“Ah, the smell of fresh fruit, simmering meat, and the oh so delectable sugary desserts. I can’t understand how you could possibly not love the market.” Jack waved his around the crowded street.

“Because I prefer my food cooked by cooks.” Shen repeated for the umpteenth time.

“But,” Jack raised a finger, “What do you do those times you feel like cooking something yourself.”

“I remember that I can’t cook.”

“*Sigh* What would you do without me? No worries, my inept friend, I’ll cook dinner tonight. I’m thinking of making some chicken marinated in mango sauce and yoghurt with a side of seasoned rice and steamed vegetables. Trust me, you’ll love it.”

“Sure, sure, but remind me why I’m here again?”

“Because we’ve spent the last few days eating in that damn café, thanks to your incessant wishes. I’m tired of that food, I want something fresh for once. And seeing as I have a broken foot and one of my hands is occupied I need your help carrying the produce.”

“You could have just brought a servant along.” Shen complained.

“Oh, there’s the citrus fruit stall, perfect.” Jack limped towards the stall.

Shen hurried to follow, before the flow of the crowd swept him away.

“Hello Mr. Jack!” A high pitched yet soft voice spoke. Shen finally arrived to see Jack speaking to a young girl no older than ten.

“Why hello there, Lily. Is your mother available?” Jack smiled.

“U-huh. I’ll go get her.”

“Before you go,” Jack pulled out a lollipop from his pocket, “Remember, keep it a secret from your dad.”

Lily’s eyes widened in delight as Jack handed her the candy. She quickly undid the wrapper and popped it into her mouth. The little girl’s black bangs covered her eyes as she nodded her head in agreement. She quickly ran off to fetch her mother.

“You know that girl?” Shen asked genuinely curious.

Jack looked at Shen oddly. “Of course. It’d do you some good to meet some of the locals yourself, especially if you want to really find out what happened to that crazy girl you keep pretending not to care about.”

“What, no I’m not.” Shen quickly retorted.

“Sure thing, I mean it must have just been coincidence why we keep having to eat at the café then eh?”

“Jack, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” An attractive middle-aged woman appeared. She wore a brown apron, with a few light stains here and there. Her dark hair was wrapped in a bun. Though there were wrinkles appearing in the corners of her lacquered brown eyes, they did not detract from her beauty, only enhanced it. Her round cheeks formed a smile, her pearly teeth a stark contrast to her bronze skin. Not once among the royal courts had he seen someone smile like this woman, it was as if she had no cares in the world, an innocence like a child. It was bizarre and yet beautiful.

“Ah, madam Emelia, you are more beautiful than when I lost saw you.” Jack smiled.

Emelia laughed, “Oh please, silver tongue, I’m not getting any younger. But I appreciate the compliment. You know you best be careful with those candies you give Lily. My husband hates it when she eats sugar. She’ll run around the house for hours before finally falling asleep.”

“Not to worry madam, I have instructed Lily to not say a word to your husband of my involvement.”

Emelia laughed once more. “So, milord, what can I get for you today.”

“I am in need of four mangos, five lemons, and ten oranges.”

“As you wish. We just brought in a new batch of oranges, I’m sure you’ll love them. Though they’re still in the back. One moment. Lily, tell your sister to bring in a sack of ten oranges please.”

“Yes, mommy,” Lily ran off.

“Milord, if I may ask, what on earth happened to your leg?” Emelia questioned as she gazed at the cast.

Jack made a wide smile, “Well you see madam, I was in the middle of a dangerous robbery.” Shen did a double take, he couldn’t believe what his friend was saying.

“No,” Emelia placed her hand to her chest, mock worry on her face.

“Indeed, my valiant friend here, Shen Stone, and I were stealing secrets from a vile witch. Failure would mean the expelling of our lives in these lands.”

“How dangerous, go on.”

“Well, madam,” Jack leaned into the stall, “Lady luck was not on our side. Alas the witch found us in the midst of her lair, her secrets in my hands. It was at this point Shen shouted, ‘Save yourself my comrade! I shall fend off the witch.’”

Shen rolled his eyes. But Jack and Emelia didn’t notice and so he went on, “But to my dismay while Shen fought the witch, she had barred the door. So, I did the only thing I could, I jumped out of the window.”

“No!” Emelia gasped dramatically.

“Yes, and to my blessing Lady Luck had returned and I flew on the clouds and down to safety. Relatively speaking. The brave and skillful Shen was able to break free from the witch though as you can tell he suffered great injury.”

Shen was about to call Jack on his lie, but before he could Emelia turned to him and grabbed his hand, “You truly are a brave man. To have risked your life for your friend like that.”

Shen could feel his cheeks turning red, “Yes, well. It was nothing really.”

“Mom, I brought the fruit. What are you doing here?” Alice stared at Shen, “And why are you grabbing my mother’s hands?”

“Alice.” Shen’s jaw slackened at the surprise of seeing her here. He looked at the smiling Emelia. Of course, how couldn’t he tell. The two were practically sisters. But they were, “She’s your mother…”

“Do you know my dear Alice?” Emelia tilted her head in curiosity.

“W-well, sort of. We’ve met. Twice.”

“Wait. Alice, is the girl you’ve been telling me about?” Jack asked, his eyes widened in understanding.

“I don’t follow,” Emelia spoke while glancing between her daughter and Shen.

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you some other time mom.” Alice quickly said.

“Not really. I protected you from a creep. You kicked me in the balls.”

“Alice!” Emelia turned towards her daughter, her eyes narrowed.

“Wait, it wasn’t like that.” Alice quickly raised her hands in a plead.

“But then she stood up for me,” Shen added. “I was declared innocent of the incident thanks to you.” Shen looked into Alice’s eyes, “Truly thank you.” Shen bowed, “And I’m sorry if I offended you. It was never my intention.”

Alice didn’t speak for a moment, “It’s ok… and thanks for helping me with that ‘creep’. Nobles tend to think they have the right to do anything they wish.”

“I hope that you don’t believe us all to be like that, Alice. Some of us are actually only half terrible, eh?” Jack smiled.

Lily popped her head from behind Alice, “Mr. Jack isn’t a bad guy.”

Alice looked down at her little sister and at Jack, “No, he is not.” Alice turned to Shen, “Good for you, you managed not to get punished.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say he wasn’t punished per se.” Jack noted.

“I got probation.” Shen admitted.

“But, I thought you said you were declared innocent?” Alice asked.

Shen scratched his head, “Well, I sort of was punished for something else.”

“Of course, you were.” Alice said in a deadpan voice.

Jack laughed, but it quickly turned into a cough as Shen glared at him.

“Well, probation can’t be too harsh. I think a brave lord like you will do just fine.” Emelia said.

Jack sighed. “It’s not the probation that’s the problem. It’s the fact that I have to pass professor Guila’s history exam, and I haven’t studied all semester. If I fail then probation would indeed become a problem.”

“My Alice is very good with history, maybe you could teach him a thing or two.” Emelia offered.

“Mom, I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Alice declined.

“Actually, it’d be great if you could show me a thing or two.” Shen knew a chance when he saw one. “I’d pay you. You could be my tutor.”

“Can’t someone like you just hire a professional tutor. They’d be far better than me.”

“I’ve had enough of professional tutors, believe me. Besides you are in the same school as me, you’d know the subject material for the exam far better than a tutor.”

“Sounds like a good job to me, if you want it that it is.” Emelia said to her daughter.

“But mom, I don’t even know him that well,” Alice whispered. Though Shen and Jack still clearly heard it.

“Milord Jack, do you trust lord Shen?” Emelia asked.

“With my life,” came the immediate reply.

“Then I will trust him as well,” Emelia nodded. “It’s up to you Alice if you want the job.”

Alice looked between her smiling mother and the slightly nervous looking Shen.

“Well… I want twenty-five coins per hour.”

“Done.” Shen said instantly.

“And I’ll pick the place.”

“Done.”

“Okay, then. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at the café.”

“Of course, the bloody café.” Jack muttered.

Shen kicked his good leg. Jack cried in pain.

“I’ll see you there,” Shen smiled.

Jack swallowed his pain and smiled cheekily, “Well, madam, it seems I must go. I hope you can tell me your recipe of beef stew in our next encounter.”

Emelia laughed, “Of course milord, it’d be my pleasure. Try not to put too much pressure on that broken leg.”

“Your wish is my command, madam.” Jack bowed and the two nobles were on their way.