Casual Heroing

“Clodia, I’m sorry too. I could have been more upfront. I shouldn’t have resorted to underhanded techniques,” Amelia says with a straight face.

Oh, man, there is something I want to say. It’s probably speculation, but, oh, boy. If I don’t say this, my internal Russian fangirl will probably die. If my guess is off, though, this is going to make a mess.

“Amelia, did you think Clodia would come back to you after you broke up with her and let Maximus sleep at your place?”

See, it’s a simple plot. People, especially in a medieval setting, probably behave a bit silly like this, right? We have more TV shows and movies to base our life around, but they don’t. So, if I had to put myself in her shoes, it makes sense for her to think of something like that.

Amelia, the ‘witch’, blushes.

I exhale.

If I got that wrong, I would have made a huge mess out of this clean, new break.

“I didn’t expect her to react like she did,” Amelia is now confessing.

Oh, boy.

“Listen, sorry to interrupt,” I say to Amelia, “but we did just solve the big issue, right? You would probably prefer talking about this in private, wouldn’t you? So, let’s stop the arbitration here, if you two agree.”

Clodia and Amelia share a sad stare and they both nod.

“Flaminia, take care of that idiot, and make sure we get good terms. You have my full authority,” Clodia says without her usual strength. And this time I feel like the word ‘idiot’ is not really intended in its true meaning.

“Amelia, I’ll take care of this,” Camilla tells her older sister, who bites her lower lip and simply follows Clodia out of Happy Bakery.

Everyone is currently silent.

And it drags on for a bit.

I don’t really want to break the awe these people are experiencing.

“That was something, Joey,” Flaminia says with a smile. “Few arbiters are so effective and just. You could have a career doing that if you ever wanted to give up baking.”

“Wouldn’t you like killing your competition off like that?” I snort.

“Flaminia has a point,” Camilla pulls her chair closer to the table and speaks with a conspiratorial tone. “If you can get my sister to behave like a decent creature more often, I can pay you in gold. Lots of gold.”

“Nah, this was a one-time thing. They are both big girls and will handle themselves. I don’t like to meddle in these affairs. You never know who can stab you,” I wink to no one in particular.

I turn to Lucinda, expecting her to be smiling or something.

Her expression is the darkest I’ve ever seen.

Well, my luck, as usual.

As soon as her green eyes cross mine, I can see a flash of guilt on her beautiful face.

She slowly stands up and grimaces.

“Joey, I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t think I can help you anymore. I have to go. I hope you’ll understand.”

It’s all so sudden.

“Sure. I’ll not bother you,” I smile regretfully.

“Thank you,” she whispers softly before bidding the others goodbye and taking her leave.

“What did just happen?” Flaminia looks at me with an eyebrow raised.

“Game over,” I exhale. “Fuck.”

My face falls into my hands while I moan in pain.

“Fuck.”

“Joey, is everything ok?” Camilla walks around the table and puts a hand on my shoulder.

“I thought I had fixed the situation. But… yeah. I didn’t. She… I messed up.”

Flaminia and Camilla exchange a look and the Happy Bakery employee speaks up first.

“We can postpone this if you want. Why don’t we go get something to eat and—”

“No, don’t worry. Let’s go on. Some paperwork is not going to kill me after,” I point a thumb behind me.

“I’m sorry,” Camilla rubs my shoulder and I nod with my lips pursed into a thin line.

“Whip out the contract. I’ll need both of you working with me tonight, anyway. We can chat later. I wanted to show you my first trick.”

The next hour flies by, with me reading the contract and making a few changes. It’s pretty straight-forward and I will get a staggering amount of money. That is, if my recipes can really deliver and live up to everyone’s expectations.

“I’ll see you tonight at my place, ok? I’ll show you some stuff and share recipes with both of you. You have a non-competitive clause on those recipes, remember that.”

They nod and Lucillus opens the door for me.

Flaminia gives me a hug and as soon as she’s done, my bodyguard speaks.

“Miss Flaminia, your hair is lovely today,” he says with a flat tone before turning and following me out of the building.

As soon as we are out of earshot, I snort.

“Smooth,” I pat him on the shoulder.

“Thank you.”

We both walk the walk of men not sharing their feelings, silent but supportive of each other.

“We have to arrange stuff at the new place,” I tell him. “Do you have time?”

Lucillus shrugs and nods.

His job is pretty much done at this point, but we have a mutual understanding.

I sigh wistfully every few minutes as we go to the place.

“I’d like to hire you and Antoninus on a more permanent basis,” I tell the guy as we get closer to the Adventurers’ Guild. “I don’t think I’ll have many problems, but I’d rather not get stabbed again. I’m not sure those [Thugs] did not have friends who could come finish the job.”

“It’s going to be a bit expensive, but I don’t think Antoninus will mind staying around food all day,” Lucillus agrees.

“I mean, it’s not like I’ll pay you that much.”

“There are standard rates for these procedures. They are the same my cousin was paying.”

“Yeah, yeah. We’ll see. Come on, we have work to do.”

Lucillus’s gaze lingers on me for a second before scoffing and pushing me forward.

Thank you, man, I needed that.