Zara remained staring at the box flabbergasted . She had been watching it for some time now.
Her blue eyes wavered with fear visible in them. And underneath it curiosity of a sheltered girl began to bloom .
Her pale but healthy young hand , drifted forward. One finger extended as she prodded the lid.
Then —
*"Are you the box, or someone else?"*
The voice of the male came from the box once again. Her finger snapped back as her fragile heart beneath her ribs started a frantic drum beat .
She did not move for nearly half a minute.
Then a thought arrived in her mind.
"Should i reply ?"
"Maybe he might find it rude if i didn't "
"H-Hello?"
Zara spoke cautiously
Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her skirt.
Perhaps whoever had spoken was waiting for her to introduce herself?
"Should i introduce myself?"
She nodded to herself as her image in the mirror doing the same .
"After all, a lady should never begin a conversation without presenting herself appropriately even if the conversation happened to be with a mysterious talking box."
Straightening her back , Zara gathered her composure.
"My name is Zara Astranai."
Her voice elegant and composed with the dignity of a noble.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Without thinking, she performed a curtsy.
Or at least attempted to. Unfortunately, she was sitting down. The result was an awkward half-curtsy, half-nod that likely violated several rules of noble etiquette.
Not that anyone was present to witness it.
Her cheeks turned slightly pink.
"That was embarrassing..."
The young noblewoman quickly regained her posture and returned her attention to the box.
Zara hesitated before speaking again.
"May I know who you are?"
Her blue eyes remained fixed on the box.
For the first time in a long while, Zara Astranai felt genuinely nervous about talking to someone or something.
------------
Percy woke as the first thing he saw was the same familiar ceiling above him.
After sitting up for a moment, he got out of bed and brushed his teeth using the toothpaste he had made yesterday.
The taste wasn't particularly pleasant since it tasted more like charcoal due to him not adding as much mint as he did last time , but it worked well enough.
Once finished, he headed downstairs for breakfast which he had none to prepare since his cupboard was empty of anything eatable.
But fortunately he still had some stew left Inside the container given by Mrs Callyst yesterday.
Percy recalled her mentioning that it would spoil quickly in this weather, so before sleeping he had wrapped the container tightly with cloth and submerged it in cool water. It was nowhere near as effective as a refrigerator, but it was the best he could do.
Taking the container out, he opened it and checked the contents.
To his relief, the stew was still perfectly edible.
"Good."
He reheated it over the stove and wanted sliced a few pieces of bread to go with it. But he had none left .
Soon, breakfast was ready with him picking up a spoon.
Percy ate quietly, appreciating the warm meal which didn't taste the same as yesterday but still tasted good enough.
Considering how little money remained in his pouch, wasting food was the last thing he could afford. Thankfully, Mrs. Callyst's stew was filling enough that he felt satisfied after finishing it.
After cleaning the dishes, he grabbed his coat and flicked his pocket watch open , his gaze landed on the words and then to the time .
------
After an hour...
When Ronan arrived at Beningham Styles, he immediately noticed something unusual.
The shop wasn't particularly busy yet. Instead, several workers had gathered around the central worktable.
Miss Gracy stood on one side with her arms folded. Across from her stood Gareth.
Between them sat Silia behind a chair, looking like she regretted every decision that had led her to this moment.
"...Why are you sitting there?" Ronan asked.
Silia looked at him with a dejected face .
"I've apparently been appointed judge."
"I see." Ronan nodded .
"No, you don't."
Ronan nodded once again. " yes i don't "
"Percy!"
Miss Gracy pointed at him immediately.
"Good. Another witness."
Ronan already wanted to leave. Unfortunately, Gareth spoke first.
"Tell her she's being unreasonable."
Miss Gracy gasped. "I am being perfectly reasonable."
"You chose a restaurant where a single meal costs nearly a week's wage."
"It is called quality."
" No It is called robbery."
The surrounding workers immediately nodded at Gareth's words.
Miss Gracy looked horrified.
"You people have no appreciation for good food."
"We appreciate being able to afford food," Gareth replied.
A few workers laughed. Ronan finally pieced together what was happening.
They probably discussing about festival gathering and were deciding where to eat afterward.
Miss Gracy wanted a proper restaurant.
Gareth wanted a tavern. And somehow Silia had been dragged into settling the argument.
"How long has this been going on?" Ronan quietly asked.
"Twenty minutes," Silia replied.
"I see."
"It started because Gareth called her restaurant 'a place for wanabe nobles.'"
Ronan winced "That explained a lot."
"I wasn't wrong," Gareth defended himself.
Miss Gracy pointed accusingly.
"You suggested a tavern where the tables stick to your sleeves and smell of putrid drunkereds."
"That's how you know it's popular."
"It means they don't clean."
" I would call it Character."
"Aprrarently character of a filth."
Silia closed her eyes.
Ronan was beginning to understand why she looked exhausted.
After another minute of arguing, Silia finally raised a hand.
The two stopped for a moment looking at her.
"As judge," she began. Everyone leaned forward.
"I propose a compromise."
"How about we go somewhere neither of you chose."
"Then who would ?" Both chimmed in.
"Percy will choose the place." Silia declared it with calm certainty.
"Who?!" Percy's voice immediately rose several octaves.
He looked around the room before pointing at himself.
"Me?!"
Silia smiled sweetly "Yes, you."
Percy looked at Sillia with a confused stare .
Sillia winked and whispered.
"That's what you get for skipping two workdays within such a short period."
Percy came to a realisation
"So she did hold a grudge."
"I shouldn't have trusted her kindness."
Meanwhile, Gareth and Miss Gracy both turned toward him.
Their argument vanished instantly. United by a common cause.
Miss Gracy smiled at him not a word from her mouth.
As for Gareth he simply folded his arms ,looking at him expressionless.
Choose correctly was the message he got instinctively.
He slowly turned toward Silia.
The woman had turned her head towards a certain pair of scissor , whistling a popular tune.
"Silia."
"Hm?"
"How can i help you ?"
she asked tilting her head .
"A traitor among us."