It took the better part of the day to reorganize my room. Mr Sakiyama brought up a floor table when we stopped for food. It was the perfect height to sit at and eat dinner. The fae had prepared enough miso, rice, seaweed salad and grilled eel to feed an army, and promised to save some for Lish when she got home.

  If she got home.

  The worry was still there, and Bastian noticed. “I’m sure she’s just gone for a walk… but if you want I can ask the guard to keep an eye open for her?”

  “Maybe.” I poked the last bit of eel with my spoon. The black sauce on it was a thick sweet soy glaze that paired wonderfully with the dish. With Dexterity 42, I had mastered the use of sticks quickly, but I was holding the miso soup spoon and contemplating the utility of scooping rice with it.

  I didn’t want to hover, but I also didn’t want to do nothing only to discover that Lish had gotten on the ship home, or maybe she'd been targeted by cutthroat bandits who kidnapped the elf, stole everything and then dumped Lish in the river for fish food all because I hadn’t bothered to go after her.

  Probably not that.

  Mr Sakiyama interrupted the middle of my manic spiralling by sticking his head into the bedroom and saying, “I thought you should know that Miss Lishinia has returned.”

  I dropped my spoon and stood up so fast that Bastian hadn’t time to say anything more than, “That’s good-” before I was out the door and hurrying down the hallway. Mr Sakiyama wasn’t too far behind, keeping pace with ease.

  “She’s sitting on the back patio.” He told me. “I was going to bring her dinner after speaking with you.”

  There wasn’t any window looking over the backyard from the hallway, and I didn’t want to risk another avalanche if I carelessly opened one of the other doors, so the stairwell would have to do. I hadn’t visited the back courtyard yet. It was small sized, enough to seat twenty guests under the large apple tree. The patio stretched the length of the house, and Lish sat on the edge, looking at the decorations strung between the apple tree and the house.

  “Lish?” I said, hesitating only a second before walking over and sitting down next to my attendant. We weren’t friends, per say, but she’d been working for my family for almost a decade now and we were close. I wasn’t the best talker, but that didn’t stop me from trying. “I'm sorry, I went too far. You just said all those awful things and I–”

  This was why I rarely spoke outside of polite pleasantries. Luckily, Lish cut me off with a short and simple. “I understand. I shouldn’t have embarrassed you like that in front of the knight commander.”

  Her admission of guilt was enough to unwind all of my fears. “Does that mean you aren’t catching the next boat back home?”

  “Of course not.” Lish declared. “Who's going to take care of you if I leave? Mr Sakiyama certainly wont–”

  “Lish, that is exactly the problem!” Anger crept into my voice. “You shouldn’t judge everyone so harshly. Mr Sakiyama wasn’t even allowed to touch the upstairs until today. He did an excellent job, all things considered.”

  Lish opened her mouth to say something, when a familiar voice sounded out over the courtyard.

  Hello, everyone, this is Madame Potts with your last update this Spring!

  Valaria can welcome their newest queen today after King Keith Monfort of Nilheim married Princess Henrietta, formerly of Drendil. The celebration was in fine form, and nobody died. The tea and cake were especially delicious, if I do say so myself.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Anyone traveling to Sumbria this week will not be able to take the high road. The Sumbrian royals did not heed the words of this humble madame, and poachers successfully caused a stampede of capybara throughout the kingdom. Adventuring parties looking for an easy quest can make their way to the kingdom and help round up the friendly creatures.

  The Green Oak Dungeon will have an increase in miner’s lettuce encounters. The grass monsters are known to emit Confusion spores from the small white flower on their head, but a rare pink flower miner’s lettuce might appear that uses Paralysis spores. Please pack the appropriate antidotes. And note, the monster’s cap is edible, and the rare pink one is a highly sought-after delicacy.

  Next week, there will be flooding on the eastern road to the Empire of Sands. A storm giant fell into one of the ice lakes on the peak of Mount Arai, sending an overflow to Lake Vayasa. It won’t disturb any villages, but travel will be affected.

  I am happy to say that Valaria’s other newest ruler is making waves. Regent Havork of Drendil swept through the kingdom last week arresting many and subjecting others to fines. New laws are being passed daily, and citizens are advised to go to any of the free herald posts set up by the regent to explain and answer questions.

  The Summer Masquerade invites just went out; did you get one yet? That’s all for today, everyone. Enjoy the nice weather while it lasts.

  Madame Potts signing out.

  Lish and I sat in silence after the Cast ended, a little shocked. It was loud enough that I swore I could’ve heard it from anywhere on the estate. In Sumbria, the Cast Crystals were hidden. Each noble family had one reserved for messages from the Crown, and kept them secure from the general public.

  More so, after Madame Potts.

  “Not too bad, as far as Cast’s go,” Bastian said, standing in the hall doorway behind us. I’d been so surprised that he’d even managed to get past my Perception. At least, I assumed he’d only just arrived. “Plenty of warning to prepare for the flood.”

  Another reminder how differently Peldeep reacted in response to a Cast.

  “I brought dinner.” Mr Sakiyama slid the door open from the gathering room. He was sitting on his knees and pushed a tray out onto the patio. “Is Miss Lishinia hungry?”

  Everyone stared at the maid, who stared at the tray. She took a deep breath and smiled politely at the fae, “Yes. Thank you.”

  “I think this is where I’m supposed to apologize,” Mr Sakiyama said.

  “That’s not–”

  “No–”

  Bastian and I both started talking at the same time, while Lish stared pointedly at the sticks and then reached for the soup spoon.

  "There was bound to be an adjustment period and I shouldn't have lashed out. It is not your fault if you have no control over the mess." Lish told the fae, assuming her air of professionalism. "I'm sure we can work together to create a welcoming space for Countess Peregrine and fix the problems as they come."

  "Excellent," Mr Sakiyama agreed. The sweet fae was pleased to come to an agreement with my maid, but I worried it might not last long. There was so much to learn, and so much to do, that I was willing to give her space to work it out. Otherwise, I honestly didn't know any way to convince Lish that she was being unreasonably hateful of a culture we both knew little about.

  Something only time and immersion might fix.

  Bastian sat down beside me and took my hand, squeezing once, before addressing Lish. “Miss Lishinia, I have done you a disservice. I should’ve explained things before we arrived, and for that, I am sorry. Let me tell you what I can now, and answer any questions you might have.”

  There was a lot. Bastian started with the current festival, so we would know just what this week was going to be like. More people than I could ever imagine were going to be filling up the streets and there were so many activities lined up that it was hard not to get overwhelmed. Then he spoke about the Palace. Bastian’s work schedule, his routine, his responsibilities at the orphanage… he spoke late into the evening, answering all that he could.

  The drakin was true to his word, asking Lish to help sort Peregrine’s room so that it could be ready faster, explaining that he was going to purchase a few spatial storage boxes and move as much as he could into the garden shed. For now, anyway. They could convert the shed into an art studio in the summer.

  Lish took it all in stride, asking fewer questions than I thought she might, and going up to bed without another complaint. I stayed awake later than usual, wondering if there was something I could do to, and finding nothing.

  We would just have to take things as they came.