~Layla's POV~
After finishing our girls talk, Shana went back to her room. As for me, I decided to go out. No longer a slave and bound to anyone, I have my freedom to roam wherever I want. So I thought of exploring the capital. Despite being here numerous times, I never really walked around the place. Since most of the time, I stayed inside my master's house. It kind of excites me to explore around.
When I walked into the entrance hall, I saw Misomi acting all sneaky. Like a ninja, she quietly hid behind a pillar. Curious, I walked up behind her.
Even when I'm at an arms distance behind her, she didn't notice me.
"What are you doing?" <Layla>
"AHHH!" <Misomi>
Without any warning, I asked her. To my question, she jumps and screamed in shock, probably startled by me.
{Layla-San!? You scared me...} <Misomi>
Turning around and realising who it was, she immediately lowered her voice. As if going back to being sneaky like earlier.
"If I remember correctly... Your name was Misomi, right?" <Layla>
Though we just met this morning, I didn't really put much effort in remembering her. Probably because I was focused on the names of Shana and Iris, who were more significant. But since there weren't many people in this mansion, the other remaining names I know are only a few. So I called her with one of them.
{Ah, yes. That's me."} <Misomi>
Seems I got it right. Even though I was speaking normally, she continued to speak softly.
{Does Layla-San need anything from me?"} <Misomi>
"I was just wondering why you're acting suspiciously? Is something going on?" <Layla>
As I asked her, I looked around the pillar to where she was looking at. What she seems to be looking at was a woman. If I remember correctly her name was Maya, this girl's mother.
{N-Nothing! I was just... Yes! I was doing some cleaning!} <Misomi>
She said cleaning but I don't see a single cleaning item on her.
While I was thinking that, there was a sound of a door opening and closing. Misomi hurriedly ran towards the door, forgetting our conversation.
"Wait!" <Layla>
I stopped her before she left. She turned around and looked at me with a questioning look.
"I don't know what you're doing, but since you're going out, let me follow you." <Layla>
"Eh... Erm, okay. But let me be clear! I'm not doing anything suspicious!" <Misomi>
As she said that, she continued walking off.
No matter how I look at it, she is clearly stalking her mother. Whatever the case, I will just accompany her. I have no plans on where to go anyways, and since she's going out also, I will have at least something to look forward to.
Sticking close behind Misomi, we secretly followed after Maya. We kept our distance so as to not get discovered.
Maya seemed to have a destination she decided to go. From how she hasn't stopped at all. After a couple of minutes later, Maya finally stopped walking. We hid in between an alley, across from where she is.
Looking at the place she went, it seemed to be a restaurant. The restaurant name was called 'RamenSuki', and the big sign in front of it was the proof. I can tell that this is a very luxurious restaurant. The decorations were very fancy, the tables and chairs outside are all extravagant. But most importantly, the thing that proves it's a luxurious restaurant, was the distinctive board plastered beside the entrance, that shows 5 stars. From my knowledge, that is a certificate given to restaurants that determine their food's quality. Most shop that sold food in this capital has it.
I wonder why Maya wanted to go here?
We remained hiding while observing her. She was curiously looking through the window of the restaurant. I can tell that she wants to go in, but was hesitant. Whatever her reasons for going here, I imagined she's not here to eat. Maya did not give me the impression that she was rich. If anything she's seems to be a Commoner. She shouldn't be able to afford any food served in the restaurant. I'm getting more curious about her purpose.
"Mother... Just forget about this place. They will definitely never let you work here again." <Misomi>
I heard Misomi softly talking.
Work here? If Maya worked here before, then it explains why she came here.
"Misomi, does your Mother want to work here again?" <Layla>
I was curious, so I asked her. Since she's her daughter, she should know.
"Wah!? ...Oh, Layla-San, I totally forgot you were here." <Misomi>
"My bad. Sorry for startling you again." <Layla>
"It's nothing. About your question... In a way it's correct. Mother did work here in the past, but because she got sick, she had to stop. So now that she's finally better, she wants to come back..." <Misomi>
"What's wrong with that? You say like you're against it." <Layla>
"I am against it! Mother did not get sick randomly. She was intentionally poisoned! Her assistant betrayed her, that guy definitely wanted the restaurant all to himself. He even worked with a noble to poison Mother." <Misomi>
I was curious about what kind of position Maya was in, for people to target her like that. She must have been one of the restaurant's best chef.
"Was your Mother like the best chef in the restaurant or something?" <Layla>
"Yeah. She was the owner basically." <Misomi>
Wow.
"Maya used to own that restaurant?" <Layla>
"Yes." <Misomi>
"That's... Amazing. I never would have imagined she was that kind of person. I thought you two were commoners." <Layla>
"We are. It's just mother's creation became well-known. The ramen she made was really delicious and it became popular. Through her hardwork, she manage to turn her dream into reality. Her small shop in the commoners estate turned to what it is now. But because of that guy, mother had to suffer." <Misomi>
"I understand now. Then if she was the former owner, wouldn't she be able to take back the restaurant?" <Layla>
"If it was just that guy, then it would have been simple. However, a very high noble is backing him and supporting the restaurant. You could say that the restaurant is now a property of that noble. Since we're commoners, we have no chance to take it back." <Misomi>
The more I hear it, the more I feel bad for Maya. Though I never experience the feeling of being betrayed, I can at least understand what it feels like to be kicked out of the place you belong to and unable to return.
As we were talking, we saw a guy leaving the restaurant. He had red hair and looks to be around forty years old. From his outfit, he should be a noble. After he noticed Maya looking through the window, he stared at her for awhile. Suddenly he began pointing at her and called out to her.
We were too far and we wouldn't be able to hear their conversation, so Misomi decided to get closer.
"Let's get nearer!" <Misomi>
Misomi went out from the place we were hiding in and carefully walked across the road and towards the restaurant. She stopped at the fences surrounding the front of the restaurant, and squatted down. Not wanting to be left out, I also followed after.
Our current behaviour caused suspicious looks from passersby. However, Misomi wasn't bothered by it. She was probably too occupied with the matters of her Mother. The conversation between Maya and the guy can be heard from here.
"If I remember correctly, your name was Maya, right?" <Noble>
"Yes, that's me..." <Maya>
"Haha! How did you recover? It must have been an expensive method. No way you could have recovered normally." <Noble>
{What an asshole! So he really did it!} <Misomi>
Misomi was spewing abuse in a soft voice.
"Why? Why did you do that?" <Maya>
I can tell from her voice that Maya was very upset about it. Though at the same time a bit of fear was mixed in.
"Why? Why not!? I asked you to sell the restaurant and the secret recipe to me, but you rejected my offer. Even though I offered such a high amount, you refused. So I had no choice but to do that. KAHAHAHA!" <Noble>
As the guy began laughing after revealing his evil deeds, I could feel that Misomi was getting more and more angry. At one point she was about to stand up, but I forced her to remain down. If she did that, we will be discovered.
{Calm down, Misomi. Leave it to your Mother, this is something that she needs to settle by herself.} <Layla>
{You're right...} <Misomi>
She calmed down a bit. We then continue eavesdropping.
"That's horrible! I officially declined, you can't use illegal means to get what you want!" <Maya>
"Oh, but I did! Silly woman, you should never go against a noble. Especially if you're a commoner." <Noble>
"..." <Maya>
Maya had a defeated look on her face.
I understood her feeling. Against a noble, nobody can win. Unless you're a noble of higher rank or royalty, you can never go against them. Even using illegal methods was possible for them. They have their own way to make it possible. I can gurantee it because I'm familiar with such thinking. Since I was a former noble myself back in the Demon kingdom.
"Say, you must be jobless now, right? Why don't you work for me? I'm sure to pay you the necessary amount." <Guy>
This guy... He's definitely up to no good again. He's looking at Maya with a different kind of look now. I hate this kind of nobles.
"No way! Why would I work under someone so horrible!?" <Maya>
"That's not the right attitude you should have when speaking to a noble, you know?" <Noble>
The noble intimidated Maya. From how she reacts, she must be getting scared.
"If you don't want... then I guess I can hire someone else. If I remember correctly, you have a daughter, right? It's been 5 years now, she should be about 15 now? I wonder if she's interested, what do you think?" <Noble>
The moment Maya heard that, she became speechless. Even I was the same.
This pig! To go after a child, he's a freaking pervert! A pedo!
The way he is licking his lips proves even more that he had such disgusting intentions.
Misomi who was beside me was shaken after hearing the noble say that. She must have had goosebumps. She is even hugging herself as if trying to find protection.
"You! Stop having disgusting thoughts about my daughter! She has nothing to do with this!" <Maya>
"If you don't want her to get involved, you know what you have to do. Don't forget, I always get what I want!" <Noble>
"!?" <Maya>
Looking at the sitaution now, Maya was being cornered. The warnings and intimidations from the noble is pushing her into a position where she can't deny. With what had happened to her restaurant, Maya must be thinking that the noble will forcefully take Misomi away regardless of her answer. She didn't know what to say.
Suddenly Misomi stood up.
"Stop bothering my Mother!" <Misomi>
I wasn't able to stop her. I was too disturbed at what the noble was saying.
Misomi who shouted after showing herself all of a sudden, quickly ran past the fences and entered the place. She stood in front Maya while spreading her arms to the left and right, as if protecting her Mother from the noble.
"Misomi!?" <Maya>
"Oh?" <Noble>
Both Maya and the noble was surprised at the sudden appearance of Misomi.
"You must be her daughter, huh?" <Noble>
"Yes, that's right!" <Misomi>
"Since it seems you've been eavesdropping us, you should know what I want." <Noble>
It could be my imagination, but it seems like the noble was getting excited after seeing Misomi.
"No way! I will never listen to you! Bastard! Pervert! Asshole!" <Misomi>
Misomi was raining every abusive words she knows at the noble.
"What did you say, brat!?" <Noble>
The noble seemed to have been angered by the abusive words from Misomi. He began raising his hand and swinging down towards Misomi, trying to punch her.
The fist landed, but Misomi wasn't the one who got injured. Instead, Maya was hit. Before the punch connected, Maya quickly grabbed hold of Misomi and twisted, causing their position to change. With Maya in front of the noble, she got hit. A loud thud sound was made.
From my direction, Maya got hit in the head. Not only was Maya's head bleeding, I could tell that the noble's hand was bleeding as well.
"Mother!?" <Misomi>
Misomi seemed to realised what had happened. Seeing the fist flying towards her, she instinctively closed her eyes. But when she opened them, she was confused why she did not get hurt. She then understood that her mother had protected her.
"Are you okay, Mother!? Tell me please!" <Misomi>
Seeing that blood was dripping from her mother's head, Misomi began to panic. Maya had fainted and collapsed on top of Misomi. Misomi lay her Mother down trying to help her.
"Wake up, Mother!" <Misomi>
While Misomi was panicking, the noble was rubbing his hand in pain.
"That hurts! To injure a noble, you will pay!" <Noble>
As if unsatisfied with hitting Maya and getting hurt, the noble once again swung another punch at Misomi.
Before it hits, I quickly rushed towards them, and blocked the punch with my hand. The noble had a surprised look on his face.
"That's enough. To raise your hand on a lady, you are despicable." <Layla>
I was now mad. I could no longer stand his attitude and actions.
"That hurts! Let go of my hand!" <Noble>
The noble was writhing in pain from me squeezing his hand. The pain from earlier must have increased the current pain even more.
So weak. This guy must be an ordinary pathetic noble.
I let go of his hand.
The noble massage his hand, trying to ease the pain. But he stopped.
"You, you're very cute. Wanna-" <Noble>
"Get lost." <Layla>
I said it with a displeased tone. I even targeted him with a bit of bloodlust. He then began to retreat slowly.
"Since you're a slave, I-I'll find whoever your master is and buy you from them! After that, I'm gonna torture and have fun with you, you hear me!? I always get what I want!" <Noble>
The noble said his departing words before running off.
I'm not a slave!
I rejected him in my head. How did he get such idea? Hmm, probably from the mark on my hand. He must have saw it when I squeezed his hand. Whatever.
With the noble gone, I turned to Misomi and Maya.
"Layla-San, what should I do!? M-Mother is injured because of me... She's not waking up even!" <Misomi>
Misomi was still panicking. I inspected Maya to see her conditions. Luckily it wasn't anything major.
"Your mother is not in the danger zone. She just lost consciousness from getting hit on the head. She should wake up in a few hours." <Layla>
Relieved from my words, Misomi began to calm down.
"Thank goodness... Thank you for protecting me just now." <Misomi>
"No... I don't deserve it. I wasn't able to prevent Maya from getting hit. It was my bad, I should have come sooner." <Layla>
I have no excuses, I should have came sooner.
"Don't worry about it. For now, can Layla-San help me bring Mother back?" <Misomi>
"Of course!" <Layla>
I carried Maya on my back. Misomi who saw that, was surprised that I can carry her myself. What can I say? Contrary to my physique, I have quite the strength to carry this much. So to me, Maya wasn't heavy at all.
As we left the place, there were more people staring at us than before. From the looks of it, they all must have been curious about the commotion we caused. We ignored them and made our way back to the mansion.
Author's Notes:
(What are your thoughts about me doing a bit of 1st person POV? Do you like it? If not then I will go back to 3rd person. If you do, I will make some chapter 1st person if the situation fits. Don't worry, most chapters will be 3rd person, since it's much easier to describe, write and explain the story. Anyways, next chapter is back to being about Shin. If anyone misses him 😂)