DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Dawn of Revolution
The Busybody
One year after the coalition war ended...
"My word, what a wonderful play!" Miranda exclaimed one afternoon as she waltzed right in through the mansion's front double doors. She threw her arms out wide, all smiles. "Classic comedy and heartfelt themes in one production. I couldn't ask for more!"
Minerva, who happened to be passing by with an armload of papers, stopped to chat. "Is that so?" she asked.
"It was absolutely so, Minerva! I laughed, I cried, I questioned the meaning of life and the artistic merits of turnips... it was the best day of my life." Miranda sighed fondly at the memory.
"Really. Your entire life?"
"Well, okay. The best day of the last two tendays."
"Ah. Well. I'm glad you had a lovely time, Miranda, but Father needs some help," Minerva told the fourth sister. "We've had our hands full all day. You seem unoccupied; why not join us?"
"And ruin my good mood? I think not." Miranda pouted, arms folded.
Minerva made an irritated noise. "I work hard to support Father, Miranda! I know how much you enjoy your artistic pursuits. But I implore you to remember your duty to the family."
"Do you know what your problem is, Minerva?"
"Not having enough hours in the day to keep the family business running."
"Wrong!" Miranda pointed a dramatic finger at her oldest sister. "Your problem is you don't know how to have any fun! You're all work, all the time. Isn't your life rather boring like that?"
Minerva clutched the papers defensively against her chest. "Not... that's... that's nonsense, Miranda!"
"Please. I know how much strain you're feeling, Minerva," Miranda told her, taking a few steps closer, finger still held up. "Take a few days off! Have some fun! Live your life."
"I most certainly am," Minerva said, trying to sound lofty and uptight like usual. She had an image to maintain! "I need no help, Miranda. Though I'm touched by your concern."
"You don't need help, huh?" Miranda skipped over and circled around her sister, then took hold of Minerva's shoulders, giving them a good massage. "Then what's all this?"
"Um..."
"Such tension. Let it all go," Miranda urged her sister. "You push yourself so hard for all our sakes, and I love you for that, Minerva. You're amazing at what you do."
"Thank you, Miranda -"
"But give yourself a break for just a day or two! You've more than earned it."
"The work never ends," Minerva confessed. "And you know how much is expected of me."
"You mean Father's expectations, right?"
"Father, you and the other sisters, and all of Father's business partners."
"I can't do anything about Father's business friends. But as for we sisters, we want you to be happy. We want you to take time to yourself and recharge," Miranda told her sister. "And as for Father, I'll talk to him."
"What!" Minerva cried. "Don't be silly, Miranda! Father needs me. And Maggie, Mozzie, and Murbella aren't even here. How can you speak for them?"
"Oh, we chat about this and that," Miranda said casually, still massaging those shoulders. "The four of us talk about all kinds of things, Minerva. You only talk to us at family dinners here at the house."
"I'm... busy," Minerva said awkwardly. Just how much was she missing? What a dreadful feeling!
"I mean it, Minerva. You've earned some fun." Miranda turned her sister around to face her. "Go and see where your heart takes you. Live like I do!"
"Jump through a flaming hoop on a displacer beast?"
Miranda burst out laughing. "So you do remember my stories! Wonderful. Now make your own story."
"How?"
"Step one." Miranda swiped her hand down, and all of Minerva's papers scattered on the floor.
Minerva shrieked. "I just sorted those!"
"I'll take care of 'em," Miranda said, her speech getting more casual by the minute. She kneeled down, scooping up the papers one by one. "You go out there and feel the wind on your face! Hear the music with your heart! Meet people, taste new food, laugh at bad jokes, anything. Let your life sing!"
"I don't know how," Minerva confessed, clutching her face in dismay. "Miranda, I'm... I'm boring." There, she finally said it. But that didn't make her feel any better.
"My dear eldest sister." Miranda lowered Minerva's hands, her bright brown eyes sparkling. "You could never be boring. You're just afraid to be truly free!"
"Didn't you call me boring a few minutes ago?"
"No, I said that your lifestyle is boring. But my wonderful sister has a big heart, like mine. I want her to exercise it." Miranda patted a hand to Minerva's chest, smiling widely. "Didn't we used to say we're one soul in five bodies?"
Minerva winced. "That's just something Maggie used to say for fun."
"Well, she wasn't kidding. And neither am I!" Miranda gave Minerva a gentle shove. "Get out there and be the real you!"
"I need my outdoor shoes!" Minerva cried as Miranda opened the doors and pushed her to the front step.
"Right here. Get moving." Miranda grabbed and tossed over Minerva's best outdoor shoes, then shut and locked the door.
Gah, the nerve of her! Miranda really did it this time! Minerva pounded a fist on the front door, intending to give the fourth sister a proper piece of her mind!
No answer.
"Oh, for the love of..." Minerva stared down at the shoes, then looked at her own two hands, her mind racing.
By the gods above, what was she supposed to make of this? Supporting Father was her role in all this! And before that, she had been the quintuplets' leader and even their substitute mother! People needed Minerva, and she needed to be needed. That was just the way of things. But still...
Minerva looked across the great city of Sassanoit and fixed her eyes on the majestic Castle Rhoda. Yes... that was the solution!
She slipped on her outdoor shoes and hurried off to find a carriage.
*o*o*o*o*
"Yes, I'd say you have a boring lifestyle as well, Minerva."
Minerva's jaw dropped. "What! Murbella, I was certain you'd take my side!"
"Oh, I'm just teasing you. Mostly." Murbella smiled playfully as she wandered around her office in Castle Rhoda, sorting scrolls and papers as she went.
"Mostly?" Minerva demanded.
Murbella stopped and put her hands on her hips. "I can see Miranda's point, Minerva. I've always looked up to your as my leader and protector, and you're the smartest of us, too. Every day before work in Queen Lorelai's court, I pray that I can be a little more like you."
Minerva put a hand to her heart and smiled fondly. "Murbella, I... that's so sweet of you."
The fifth sister's smile widened. "Which is why I can see what Miranda is trying to say. This life can be a little boring, Minerva! How I wish I could wander Sassanoit more freely!" She spread her arms to encompass her office, the fabric of her cherry-red gown rustling.
Minerva scowled. "You're doing important work. Doesn't it make you feel fulfilled?"
"It does! I know how Mozzie and Miranda say I'm a born bureaucrat," Murbella admitted. She placed a hand firmly on her desk. "But even I take a few breaks and pursue my hobbies when I can. For example, I've recently discovered the joy of wooden puzzle boxes and drawing animals."
Minerva hesitated. Murbella was indeed teased for being a total busybody, losing herself in work to the brink of collapse, but if even she thought Minerva was a total quill-pusher, well... something was quite wrong here!
Deep down, perhaps Minerva knew it all along.
Minerva gestured helplessly. "What would you have me do?"
"Go out there and let your heart decide," Murbella said brightly, pointing out her office's small window. "It would ruin the point if I told you what to do. Discover it."
"I... I shall see. Good day." Minerva made a polite bow, then wove her way through Castle Rhoda's hallways and down a flight of steps until she found another one of her sisters wandering along. And then, a few seconds later...
"Oh, yeah. Your life is absolutely boring," Maggie said with a confident nod.
Minerva made an exasperated noise. "You, too?"
Maggie chuckled. "I hope I didn't touch a nerve?"
"It's just that Miranda and Murbella said something similar."
"And I'm saying it, too. Have some fun! Be someone other than Father's helper." Maggie gestured in the general direction of the castle's front doors.
"I don't know how."
"Your heart will know."
"With you being a diplomat, I thought you'd be more persuasive."
"I can hear it in your tone, dear sister." Maggie grinned. "You're already halfway done persuading yourself. Give in to it. Let your soul take your hand and lead you on."
Minerva just stared at her.
"By the way..." Maggie twirled around, allowing her violet dress to flutter about. "This is a new piece, straight from the tailor. How do you like it? Gorgeous, isn't it?"
Minerva made a small smile. "Yes, it's wonderful, Maggie."
"I hope the delegates from Talwydd think so too when their airship gets here," Maggie said. "I want to make a good impression. Well, I'll see you later!" She tossed her hair and marched off, clearly not wanting to be followed.
"Wait... but..." Minerva reached out a hand, but it was no good. Oh, perhaps she could track down Mozzie and finally get someone on her side? No, that wouldn't work... Mozzie was more determined than ever to enjoy herself exploring life with her dear Ferrol, plans and paperwork be damned! Or she was busy planning her wedding.
Minerva just stood there in her bright yellow gown as castle officials and guards passed her by, one or two of them giving her curious looks. And despite herself, Minerva felt Maggie's startlingly insightful words gnawing away at her defiant determination to be the proper helper Father needed by his side every moment of the day.
Before long, Minerva felt her feet carrying her to Castle Rhoda's front door and into the fresh air and bright sunshine beyond.
*o*o*o*o*
Minerva was used to striding through Sassanoit's cobblestone streets with a purpose, such as running errands for her father or supporting the city's reconstruction after the fall of the king and the Cult of Bones. Now, she was here to follow her soul, as Maggie put it. What did that mean? Following her whims? Had Mozzie indulged in a whim when she took that waitress job at Upscale Cuisine? Or perhaps it had been a calculated decision.
And how dare Minerva's sisters suggest she was boring?! She was capable of whimsy and fun, just like them! Probably. Well, possibly? Her stiff, haughty gait sure wasn't helping, she realized. Minerva forced herself to walk more naturally, and thus ended up walking stiffly again. Argh, how was she supposed to do this?
Then, in the marketplace, a novelty shop caught her eye: Moonglow Accessories and Baubles. Not bad!
Minerva haughtily strode in (she was still doing it!) and looked around the place. "Good afternoon," she told the moon elf lady behind the counter. "Your shop caught my eye. It's my first time here."
"Good afternoon. I'm Dawenna," the moon elf greeted her timidly. She had silky black hair, a simple blue and black dress, and a silver necklace. "My aunt, uncle, and I run this shop. Please, feel free to look around."
"I shall." Now, this was perfect. Choose a charming shop like this at random, browse its wares with no particular purpose, and see what happens. For example...
"What is this?" Minerva held up a colorful puzzle box.
"Oh. That's a 24-piece puzzle with sliding parts," Dawenna told her. "I never solved it, though."
"Do tell. And this?" Minerva held up a large silver coin with the image of a boggle etched on it.
"It's a prank coin. It'll keep spinning once you spin it on a table," Dawenna explained. "It's not a popular item, though."
Minerva put it back. "Very well. And this? And that?"
She kept finding whimsical items, and Dawenna struggled to keep up. "I don't even know what half of these things are. I'm sorry!" Dawenna cried, holding her hands to her heart. "My aunt and uncle know the inventory much better than I do. They are the ones who drive the sales. I'm just here to watch the shop whenever they're both away."
Minerva set down the latest baubles (mini leather boots that did tap dances) and approached Dawenna at the counter. "If I may, Dawenna, admissions like those won't inspire confidence in your shop in the eyes of customers. You're almost telling them not to shop here."
"Eeeeek! I'm really sorry!" Dawnenna flinched, throwing her hands up to shield her face. "If you want to leave, I'll understand, madam!"
Minerva gently lowered Dawenna's hands. "A good shopkeep will project an air of confidence," she explained. "You must help your customers understand why they want to buy your items and feel certain that you're giving them the best possible deal. It's a performing art."
"I... I know." Dawenna hung her head. "At least, my aunt and uncle tell me stuff like that, but I suppose I'm not cut out for this. Sorry again."
Minerva hesitated. What was she supposed to do now? This poor elf was falling apart! Did she want to be here? So Minerva asked.
"No," Dawenna admitted. "I want to write poetry and wander the kingdom, understanding the needs and dreams of everyday people. I want my life to be a tapestry of art, woven one day at a time." She mimed that in the air.
Minerva folded her arms. "Then, how did you convince yourself to stay here instead of exploring your passion?"
"My aunt and uncle would be so disappointed in me. This is the family business, after all."
Minerva felt a twinge in her heart. Those words hit awfully close to home! "When was the last time you talked it out with them?"
'"I could never. Just imagining their faces of disappointment... oh my." Dawenna clutched her face in horror, trembling.
Minerva put her hands on her hips and looked around at the novelty shop. "Why don't I help you, Dawenna?"
"H... how?"
"I'll teach you how to run a shop, and when your aunt and uncle are proud of your performance, you'll be able to leave this business and pursue your dreams with your head held high."
"Um..."
Minerva fixed Dawenna with an oldest-sister-know-best look, the kind that always worked on Mozzie and Miranda. "You have every right to quit this job and pursue your dream, Dawenna. But that means having courage and resolve, and you'll learn that first here."
"Would that work?"
"I'd like you to do your best."
"M... maybe?"
"That, and I love your shop. It deserves a strong-willed clerk who can make some sales!"
Dawenna made a nervous smile. "V... very well then! What's first?"
Twenty minutes later, it was Minerva, not Dawenna, who greeted the next customer. After Minerva had reviewed all the inventory and pricing, that is.
"Hey, this is a cool shop," a tiefling man with reddish-orange skin and curly horns said, looking around with his hands in his pants pockets. "So, uh... what's good to buy in here?"
"Are you looking for something to decorate a sitting room, or perhaps an office? Or your bedroom?" Minerva asked promptly. "I'm Minerva, by the way, and it'll be my pleasure to help you."
The tiefling man grinned. "Right on. I'm actually lookin' for something to give my nephews when I visit 'em in Warwick in the next tenday. I've haven't seen 'em in a while, you see."
"Ah. In that case, may I recommend the tap-dancing boot set?" Minerva said, gesturing toward a certain shelf. "Or that replica shortsword with a blade that glows three different colors? I can offer a competitive price."
"Yeah, the sword," the tiefling said. He walked over and picked it up, checking it out. "How much?"
"Five silvers."
The tielfing winced. "Ooooh, that's kinda steep. I'm on a tight budget."
"I could go as low as three silvers and five coppers. I assure you, it's a great price for a replica sword like that. I'm sure your nephews will love it."
The tiefling paused, then grinned and wandered over to the counter. "Okay, I can do that. Here." He opened his coin bag and slid the coins across the counter. "Thanks, Minerva. Those little guys are gonna love this!" He swished the toy sword through the air.
Minerva made a polite smile. "Of course, sir. Thank you for shopping at Moonglow Accessories and Baubles. Please come again.."
"Sure. See ya." The tiefling pocketed the toy and took his leave, waving as he went.
Dawenna, who had been passively watching from the corner, stared at Minerva with her jaw slack. "You were a natural, Minerva! You really have no retail experience?"
"None."
"But you made it look so easy."
"Speak with authority, Dawenna, and project your genuine desire to see the customer happy with their purchase," Minerva coached her. "Make them feel like they can trust their hard-earned coins with you. Be eager to meet new people and guide them through the shopping experience."
Dawenna hung her head again. "That's the opposite of me."
"Just follow my lead and try, all right?" Minerva took hold of Dawenna's shoulders. "When the next customer comes, remember to project your authority!"
"I... I'll try."
"You will." Minerva gave her that big-sisterly look again.
Dawenna squeaked. "O-okay!"
Not long after that, another customer wandered in: an older gnome woman with a walking stick and a decorative scarf over her graying hair. "Is this where I can find goodies to decorate my sewing room?" she asked.
Dawenna gave Minerva a look, then blurted out, "Yes! I know all the prices! I'm glad to meet you, and my name's Dawenna, and you should spend lots of money on good deals here! Because that's our motto!"
Everyone stared at her.
Dawenna went bright red, clapped her hands over her face, and retreated to the back room.
"Please excuse her. She's shy, but she means well," Minerva told the customer. "I am Minerva. How can I help you today? We have many items that may suit your tastes..."
A moment later, Dawenna returned to resume her duties, but things didn't go much better when a burly goliath man with an axe strapped to his back wandered in, mistaking the place for a weapons shop. Then a warforged clanked right in, hoping to find new finger actuators, only for Minerva to redirect him to a workshop down the street. But finally, after a few more customers...
"Thank you for your purchase, sir!" Dawenna cried as a satisfied customer exited the shop, a few trinkets in their bag. Once the front door closed, Minerva turned to Dawenna.
"That was much better. Good work," Minerva told her.
"Th... thank you." Dawenna went pink, glancing down bashfully. "If I may, Minerva, you're kind of like my big sister. She's so confident and cool. I look up to her."
"I am the oldest of five," Minerva explained, holding up all five fingers. "Though my sisters and I were born only moments apart from one another. Still, I had to assume the role of leader, and I put everything I had into it."
"That's amazing. And you're so good at business, too. Any chance my aunt could hire you?"
Minerva knew Dawenna was merely jesting. "I must decline. But it was my pleasure to visit and help you," Minerva told her kindly. "I wish you the best going forward, Dawenna. And as a gesture of good faith, I shall buy many items."
And she did, filling a bag with a whopping 16 gold coins' worth of goodies. Satisfied, Minerva waved goodbye to Dawenna the dreamer and took her leave, ready to take a carriage back to Farraday's estate.
She stopped dead in her tracks and clapped a hand over her face. What in the world? Minerva was told to follow her soul's lead and find the fun in her life! And what did she do? Take a break from Farraday's business by helping someone else run their business.
That's not why she was out here!
But how was Minerva supposed to slow down and leisurely soak in the fun of life? That was Miranda's job!
Still, she might as well try again. With a more calculated approach this time -
No. That ruined the point again! By the gods, this was not easy.
On a more innocent note, Minerva was suddenly in the mood for a refreshment, so she found her way to a lovely cafe, the kind that Mozzie would pay top coin to visit. Minerva delicately took a seat at one of the outdoor tables and placed her order. Feeling daring, she ordered sweet tea, a cinnamon glaze roll, and a fruit cup!
Minerva dug into her dessert, savoring a pleasant breeze that picked up as Sassanoit's people wandered the streets nearby, and at one point, Minerva saw a gold dragon soaring high above. Plenty of metallic dragons were known to roost on Verhamaine's coast, after all.
Minerva did it: she was truly relaxed. Like a rock in a stream, passively allowing the water to flow by her.
It felt...
Well...
Minerva shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her belly full of dessert. She had to get up and remain active, and not just because of all that sugar! What if Farraday was behind on work and needed her? Or, Minerva ought to go back to Moonglow Accessories and Baubles and help some more! Or visit Murbella again and try to help her youngest sister deal with that endless workload. Minerva had to go do something.
Did she?
Of course she did! That was the way of things. Minerva couldn't slow down. But she had to. Maggie and Miranda asked her so nicely to do just that!
Minerva bolted to her feet, her heart suddenly racing with anxiety, almost feeling a little lightheaded. She put two gold coins on the table (enough for a decent tip) and hurried to rejoin the city's thronging crowds. Ah, this felt right, moving with a purpose.
To where?
The warm sun moved across the sky in its leisurely arc as Minerva scoured Sassanoit for some renewed sense of purpose. This was a challenge, wasn't it? Anything worth doing was challenging! That's how a woman like Minerva would know she's doing what really matters! Yet her mental fingers kept grasping at the city around her and caught nothing. Uh-oh! She was slipping. What if Farraday saw her now? Such shame! Oh wait, try to relax and go with the flow... how many times would she have to remind herself?!
Next, Minerva found herself in one of the city's many small parks in the middle-class residential area, watching parents push their babes around in strollers, laughing children chasing each other in games of catch-the-ogre, and barking dogs running about. This park was so pleasant, the kind of place Mozzie often liked to visit with her fiance Ferrol, as she kept telling her sisters and father. Nothing like relaxing after a hard day's work, Mozzie liked to say.
Oh. Was that the answer? Minerva stood there, trying to restrain her racing thoughts, allowing the tranquility of the park to wash across her. Did she need a break after her own hard day of work? Helping Farraday run his trade empire was no mean feat.
That was when Minerva's business muse reared its head and offered a flash of inspiration for work. Of course! Farraday should hear this right away. Minerva set off toward the upper-class residential district to find her father.
Minerva stopped again clutching her head. No, wait! That was ruining the point yet again! Back and forth she went! Was this impossible? Minerva's heart thudded with slight panic, fearing she was lost in a mental maze of contradictions and slippery desires. What did she she really want from this? What did her father and sisters want? On the face of it, the answer was perfectly clear: for Minerva to relax, recharge her mind, and simply feel good. Mozzie and Miranda made it seem so easy, and Maggie and Murbella always seemed so relaxed and cheerful anytime they visited Farraday's home after working endless hours in Castle Rhoda.
But Minerva... why couldn't she do it, too?
She gasped and stared ahead, a hand held over her mouth. It couldn't be that, could it?
Minerva hurried off to find more of Sassanoit's pleasures and novelties, losing herself in the crowd, wondering whether to find this funny or downright terrifying. She needed perspective! To see herself from the outside! To see herself the way her four sisters did. Minerva had a natural talent for understanding and leading other people, but she couldn't show herself the way.
The irony! Maggie would write a poem about it.
The sun kept roving on its heavenly track as Minerva wove her way deeper into Sassanoit's busy, colorful streets, a lone speck of yellow looking for meaning in all this. It was after Minerva visited two more novelty shops, a bakery, a gambling den, two taverns, and a magic shop when Minerva was forced to face the truth that had been staring her in the face since her trip to that park. She couldn't look away from its unblinking, accusing gaze.
She had no personal life!
Yes, that was it. Minerva hung her head with embarrassment and dismay when she confronted this truth in the second tavern, where the tortle bartender kept pouring her fruity drinks to please her tongue. Who was she outside of work or being the leader of her sisters? No one! Mentally, she was naked, alone out there without her cloak of work and business wrapped tightly around her.
"Are you all right, lass?" the tortle asked Minerva after he finished pouring a tabaxi man his ale. The bartender craned his long, leathery neck to give Minerva a concerned look.
Minerva gestured helplessly. "Personal matter. It's of no concern."
"I might know something to cheer you up, lass," the tortle said. He mixed a few ingredients and set a new drink in front of his human patron in a tall glass. "Khanate ale with darkberries, fresh-squeezed lime, and granulated sugar, all mixed with an expert hand. Please, try it. I find it always soothes the nerves."
"I suppose." Minerva glumly accepted the drink and sipped it. Mmmmm, not bad! She felt sweet warmth spread through her body, and she suddenly craved more. Even though she had already indulged in sugary desserts at that charming cafe earlier today.
"That one's on the house," the tortle bartender added. "I give each customer one free drink if I think they need it. Drink up."
Minerva shook her head. "I have more than enough coin for a fine drink like this. Here." She owed nine silvers and five coppers for all her drinks, but instead, she slid over four gold coins.
The tortle blinked in surprise at the generous quartet of coins. "My word! Thank you mightily, lassie. You have a good soul."
Minerva sure hoped so. Was it a bit much to think she felt a bit empty today? At least one person believed she had something in there! She finished her drink, slid off the stool, and wandered back into the crowds once again.
For a time, Minerva stewed in her thoughts, anxiously wishing for some rationale against this. She couldn't truly be empty... could she? What did Minerva stand for? What made her heart sing? If Farraday had never wanted his five daughters to help him with the family business, what would the daughters have become? If Minerva had never needed to lead her younger sisters when joining Lorelai's revolution and then mend ties with Farraday and support his business, then who would have Minerva become? What soul could she have forged?
More than ever, Minerva wished Mother was here.
Well, it was fun to wander into yet another novelty trinket shop and check out the goodies for sale while the wood elf shopkeepers, a duo of brothers, explained every item in loving detail. And it was so wonderful to find a street performer who could sing tawdry limericks, juggle flaming balls, and tap dance all at once. Minerva clapped and cheered at his marvelous display, then found her way to another gambling den and (while watching her coinpurse closely) whimsically played a few hands of Three-Dragon Ante, and attended an improv class she found in the business and arts district. What a rewarding challenge for Minerva to immerse herself in an imaginary role and act it out! It almost felt like a game.
Minerva was shocked when she finished chatting with the improv class's members after the session, went outside, and found the city bathed in twilight. What in...
How much time had passed?
Most of all, how had the time gone by so swiftly? One moment, Minerva was losing herself in despair, and the next, she was finishing a wonderful, careefree day! It was already time for dinner at the family estate! She hoped Farraday would not be cross about her lateness.
Minerva hastily called a carriage, paid double, and rode all the way back to Farraday's estate at top speed. Her only worry was that her dinner would be cold by the time she returned home, because otherwise, she was at peace with everything. The cool evening air felt pleasant on her face while the glow of street lamps felt like fine art, and the chatter of pedestrians was like music. When did daily life become so...
...beautiful?
Minerva was still tussling with these unfamiliar yet relaxing thoughts when she stepped through the estate's front doors and removed her outdoor shoes. She washed up, then joined her father and four sisters in the first-floor dining room. Ah, so Maggie and Murbella had found time to join everyone! And Mozzie, too!
"Welcome back, Minerva," Farraday warmly told his eldest daughter as she humbly stepped into the room. "We were just starting the second course. Please, join us." He motioned to Minerva's usual seat.
"You seem to have something on your mind, Minerva," Maggie commented lightly. She took a sip of bright red wine.
"Are you worried about something?" Mozzie asked.
"We'll help you however we can," Murbella assured her.
"Anything for you, dear sister," Miranda added cheerfully.
Minerva took her seat, giving everyone a look. "You all already know, don't you? I can hear it in your voices."
Maggie, Mozzie, Miranda, and Murbella shared looks, then broke out into smiles. "I told them," Miranda confessed. "Minerva, please don't be upset, but I just wanted to help you. I wanted you to take a day off for yourself, then come home to four sisters and a father who love you very much, so they can hear all about your day. Your very important day."
"A day without work so I can find myself, you mean," Minerva said.
Miranda winced. "Well... yes. I admit, my tactics were blunt. But it worked, didn't it?" She pointed with her fork. "Everyone else agreed this was a good idea when I told them about it. And they all took the time so they can now hear about it from you!"
"I'm touched. Truly," Minerva said with an easy smile. "My mind has not been at ease like this since... well, I don't know when. Possibly never."
"Your sisters and I are pleased you seem to be in such good spirits, Minerva," Farraday spoke up. He motioned to the butlers to bring in the third course.
"Go ahead. We'll listen," Maggie told her oldest sister.
"We've got all night," Murbella added.
Minerva couldn't wipe this giddy, excited smile from her face, and uncharacteristically, nor did she want to. Instead, she took a bite (so delicious), took a sip of wine, then cleared her throat. "Sisters, Father, I had the most remarkable day today..."