“I cannot make myself any clearer.” Eric was the first to speak. Seren hid their face as their nose wrinkled in annoyance. His rage was dissipating away and whatever drama had been happening was over.

“You are playing favorites and being cruel and unjust.” Lady Summers sneered.

“That’s my right,” Eric sat down at his desk again. “We’re not getting anywhere with this discussion. Accept my terms or get out.”

“My son has a talent for numbers and figures.” Lady Summers boasted. “He’s an asset and you know it.”

“Serenity here has fae in them. They know the worth of everything and anything to the very cor.” Eric countered. Which had Seren smiling broadly and smugly as they copied their day’s notes from one binder to another. “They are invaluable.”

“They have fae in them.” Lady Summers said, but in the tone that made it sound like a negative. “Fae are disgusting little thieving degenerates.” Seren’s smile vanished and they rolled their eyes.

“Disrespectful, vile, horrid-”

“THAT’S ENOUGH!” Eric’s shout rattled the windows and shook Seren’s bones. “I WANT BOTH OF YOU OUT OF MY HOUSE!” Wilbur bolted but Nicole narrowed her eyes at both Seren and Eric before retreating without another word. Seren copied over their work and then did their final count of the money they’d collected.

“Are you all right?” Eric asked.

“Hmm?” Seren asked, looking up suddenly.

“Don’t take anything Nicole says seriously. She’s a venom spitting viper.” Eric said.

“Oh, I don’t.” Seren shrugged. “But the yelling was pretty loud.”

“You knew we were yelling up here.” Eric pointed out. “I know for a fact you could hear my voice downstairs.”

“How could I resist hearing you put her in her place?” Seren smiled over their shoulder.

“If you keep looking for trouble, you will find it.” Eric said, sitting down at his own desk. “How was your day? I expected you back sooner.”

“I got a bit hung up on one job.” Seren said. They entered their final count and closed their books. “Done!”

“Let me see,” Eric held out his hand and Seren placed their ledger into it. Cleaning up the money they’d collected as he looked over their work.

“Well done, as always.” Eric nodded. Taking the money and handing back the ledger.

“Thank you, as always.” Seren smiled. Eric nudged them and Seren laughed. “I’m going to get out of this outfit and take a bath.”

“All right, get out of here.” Eric shoved them and Seren left their binder on the desk but took their bag with them out of the study. Going down the stairs and to their room.

Seren chucked their bag onto their bed and buttoned the vest and the button down shirt. Revealing the padded under armor commissioned to fit them snugly and perfectly. The padded leather was strong enough to stop most sharp weapons and even low caliber flintlocks. Though as Seren found out the hard way, just because it stops the weapons from breaking the skin, it does not stop from bruising them.

They unzipped the sides and peeled off the sweaty padding. With their arms up, they felt the coolness of finally being free of the hot clothing. Without the tight armor, Seren was able to breathe and their curves were more defined. The signs of puberty were starting.

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Their chest was trying to fill out which made Seren hate running around without the padded armor on. What’s worse. They became overwhelmingly aware of the odor they produced. Especially after a hot day like today when all of that sweat soaked into their armor and made it unbearable eye watering.

Seren tossed it to the floor and picked out the clothes they’d wear after their bath. A few curt knocks on their door signaled the arrival of mrs. Houper.

“Come in!” Seren called, Mrs. Houper entered gingerly.

“I’m going to take your work uniform to be laundered.” She said quietly.

“Thanks,” Seren said equally low.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. You’re growing up.” Mrs. Houper said reassuringly. Seren felt their cheeks get bright red.

“Fine, whatever.” They said trying to hide. “I’m taking a bath.”

“I put some new things in the bathroom for you.” Mrs houper said. “To help with the… with the changes.” Seren clenched their jaw and ran for the bathroom. They did not want to have that conversation with anyone, much less their housekeeper. After shutting and locking the bathroom door, Seren sighed in relief. Seren thanked their lucky stars it was Mrs. Houper trying to have the conversations instead of Eric. Seren was sure that’d go over even worse.

Seren lounged in the library after their bath. Reading the last few pages of their book. with a satisfied sigh. They closed their book. The book went by so fast it left Seren feeling like they were floating. They replaced it in their bag and headed downstairs. In shorts and a t-shirt they found the rising heat more comfortable.

They went downstairs where Eric was in the kitchen speaking with Mrs. Houper. Seren felt their cheeks get hot as they imagined the pair were speaking about them.

“I’m heading to the library.” Seren announced.

“Be back before dinner.” Eric replied automatically.

“What happened to your legs?” Eric asked after a double take, before Seren could walk away.

“Mrs. Houper left some stuff to try in the bathroom.” Seren said, trying to hide the numerous bandages on their legs.

“Like what?!” Eric scoffed.

“Don’t worry Mrs. Houper said, waving her hand. “You go ahead.” Seren nodded and bolted. Not stopping to put on shoes, finding it felt better to roam barefoot.

The stone walkways were just the right temperature to avoid burning their feet. Seren hummed and thought about their book’s plot. Letting their mind be consumed entirely by daydreams.

“Keep it down!”

Seren paused, looking around for who had spoken. Assuming they had been talking to them about their humming. Seren’s glare rounded the streets until they saw a little group huddled together in an alley. Seren looked around at the other people on the street paying them no heed. It made Seren all the more suspicious. Unable to help themselves, they snuck forward to listen to whatever the little group were talking about.

“You’ve seen it? Seen the gold?” One of the voices asked in hushed excited whispers.

“I have! The mines are starting to operate again!” Another of the voices said. “It’s a gold vein that’s filled with gold! We’ll be richer than kings!”

“SHHH!” With a single individual pointing, all the group turned to look at Seren, listening at the end of the alley.

“Fae-touched.” One man said with a sneer. “C’mon let’s go somewhere the fae can’t stick their greedy noses.” SEren rolled their eyes and walked off at the same time the group dispersed. They wondered what anyone would want with gold? Nothing in their kingdom ran on gold, it had no value in their kingdom specifically.

But the thought did make Seren itch inside. Like their skin was crawling. They shifted their shoulders trying to shake off whatever the feeling was. But like a sliver, it stayed embedded in them.

Seren cleared their mind as they arrived at the library. Their favorite place in the world, every book was like a doorway to another world. They couldn’t think of anything more magical. The heavy doors creaked open as Seren threw all their weight into pulling them open. The smell of the old books hit them hard in the face and enticed them to leave all their troubles at the doors and escape for a bit to somewhere else.

Seren took their book and slid it through the return slot. Then they were left with the immeasurable task of finding another one. That took time and considerable amount of reading to find something they’d be happy with.

They wove through the bookcases, letting their mind wander through the titles in hopes they’d find something that ignited their curiosity. But all they could think of was that stupid gold mine. What was so special about it? After pacing their usual reading haunting grounds and finding absolutely nothing that tore their mind away from fae and gold and why it mattered.

After the second round through the familiar bookshelves, Seren sat down in one of the comfy chairs. Clearly they had a preoccupation, and it was interrupting their fun. So they did the only thing they knew what to do. They walked up the grand stairs case out of the fiction section and into the non-fiction archives.