After finishing his report, Ignis went straight to the dormitory to discuss the matter of Laeticaea with the matron. Since he had kind of expected it, he wasn’t surprised to learn that there was no need for more personnel at the moment but he nevertheless put forward her good traits, notably the fact she worked in an inn own by her family.

“Even if you tell me all this,” Answered the woman. “there isn’t much I can do. We have simply no need for more hands at the moment. And before you ask, I do no know of any opening anywhere.” While she knew the owners of a few inn and restaurants, it was only to the level of acquaintances, there was no way she could recommend them some new personnel, even less a girl she didn’t know herself.

It seemed a bit early in the discussion to thrown his joker. “I’m willing to pay for her salary.”

The matron who wasn’t sure what he meant by that, asked for clarification. “Do you intend to employ her as your personal maid or…” She left the sentence hanging.

“No,” Interrupted the blushing mage. “nothing of that… nature. Her inn was damaged by the incident, and see very little passage as a result. She thinks she’s a drain on her family’s finances and want to move to the big city.”

“Hmm?” Nothing he said so far was particularly convincing, it was the kind of story you’d hear from any new hand, apart from the facts she already had a job and was the heiress of an inn.

“What I mean to say, can you let her work here? I’ll pay for her salary and accommodation while she looks for a better job.”

While she didn’t need more personnel, she wasn’t about to refuse one who’d work basically for free, and judging from the youth interest in her, there was no small chance that she might become his wife or lover down the line. Accommodating the agents of the church, and the numbers in particular was part of her job… at least as long as it didn’t put a strain on her limited budget.

However, she still had to meet the girl first before making her decision. “I’d like to meet her first, and see how she works. Even if you’re paying, I won’t allow someone useless to tarnish my records.”

“It goes without saying.”

“How long will you be staying this time?” This too was important as he’d have to provide for the girl if she didn’t pass her standard: there was no way she’d take on that responsibility.

“I cannot say for sure, but it’s very probable I’ll be asked to take on some teaching duty for the foreseeable future.”

That was a good guess and it did make sense as for the first time in many decades, they weren’t overwhelmed by work.

“I see. I look forward to meeting your sweetheart then.”

He blushed slightly at the words but didn’t deny it. It wasn’t like that… but this was also what he hoped for.

After that discussion, he went back to his room to prepare since he’d have to go fetch Laeticaea tomorrow. Not a long road, but still more than three days of travel at a reasonable pace. Well, that’s what he hoped to do, but before long he was called to the cathedral to report again.

Obviously though, the content of his report didn’t change. It was simply a desire for the higher-ups to listen to the content of their own two hears and ask their own question. In light of the recent tragedy, any information was desirable, no matter how insignificant as it sounded.