Chapter 10

The sun was quick to rise as the rays of light peeked through the curtains of the mansion. Alicia was quick to wake up and she finished her chores on time, meanwhile Lisa had prepared breakfast for three, Alicia, her and her son.

She already set the dining table when she saw him coming down from the stair case, he had his official wear on and his bangs were neatly combed. She just wondered why he needed to include that earring in his right ear and the cat on his left shoulder, he gave off a bad vibe with those two things.

His eyes met hers for a second and they stared at each other, he was the first to break the gaze as his eyes moved towards her shoulder, it looks like she was fine. Although he was unbothered by the fact that he had twisted her arm, he just wanted to make sure she wouldn't use that as an excuse to not carry out her duties. Speaking of that, his eyes swept across his house and it was obviously in good order, even better than when the maids were with him. But he wondered how she was able to finish her work on time, did she work overnight?

"Good morning sir, breakfast is ready" she said as she bowed her head. she was very different this morning compared to yesterday when she was bluffing at him, she was polite.

Asher didn't reply as he made his way to the table to have his meal. Taking the first bite into his mouth to chew it, he was clearly surprised and it showed on his face because his face was bright. The food was exactly the way he wanted it to be and he couldn't help but look over at Alicia's face to see her not looking at him but looking ahead of her.

Before he finished his meal, she brought a paper to him and placed it on the table.

"The list of food item to buy as you are clearly out of stock" She said to him and his eyes scanned through the paper. Asher frowned his face as he turned to look at her, this items were just renewed by the kitchen cook how could it have finish right away.

"And?" he asked her, Alicia turned to him , "You will have no food to eat because without these chief ingredients I cannot make what you are enjoying right now" she mumbled thinking that he would not hear it but he heard it and just rolled his eyes at her words.

"The cook just renewed all these items, how could it have finished this quickly? Are you eating all of them or are you selling them Alicia, which of it are you doing?" Asher asked as he used the napkin to wipe his lips after he finished drinking the orange juice.

'Yes I am, what are you going to do about it?' she questioned in her mind as she wasted no second in cursing him again, she looked at him before her lips twisted into a smile, "I'm doing none of it sir and if you don't believe me why don't you head for the kitchen to take a look" she proposed as the smile never left her face leaving a deep line on Asher's forehead as he glared at her.

"Here, renew everything and make sure it last for a month before telling me again that it's out of stock, if not, you are clearly using hunger to play because you'll have no food to eat" He threatened her as he dropped bags of coins on the table for her.

"And don't think of haggling about the price of items you buy and do not buy ingredients of low quality as you can see the money is enough to buy and even remain" He said and after standing up, he dusted his clothes and walked out of the house only to teleport away from there.

"Whatever, I'll haggle the price, buy low quality ingredients and keep the change for myself! hmph!" Alicia harrumphed stomping on her feet as she left the dining after clearing the table to change into her other cloth.

Meanwhile Lisa stood at the kitchen as she watched the banter between her child and the girl, her lips curved Into a smile, she stepped out of the kitchen also after cleaning everything that looks used.

***

Alicia took the sack in her hand as she and lisa entered the carriage that was left in the mansion, they gave the coachman instructions to take them to the market and also to wait for them till they finished.

While in the carriage, Alicia felt uncomfortable with the woman's gaze on her, especially her face, her eyes would move from the eyebrows, nose, lips and cheeks as if checking something and then it would size her body curve.

They had only met yesterday but that doesn't mean that Alicia was comfortable with the woman staring at her like this as if they've known each other.

"Uhmm ... is there something in my face?" Alicia asked the woman carefully as she wiped her face with her hand and smoothened her fringes with her fingers.

"No nothing, you are beautiful" the woman complimented her and Alicia shyly nodded as she bit her lower lip and stared down at her hands, this woman made her nervous but not in a very bad way. she made her feel like she had the right to do such.

" Thank you" she muttered. Then there was silence inside of the carriage as it moved down the jagged roads towards the market. The coachman told them where he was waiting for them under the shade while they left in the hot sun towards the sea of people as the market was considered the local market. Lisa had to hold Alicia hand carefully so as not to get lost because the girl looked as of this was the first time she was in the market.

"Will you go wait for me while I buy everything?" Lisa asked her but the girl shook her head vehemently as she replied, "I want to know how to buy things in case I'm on my own next time, it wouldn't be difficult"

"Okay, stay close and watch" Lisa spoke and the girl nodded. Lisa was the one haggling the price as she weigh the foodstuffs with her eyes, Alicia could tell that this woman was good at it. But why was she buying it at a low price after hearing what her master had said, wouldn't they get into trouble if he finds out.

"Uhmm... master..." she trialed off but the woman completed her statement for her, "Asher"

Uh! his name was Asher? what a nice name but it doesn't match his personality at all.

"Master Asher said I shouldn't haggle and buy foodstuff of high quality for him, wouldn't he find out about..." She was cut short by the woman again.

"He won't, he might just threaten you but he really wouldn't know" The woman spoke as if she was so sure about it that made Alicia narrow her eyes at her as she asked, "How did you know?"

"I just know" came the cool response from the woman as she kept buying the remaining items. 'Because he is my son' she replied in her mind as she kept her gaze straight on what she was doing.