A few days have gone by since the time Nia and I bought the typewriter. Slowly but steadily, the time was flying by. It was now more than one month and ten days since we came to the inn for the first time. These one month and a few days flew by, so quickly that it wasn't until I looked back that I realized it had been quite some time.

During these forty or so days, I have only seen Elliel four times, and never since the first time did he mention anything about a certain time. The only time he did mention something close to that might have been the week when Shawn was released from jail, and yet even then he was merely reassuring that I could stay as long as I wanted, thanks to whatever was said to him. I don’t know what she said to him, but it seems that unless I come up to him directly, I would be abusing Madam's hospitality for an eternity yet again.

I know it should be time already, but if I were to leave this inn, then I would have to make a decision for-

"What’s funny? Is there something on my face? " Nia asked from across the table, her head lying on her arm on the table, starring at me.

"I was smiling?"

"Yes, you were. Were you mocking me inside it? " She said, pointing at her head, referring to her mind.

We were early in the afternoon, the restaurant's least crowded part of the day, leaving us with nothing much to do, other than this, sitting all alone on our own.

"No, I wasn’t. But I was thinking about something about you."

"What is it?"

"It’s a secret."

"But it’s about me, right? tell me."

"No,"

"Hey, come on, tell me, or at least give me a lead. What about me made you smile?"

"Are we interrupting something?" A familiar voice clearly interrupted.

"Hi, you two."

"First, Shawn, and now, An." Should I feel lucky to have sparred or jealous to be on my own? "

"Hello, you three."

"Hello, Franq, Charle, and Henri."

"Hello, Miss Rena. Did you happen to miss us when we were around? "

"Yes, we all missed you three. What can I get for you three?" Nia asked, rising from her seat and pulling a pen from a small notebook.

"I’ve already eaten, but for you and kindness alone, Miss Rena. I would take the menu du jour."

"Same for me."

"Same too."

"Understood, your order is taken, the food will be ready in a short while." She said, before heading for the kitchen.

A voice commented, "She's really gotten used to this."

"That’s what I was thinking."

The one commenting was neither of the four of us, but rather Shawn, who, with him, Zaraha, after silently greeting the trio, headed for the kitchen.

"Hello, Boys, I haven’t seen you at the construction anymore lately. What happened? "

"As if there is something to do there anyway?"

You’re one to talk. What about the cargaison you’re waiting for?"

"Everything is there; the wood, the nails, the cement, everything but those goddamn rocks. If I knew it would take so much time, I would have settled for something else.

"That will teach you to buy something that is usually only purchased by nobles. It is to no wonder it takes time for little people like us to have access to it. We’re far behind in the list."

"Just take it easy. I’m sure it will be there in no time. Patience. There is no need to hurry yourself over something over which you have absolutely no control."

"Yeah, I know, I know. It’s not like I could do something else than wait.

"Anyway, I’m here to ask, what about your bets, boys, especially you An and you Shawn?"

"Bets?" I asked.

"Cockfight."

"Oh, that." I completely forgot about that thing's existence. It was only now that I remembered that that rooster fight was supposed to take place this week. "When is it?" "Tomorrow..."

"The bet-placement is tomorrow, but the cockfight is for the end of the festival, three days later. "

Charle precised.

Shawn, upon being asked, responded, "You know how I feel about this. I think I’ll pass again this time."

"I mean, I can put a bet under your name. We have a good lead this time thanks to Lord Anson, no need for you to come over if that's what bothers you."

"I certainly didn’t plan to come over, but even the ... for the bet, I think I’ll pass this time. Next time maybe."

"I see. I won’t insist then." looking at me, Charle asked, "And you, An. This is your chance to see Roosterfighting for the first time with your own two eyes? "

I don’t think I can... I think it would be better for me if I didn’t go myself. "

"Eh, really? I was expecting a positive answer at least from you, but I won’t insist too. What about the bet? I can make one in your name. I won’t be able to bet much since you won’t be there personally, but I can 70% guarantee a success for you.

"It’s not like I have much money any-." Suddenly,I was interrupted by a loud call,

"SHAWN!"

I immediately recognized the voice as Zaraha’s, and so did Shawn, who, upon standing up for his seat, looking toward where the voice came from, froze up midway seeing Zaraha emerging from the door, holding arms with Rena and another girl from the kitchen, as if being escorted.

"I’m here. What happened?"

"It’s happening." She said, with a strange and almost comical expression on her face.

What exactly was happening? Looking toward the obvious wet part of her dress, we all came to one conclusion.

"Let’s escort her to her room," Madam said, dashing from the counter and immediately taking the other girl's place, getting some water delivered to the room. "

"You boys, have nothing to do with this. This is not a show for you to watch, so all of you, except you, stay here. Except you Shawn, you’re staying here." She ordered, seeing the four of us standing up, well, ready to give a helping hand, which apparently wasn’t needed.

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"Okay."

With these words, the four of them went upstairs, leaving the four of us behind, along with the little Finn.

Despite Madam’s order to remain in place, we all went up to the upper floor. Several minutes passed, and tension rose even though we were assisting with the thing itself; it was only a few moments later, when we heard the sound of a baby crying from afar, that almost all of us heaved sighs of relief.

Madam emerged from the alley leading to the chamber a few moments later, holding a bowl covered ontop by blood-soaked white towel.

Not even surprised to see us here, Madam reassured, "The baby was born healthy, and so is the mother; they are both fine. So which one of you want to be the parrain." She said, slighly leaning her head to point at what she was holding in her hand.

"Me, but I’m not sure if Shawn would be fine with this." Charle said, with an unsure voice, I've never heard him talking in."

"If you want to do it, just do it." Madam said, handing him the bowl. "You know what to do, right?"

"Toward the rising sun, is it?"

"Yes."

Having heard confirmation from Madam Charle, she took the bowl and left.

"You want to see the baby?" Madame asked us to.

"Yes,"

"Then follow me."

As allowed, we followed her to Zaraha’s room.

The new mom was sitting on her bed, while the new dad was seated beside her holding a very small human.

"Hi, guys. That was fast and weird, but she’s here now." Shawn said, in a strange, low, almost drunken voice. In fact, at a closer look, Shawn looked even more sweaty and exhausted than his wife looked.

We approached him and, lifting Finn to get a closer look, I saw the red face of the little baby. "It’s a girl. Look at this, guys."

I was expecting a joke, or at least a comment from Henri and Franq, who were the most joking of the trio, but none of them did. Instead, they just stared in silence, as if they were afraid to bother.

"Come on you all. That’s enough now. You will be scaring the baby, starring at her like that. " said after a while.

Having remembered my own experience as a baby, I could not agree more.

"You’ve seen her now; it’s time for them to rest." Madam yelled, chasing us away.

Looking at the corner of the room, holding yet another white blood-stainned towel, Madam went to her side, said a few words to her, to which she nodded, before taking the towel from her.

She, just like us, got out of the room.

"You’re okay?" I asked.

Seemingly a little bit dazed, she nodded, then said, "I need to change clothes."

It was only then that I noticed a little stain on her clothes.

Her room being next door, I accompanied her. Later, when she got out of her room, having changed attire, I once again asked, "You’re really okay?"

With a chuckle, she said, "Don’t worry, I’m okay. It’s just that I saw something I think I shouldn’t have seen, or at least, was not ready to see, so I was a little—Hey, don’t laugh!"

"Sorry, it’s just that- pffffft."

I did my best to supress my laugh, but it was beyond me.

"Hey, Stop it."

Taking a deep breath in and out, I apologized, "Sorry, I mean, I’m really sorry for you. I really am.

Come on, let’s get to the others. I’m sure they are waiting for us."

***

Later in the evening,

Most of us were gathered in the backyard of the inn, just outside the kitchen door.

"Is this really appropriate?" I asked.

"What do you mean, of course, a female version of Shawn is born, and we should celebrate that accordingly.."

"Celebrate, huh?"

The parents of the said child were not even present. Zaraha was still stuck in her room and Shawn was still at her side.

"Besides, we got Madam and the new parents' permission, so it’s allll fiiine." Franq reassured. Now, surrender to the booze like you did last time."

Sighing, I held out the glass in my hand for him to pour me something from the two carafes he had in hand. One was juice, while the other was beer. Needless to say, which one he poured me. He went to the person next to me. He was about to pour her a glass, but that person's answer was asking for something else. "I want the other too," Nia declared to Franq; Franq who earlier poured with confidence; confidence which he had lost completely and was now exchanging unsure glances with me. "Are you sure? I've never seen you never drank beer before, Miss Rena?"

"Yes, that's why I'd like to try it this time."

She said, putting her glass toward the carafe of beer.

Franq didn’t seem particularly at ease with serving, still threw at me desparate glances as Nia insisted to be served. Wanting to make him taste his own medecine, I decided to pretend to look away.

In the end, he was left with no other choice but to pour her glasses.

"You’re sure about this?" I asked after a while.

"I just want to try it just once."

"If you say so," I said, not stopping her.

After having served all of us, including other girls working for the inn, and even Madam, surprisingly joined us, Charles stood up to make a speech.

It was at that moment that Shawn came to join us, Charle, and handed him a glass, and declared,

"Gentlemen, Ladies, I think you know what we here for."

After a short laugh erupted, he took a pause, and just as it was about to get somewhat awkward, he said, "I’m the child parrain. I’m supposed to make an emotional speech here, but I don’t think I’m good at that, so today, I would like to go to the essential, to raise a toast to the good health of the little baby, to the mother, and to the well-maintain and construction of the house that will soon be theirs and theirs alone. Cheers."

"Cheer!" We all followed.

"Hey, what about me?" Shawn complained.

"You’ll be fine, like always." They simply laughed.

"Yeah, like always."

I looked at Nia, who guzzled down her drink in one go, and asked, "Are you okay?"

She looked at me in anticipation and asked, "Am I drunk?"

"I don’t think that’s how it works."

"Then I’ll have another one," she said, standing up to go to serve herself something.

Seeing how weirdly she was walking already and how resolute she was on getting drunk, I, though amused by this sight, reminded myself to look out for her since I had a weird feeling about this.

***

"Is it still far away?" Because I’m tired! "

"Shushh! Please, Nia, you’re going to bother Zaraha and the baby. " I said, as I was escorting the now-clearly drunk Nia as we passed through the alley leading to our respective rooms.

"Oh, the baby, okay." She sighed out, then blurted it out loudly, before laughing at herself for doing it.

"God, what have I done?" I lamented, clearly too late.

I should’ve stopped this sooner. I didn't, and here we are.

I stopped at her door, but remembering that next door was Zaraha, I settled to take her to my own instead.

We were welcomed by darkness, but despite it, I without trouble brought her to my bed and said,

"Here you are." I said, putting a seat on the bed.

The moment I sat her up, she fell down onto the bed, and yawned once again loudly, drowning into sleepiness.

Sighing but not complaining, I removed her shoes. Once I was done, standing up, despite the dark, my eyes met up with a fully awake Nia, who, out of nowhere, suddenly reached onto my waist with both arm,

"Caught you!".

"What are you doing?"

"I caught you… see?"

"Yes, I see that. Now come on, it’s time to sleep. The party is done already and it’s late at night too.

Soon it will be the morning."

"No, I don’t want that..." I want to stay awake, for ten years at least. " She whinned.

"Seriously,..."

What are you saying? Allez hop, au lit. " I spoke to her in the tongue, which we hadn't spoken in a long time.

"Non. You’re not even going to sleep yourself."

"I was, but if you don’t let go of me, I won’t be able to."

"I won’t let you go."

"Then I won’t be able to sleep. Unless, of course, I somehow sleep while standing still. "

"This time she didn’t comment; instead, she backed off from the bed while still holding onto my shirt.

One thing led to another, unless, of course, I chose to sacrifice my shirt, which I didn’t, I ended up on the same bed as she was.

Even though it was dark and there was no light, I could feel her gaze on mine and hear each of her breaths, which, despite the beer scent, felt sweet.

I felt her hand trembling. In that circumstance, something in the lower part of my body reacted strongly.

At first, I did with the intent of removing her hand away, but then I felt my hand drifting toward her. It was only the moment that I reached the fabric of her clothes that I realized what I was about to do.

Coming back to my senses, I, well, I think the reasonable thing to do was to leave immediately, but what I did was simply turn the other cheek to not face her anymore.

Just as I thought I would be finally spared, I felt her approaching from behind, to the point of feeling her against my back.

"Nia, aren’t you getting a little bit too close?"

"Is it uncomfortable?"

"Not really."

"Your back is very warm, just as it was back then," she said in a very soft voice, before asking a few moments later, "Would you mind if I slept like this?"

At that, we both knew the answer, but I still answered, "Not at all.”