I stopped in front of the new figures, beside Elda was a woman wearing old worn clothing that seemed to have survived several years and persisted to this day.
The woman had light brown hair that was tied on a ponytail behind her but what caught my attention was the small silhouette hidden behind her.
Elda looked at me and said with a tone of hesitation.
"Asher they are—"
"Brother!"
The silhouette hidden behind the woman jumped at me and hugged me by the waist stopping Elda from completing her words.
It was Lucy.
With a big smile etched over her face she looked up, leaving me dumbfounded.
"Brother do you know— Kyaa!"
Grabbing her by the neck with a red face the woman pulled Lucy back and shouted.
"Lucy what are you doing!!"
"Ah"
Elda coming out of her dazed expression looked at me, her eyebrows raised and asked.
"So you do know them..."
"I certainly do in a way," I mumbled in a small voice and turned to face them.
"I am sorry Sir for my daughter's behaviour." The elder woman bowed her head pushing Lucy's head to do the same.
"Mother but I—"
"Shhh" She silenced her, fear and anger clearly visible on her face.
"Madam it's alright I do know her, so don't worry."
She was probably afraid of getting punished by me for her daughter's rude behavior. This type of reaction should be common for most merchants or noble houses.
After all who would wish to lose their life or worse get exploited all their life for a child's silly mistake? They would probably prefer to grovel on the ground and ask for mercy.
"Really...?" She looked up her eyes shaking for a moment then turned her head to look at Lucy who seemed to be pouting in retaliation.
"Mother he is the big brother who gave me food and played with me in the Inn as I told you."
Her voice was filled with innocence and the memory of that kind act made me smile slightly.
"Anyway... Madam, how can I help you? You must have a reason to come here right?"
I asked as they both stood up straight and looked at each other in hesitation.
"Asher actually I was the one who invited them... And Lucy told me she knew someone with your name and well... Your eyes. So I thought it would be a good idea to help each other." Elda said with a small smile her hand moved toward to rub Lucy's small head making it move in all directions.
"Please come in then..."
Saying that we all moved toward the hall, sitting at respectful distances.
Lucy's mother looked at the lavish yet modest room her gaze would sometimes flicker over her daughter's face who looked around with stars in her eyes rather than at me.
She sighed.
"Sir. I have heard from your people that you will be providing us with work... Is that true?"
"It is true."
I nodded, but I had a feeling this was not the question she had originally wished to ask me.
"Asher they—She has come more like a representative for other women who we had offered help. Since she also had seen you once and her daughter was also a bit on the cheerful side for you. So I accepted it as well."
Elda responded and stood up from her seat.
"Would you like some tea?" She asked with a gentle smile.
Taken aback by the sudden question she raised her head and slowly nodded.
"Ah, yes."
Without even asking me Elda went to the kitchen quickly.
'Hope she brings something for me as well.'
"So, Madam what's your name? We have not introduced ourselves have we."
The woman's eyes snapped back to me as she quickly composed herself.
"I'm Mariana," she said, her voice softer now. "Thank you for asking. And yes, we have a... proposition for you, Sir."
"I was the one who sent the work offer... but it's a little surprising to get an offer in return instead."
Mariana took a deep breath, her eyes flicking to the side for a moment before she gathered her courage and continued.
"Um.. before I tell it, can you tell me, if the offer for not only providing jobs but also to give our children education and food for free is really true?"
Her eyes searched my face for any sign of deceit, and I nodded solemnly.
"It is true, I made this offer after several thoughts... it will take time but it will happen."
Mariana's eyes filled with hope and a hint of skepticism. It was understandable given the hard life she must have lived so far.
"I see... the offer you gave was so good that it almost sounds fake... Oh, I am not saying you are a liar Sir. The monster's attack and all those recent events had taken so much from us. The people who had already been suffering are now suffering even more— So we can't help but doubt everything."
"I can't clear your doubts right now but you also need to show a bit of trust in me... Try it for a week. If it's helpful continue but if it's not you can leave at any time."
Mariana nodded, her expression still tinged with skepticism but with a glimmer of hope shining through.
"What's the request you came with...?" I asked her leaning back. "I assume it's related to work I have offered?"
Mariana took a moment before she spoke, her eyes darted to the kitchen where the sound of Elda preparing tea filled the air.
"Some of us have agreed to work for a little less than the original pay you have offered if you can make the food weekly for children... We can also cook it ourselves if you just provide the necessary materials."
Hearing the words children and food together, Lucy innocently turned to look at her mother and let out a soft sound of appreciation and willingness to help.
"I will help as well!"
I smiled.
"Alright, but you will need to make a schedule with others and provide a list of who will participate in it."
Hearing my words Mariana's face which had been tensed all this time finally softened a little as she nodded before squeezing Lucy's small hands tightly.
"I will give it to you as soon as possible."
To Mariana, money was the second most important thing in her life after her family. The thought of her daughter at least eating every day almost made her cry with joy.
But she contained it and contemplated on what kind of jobs she could get on extra time or what she could do after things settled down.
"Anyway, how have you been doing Lucy still helping your mother?"
The question brought a bright smile to Lucy's face as she nodded eagerly.
"I have been helping her with work," Lucy said puffing up her chest in pride.
"Oh really that's good to hear." I smiled and added. "What were you going to tell me previously though?"
Lucy looked up as if remembering something and made an 'o' like shape with her mouth.
"Yes! Brother do you know I got kidnapped but then–but then I also got saved by some nice people."
She said this in a single breath her cheeks red from excitement.
Madam Mariana rubbed her daughter's head pulling Lucy closer in her embrace.
"It was not a good experience... We were very scared of what could have happened to this little life. At first, we thought she was running around somewhere but soon we couldn't find her anymore... I was so scared it was a living nightmare in itself."
She sighed.
"People from Temple said she was captured by some shady gang but by Goddess blessings, she came back safe."
Mariana's voice was filled with a mix of relief and anger, but mostly fear of the unknown that had plagued her.
"The only thing that matters is that she came back safe," I said softly not telling anything else.
After all, I was the one who saved them but there was no need to tell this to her.
*****
As it was getting late Lucy and her mother quietly took their leave after some light conversation with Elda about the future plans.
She had also promised to show full support and help in managing people if we kept our promises.
To tell the truth that was all I could ask for, every single help was appreciated right now because we lacked too much in every resource.
"Now that Lucy is gone it went quite all of a sudden."
Elda said with a wistful look and sat on her seat not far from mine.
"She came for the first time, yet you talk like she had always been here."
"That's the beauty of childhood they can make anything lively just by their presence, and a cute child like Lucy is not an exception."
"True~"
As Elda had said Lucy the ever curious child ran around making me and Elda chase after her with a look of wonder. I still remember Madam Mariana's face going pale as Lucy stood up to play in the house.
Lucy in the end was a child who still had better manners than me and Kit combined from three years ago. She had only started playing after knowing it was right with me.
Obviously, the way it was asked was kept secretive from her mother.
Remembering the way she kept blinking toward me and then secretly making signs from her hand made my lips curl in amusement.
"I didn't expect you to get along with children, in fact."
Elda asked leaning back and crossing her legs.
"I am just playing along nothing else... Actually, you seem to be the type of person who would play evil pranks on kids instead."
Elda's eyes widened in surprise and she covered her mouth with both hands before saying.
"How did you know that?!"
'No wait a minute why are you agreeing to such things?'
"Can you stop giving me such a disgusting look... I was just joking."
Ah, looks like my face made my thoughts quite clear.
I nodded in satisfaction over her intelligence.
"You are really smart Elda."
"Don't praise me for such things!"
She pouted with dissatisfaction and turned her head away from me.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her words.
Ting—!
The sudden doorbell took our attention as we turned to look at the corridor.
"I will see the door then Sir.Asher."
She said with a tone full of sarcasm and stood up.
"Sure"
"Hmph!"
Coming back in the room with her was none other than Albert who walked tiredly and jumped on the sofa beside the small glass table.
"You sure are getting comfortable Albert did the work I gave that tough?"
The task given to him was simple but very important nonetheless. He needed to secure the machines needed to weave clothes and the material required to do them.
Albert looked at me and then sighed.
'He won't let me rest.' He muttered under his breath and shook his head in disbelief but I heard it clear as day.
No, this bastard wasn't even trying to hide it!
Seeing my lips twitching he slowly straightened up and coughed before speaking.
"I have managed to secure the machines needed after some negotiations for a good price but... The materials for clothing are pretty hard to get."
Seeing his troubled face I frowned and asked raising my brow.
"Shouldn't it be the opposite...?"
'How come he got the machines but was unable to secure materials?'
"It was supposed to be easier!"
He nodded vigorously and added.
"I had asked Luna House of Merchants one of the biggest wholesalers in Atlas— But they refused to sell us their stuff!"
"???"
"Why would they deny to sell their products to us?"
Elda who had been silently listening to our conversation asked seeing the question marks all over my face.
"I don't know, the new head of the house seems to choose people as he wishes... But luckily I managed to secure a meeting with him tomorrow after bribing the guards."
Albert grinned and told this with pride.
"Hs is becoming like Asher..." Elda mumbled slowly.
'You bastards I am still here!... Oh, but good work Albert!'
"Hmm, Alright I will go meet them tomorrow."
I nodded.
"Oh, also I have some work for you tomorrow as well. Albert go to the restaurant you both told me about this morning. Get them whatever they need and get some laborers to repair their shop."
Albert nodded and went back to his room after he heard the order.
"Elda you should go get confirmation from Madam Mariana and others who wish to work with us. They should have decided it by tomorrow as well. I will rent a workshop by tomorrow for us to start working as soon as possible."
Her eyes sparkled with determination as she nodded and left the room.
Seeing the empty room once again I sighed.
"Should I go to Temple tomorrow?"
I mumbled rubbing my chin with one hand.
Due to a recent event just now, I was unable to think about the lady in white but it was obviously something I can't deal with right now.
Placing my hand over my heart I felt the steady beating like drums playing a peaceful beat upon it.
Sigh...
'It doesn't feel like she will harm me but getting toyed with also doesn't feel nice.'
With such thoughts, I went back to my room as well.