Entralling Bloom

15.) Church Mice

Rosalind

Rosalind jumped up in her seat a little at Jilliana's words.

If not for her scratched wrist and Lisa's potion. Rosalind would have left Albedo as soon as she got back to town. He was clearly catching onto her and the last thing Ros wanted was to be sandwiched next to him in the pews while Barbara took forever to summon up whatever mystical healing powers she supposedly possessed.

 Ros couldn't help but steal a glance at Albedo, who in return, was quick to shoot down Jilliana's idea. 

"That's a fair suggestion, Jilliana, but I believe giving Rosalind space would be a better way to calm her down. I've already been crowding her all morning and we're both in need of a shower after the hike we took to get potion ingredients today," Albedo said as he flashed a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Oh!" Barbara exclaimed nervously. "Please don't take Jill too seriously. She just likes to tease. She's always joking, telling me that I should have Mona see if my stars align with Bennett's. Poor guy always comes to see me at the church for his injuries, so Jill can't help but be humorous."

Jilliana gave a light chuckle, " Sorry I can't help but poke a little fun. What would become of the cathedral if we all started acting as stiff as Rosaria. Life's a burden without humor."

Though she was flustered, Ros still picked up on the confirmation Jill had unwittingly given her.

So Rosaria is a nun! She thought.

"Either way, " Jilliana said, avoiding the faux pas she had clearly made. "Perhaps you'd like to use the shower us nuns use to clean off, Rosalind? It'd be way more refreshing than a washcloth. We'll see to your wound once you've finished"

"Yes!" Rosalind squeaked. She then cleared her throat and hastily added, " Thank you, may I ask where the shower is?" 

Jilliana nodded towards the door she came from.

" You used it the first time you were here, remember? The door behind me leads to the rest of the church's facilities. Head on through and walk up the first staircase you see. From there, the showers will be the first door on your left."

"Thanks", Ros reiterated before dashing off towards the showers.

Albedo

As soon as Rosalind was out of earshot Barbara sighed and looked at Jilliana warily.

"Jill! You were there the first day Ros came to us for healing. You know what she's like. She's clearly an extremely reserved person, you can't just make jokes about...." Barbara's eyes darted towards Albedo's for a brief moment, " Her personal matters!"

"Sorry, sorry," Jill answered. "When we first met her I thought she was only feeling self-conscious because of all the attention everyone was giving her. I suppose I should have realized that she's just shy by nature."

Barbara frowned but she decided to let the issue go. " Well what's done is done, let's just try to be more respectful of her boundaries when she comes back."

Jilliana nodded. 

" So about Rosalind," Albedo said changing the subject, " I assume you two know that she started working with Lisa and the Knights of Favnius as a library assistant?"

"Huh?" Jill said directing her attention back to Albedo, "Well that's good. I may not be that perceptive, but when I first saw her, Ros seemed worried about making a life for herself in the city.  She was all too concerned about 'the cost of getting a check-up' from us or 'the cost of staying with the Knights'. It seemed like Ros expected people to want payment for everything little thing. Poor child, her hometown must have been filled with selfish merchants or something."