But this was a nice change, they did not say anything and seemed satisfied. And allowed her some time to breathe. Perhaps she was struggling, just as her eyes averted the next woman. One who was assigned to take her place, and in some cases, suffered for it. Just as she had when she was ordering and needing for the food to his specific requirements, at least so that it was not rejected.

To the degree that she thought her mother perhaps should have considered have alternative arrangements if they were young. Or start charging for the premium service of making food more palatable. Even as it was part of her impeccable service, and some of the more sympathetic adults had tipped her and the others. Although still largely rare when compared to other things.

Since it was never anything that they could do a lot about while they were here. “Anything wrong with her?”

“Mostly because I dodged something really terrifying. They really were trying to the test the sanity of the servers, or at least they did mine. But depleted the tolerance and patience of most of their other choices at least right now.” He didn’t agree, perhaps having seen most of the faces.

“I should get back to work.” At least to not be seen as skiving around. She went into the kitchen with the same tray and bringing the rest with her. It was already almost done and a pot of soup before it was completed at last.

Before passing it to them. “Signal if you’ll need dessert.” Before she went down, knowing that it was time to pick up some slack on the others. So far it seemed that there was none. And the woman who took her place had came forward to her.

Just as the man had passed her something else, this time around it was a large silver ingot. She slid it into her pocket, knowing that this was a little too much.

“It was far from easy, but it seemed they also understood the difficulty of it and paid me really well.” She gave an awkward smile, seeing the benefits to such a choice at least while they were here right now. There was nothing else which they could have tried to do so at the very least. And hid that she was also paid just as well.

“That’s great, it seemed that torture also paid off.” She also got it mostly right now. Same for her as well. Before she lightly smiled, while heading down and taking the chance to see the center. Where it was fine, albeit somewhat struggling. She took over some of them, and handed most of the dishes to the right one and took orders for the others.

Her colleagues struggled with mostly remembering the complicated nature of her mother’s menu. Often difficult and somewhat tricky, but she was familiar due to having spent years working her. Ever since she was a child, to learn the ways of her mother. While allowing her to spend her afternoons running around as long as she spent her evenings inside.

This allowed her to have her mother pay her, giving her more freedom than most. Able to buy things that truly interested her as opposed to things which largely did not. Sweets, as well as interest. Just as the pay was rarely good until now, where she earned enough to save.

Largely for her lofty dream of leaving. Having achieved the age of majority of girls, at fifteen. Although for most was a sign that she was ready for marriage, more so than an actual adulthood. While actual girls who were unmarried did not do so. But for commoner, it rarely mattered.

Girls were heavily involved in the house from a young age. Forced to learn weaving as the way to support their family. And often seated near their mother who taught them the art of doing so, and thus allowed them to slowly gain skill. She was decent but never good.

Her life laid here, even as in earlier times she would have been reduced to a loose woman. One who lacked the womanly virtues. But now, there were less restrictions on where they could go. With female poets mostly choosing to stay out late and bars to drink, regardless of their marital status. And of course courtesans who would go onto win the influence of powerful courtiers, holding sway but also not bound to them.

And often finding their retirements in somewhat comfortable, having mostly later on paid off their bond. And a special rise of entertainers or adventuresses, exploring the country and vastly beyond. And why she was here, wanting a chance to do this.

“Chaoyun.” This time it was her mother, having left her office likely having done with all her paperwork. And things that needed to be done. “Come with me, there is something we need to say.” She nodded, having most agreed for most part.

The office was hidden on the second level, just before their rooms. Where she would usually sleep and so would her mother. Also with empty rooms as well, although they were not used and her mother did not want to compromise it so far. Other than lending it to children who had nowhere else to go.

Inside, she found the same man watching once more. Someone whom she never thought to think about it right now. “There is something I need to say, this is your father Chaoyun.”

She blinked, taking a moment to process it.