How to catch a wild bison? Maisha looked down, reading the absurd title of the book Cyril was reading before the man fell asleep. Why would the royal elite read a book like this?

  However, Maisha then shrugged, not caring. Everyone needs a hobby.

  Maisha's fingers reached for the book covering Cyril's face. She placed it on the side of the bed before her gaze unconsciously traced the man. Long, thin cheekbones, long eyelashes–– huh?

  Wake up, Maisha! Stop admiring this guy!

  Maisha patted both her cheeks. She tried to stabilize her roaring heartbeat before touching the man's arm. "Excuse me, I–"

  Maisha squealed as her body rolled over, and her back felt the softness of the bed. Her eyes widened when Cyril gripped her hands, making his face the only sight for her vision.

  Cyril's black eyes looked savage. The man's lips thinned, and an unreadable expression crossed his face.

  Maisha's breathing sped up. They stared at each other briefly before the man suddenly released the grip and got off the bed.

  Cyril stood up and gave her a cold look. "Did your parents never teach you manners?"

  "Manners–– hey!" Maisha felt insulted. She stood, facing Cyril and lifting her head. "I have manners!"

  Unfortunately, Cyril didn't seem to believe Maisha's words. He observed Maisha's behavior and said in a reproachful tone. "Trespassing into the room, waking up the boss without permission, and bending at the waist while talking to the boss. I think you need a lot of lessons in manners."

  Maisha gritted her teeth and clamped her lips shut. It wasn't because she felt defeated, but because she had just eaten and was sleepy. Arguing would slow her down to enjoy a long sleep.

  Maisha lowered her hands and said, "I want to know where my bedroom is."

  "Bedroom?" repeated Cyril with his eyebrows almost meeting. He turned his head towards the sunlit window before looking back at Maisha. "It's still daytime."

  "Yes, but I need to put my things away." Maisha pointed at her backpack lying on the floor. She also wanted to sleep.

  Cyril's gaze followed Maisha's finger before looking back at the girl and saying, "Just put it there."

  "There?" repeated Maisha in confusion. "But–"

  "You have another, more important task." Now, it was Cyril's turn to point behind Maisha's body, making the girl turn around and find a mud-stained piece of armor in the corner of the room.

  "Wash that armor and dry it. Don't damage it, or I'll deduct your salary."

  *****

  "What an arrogant man!" Maisha punched the breastplate before groaning. The set of armor was so heavy. She almost toppled over when descending the stairs back and forth to carry each piece without dragging it.

  The sun reflected on the river near the inn was blinding, while the girl's clothes were half-soaked after minutes of trying to scrub off the dried mud that clung possessively to the shoulder armor.

  "Argh, this is too much!" Maisha's shriek met with a groan from the pair of wyverns at the back of the stable.

  Maisha turned her head towards Topaz. She furrowed eyebrows, thinking. Maybe I can kidnap and sell it.

  "Oh, don't try to break the agreement. I froze the leg of the last worker who tried to steal our gold, and now he can no longer walk normally."

  Maisha's body suddenly shuddered as she remembered Liam's threat. She shook her head and continued to rub Cyril's shoulder armor. However, she widened her eyes when she saw a red iron glove with gold trim swimming freely on a flowing river.

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  "Hua! Wait!" Maisha screamed as she rose to her feet. She knew the price of that item. Her brother had boasted that a glove alone was worth a gold piece.

  The girl quickly kicked off her boots before jumping into the river, swimming to get back her boss's fleeing gloves.

  *****

  The sky was almost dark when Maisha returned to the inn. Her clothes felt damp, including her short hair, in contrast to the red armor that now seemed to glisten beautifully, reflecting the dim light of the dining room lamp.

  "Hey, boy, come here!"

  Samson's exclamation made Maisha look up from behind the pile of armor she was able to carry. The tables there seemed crowded, but the three men she had just met had managed to occupy one table and leave one seat empty.

  Liam was no longer wearing a straw hat. The man looked comfortable with a giant glass that held shaved ice with syrup on top, while Samson now wore an unbuttoned sleeveless vest and looked very wild––. However, Maisha's attention remained on Cyril, who was reading a paper resembling a receipt.

  Cyril wore the tight black T-shirt and leather pants from the afternoon. A deep frown appeared between the man's eyebrows. Was he angry?

  Maisha felt a bad feeling. However, wasn't the man's natural expression always sour? Perhaps it wasn't that important.

  "Uh, I put this in the room first," Maisha said as she pointed at the armor she was hugging with her eyes.

  Samson rose to his feet and walked over. He handed over a key, which seemed to belong to Cyril, before tapping Maisha on the shoulder. "Hurry up, don't let your soup get cold."

  Maisha smiled. She climbed the stairs one by one while exerting all her strength.

  *****

  "Hey! Why is my food different?!"

  Maisha stared at the bowl of bottomless soup and a piece of bread on her table. The girl turned her head towards a piece of roast beef complete with fries on Samson's plate and a bowl of noodles complete with slices of boiled chicken in front of Liam, not to mention a piece of roasted young lamb along with mashed potatoes as well as carrots and broccoli for Cyril.

  Liam, who sat on her right, raised his right eyebrow when he heard the girl's protest. He took a bite of his shaved ice before saying, "Didn't you finish your monthly ration this afternoon? You should be grateful we're still feeding you."

  "Monthly ration?" Maisha parroted. The girl was now staring at Cyril, who sat opposite her, to receive an explanation.

  However, the man did not comment. He sliced and chewed his lamb silently.

  What a cheapskate! Maisha gritted her teeth. Her boss was so annoying, but she would run away tonight. Of course, she could tolerate an empty bowl of soup and a loaf of bread.

  Maisha tore off the bread and dipped it into the soup before putting it in her mouth. Hmm, not too bad.

  The girl continued soaking the remaining bread with the broth in her bowl before eating all of them.

  *****

  "Where will I sleep?" Maisha hugged her backpack tightly. She stared at Cyril. He sat on the bed while ducking down, taking off his shoes.

  Cyril's armor was already neatly arranged at the end of the bedroom. Maisha attached it to the wooden doll stand, just like every time she helped her late father when he came home from his service. The sky outside was dark. The only lighting came from a candle on a small wooden table near a giant chest and the man's bed.

  Cyril lifted his face. Their gazes met before the man tilted his head to the bed on the other side of the room.

  "Here?" Maisha's eyes widened in surprise. Talking in a closed room with an unaccompanied man alone was already crossing the line of modesty for an unmarried girl. However, sleeping in the same room? Her aunt would have a heart attack if she found out.

  "Why?" asked Cyril with a suspicious look. "Are you trying to escape?"

  "Huh? What? Of course not!" Maisha laughed stiffly. She walked towards her bed and then imitated Cyril's movements. Tonight, when he was asleep, she would get out and leave here.

  *****

  "Wake up."

  Maisha squirmed and turned around. She covered her head with a pillow before groaning. "In a moment."

  A rough tug on the blanket made Maisha squeal in surprise. She woke up as her butt hit the floor. "Ouch!"

  Maisha's eyes opened fully to find a man standing before her with his arms folded. A ray of light from behind the curtain illuminated Cyril's frozen face.

  "What are you doing?!" snapped Maisha angrily. She rose to her feet while stroking her sore buttocks.

  Stingy, rude, and arrogant! Maisha glared at him.

  However, Cyril only turned around. He walked towards the door and said briefly. "Let's go."

  Maisha was stunned for a while. However, it wasn't long before she followed with a low groan, realizing she had forgotten to run away at dawn.

  *****

  "... we need about five days ..."

  Maisha eavesdropped on the snippet of conversation between the three men. They sat outside the cage, crowding around an old map made of animal skin.

  Her hands were busy brushing Topaz's body while grumbling inwardly.

  Why am I the only one who has been working since yesterday?

  A bump on the back startled Maisha. She looked over her shoulder and saw that the pink wyvern, Topaz's mate, also wanted attention.

  "Want to be brushed too, huh?" asked Maisha, unable to help but smile and stroking the neck of the giant reptile.

  The atmosphere suddenly became quiet. Maisha subconsciously turned her head and found those men staring at her silently.

  "What?" asked Maisha with a challenging look when her gaze met with Cyril's. However, the man immediately looked away and returned to observing the map he was holding.

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  March 4, 2025

  Luna S. Winterheart