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Click hereShe stared at me blankly.
"Well, you already have a room here and Larus will have a salary, but if you wanted to work, you could earn some coin to spend for yourself, or to save. But then you'd have to commit to something, with hours and expectations. There are lots of different jobs you could do, but I've got a couple of possibilities I think might work. Or you could find something you enjoy that isn't a job, and you could do it whenever you liked. I can't help you with that too much though -- you'd have to decide for yourself what sort of hobbies you might enjoy."
She blinked. "I just...wish to be useful, your Highness." I looked at her sternly, and she amended, "Sierra. I don't need to be paid -- you've already given—"
"Oh, sod that." I rolled my eyes. "You work, you get paid, just like everyone else. You're not going to get rich overnight, but you deserve to be paid for your efforts."
She didn't look like she agreed, but she finally nodded. "You said you had some ideas?"
"Well, yes. A few -- three good ones, really. My seneschal, Levi, could use an assistant. He has more paperwork and letters and things than I do, even. My assistant and Levi could give you the details on what all you'd be doing. There's also a garden on the roof that's been completely neglected since...well, the people who used to take care of it aren't here." I spared a moment to wonder how Seranni was doing -- and how her arrival at Weisshaupt had gone over. "I wasn't sure if you had any interest in plants and herbs and things. But the one I thought you might like the most...well, I've seen you with the children around here, and there's going to be more before too long, I expect. You're wonderful with them." She blushed and looked down demurely. "I wondered if you wouldn't like to set up a school."
"I'm no scholar!" she objected. "You can't be asking an escaped slave to teach children..." She looked almost tearful.
I waved my hands to stop her. "It would start out with the basics -- letters, numbers, manners, that sort of thing. Most of the children so far are still little. If you can read, I'm sure you can tell them their letters. And with how much those kids obviously love you, they'll soak it up like a sponge. When they get older, we could probably hire an actual teacher to do the more complicated math and history and whatever, but we'd still need someone to take care of the littler ones, and to take them back and forth for lessons, sit with them at lunch, and whatnot. Right now they're just running around like little hurricanes with feet, and their poor parents are struggling to take care of them if both are working. We could find you some space, some toys, some books, and you could spend all day teaching and playing with the little ones. What do you think?"
The pleased smile on her face told me everything. I wasn't surprised, the way she'd taken to the children in the Alienage and at the Keep.
"Are you sure you want me to do it?" She looked at me through her thick eyelashes, her eyes almost comically wide.
"Well, you didn't see me asking anyone else, did you?"
I spoke with Levi about space -- we had plenty -- and ordering in some children's books and toys, as well as school supplies. He also recommended a salary -- which I increased a little, while he rolled his eyes. Arathea looked overwhelmed, and I grinned at her happiness.
Unsurprisingly, when the staff were presented with an option for child care, without exception they all jumped at the chance.
Larus came to thank me later with a broad smile that transformed his face, and for a moment I could see what Arathea saw when she looked at him. It was sweet.
"Brilliant idea!" he raved. "It's perfect for her, and she's so happy. Thank you for—"
I waved my hand dismissively. "I didn't invent a job just for her. I gave her a job just like I would have anyone else. And she'll be wonderful. I don't need any thanks." I made a shooing gesture at him. "It's late now -- go. And if you ask Felsi nicely, she'll give you a nice bottle of wine to celebrate with on my tab." I winked, and he hurried off with a pensive look that made me grin -- and go find my own husband.
- COMMENTS
ElyssaCouslandover 4 years agoAuthorI do not abuse the rating system on this site. I am happy to have the discussion with anyone brave enough to put their name and contact info on their complaint, but until then rude comments that serve no purpose will be deleted.
Anonymousover 4 years agoDriven by reviews, number of clicks, downloads, whatever the algorithm is.
Indeed, The Loyal Following™ places a great number of authors in the "H" category within hours of posting.
Navigate to "Top Lists" pick a category. You'll see the same half-dozen authors filling out the category's Top 20 consistently.
Some excellent authors use Lit as a sounding board, then remove stories for in favor of a paid content site (SarahFennel), or when optioned for publication or screenplay
(SweetWitch).
StoneBasherover 4 years agoI have read all the chapters of this story and eagerly await each new chapter but I haven't left a comment in a long time. I would just like to tell you how much I am enjoying your story and the cut and polish of each new chapter. I wish you uploaded more than 2 pages at a time but I understand that quality takes time. While at times there are too many characters to really follow unless your are doing a marathon reading session, which I recently did, starting over from the beginning of the story, the last bunch of chapters has pared it down to the central cast and have been among the best in the story. Anyways I just thought I would express my appreciation for the hours of enjoyment.
