Extra Story: Lady Ellelaura and Zelef Stop By Part One

Extra Story:
Lady Ellelaura and Zelef Stop By Part One

 

TWO WHOLE DAYS had passed since Yuna left with Sanya to go to the elves’ village. I wonder what the village would be like… Maybe someday, I’ll go there too.

But for now, I was taking care of the Kokekko and counting the eggs. We’d gotten a lot of eggs, which was always good.

Every day, we sell the eggs at the Merchant Guild. Cassadore from the Merchant Guild comes to pick them up—it’s nice that we don’t have to go sell them ourselves. Mom says that the eggs make a lot of money. That money helps the orphans live and also pays my Mom’s salary.

Since Shuri and I were Mom’s helpers, we weren’t being paid for helping at the orphanage or the shops. Instead, I got money from harvesting monsters. I tried to tell Yuna I didn’t want money, but she gave it to me anyway.

Cassadore was acting very strange today. Normally, he smiled and asked us how the eggs were, but instead, he rushed over to my mom and told her to come to the Merchant Guild quickly. Mom usually went to the Merchant Guild to talk to Milaine, but today seemed a little different.

“We’d like Fina to come as well,” Cassadore said, looking at me.

“Me?”

“Yes, if you could.”

“Um…is there a reason why?” I would go with Mom a lot, but no one ever asked for me to go before.

“The guild master requested both of you. Once you have the eggs ready, please board the carriage.”

I didn’t understand what was going on, but I was going to the guild too. If they were calling me, I guess it had to do with Yuna maybe? That was the only reason I could think of that explained why Milaine would ask for me.

“I don’t know why this is happening,” said Mom, “but let’s hurry and get the eggs ready. Fina, could you help me?”

I got the eggs ready for the Merchant Guild really fast. My mom took care of the orphans and told Liz, who took care of the birds, that we were going to the guild.

“I think we should be back right away, but if we’re late, could you please look after Shuri?” Shuri was playing with the little kids near the orphanage and studying with them. Neaf from Mileela was helping teach them letters and numbers.

“If I’m not back by the afternoon, please feed her with the others,” Mom added. She normally would eat at the orphanage when Mom and I were out. “Also, please prep the eggs for the shops.”

“I can handle what’s left,” said Liz, “rest assured.”

We left everything else to her, got onto the carriage with the eggs, and headed to the Merchant Guild. Cassadore was delivering the eggs, so we parted ways at the Merchant Guild.

My mom saw Milaine, greeted her, and we followed her inside.

Then I stopped in my tracks. I hadn’t expected these people at all!

“Fina, it’s been too long,” said Ellelaura. “Well…not that long. We saw each other at Misa’s birthday party, after all.”

“Why, yes, Master Fina,” said Zelef, “we haven’t seen each other since the party!”

What were they doing here?

“Fina, do you know them?” Mom asked me. I did, though Mom didn’t.

“Um…this is Lady Noa’s mother, Lady Ellelaura. And that’s Uncle Zelef, who cooks at the castle.”

I called him Uncle Zelef because when I’d tried to call him Lord Zelef, he’d shake his head and smile. “I would prefer it if friends of Master Yuna were to refrain from calling me that and instead just called me Zelef.”

He was the top chef in the castle, so that didn’t seem quite right, but Uncle Zelef said that was what he wanted. So we compromised.

Mom was shocked. “What? Lord Cliff’s wife? And a palace chef?”

“I am Ellelaura Fochrosé. I hear Fina is always playing with my daughter Noa. Thank you so much for that.”

“I am Zelef, the head chef at the castle. I’ve met your daughter and Yuna several times.”

My mom seemed flustered as she introduced herself. “I am Fina’s mother, Tiermina. Thank you for always looking after my daughter. Thank you so much for allowing Lady Noire to come to the shop so often!”

My mom looked at me and Milaine for some kind of explanation, but I didn’t know why they were here or why they wanted me and mom.

“What did you call us here for?” asked Mom. “Did my daughter do something…?” My mom gave me a worried look. If I had done something wrong, I sure didn’t remember it…

“You don’t need to be so nervous. Fina didn’t do anything. Zelef and I simply came here to see Yuna’s shop. When I spoke to my husband, he recommended going through Milaine,” said Ellelaura.

They explained that they were starting a restaurant at the capital to sell pudding and cakes using Yuna’s recipes. They’d traveled all the way to Crimonia to see Yuna’s shop.

“Milaine told me that you were managing the shops and that you’re Fina’s mother,” said Ellelaura. “You’re always looking after my daughter Tiermina, so I wanted to meet you.” So that’s why she’d called us over. “By the way, could we see Yuna too?”

So, they didn’t know. “Yuna isn’t in town right now,” I said.

“She’s not?!” Lady Ellelaura exclaimed.

“I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize for something like that,” said Ellelaura. “I came here without letting you know in advance.”

“Is Yuna coming back soon?” asked Uncle Zelef.

I shook my head. “She said she was going very far away, so she doesn’t know when she’ll be back.” I didn’t know where the elves’ village was, but Yuna told me it was a long journey.

“But I was so hoping to surprise her...” Lady Ellelaura looked disappointed. She’d sure surprised me, though! “It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing to do about it. In that case, would you both be kind enough to show us around. That is, if we wouldn’t be in the way, that is.”

“Us?”

Ellelaura nodded. “Yes, as long as we’re not in the way.”

I glanced at my mom. Mom looked nervous and didn’t seem to know what to do.

“I hope I may come as well,” Uncle Zelef chimed in.

Mom looked like she really had no idea what to do. She looked at Milaine as if asking for help. Milaine shook her head very slightly—just go with it, she seemed to say.

That was just how Lady Ellelaura was. She was very kind, but a little pushy. And she also acted like I was a dress-up doll once.

My mom looked at everyone. “If you’re fine with us doing it.” She couldn’t say no to a noble like Lady Ellelaura.

“Would you really? Thank you!” said Ellelaura.

“Thank you very much,” said Uncle Zelef.

“I’d also like to ask that the two of you refrain from telling anyone that I’m the lord’s wife,” Ellelaura added. “I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble for the shops, and I’d like to see them in their usual state. So please pretend that Zelef and I are your acquaintances, Tiermina.” Lady Ellelaura smiled.

Uncle Zelef bowed his head. “If you would be so kind.”

“Let’s head right over,” Lady Ellelaura said and stood up.

“I’ll prepare a carriage,” Milaine declared, but Lady Ellelaura said no.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen the town, so I’d like to walk.”

Uncle Zelef nodded. “I believe this is a good opportunity for me to take a walk as well.”

And so we walked to the shop with Lady Ellelaura and Uncle Zelef.