[Intermission] Rin's Day (1)

"Morning~"

Huh.. eh.. this..

Her crimson eyes stared at me, hair loosely dangling off her shoulder.

Where was this.. again? Must be a dream.

I pulled back my blanket and tried to sleep.

"Rina, morning. You had said you'd wish to wake up earlier didn't you?"

My eyes opened at once. I'm awake! I'm awake.

"Y-Yes.. good morning Liliath.."

This.. would I be able to get used to waking up later than everyone else? Prune-san was still sleeping, that I understood. As for Noel-sama, Nine-san and Liliath-sama. Their sleep schedules were ridiculous!!

4 am in the morning.

4 am!!!

"Here's some water."

"Thank you," I pushed the blanket away and receive the bottle, gulping down the water chilled by the night.

Water after a good night's sleep tastes amazing indeed.

"Noel and Nine are already up?"

Liliath nodded to my question.

"What do they do so early?"

"Exercise."

Exercise?

Yesterday, when I asked Liliath why Noel-sama and Nine-san normally did, waking up so early, she said she would reveal it when I woke up on time.

As a maid.. to be the second.. fourth-last to rise was an absolute disgrace. Not that I have the duties of a maid any longer..

It's still unsettling nevertheless, that I can't deny.

"Take a look," Liliath-sama pulled up this mysterious screen again. I had to squirt my eyes to adjust to the light.

Nine-san and Noel-sama.. was as Liliath said, 'exercising'.

"They are currently doing what is known as a push-up."

"Push-up?"

It sounded indecent.

The position also looked indecent.

Everything about it was indecent. How was it that Liliath-sama didn't express any sort of disgust?

I wasn't too knowledgeable when it came to things pertaining to this exercise they were doing, I could only guess this work-out to be something in preparation for the 'act'. I heard from my previous colleagues that they had to practice the muscles on their hips in preparation..

"And now they're moving on to doing sit-ups."

This one looked more normal. Knees bent, raising the upper torso followed by an intermittent descent.

Nine-san was out of breath the first after the first 30, but pushed forward to complete 32 repetitions. It was the same for Noel-sama.

"Now you know? It's our turn."

"E-Eh.. o-our turn?"

Was this obligatory? This.. exercise.. how is this exercise?! Do these irregulars have a screw loose?!

In the end, I was fortunate to be exempted from doing so by Noel-sama's grace. Liliath-sama completed the rounds without breaking a sweat. Which made me wonder why Noel-sama struggled so much with his.

Prune woke up after I had washed up.

And about the bath.. or shower.. it was the best. Did I deserve this privilege? It didn't make any sense.. somehow.. I was merely a freeloader..

I wasn't able to contribute anything to this household.

Even though my life goal was to serve a demon lord..

I didn't think it'd turn out like this..

"How's the sandwich?"

"It's great!" The girl, Jennifer-chan enjoyed the breakfast made by Prune-san and Liliath-sama. It consisted of greasy meat over a generous amount of thick cheese in between two slices of bread.

"Damn cucumber can't have a better name.." Noel-sama cursed as he bit into a juicy fruit. It was a fruit known as Water Gourd, crunchy, juicy, but lacking sweetness. It served as a healthy snack. I heard from July-sama once that some nobles that wish to reduce weight would buy this fruit to eat.

I bit into the succulent sandwich, the flavor of meat and cheese blew my reasoning to the heavens..

This is bliss..

Breakfast passed and Jennifer-chan was sent to the education guild-- I never was presented the chance to attend such an institution. I was probably underqualified for most jobs that required proof of basic education.

Noel-sama and Nine-san went to the adventurer's guild, Prune-san went to an orphanage. I opted to stay back if possible, to which Liliath agreed to accompany me.

"Good morning sir, how may I help you?" Liliath bowed to the customer that had entered-- a passing noble.

"Ah.. good morning. Miss Margrett, you hired new staff? She's quite the young lady I must say," the customer commented.

"Good morning, glad to see you stop by again. Actually, she's not part of my staff, she just came to help in her free time."

"Oh, then I'd welcome such a reception. Young lady, what is your name?"

"Liliath."

"Liliath. Then do you mind showing me the range of springtime flowers that this florist sells? It's something I wish to gift for my wife."

"Miss Margrett.. the springtime collection are those there right?" Liliath confirmed. Miss Margrett nodded.

Liliath went on and recommended a bouquet for the noble, colours of spring-- pink roses, verdant green wheat, and sky blue.. something-flower.

Miss Margrett added the final touches to the banquet, a written card to congratulate their anniversary, and paper wrappings to add to the size and surprise.

"Thank you for the patronage."

"No problems," the customer left in a good mood.

"Miss Margrett, have you considered perhaps adding chocolates?"

"Chocolates?"

"Yes. In Noel's world, there's a custom whereby people send chocolates to their lovers for an occasion known as Valentine's Day. It's similar to the Day of Love here in Imagi."

"What has it to do with flowers?"

"It's common that when someone buys from a florist, the flowers come with chocolate or fruits. It gives the buyer something to chew on."

"Hm.." Miss Margrett fell into thought at Liliath-sama's suggestion.

Chocolate on the Day of Love? I think I've heard of that custom. It's rare though.

"Does Noel-san know more about it?"

"Yes. Maybe he could provide a better explanation, maybe Nine too. He is more versed when it comes to the promotional aspects of things."

Miss Margrett and Liliath-sama chatted about various things which.. I found impossible to join. It was a while later than the next customer came. Was it just me or does this store attract a lot of nobles? This time, it was a young lady with very thick makeup on.

"Excuse me. I heard this is a good place to purchase flowers. Can I have the most beautiful rose that closest resembles winter?"

Miss Margrett introduced herself and brought the lady in the store.

"Are you alright Rina?" Liliath asked.

"I'm alright."

"Do you want to try with the next customer?"

"I.. don't know how to introduce them to what they should buy.."

"No problems, I'll guide you. I'm not much of an expert myself."

The lady left satisfied with a lone blue rose that-- in my opinion-- looked absolutely stunning. Miss Margrett sure had a knack of choosing the flowers.

The next customer was not a noble, a commoner-- I guessed by his clothes.

"Morning," he greeted lazily.

"Morning," I bowed.

"Ah? You're new here."

"Y-yes.. I'm just someone helping out."

"Okay," this customer walked past me and entered.

"E-Eh.. excuse me, are there any particular criteria you are searching for?"

"I'm just looking around," the customer smiled.

"Morning," Miss Margrett merely greeted, still at the counter arranging the flowers into banquets.

I suppose it's normal?

"Maybe the next one," Liliath-sama said.

"Hm? This looks good. Is it alright if I could get this for a lower price?" the customer then turned to me.

I froze up.. not knowing what I should do.

"Which one sir? Let me see--"

Miss Margrett was the one to resolve it in the end. She managed to persuade the customer in the end.

The morning passed with the back and forth of attending to customers and boring lulls. I did manage to help one customer at least..

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"How was your day?" I asked.

"It's alright I guess.." Noel-sama replied with a sigh.

"You should've seen the goblin village. Goblins of all sorts of colours everywhere," Nine laughed.

"How about you two?"

"It was a peaceful morning without any issues," Liliath-sama replied.

Noel-sama turned to me.

"It was alright.."

"That's good then.. Miss Margrett, the food you ordered," Noel-sama pulled out from the air a paper bag of something mouth watering.

"Much appreciated."

"And there's also Jennifer-chan right? I'll go pick her up," Nine-san offered.

"Stay safe."

"Yup," Nine-san left with a nod.

"I also got food for the two of you.. I'm not sure how good this cinnamon donut tastes. We'll wait until Nine comes back. I also got some sandwiches."

"Can't wait," Liliath smiled.

Gurururru..

"Um.. excuse me," I lowered my head.

"Looks like someone is hungry."

"Noel, do you mind?"

"Really now?"

"Yes."

"Hah.. Rin. Open your mouth.."

I raised my head to see that he dangled a twisted bagel out to me…

"It's al.. Oof?!"

It was stuffed into my face before I could even prepare myself.

"There, enjoy."

"That's not the way to do it Noel," Liliath criticized.

"Come on.. don't you think she looks cute like this.. crap. Forget you heard that.."

"This is a good sign," Liliath nodded with glee.

"Not with that again.."

With my free hand, I took the now half-eaten bagel out of my mouth. Swallowing the first half, I stuffed the rest into my mouth-- my hands now covered in sugar and cinnamon.

-- He called me cute.