The weather had been too perfect to stay in. So Lily suggested to her coworkers that they all went to the coast and completed their errands this particular day. Thus, a few sat in the carriage and after an hour, stepped out to the quaint cobblestone path winding down the hills to the glittering blue sea. Lily's breath was captured at the light hitting the calm waves while many sailors loaded their well-crafted, wooden ships and mended the white sails.

As she made her way down the uneven stairs, the winds swayed the stray strands of her bun.

The quaint cottages were swirling down towards the shore while trees stood thick to overlook them. Bakeries lended the aroma of spices and baked goods when she entered the neighboring fabric shops; curtains playfully fluttered out of the stained glass windows when she passed through the narrow paths to the wax-maintaining salons and drying emergency rooms.

After hours of completing her to do list, she returned to the carriage to load all of the purchases. She had to catch her breath at the amount of ascending stairs. The coachman started unwrapping his lunch and her stomach growled in cue. 

'Want to sit here?' he offered. 

Lily waved. 'Thank you but I have an idea I need to do.'

He nodded before she gambolled back down the stairs, joy bubbling out of her with her arms coming out to glide with the refreshing sea breeze. Her heart fluttered at the bright clear sky, and serenity acting as the town's foundation. 

She stopped at an empty street, casting a glance before setting her eyes on a thick, lush oak tree. Adjusting her satchel, she climbed it, the bark textured in chipping layers beneath her fingers. The leaves gave way as she settled on a branch. When she looked forward, her face glowed. 

It was a clear view of the endless horizon of blue, glittering from sunlight like clusters of diamonds.

"What could be more perfect?" she sighed. She breathed in the sight before taking out her lunch—a sandwich the chefs prepared—and dug in, marvelling at the scenery and the smoked flavor.

A screech rang out overhead. With her gut knowingly wiggling, Lily looked up to see seagulls viciously circling her. 

"Uh-oh." 

She jumped to her feet to make her escape but one swooped in, beak opened wide to clutch onto the prize. Her hand shot out to shoo it away when, suddenly, her foot slipped.

Her expression froze as gravity tugged her. 

Hard.

With a yelp, she dropped, leaves slapping her back. Her skirt and satchel managed to hang onto mischievously positioned branches as she flailed to catch onto something before her sleeve did the job. 

Lily awkwardly dangled off the tree in a hunch, her clothes too sturdy to rip her free. She wiggled, the foliage rustling as the seagulls cackled at her in maximum delight. She didn't register the approaching audience before a voice she knew too well materialized behind.

"Lily?" 

'Aah…' She turned her warming face to see Cedric mighty surprised. She wished the branches yanked her up and awaay. "Nice to see you here too, Cedric." 

Then, boy, did he sound amused. "I hadn't known humans could be anti-gravitational."

'"Only the luckiest of us." She weakly smiled.  

"Do you perhaps need a hand? I possess a whole two of them."  

"That would be nice." Her arm holding the sandwich reached out to him. He chuckled before taking it carefully by the wrapping and to her surprise, side-stepped her to easily scour up the tree. He sat onto a higher branch and leaning low, lifted her up by her arms to his side.

She giggled, accepting back her lunch. He guarded her while she finished it and the seagulls left with a grumbling screech.

Cedric marvelled at the view. "I hope you don't mind me here. I'm rather fond of your find." 

"And I'm fond of the sandwich I got to eat thanks to you."

Their attention was grabbed by loud kids dashing with a ball, exclaiming in childhood ecstasy and volume. Their silly banter made them chuckle. 

Like all of the citizens in this little town, they were covered in either, or combination of, cork, waxed plant fibers, waxed leather, and dense wool. They may not be water-proof but they were water-resistant enough to safely live beside the sea. 

One of the kids coated in the fuzzy wool reminded her of a tall cloud. 

When they passed, the crash of the waves shrouded the atmosphere in lulling peace. Conversation unfurled like a flower as they oddly found no need to rush.

"The summer is slowly coming to an end. I will really miss it." Lily dropped her hands onto her knees.

"Thankfully, it comes back every year." 

"Yeah," she wistfully agreed.

He cocked his head. "Do you perhaps not favor the colder seasons?" 

"They're delightful in their own way." Lily shook her head. A strand clung onto her cheek and he held down the urge to brush it back. "It…doesn't really matter. Winter comes forth as well." 

"Hm." He thoughtfully watched her. She faced him. 

"I heard your dealings with the business have been finishing up as well." 

"Correct. I won't be terrorizing the mansion as often anymore," he said with a lilted tone.

She grinned. "Hm, indeed. You've been second to the cat toppling the ink bottles."

He gasped, "Lily."

She laughed. He leaned back, grinning. He enjoyed this. He loved it. How she felt so comfortable with him, and acted braver than most with any noble. How she respected everyone, no matter how vastly different and strange they were compared to her. The way she savored life in all of its facets, including the simple and the overlooked. 

"Do you want to work for me?" he asked, his light-orange vest shuffling when he straightened up. Lily stilled, mouth curling into a petite 'o'. "You can be whoever you want to be. I won't order anything. You will have lots of free time to do as you wish as well."

She was speechless for a second. "Not that I am not flattered by your offer, but I must ask for the reason." 

"I truly enjoy being in your company. I have met all kinds of humans throughout the years. But you—You possess an attitude and outlook on life I can't seem to get enough of. Lily, you're a merriment to be around." He gently chuckled. "If you can't tell by my incessant visits."

Lily blushed at his admission. He really was visiting so frequently just to spend time with her?

But she was part of a family now. And she liked them. They saved her and kept her heart warm all these months without entitlement. They were never unreasonable and were always fair. She found herself smiling even in  the rougher days.   

"It means a lot to me to hear you say such warm words about me, Cedric. And I do share your feelings. But I like it in the Marquis's mansion. They became my family, and I've come to see that they treat me as one. It's just our definitions are a little different. But it doesn't drive me away. I know you will understand me."

Cedric did but he won't lie to himself and say he wasn't a little disappointed. He didn't dare to show a droplet of it though. "I fully do. I didn't mean to put you on the spot. But I want you to know that my offer will always be available." 

She placed her hand over her heart. "I appreciate it." 

They smiled at each other. Well, until, an identical looking group of guards ran below them in clanking panic. Lily recognized them as Cedric's. She raised an eyebrow at him, albeit, eyes twinkling amused.

"Oops. I guess it's time I put my persistent guards at ease." 

He led them down the bark and when she landed with a small jump, he brushed his trousers. "In my defense, I did ask them not to hover so worried." 

"Maybe try not to shock them into shutdown next time." 

"And you try not to hang off the trees."

"Touchè." 

His chuckle rang in the air as he walked away backwards with a wave.