’Is the receptionist...not coming back? The duchess looks angry as well.’
Had I not been a well-versed therapist used to guessing my client’s expressions, I would likely not have caught the duchess clenching her fists. And after waiting five more minutes, she decided she had enough.
She knocked on the door once but gave no ti for the person inside to open the door before she pushed it open.
I took a quick look inside as well, but saw no one.
That did not deter the duchess as she continued to walk inside before she stopped in front of the wall.
I could only see her hands moving and right before my eyes, a passage opened up and a person cowered not too far away.
"Are you trying to run away from ? That is not a wise decision."
The duchess reminded the receptionist, who let out a curse but imdiately stopped walking away and threw himself at the duchess’s feet.
"P-Please forgive . I truly did not want to run, but Madam Shelly took off as soon as she heard that you were here to see her."
The receptionist told the duchess and the older lady sighed.
From her expression and action, this seed to be a common occurrence.
"I see. Don’t worry about it too much. I am not angry at you. As for Madam Shelly...I will go and find her myself. Shopkeeper, why don’t you stay here and make yourself comfortable in the anti."
The duchess told and like the obedient person that I was, I decided to take a seat.
"Receptionist, make sure to serve my guest well."
With those words, the duchess decided to head out toward the lake. But as curious as I was to follow her, I knew it would be safer for to stay here.
"Would you like so tea?"
The receptionist asked , his shaky voice returning to normal once more. He looked embarrassed to have been caught lacking by and the duchess.
I could sense that the receptionist needed an excuse to step out and take a breather so I agreed. But I was not taking any risks, so I asked for water instead.
"A cup of water would be fine."
I told the receptionist, but I had no intention of drinking the given water.
After all, if the traditional folklores were to be believed, a fae’s generosity was never a good thing.
I was already tangled up with the duchess, so I wanted to avoid any more tanglent if possible.
The receptionist ran away quickly and then I waited once more. But just like before, the receptionist did not co back.
I started to get angsty around half an hour mark when no one returned and the clock in the room told that it was ti for to feed the puppy.
The puppy seed eager to suck up the milk as well. But its tiny body was also tense, most likely because it could sense that it was no longer at ho.
It let out a small growl and I petted its tiny head to assure it was all fine.
My familiar scent helped the puppy relax and it went back to sleep. And just at that mont, the door opened and the oldest woman I had ever seen stepped inside.
She looked so old and fragile that I feared she would collapse any second. I could see her skin stretched across her bones and her veins were also prominent on her face.
"I apologize for the wait, shopkeeper. I hope I did not keep you waiting for long."
The duchess told as she entered. But the lady I could only assu was Madam Shelly did not say anything.
She just gave a strange look before she huffed and took a seat in front of .
"Listen kid, I am doing this reading as a favor to you because the duchess asked to. As far as I can tell, there is nothing special about you....stop giving that look. I am doing the reading."
Madam Shelly told but halfway through she looked at the duchess. The duchess must have given her a look that made her beco tad.
I almost hesitated to place my hand on the old lady’s because I did not like her attitude and was half-convinced that she would curse .
But the duchess’s presence behind put an invisible pressure on and I ended up grabbing the fragile hand.
’Fragile hand...? How did I ever think this hand was fragile in the first place? Shit-! This old lady will end up breaking my hand at this rate-!’
The grip Madam Shelly had on my hand made feel like my bones were about to break.
I almost made a sound of protest, but the look on Madam Shelly’s face made stop. She looked far too eager to see make a noise.
So out of my desire to protest and prove her wrong, I kept my face neutral.
Madam Shelly’s expression changed as soon as she noticed that not only did I not make any noise, but my face was clear of any anger as well.
This intentional stalling did not go unnoticed by the duchess as well. But unlike , she seed more than willing to speak up against Madam Shelly.
"Madam Shelly, is sothing wrong? Do you have anything to say regarding my guest?"
The duchess asked and even I caught the hidden aning behind her words. She was telling Madam Shelly to not treat her guest rudely.
Her words made Madam Shelly finally do sothing other than squeezing my hand.
"Fine, I am getting it. Tsk, from the way you are worrying, soone would mistake you as his mother."
Madam Shelly complained before she concentrated. She spoke so words under her breath before her eyes went wide. She suddenly looked at once more and concentrated, but her eyes remained wide open.
Finally, she let go of my hand and turned toward the duchess.
"What the heck did you bring to my shop, you bitch-? Why can’t I...no, that’s not important. I need to run. The on of evil has finally found -"
Madam Shelly jerked her hand away from and looked at as if I were a devil.
I had only been called a devil by my juniors during my final years of dical study when I forced them to work with and help out. But in my defense, they had agreed to help out.
"Shelly, calm down. My guest is not a devil....but I admit that he’s not a human as well. I ca here because I thought you would be able to fathom my guest’s powers. But it seems I was wrong."
The duchess told Madam Shelly and half of the conversation flew over my head.
I desperately wanted to speak up, but the tension in the air made my mouth go quiet. I had a feeling that if I spoke, then I would be outing myself.
"Lilly-! You-! Ugh, fine-! I still think your guest is the devil but if you’re so sure, I won’t question you. But under no circumstance am I using my power on him again."
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