Finally! It’s my day off.

After receiving my salary which is only 40 silver coins, I headed towards my home downtown.

“Papa! Welcome home!”

My little six year old daughter, Dria came rushing towards me. She suddenly jumped and struck my stomach like a spear. Good thing I took off my armor or my daughter would get hurt.

Entering my small house, my wife greeted me with a gentle kiss on my lips. My little girl covered her eyes while saying “eew!”

“So, Eleanor, did the [Ember Slab] I ordered last month arrived?”

“Yes, dear. It arrived slightly earlier than I expect. I took the liberty in using it since we ran out of fire wood for cooking.”

“It’s fine. I ordered it just for you after all. Did you like it?”

“It’s wonderful. Cooking using it is easy. Although supplying it with mana is slightly tiring, I can get used to it after using it after a few times maybe.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”

Then after saying that, I pulled out a goose from the sack I brought. I bought this from the meat shop along the way here as a surprise to my beloved wife.

“Oh my, is that a goose!?”

Eleanor covered her mouth while looking very surprise. I haven’t seen this expression of hers in a while so it’s totally worth it.

“Yes it is, and it’s still fresh.”

***

After having a hearty meal in a long while, I took my daughter with me on a stroll in the park uptown in the east side of the city. I left my wife together with her sister since she needed help in tailoring some noble maids’ uniform.

“Papa! I can see so many people up here!”

Since I carried my little girl on my shoulder, she pulled my hair excitedly. It hurts, but only a little.

“There are. What do you want to eat?”

I faced the stalls to show it to my daughter. However, she didn’t say anything and her shoulders dropped.

“What’s wrong, dear? Is something troubling you?”

“Mama told me not to ask anything because papa needs to save money.”

So it’s because of Eleanor’s teachings. I do need the money to pay the monthly rent, but I can just spend a little bit since today is slightly special because of my day off.

“Don’t mind it. Pick one and I’ll buy it for you.”

Although she looks hesitant, she pointed a stall which sells Sweet Clouds. (It’ll be cotton candy on Key’s POV)

After paying the stall keeper, he gave me a stick with pink colored Sweet Clouds bigger than my daughter’s head. The price is quite reasonable which costs only 3 silver coins. Plus seeing my daughter’s big smile makes it worth it.

We went to the part of the park where there is a small pond with fishes in it. Luckily, there’s a bench near it for me to rest my legs.

I put my daughter on the ground. Since she wanted to explore near the pond, I let her off.

“Be careful not to fall into the pond.”

“Okay papa!”

After running off, I watched her while sitting on the wooden bench and relaxed.

Because the wind and temperature is in perfect harmony today, I can’t help but get sleepy. I can’t really blame myself for this because I’ve only slept for only 7 hours a week because of my duty as a gate guard. If I slack even for a little bit, I might lose my job.

Before I knew it, I already dozed off.

***

“Is he really your papa?”

“Uhuh!”

“You don’t look alike… no, your brown hair is the same.”

Suddenly, while I was having a nap, I heard a slightly familiar voice. Although I knew the second one was, the first one came from a person I just met recently.

When I opened my eyes, my daughter is being carried on a shoulder of a young man wearing a silver robe. The moment I looked down, I saw a pair of uncommon shoes peeking out from his robe. Judging from the small golden ornaments on his shoulders, this person is without a doubt a noble.

“Oh, he woke up.”

The young noble is surprised when I opened my eyes in shock.

Now that I have a good look at him, his face looks familiar.

“Are you the father of this kid?”

“Y-yes I am!”

I immediately stood up straight and showed some respect. After all, he’s a noble and I’m just a commoner.

He then lifted up my daughter from his shoulder and gave her to me.

I noticed that my daughter is licking unto something.

“Isn’t this Sweet Candy Lollipop?”

Doesn’t this sweet candy cost 12 silver coins? It’s very expensive.

“So it really is called a lollipop here.” I heard the young noble murmur.

“Anyways, I have to go now. I need to let my robe washed before the cotton candy stains.”

After that, he showed me the side which has a pink stain.

“Oh no! I’m deeply sorry in place of my daughter. Please, don’t turn her into a slave!”

I heard of this before, noble men are cruel towards commoners like us. Also, they have the authority to punish us or even turn us into slaves if they want.

Imagining that to happen to my daughter, it’s unbearable.

“What are you talking about? I’m not going to do anything to her. In fact, I owe her.”

--Huh?

He looked at me with a face mixed with confusion and surprise. After that, he told me to stop prostrating and urged me to stand up because he said it was embarrassing.

“I was looking for some stalls that sells sweets and ended up getting lost. Good thing your daughter bumped into me and helped me. Although she did accidentally stain my robe in the process, I’m still glad I met her.”

Then the noble man crouched matching my daughter’s height.

“Thanks for pointing me the direction kid.”

“No problem big bro!”

My daughter absently answered and happily licked the lollipop sir noble gave me.

This is too crazy. I’ve never met a noble who’s very generous enough to spare his money on some little thing for a commoner.

“Sir, thank you for the sweets you gave to my daughter.”

“Don’t mind it.”

He’s too kind. I can’t offer anything back to the noble.

“If you have something you need sir, if it’s within my ability, I’ll follow.”

I mean it. I can’t be rude to someone who made my daughter smile aside from me and my wife.

“No, no, no! I can’t accept that.”

Why is he looking flustered about? Is he not used to be highly revered?

“Please sir. I will do anything in my power to repay you of the things you gave to my daughter.”

He rejected it again, but I pushed on and insisted.

After a while, he finally yielded.

“Ah fine, I’ll accept your offer.”

Feeling victorious me and my daughter high fived to each other.

Then, he put his hand on his chin while looking like he is thinking of something.

“Then, do you know where to buy meat?”

-End of Side Story-