What should we apologize for?!

— Don\'t pretend! — Leriana was furious, — Until you ask for forgiveness, you will not go anywhere!

The girl felt her anger fill her again. She was obliged to restore justice. Otherwise, who will protect this innocent child next to her?

The knights faltered when they saw that Leriana\'s pupils also flashed scarlet. It smelled like kerosene.

— B-but…! We weren\'t even talking about her then! Why do we need…

— That\'s enough! — she snapped, — If you don\'t want it in a good way, it will be in a bad way.

The men looked at each other excitedly.

— One on one,» she suddenly offered.

— What? — both of their jaws dropped.

— I said, let\'s get out!