Marcilla's guild was lively, as always. High-ranked and low-ranked adventurers bustled about, drifting in and out, sharing boisterous conversations over breakfast, or pulling quest parchments from the well-worn board by the entrance.
"Good morning..." Amoria greeted with a weary sigh as she stepped into the guild hall alongside Liz, her exhaustion clear in the slight droop of her shoulders.
"Oh, good morning. Sorry for calling you in, figured I should open the guild today when I saw Anne walk in here. It's not like people would dare try something while I'm here." Marcy called, her eyes darting to Amoria. She balanced a tray of saucers retrieved from the kitchen window, the Guild's maid passing along plates laden with steaming, savory meals. The meaty aroma wafted into the air as Marcy set the dishes down near a group of hungry adventurers.
"It's alright... I guess I needed some distraction myself," Amoria admitted, patting her daughter on the shoulder with a tired smile. "Thank you for coming with me, Lizzy."
'So, Anne wanted to work today too...? I wonder if she wants to hang out afterwards?' Liz smiled contently.
"You look awfully tired." Marcy quipped, throwing another sideways glance; noticing Amoria's slumped shoulders and half-lidded eyes.
Amoria raised a brow but deflected, her gaze sharpening as she noticed the dark circles under Marcy's eyes. "... You look tired yourself."
"A-ah, yeah," Marcy stammered, her smirk faltering. "Demons on the upper floor. Had to stay up all night keeping things in order. If I didn't work today, I'd fall asleep standing."
A brief, awkward silence settled between them, their shared fatigue reflected in their expressions.
Liz glanced up, her brows knitting in thought. 'Does it have to do with... Van? And the reason he came to our house last night?' A shadow of worry flickered in her eyes as she recalled Van's presence in their house last night. 'He didn't do something to her, did he?'
"LIZ! What are you doing? If you came to work, start working the tables and get some orders!" Marcy barked suddenly, her sharp voice startling a few nearby B and A-ranked adventurers.
"A-AH, RIGHT AWAY!" Liz yelped, snapping out of her thoughts. She darted away from her mother's side, grabbing a cloth as she quickly tied back her smooth blonde hair and rolled up her sleeves, ready to dive into her duties.
She was slender, yet blessed with the same striking figure as her mother, her eyes a deep, piercing blue like the endless sky.
"May I take your order?" she asked lightly, her voice carrying the practiced ease of someone accustomed to the bustling guild hall. She stood by a table of five hulking adventurers, each one twice—if not three times—her size. Their broad frames dwarfed the modest space, their expressions unreadable as they sat with arms folded.
"...Sirs?" she questioned again, leaning in slightly when their silence persisted.
Not only was she popular, but undeniably beautiful—a source of admiration and envy. Most of her female friends, while encircling her with forced smiles, secretly resented her. Her male friends, unable to see her as just a friend, always harbored feelings for her, and by default, despised Michael, who seemed to hold a privileged place in her life due to their shared history.
Even some of the adults at the guild had, on occasion, spoken about her inappropriately—though never in her presence.
But only once.
Just once.
After that, no one dared to so much as glance at her for more than two seconds.
YOU ARE READING
Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord
FantasiVan and his friend Magus had reincarnated in another world with magic. Tasked to kill the demon lord, they set forth. Van was granted very rough skills that made life for him in that world a living hell, yet he muscled through. Magus however, was be...
