I had just finished my breakfast three days later when Hanna approached me in the dining hall. As I looked up she took a seat beside me and I swallowed the bite of my cheese and tomato sandwich.
"Serla, I need you to take these files to Emissary Leovold as soon as you are finished eating." She told me, smoothing out her cream and pink dress as she watched me finish my sandwich.
"Why is this Leovold so important? I've been running errands back and forth for days now and now you want me to take these papers to him?" I asked, nodding towards a stack of papers on the table between us. Instead of a reply Hanna just raised an eyebrow at me, straighting when I reached for them. "I know, I know. It's my job as a messenger." I added, hoping she wouldn't snap at me.
"Yes it is and if you want to keep your job you'll do exactly as you are told. Besides you don't hear Refia complaining about working for me do you?" She asked, leaving before I had a chance to answer her back. Not that that was a good idea when I knew that one wrong word could have me fired sending me straight back home.
So after taking a deep breath I grabbed the papers and that's when a letter with the seal of Queen Marchesa slid to the floor. I crouched to retrieve it, giving the envelope a glare before I rose to my feet. Noting who it was addressed to I pocketed it then, after carefully picking the files up I headed for the office of the Emissary.
The moment I reached his door I shifted the files under my arm before I reached towards the doorknob only to see the door swing open and I jumped back, the papers ending up in a scattered heap as Leovold poked his head through the open doorway. "Can I help you with something?" He asked as I knelt, muttering under my breath about how irrItating some people could be.
"Maybe by helping me pick these up?" I asked, not expecting him to knelt in front of me. When he started to move them into a neat pile I actually stared at him, a little shocked until he raised his head at me.
"Were these from Hanna?" He asked, now holding half of the papers and I quickly nodded. Grabbing the rest I straightened and he gave me a nod, standing before he took the rest from me. "You seem to be working a lot lately." He said and I gave him a tiny smile, pleasantly surprised that someone I had only just met noticed.
"Yeah but it's my job as a messenger to bring files, notes, really anything to whoever needs them. Hanna keeps me pretty busy unlike Refia who never does any work and doesn't get into trouble for it. Must be nice being from a rich family." I explained, blushing once I realized just who I was complaining to. "Oops. Probably shouldn't be talking your ear off." I added, finding myself staring at his two pointed ears.
"That's alright. So this Refia comes from a wealthy family? Why does she need to work them if she's well off?" Leovold asked and I shrugged wondering why he was so interested.
"I don't know. Probably so her family can boast about her being so hardworking even if she doesn't need to work a minute of her life. Not that she does anything but hand her work to me and wander the halls with those brain-dead idiots fawning over her like they haven't seen a pretty girl before." I told the elf who just nodded towards the door and without a second thought I followed him into his office. The door clicking shut behind him, Leovold moved towards the desk as I took a seat.
"So you don't like her?" Leovold asked, setting the papers down on his desk before he stepped behind it taking a seat. running a hand through my shoulder length black hair I sighed.
"I don't hate her if that's what you think. Refia just has it so easy while I have to work so hard. Plus most of the time I don't even get a thank you. Is that too much to ask?" I answered, looking at the landscape painting again. "I don't have a lot of money saved up right now and...why am I telling you this?" I asked, rising from my chair. "I should be getting back before Hanna notices but thanks for listening." I added, hurrying towards the door.
"If Hanna gives you a hard time just tell her you were helping me." Leovold said and I turned back around to see the elf grinning at me. With a grateful smile I nodded, opening the door. Leaving his office I took a moment to work out why I just told Leovold why I was working so hard.
He really earns his money as a diplomat. I barely know Leovold and yet here I am telling him how much I hate working for Hanna since I travelled to Paliano. I've never told that to anyone
Sighing to myself I headed back to Hanna's office to deliver the message that I had given the emissary his papers not knowing that Hanna wasn't done with me...not by a long shot.
"Is this everything?" I asked, trying not to glare at my superior as she walked her office. Grabbing another folder she strolled over handing it to me and I quickly shoved it on top of the growing pile of files, notes and other papers.
"Yes I believe that is it. Unless I can think of something else for you to do." Hanna answered clearly not noticing the sarcasim in my voice. Keeping a firm grip on my workload I stumbled towards her door only to discover I couldn't open it with no free hands. Noticing my problem Hanna actually opened the door for me and I gave her a nod moving through the open doorway. But she didn't give me more than a few seconds to clear it before the door slammed shut and I leapt clear so the door didn't slam into my back.
Gritting my teeth I checked the first paper, noting the address before I set out to deliver everything thing to its rightful owner. I thought that it wouldn't take more than an hour or two but I was sorely mistaken and I found myself worn out half a day later, the last paper clutched in my hand. When my stomach growled I growled back, realizing that I had missed lunch in my eagerness to finish my workload. That and the fear that Hanna would corner me with yet another workload.
It wasn't until I noted the address on the last paper that I groaned, not too surprised that it was to be handed to a familar face. Who just so happened to be leaving his office when I headed his way, waving at me before he frowned. "Serla, this is a pleasant surprise. Is something the matter?" Leovold asked and I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
"It's been a long day, Leovold." I told him only to hear another much louder growl and I blushed as Leovold chuckled. "Ha ha." I muttered and he smiled, taking a gold key out of his pocket. Before my eyes he pushed the key into the lock, turning it and once he heard a click he pocketed the key.
"You look like you could use a meal. Is Hanna working you that hard that you missed a meal?" Leovold offere and I followed at his heels as he headed for the cafeteria.
"I kind of forgot to eat but I do need the work so what can you do?" I said, walking beside him. "I just hope Refia doesn't rat me out again for grabbing a meal when I'm supposed to be working because I am starving." I groaned and Leovold just chuckled, leading me closer to the wonderful smell of something cooking.
"So tell me again why you're working at a job you obviously dislike?" Leovold asked absentmindly picking at a salad consisting of tomato, lettuce and cucumber slices with his fork.
"I really need the money because the alternative..." I trailed off with a shudder and Leovold raised an eyebrow, his meal forgotten as he stared at me. "Look it has something to do with being a homemaker okay so can we leave it at that?"
"So your family are set on you getting married?" Leovold asked, watching with an amused smile as I picked up my cheese, ham and tomato sandwich.
"What did I just say? Look they wanted me to settle down, find a nice husband and raise a family. Which isn't in my future plans." I explained, taking a bite and as I chewed he continued to stare at me. Swallowing I stared back. "Okay what is it?"
"You seem like a woman who knows what she wants in life." Leovold answered after a pause and I nodded, giving him a grin. He returned my smile finishing his salad before I finished my own meal. "By the way you have something in your teeth." He told me, pointing to the tiny gap between two teeth in the bottom row of my jaw.
I yelped, quickly turning my head to dislodge the offending tomato with a toothpick.
"Geeze why didn't you tell me?" I grumbled and Leovold shrugged returning to his meal without offering a comment. Cheeks red I shook my head making sure to finish my sandwich a little more carefully this time.