Crowned

Arc 3, Chapter 94: I Looked Into the Mirror, and Realized it Was the First Time.

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A boy behind the counter glanced up with a confused expression, then flinching as he recognized Lollipop smiling as she stepped in. "Lolli? Hey! I didn't know you were stopping by today? Came to help?" He laughed, leaning over the counter.

"Oh. Me? No! No, they are. Talked to your father. These two will be working for the next while to pay off a few debts. And perhaps... get by." She shrugged, smiling.

"Debts? Oh god... Lollipop I'm not gonna see a bunch of thugs on my doorstep right...?" Donut panicked more disappointed and upset than angry. Mostly because he had hope Lollipop was well minded enough to not have done that.

"You take me to be so rude? By The Crowned's Grace... No! Nobody will. Unless You count myself." She spun a hand, then stepped aside and directed a metal hand at the two beside her, "I ever so kindly paid for their stay at the inn across town."

Donut looked between the two. Short woman, and a tall hooded—no—cloaked man. He narrowed skeptical eyes, "I don't think..."

"They are not as sketchy as they look. Rather pathetic, actually." She waved a hand dismissively, "Please do consider them as no more threatening than any regular bystander."
Silver scoffed, then turning his chin up with a huff.

Donut cleared his throat, "Your entrepreneur 'business' fetches quite the buck in the market..." Donut commented, "why make them pay you back? Besides, The inn across the town is barely even—with all due respect—inhabitable."

Lollipop grumbled, "Money is money, you don't exactly stay wealthy spending it, yes?" She huffed, side eyeing him. Donut shook his head and turned to the two of them still at the door.

A hand extended across the counter, Silver scrunched his face up in disgust, stepping forward and shaking it reluctantly.
"Good to meet you. My name is Donut, though I'm sure you know as much."

Silver nodded silently, furrowing his brows, "So... you... are our boss...?" He trailed, his teeth showing as unsurely inspected the kid's face. No way in hell was he over sixteen.

"More like co-manager." He shrugged, "Anyway, have you worked in a bakery before? Or do you need training?" He asked taking his hand back and folding it on the counter in front of him.

"Hardly..." he admitted shamefully. He'd not worked a day in his life. For the most part anyway.
Candle stepped behind him, shaking Donut's hand next. Then standing with a peaceful smile.

Donut cleared his throat, "Alright. I can do a bit of teaching. We mostly make bread here, but if you don't know how to bake, I'll just have you clean the front, for today."

Silver wanted to protest, but got an angered look from Candle, and let up in an instant. Candle clenched her eyes shut, and took a calm breath, "When can we start?"

"A few moments. Expect the bakery to open as soon as the bread in the oven is finished baking." He informed, then turning to enter the back of the establishment.
Lollipop watched him do so.

Candle then looked to Silver Spoon, "Do try to be polite... And put in effort. Won't you?" She hissed through gritted teeth.

Silver turned his heel to face the window of the store front, "I'll get right on that, darling..." He spat towards the wall.
Lollipop then sat at a stool, leaning on her metal fist.

As soon as the shop opened the occasional customer would enter and order. As Silver and Candle were beckoned to clean everything on a whim. Every task completed, though Silver tended to cut corners despite being told to refrain by Candle. He hated working. Which, was to be expected of course.
Every customer felt like they pondered the options of simple bread for days at a time. Silver found himself glaring at them. Bread surely couldn't be that difficult to pick from? And he doubted the options were high class or diverse considering their limited selection of product. He hardly considered the place a bakery.
Scrubbing the floors until he was sweating. Though he hardly started, he still felt exhausted, perhaps because his lack of overall exertion in his life? What a shame that he never used the house gym. He'd never had to, he only ate the healthiest things. And his metabolism was spectacular. So there was no need to work. But perhaps, there would be down the line. And he had been praying the price. As work would take twice if not, three times as long.
The hours went by like years. Silver dragged his heels at every opportunity. Donut had to put his foot down a few times, which was less than pleasant for all parties. It could be noted that Donut was lenient where he could be. He could tell something was amiss with the two of them. That Silver, specifically, was struggling to adjust. Before long the day would soon come to a close.