Gardening!

The young dragon sprawled lazily across the plush sofa, his dragon claws shielding her eyes, the very sight before him too much to bear. Her guardian had come with grand intentions, declaring himself to be a spiritual guide to the girl sitting before him. Yet here he was, now a mere heir to a pile of gold coins.

"Rid yourself of that pungent scent of dragon malice," she mused to herself. "If it's really gold coins you're after, wait until I ascend to the throne. I'll make you heir to my royal allowance. Would that suffice?"

Opposite him, Joanna remained silent, unperturbed by the dragon Lance's claim.

The mood darkened with the memory of Butler Brandon's demise. As Brandon's mentor, one would expect Lance to be steeped in grief, yet here he was, jesting. Could this creature truly have been Brandon's mentor?

If not, how could he know the private agreements made with the butler or even Joanna's childhood secrets?

And if so, why was there no sorrow in his eyes?

"Aren't you sad at all about Brandon's passing?" Joanna finally broke the silence, her voice tinged with confusion and a hint of accusation.

Lance shifted, his voice somber yet philosophical. "Life and death are but threads woven by fate, riches and honors merely playthings in the hands of the divine. For the true Brandon, death was a liberation. His flesh had been commandeered by a lich, his soul shackled. As long as the lich lived, Brandon's spirit would remain caged."

"As the lich perished, Brandon's spirit was emancipated, soaring freely to the realms beyond. He was ecstatic. He implored me to convey the truth of his demise to you, lest you harbor resentment towards an imagined superhuman foe and stray from your path."

"As for the gold coins, believe it or not, Brandon's last wish was practical. He passed before collecting his last paycheck. He tasked me with completing his duties, to claim his dues. Consider it his final remuneration to me."

Joanna's heart ached slightly; her request for Lance to probe into Brandon's death had sprung from a deep-seated belief that a superhuman had been the cause, not a lich. But Lance's words suggested otherwise.

Lance noted her skepticism. "It's understandable. The lich, having seized Brandon's memories, could mimic him effortlessly, drawing on centuries of existence to perfect his disguise."

"Can Brandon truly ascend to heaven, then?" Joanna asked, clinging to a thread of hope.

"Yes," Lance replied, his tone lightening. "I relinquished my own passage to the beyond for him."

Joanna's brow furrowed. The notion that one could transfer such a celestial opportunity seemed far-fetched.

Yet, despite her doubts about Lance's reliability, the thought of her loyal butler Brandon finding peace brought her some comfort.

As Joanna observed the youthful visage of the man before her, she couldn't shake the feeling that he truly was Brandon's mentor. Despite his apparent youth, his eyes bore the weight of countless years, carrying a depth and weariness uncharacteristic of his age. It was a look she had only seen in the faces of the much older, those who had witnessed much of life's ebb and flow.

"Thank you, truly," Joanna said, her voice laden with gratitude. She stood and offered a respectful bow, acknowledging Lance's effort to honor Brandon's final wishes.

Lance, seemingly unmoved, shifted the conversation towards more practical matters. "You're welcome. How much did Brandon earn monthly?"

"Twenty gold coins," Joanna replied.

"Twenty gold," Lance mused aloud, calculating quickly. "Brandon left us on the 22nd, so with eight days until the end of the month, minus his three days off, I should stay five more days to cover his remaining duties and collect his final salary."

Joanna listened, a mix of incredulity and mild amusement crossing her features. Was this man, Lance, seriously intending to claim the butler's gold coins?

"No," Joanna interjected gently, "the butler's salary, along with a promised pension of 3,000 gold coins from my father upon his retirement, was earmarked for a noble cause. Brandon had dreamed of building an orphanage. After his sudden passing, my father decided to honor him by establishing the Brandon Orphanage with the funds."

She continued, detailing the financial arrangements that had been made in the wake of Brandon's death. "The construction began earlier this month. The Bronze Bounty Guild contributed 2,000 gold coins toward the project. However, the total compensation exceeded their current means, leading them to settle part of their debt with extraordinary medicines."

"My father chose not to strain the relations with the extraordinary by pressing for immediate payment. Thus, the shortfall of over 1,000 gold coins was temporarily covered by the City Lord's Mansion."

Joanna's voice softened as she touched upon a more personal concern. "He also understands my attachment to the garden damaged in recent events. He's assured me that funds from the sale of the extraordinary medicines will be allocated not only to repair the mansion but to restore my garden and replenish it with new flowers and plants."

Through her detailed explanation, Joanna conveyed not just the logistics of the inheritance and the funding of the orphanage, but also a glimpse into her family's values and her own deep connection to the places and legacies that Brandon had left behind.

Joanna, offering a solution borne of compassion and practicality, spoke to Lance. "The housekeeper's salary was allocated to the orphanage project. However, I can provide 20 gold coins from my own savings as a gesture of gratitude for your efforts. Would that be acceptable?"

Lance, his expression thoughtful, shook his head gently. "No, please use those 20 gold coins for the orphanage as well. I, too, wish to contribute to acts of kindness."

It was clear that Brandon's legacy of caring for orphans and establishing an orphanage had indeed secured him a place in heaven.

Joanna admired her father's integrity, noting silently how commendable it was that he honored his commitments to Brandon even after his passing. He had not only promised the substantial sum of 3,000 gold coins but had also avoided the temptation to divert these funds to repairs for his own estate.

"It's noble, the role of a city lord, to prioritize such charitable acts," Lance remarked.

Then, changing the subject to something more personal, he added, "Brandon mentioned your garden was destroyed. I understand your love for plants and gardening, and since I share that passion, perhaps I can teach you some techniques for transplanting."

"Thank you," Joanna responded, her tone appreciative yet hesitant, "but the garden is still in disarray."

Lance waved off her concern with a casual air. "That's easily handled. I'll have the young dragon assist in tidying it up."

Joanna hesitated, unsure. "Is that really appropriate?"

"It's perfect," Lance assured her with a grin.

In the garden, chaos reigned still. The young dragon, donned in a straw hat and rain boots, wielded a shovel, scooping up gravel and tossing it into a cart. Her regal status as a princess of the Farol Empire seemed at odds with the manual labor she was performing. She shot Joanna a glance, her purple-gold eyes filled with confusion and a trace of resentment.

Joanna, kneeling in the soil, wrestled with a stubborn piece of gravel before standing to toss it into the cart. Their eyes met briefly, sharing a moment of mutual understanding, before both turned to look at Lance.

Lance lay relaxed under a parasol, sipping freshly squeezed juice and enjoying fruits prepared by the mansion's staff, epitomizing leisure amid their labor.

"Why must I toil while he lounges?" the young dragon pondered silently, baffled by the injustice.

Joanna shared the sentiment, questioning why, as the eldest daughter of the City Lord, she wasn't the one enjoying the comfort of the rocking chair.

"Feeling weary? Come have some juice," Lance called out, gesturing towards them. "There's more to overcoming grief than just words. Labor, envy, and simple pleasures like this juice can ease the heart and clear the mind."

His philosophy was straightforward: surround oneself with positivity and engage in fulfilling activities, and happiness would follow naturally. Moreover, considering his generous donation to the city's coffers, enjoying a few luxuries at the mansion was hardly excessive.

Joanna and the young dragon, despite their initial reluctance, found a strange comfort in Lance's approach, blending work with moments of leisure, slowly learning that life's burdens could be lightened through shared efforts and shared refreshments.