Chapter 81: Chapter 29. Lawn

The next morning, Elsa and Maxie walked into the kitchen as if nothing had happened. Both of them had the same neutral expression on their faces, which made it almost impossible to guess that the two had almost killed each other during the night.The conversation went, to put it mildly, not quite smoothly. But then a completely unexpected sight awaited them.

Leriana woke up before everyone else, and was already having breakfast at the table with members of the family that sheltered them. They were an ordinary married couple of commoners, whose names were Mr. and Mrs. Baker. They also had two small children. Who, right now, were sitting next to Leriana on both sides and chatting merrily about something.

— Aunt, you are so beautiful! — a five-year-old girl who saw the aristocrat with her own eyes for the first time said with admiration.

— Will you play with us later? — a little older boy asked with interest, — We haven't had new friends for a long time.

«Can I call you 'sis'?»

Elsa and Maxie were simultaneously taken aback when they discovered that the entire area around Leriana was «occupied» by these children. Not to say that the girl somehow particularly loved children, because she found herself still too young for such things. But was it possible to resist these two cute faces?

She was embarrassed when they gave her such naive compliments, and was happy to keep up the conversation.

Leriana did not even immediately notice how her two companions entered the room. Then, catching herself, she waved to them.

— Ah! Are you up yet? Sit down at the table. There are so many delicious things here!

Maxie cleared her throat, and noticing that there were not so many options, settled down opposite. Elsa, with silent indignation, also passed on, and sat down next to Mrs. Baker.

«These little brats…!»

When everyone sat down and began to eat rather unusual peasant food, Leriana was still the most active of all those present. She quickly became friends with the owners of the house, and in particular, with Mrs. Baker.

— You have such a beautiful house! — the girl praised, — You must have put a lot of effort into building it.

Leriana was flattered by the hospitality of the couple who sheltered them, while Elsa mentally ticked an empty box. «So I didn't make a mistake with the house.»

«You're right. My husband has been building it for several years,» the woman said with a smile.

— That's how. It must have been worth it. It's so cozy here!

The two chatted sweetly with each other, while Maxie couldn't wait to continue the journey as soon as possible. Since the coachman was afraid of further angry beating from the girl, he began to act immediately, as soon as dawn came. The carriage wheel had already been replaced, and they could leave at any moment.

But Leriana, to everyone's surprise, turned out to have exactly other plans.

— Since we're already here anyway, let's stay for dinner.

It is obvious that the girl, who happened to be in the village of commoners for the first time, perceived this as a new interesting experience. She liked this house, and the children, and Mrs. Baker.

But the others did not have the same rosy expression.

Elsa, Maxie, and Mr. Baker didn't like the idea. The latter was not particularly happy about the presence of strangers in the house, and was preparing to say goodbye to them immediately after breakfast. That's just his wife, who was charmed by the manners of the young lady, was not against letting them stay a little longer.

— You don't often meet people traveling in our area! — she remarked, — Let me cook my signature berry pie in honor of this.

— Great idea! — Leriana warmly supported, — Then we will get the ingredients.

— Hey… wait!

Maxie tried to convince her, while Mr. Baker turned to his wife.

«Honey, they've been with us long enough. Isn't it time…»

— It's nothing! — the woman waved off, — Really, it's a pity for you to let these friendly young people stay? Besides, they must be tired after a long journey.

— B-but!

«They're just staying for dinner. Am I asking that much?»

Maxie and Mr. Baker simultaneously slapped their foreheads, realizing that it was over. These two had already decided everything for them, and they did not ask for a common opinion.

— Hooray, sister stays! — the children responded joyfully.

A special atmosphere reigned in the kitchen, among which Leriana again looked the most lively. To help Mrs. Baker in making a pie, the girl volunteered to go to the forest to gather berries. Elsa and Maxie immediately offered to help her.

But Leriana surprisingly rejected both of them.

«I'm going for a walk with the kids,» she informed them to their mutual disappointment, «and you're going to stay here and help.»

— «Help»? — Maxie arched an eyebrow, — Why would I?

Leriana was indignant.

— These kind people allowed us to stay, and even fed us their food. We have to pay with something.

— Oh, that…

The girl forgot about it. Since last night, she hasn't told Leriana how they got here in the first place. On the occasion of which, she decided that the peace-loving villagers themselves offered them their help. Maxie didn't dare tell what a commotion Elsa had made in the middle of the night. After all, in fact, they just trespassed without permission…

But for this, she paid off quite a decent amount. Of which Leriana, of course, knew nothing. And that's why I was so eager to thank the owners of the house.

But even so… Isn't the money the girl gave them enough? Why should they also work?!

The Bakers tactfully remained silent in response to this.

«That's it…!»

Outraged by such injustice, Maxie herself tried to explain everything to her, but Leriana did not listen. She believed that in this way, the girl simply justifies her laziness.

— No buts! — Leriana snapped, — Sir, do not hesitate, and give them the work you see fit.

The man blinked in surprise, but again said nothing. In other words, he was just taking advantage of the situation! Mrs. Baker, apparently, was also not going to interfere in any way in the situation.

— Ah… um… then you will bring water from the well, — he turned to Elsa, — And you will help me chop wood, — this was already for Maxie.

The latter was terribly indignant when Mr. Baker, having accepted such a sum from her, also loaded them with tasks! Elsa didn't say anything in response to this. She finished her breakfast in silence, pretending that what was happening did not concern her.

But Leriana decided to praise her for it.

— You see! — she proudly announced, — Elsa does not complain at all. Obviously, he wants to thank the kind hosts as much as I do.

Maxie ground her teeth. She didn't understand how this bastard managed to come out of such situations victorious when she didn't even do anything.

She exhaled angrily.

The hell with it… There's nothing you can do about it anyway. Once I got into such a situation, I have to get out of it with dignity.

With the most strained smile, she turned to the man.

— What do you have there for firewood?

***

Walking along the edge of the forest, I hummed aloud a relaxed song.

After breakfast was over, Mr. and Mrs. Baker entrusted their children to me so that we could pick berries together for tonight's dinner. Since I didn't understand the local nature at all, the children themselves escorted me to the right place.

— Sis, now we go there! Sёarᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I smiled when Alan took me by one hand and Maria by the other, walking together through the forest. Still, I found some of the kids incredibly cute.

— Sis, where did you come from?

— Oh, it's very far away…

«Far away?» How much?

I patted the child's hair.

— This kingdom is called Azeroth. When you grow up, you'll find out for yourself.

— Hmm…

The boy was thinking about a new word for him, while his sister pulled my left hand.

— I see! Berries grow right here!

After a short walk, we came across a clearing completely strewn with strawberries. The children immediately rushed to collect it with a joyful exclamation. Laughing, I tried to keep up with them.

— Over there! There are even more of them here!

In the end, they even staged a competition.

— I'm the first!

— No, I am!

We were doing this business almost until lunch, and in the end we collected baskets full of ripe berries. It's just a pity that they can't be eaten right now…

— Sister, look! I have more, don't I? — innocently blinking her eyes, Maria showed me the fruits of her labors.

— It's not true! — Alan immediately objected, — It's because your basket is smaller.

When my brother and sister tried to argue which one of them «won», I really felt like their eldest. And therefore, she gave everyone a click, warning them not to quarrel anymore.

«It's the same for both of you. There is nothing to swear out of trifles.»

They pouted, but in the end they didn't say anything.

We were going to return home to their parents, who were probably already waiting. But at this time… A wild bear suddenly appeared on the forest edge, which had not shown up before.

Oh, shit.

Despite being in this world for a long time, I still forgot that wild animals can be found all the time in this world. This is not a city park where there were a couple of squirrels at most.

Before us was quite a serious predator, and with the most obvious intentions.

At that moment, for the first time, I regretted that Maxie or Elsa was not with us.

— A-A-A!

He growled threateningly, and the children, frightened, hurried to hide behind me.

The initial excitement, which instinctively immediately covered me, subsided imperceptibly. For the first time I realized that I am now responsible not only for my own life.

These kids… only I could protect them.

Having felt an unusual energy inside me, it was as if something possessed me again. Every time this happened, all the anxiety disappeared from me. Now it turned out to be very convenient.

Having asked the children to stay behind, I confidently stepped forward, although I didn't quite know what exactly to do. How is it possible to neutralize a bear…?

But there was no time to think, so I just did what first came to mind.

Without any hesitation, she rushed forward, and having entered into a fight with the predator, she hit him somewhere in the stomach.

This was enough for the animal to first appear, and then collapsed dead.

I was taken aback, not immediately realizing what exactly had just happened.

Blood was running down my arms when I first started and turned around. They weren't even more scared…?

But no. It turned out that the effect was exactly the opposite.

The children, seeing that I had single-handedly defeated a large bear, were madly delighted. They jumped around and couldn't believe their eyes.

— Sis, how did you do it?!

— You're so cool!

But I was not up to it. Still shivering slightly, I felt like myself again. The initial anger subsided so that I could soberly assess what had happened.

I looked at the corpse in front of my feet, and I couldn't believe that I really did it.

But why…

What is happening to me at all?