What is lady Matilda thinking?!

Lia passes by the hallways as she saw Myra mopping the hallway with a bucket.

Tch, what a dirty blood! Pretending to be friendly, she must be looking down on us within her mind. 

That expression?

Lia grinned and kicked the bucket near Myra and walked away.

So fake.

Before being informed of being a cleaner...

"What is the meaning of this, sir Mar?! Why is that kid going to be working here?!"

"Stop with that tone of yours."

"I! Ugh!!! You do know how the Nelveran clan's treated our clans is like!! This isn't acceptable! Have miss Matilda already forgotten how she was abused by them?!?!"

"Watch your mouth! That kid will only be here for 3 days, alright?!"

Lia bits her lip as she recalls the other Nelveran clan members had treated her and did to her family.

Apparently, the Nelveran Clan's reputation is of a selfish clan who is also known to even use cruel actions to reject the other clan's request for help during the war and how they belittle clans with harsh discriminations. This all happened before the clan's leader died and replaced.

"They're despicable... And now we're letting their child in here?! It would've been better if she's just a passenger, but this?!"

"I said BE QUIET about it!! It still remains that I dislike that bastard clan and even those two! However, make it a reminder that we are under orders here! Now! Go back to your work!"

"Tch!"

Lia slams the door behind her and walked away roughly.

"That Lia... !"

"Please pardon her, sir Mar."

"It's fine."

Lia pounds by the wall on her back by the hallway as she covers her face with her hand and bears her teeth in anger.

No way! No way I'll let this be! I can't stand it!

Why are they acting like there's nothing wrong?! Have they accepted her, already?!

If that's the case... Then I'll just have to get rid of her myself!!

At the second day of traveling to south...

Myra headed to the assigned areas to clean and did her best to avoid Lia who she would pass by with.

 She assisted the other cleaners as she continued to do her job whilst avoiding getting caught by Lia's eyes.

She went with the other main cleaners and were ordered to wipe some things and organize the items.

While I was wiping through a room full of books and even a desk, Its thrilling to clean such a room.

There are 3 offices within the ship we were in, the office near the other bedroom is for the business documents while the main office were located by the second floor in which we staffs are restricted to enter, and I was also told this room is an ordinary office for the ship transport documents which Miss Matilda's mercenaries is accounted to do. 

We weren't allowed to touch the documents and is watched by the guards within the door as we clean the office.

The guards is clothed in a black suit with a black metal around them looking like they came from a palace's knight.

Myra smiled in enjoyment as she smells the paper and the book's scent.

This smell! How amazing this is!

"What are you smiling there for, kid?" - Said by the guards.

"Ah, sorry! It just smells good."

"C'mon, stop slacking now."

"Yes!"

As I finished cleaning, I felt a sense of fulfillment and a little relieved to complete at least a proper job by morning.

Sighs... 

Myra looks up as she walks through the hallway and sees the sky by the circled window.

It's already my second day, out of the island... Although I had gone with the flow with everyone around me, as I even understand what they're talking with me. I still can't supress my own sensitivity to my hearing as I hear them all gossip about me.

"Look at her, is she from that clan?"

"I heard she failed at her first day. Hahahaha."

Myra passes by with the rounding words that she hears.

Turns out, they are still the very people anyone can encounter... But the difference from the territory... 

Is how this mere ship is more noisy than the territory.

After that day, I thought I'll get scolded harshly or quickly get fired... And it's my first day too...

As I walked by the cafeteria to assist a cleaner, a passerby woman noticed me and said, "Are you the rumored cleaner here?"

"Uh, Oh yes. I am, my name is Myra."

"I see, Myra huh? I heard about the troublesome things that happened by the room 2."

"... Oh."

She got downcasted and lowered her head.

"Hey, look here..."

Am I going to get scolded now?!

As Myra closed her eyes and readied herself for anymore harsh comments, the woman puts her hand by Myra's shoulder.

"I know Lia my be harsh yesterday, but don't take her actions way too far or say anything to her. She's just like that... Especially coming from a DIRTY clan."

"!"

Myra flinches as she widens her eye for hearing such words.

"I'm not saying you're dirty or anything, and looking at you coming out of that island you must've been kicked out. So being obedient here can be the best advice I can offer for you."

The woman's mouth gets near Myra's ear and say, "I'm just saying, in short- KNOW YOUR PLACE NELVERAN."

She grinned as she pulls herself back.

The other man of the ship went by the cafeteria as they proceeded with their work. "Sena! Get yourself to clean this table, real quick! Lunch break is about to arrive!"

"Got it!"

While Myra became completely still as she slowly looked up, Sena smiled at her and said, "You can just take my advice as you should for being here."

She clenched her fist as she trembles in holding back.

Stop it! Remember what you came here for! Myra! Don't give in to their provocations!

Yes, that's right... 

Myra sighed as she relieves her fist. She proceeded with cleaning and assisting her superiors. 

Lunch time came, and Marshall came in through the lunch area with a meal of a sour boiled soup fish, some boiled potatoes and a pile of cup of rice as per the day's menu.

Marshall looked a little tired and is dressed with the usual cloth and wears a scarf around his neck just like the southerns. His eyes looked everywhere as he became puzzled.

Where is Myra? It's lunch time already.

As he passed by the tables and some other workers had begun with getting their meals and sitting on their table.

Somewhat, Marshall looked around for Myra as he noticed Lia sitting with her colleagues and managed to get an eye contact at each other. Which made Lia glare at him as she finds her seat and the tables had already become full.

Some men suddenly waved his hand to Marshall, "Over here, man!"

Marshall approaches near them with a straight face as he raised his other eyebrow.

What's these guy's business?

Although I've began working just yesterday, I still hadn't gotten along with any of the workers that well yet, since they seem to kept on ignoring me since yesterday.

I did expected something else, but such things are happening out in the open. 

The remnants of the war still scatters even bits and pieces... We all still have a long way to go for such a dream, even with that contract.

As he's about to put down his plate, he had a long look and heard some laughs behind his back.

He looked down as he moves his face a little bit, seeing as how a worker sticked out his feet.

"Actually. Nevermind." He said as he smiles.

He walked away from the table and stepped on the person's foot.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing, huh?"

The man stood up with a frustrated expression, while Marshall remained standing.

"Oh? Sorry, that was accidental! How could you stick your foot out there sir?"

"!"

The man became flustered as the eyes of the others became around him, making him feel embarrassed.

"YOUU BRAT!"

As he's about to attack him, Marshall managed to dodge and continued to walk away, whilst the man stumbles on his feet.

"What is going on here?!"

Charles, came by the scene.

Marshall went near by the door to where Charles is at.

Charles blocked his way as he questions, "What is this trouble now?"

Marshall looked at him with his glare as he said, "Just the usual."

Charles flinched from such a gaze coming from someone younger than him, he scanned the whole area behind Marshall's back. 

Marshall passes by, and Charles frowned as he looked at the lunch area, where some of them quickly turned their faces around as also some of them were caught holding back their laugh.

These little... !

Marshall continued to wander around as he became a little farther away.

Ugh... I really need to watch my temper... With sir Charles' change of expression earlier, he may even misunderstood it. 

I sighed as I continued to search for Myra. I wonder where she is?

He looked at the lunch he carries as he went through the rooms.

Nevertheless, I need to eat. She may have just gone out or something, she'll be fine.

Marshall moved forward through his room.

"Yeah, she'll be."

He sat down and grabs his spoon.

She'll be fine. She'll be fine. She'll be fine. She'll be fine!

AS IF!

Marshall turned around and called out, "Myra?! Where the heck are you?!"

Although, she may be fine, considering the confidence that girl had in front of a Mercenary the day before yesterday... And she's a Nelveran clan member! ... Still! In all truth, that girl is still new from these people!

The boy continued to search for Myra across the ship and calls her name.

====

What am I doing... ?

Eating... In. A. Deck?!

Of all places I could be!

Myra sits still as she tried all her might to balance herself from the ship's movement.

She's now at the back of the deck, where most of the staff were either at the lunch area or have less people to go to. Behind her, is a wall where the ship's room driver is doing his job, while the front of the ship is clear and people should be on their way for lunch.

Still, I've got to be grateful that at the very least, the back of the deck do at least have a little more space enough to let me use my legs to keep myself still.

Myra eats her lunch quickly.

Even though there are other places I could eat my food besides the lunch area, there's still a lot of chance to catch miss Lia's attention if I went by my room.

And... Who would miss such a view from the deck like this?

In front of the eating Myra, there was the spread of the ocean right beneath her where there appears a breathtaking view of some a little island from afar and along with the sun's gaze right from the clear sky.

"... yra!"

"H... ey!"

Myra blinks her eye and heared a voice from the ship.

She turned her eye at the left side of her position.

"Hm?"

Someone seems to be calling me...

"Myra! Where are you?!"

Her eyes widened as she familiarized the voice and stood up.

She walked through by the edge of the wall behind her and and moved her half body to see who may be coming.

I heard Marshall's voice downstairs... Is he looking for me?

As she's waiting right by there, Marshall rushed to come up by the deck as he pants from exhaustion.

I went all around inside the ship... Carrying... My lunch...

Could they... Have bullied her or something... ?

"Myra, where are you... ?"

*Sniff.*

... Should I let him know... ?

A gurgling sound came out.

"Ughh...  That little Myra..." As he curled her face at the fence of the deck at the left side, he turned his face at his right side with an upset expression. As his eye caught Myra who was staring at him.

"MYRA..."

"..."

"You..."

"... Hm?"
"How much did you hear... ?"

"..."

How should I answer that question?!

"From... The start?"

Marshall trembles as he points his finger.

"Y.... You...!"
"Well, should we eat first... ?"

He made a straight face, as he proceeds at the back of the deck and quickly sat down and ate his meal.

Myra went back to her position and sat down a little further away from Marshall.

As they continued with their meal, the awkwardness of the atmosphere arose within them as Myra said,  "So... Why are you looking for me... ?"

With the sudden question, breaking the awkward atmosphere, Marshall flinched as he's about to take his third bite.

He took a bite and looked at her with his half closed eyes.

Of course, I won't tell her, I looked for her, all over the ship because I had been worried...

What else am I gonna say?

He clears his throat as he said... " You weren't at the lunch area. And I'm the one who's going to accompany you throughout the south, so... I-ah... I need to keep an eye on you, you know?"

So? He's going to keep an eye on me if I ever do something? 

Myra frowns as she looked away from Marshall.

"And..."

What... ?

As he recalled the eyes and sight of the other staff around the lunch area earlier, he continued, "It's hard to be there alone."

Myra became stunned with what she heard as she paused for a while as she took a little look at Marshall's gaze who continued eating.

What does he mean by that... ?

He looks serious.

I guess, I should also finish my food.

To be continued...