“Good morning.” Peregrine yawned from the doorway, Lish right behind her.

  The first two days back home had been bliss. Bastian had woken up next to his fiancé splayed across her mat, one elbow above her head and the other stretched the distance between them, hand interlocked with his own.

  Unlikely as it was, touching Peregrine was what kept him calm. She never woke up as early as he did, so Bastian had time to convince himself to let go and head down early, drawing the line at lying around all morning staring at her. She was beautiful, like cherry blossoms in bloom, full of spring vibrance… but she was still a person, and staring was rude.

  They weren’t married yet.

  So he’d wash and drag himself downstairs, reasoning that as long as she was in his house, he could relax. It didn’t work, but it helped.

  Gods knew what he was going to do when she ran off to join the Adventuring Guild. Something he’d put into her head and actively supported.

  Bastian distracted himself with projects until she came out for breakfast. Today, he was needle felting a baby snow owl the size of a bowl of rice, its tummy all white and fluffy, when Peregrine’s voice greeted him from the hall.

  “Good morning!” Bastian replied, setting his owl on the table and standing. “Are you ready for our last day of sorting?”

  “Breakfast first,” She smiled, amused. “Then I’ll have the energy to tackle your hoard.”

  There were only a few steps to her side, and Bastian was lifting her hand again. “Hiro made oatmeal with bimbleberries and honey today. It’s ready when you are.”

  “Perfect. Lish?”

  The elf attendant sighed, then headed for the kitchen to fetch their food here. The dining hall was also still a work-in-progress.

  Lish had been forced to accept their current arrangements by Peregrine, but had never approved. She’d funnelled her displeasure into clearing Peregrine’s room - an impressive feat hampered only by the fact that Lish had to wait until they had more storage boxes between packing. Now the carefully stacked boxes, labelled and sectioned into orderly piles, were going to get transported to the shed today.

  Meaning that Peregrine’s room was going to be free just in time for Bastian to start work again tomorrow.

  He dreaded it. To distract himself, he broached a new topic with his soon-to-be-wife. “I was just wondering... what are Lishinia’s working hours?”

  “What do you mean?” Peregrine let him drag her onto the floor couch.

  “Just that. Her working hours.” He repeated, playing with her fingers. “What time does she start and finish–"

  Peregrine shrugged, "Whenever she deems fit. She's my personal attendant, so she knows best."

  As if that answered everything.

  “Cultural difference then,” Bastian stated, falling back on the words they’d chosen to point out an obvious miscommunication. “Explain more.”

  “Lish organizes both of our lives. Hmm, no you might not understand that either.” Peregrine stopped and scrunched up her nose, considering. Bastian waited, hoping that it wasn’t going to be as morally unethical as it sounded.

  “Alright,” Peregrine said, “Imagine I’m a dress.”

  That was not what he was expecting. “A dress?”

  “Yes.” Peregrine nodded. “I am Lishinia’s dress. She gets up in the morning and I’m there, she takes care of me as is needed throughout the day - or she leaves me in the closet because I’m not needed for a task she wants to complete. But I’m always there. I’m always hers to take care of until she decides to quit. Does that make sense?”

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  He was afraid that it did.

  "And you are alright with this arrangement?" He asked, hesitant. Knowing full well he wasn't going to like her answer.

  "It's all I've ever known." Peregrine said. "Would I like more freedom to do things without a chaperone, of course. But I'd have to convince Lish..."

  Bastian knew in his heart of hearts that Lishinia was probably perfectly content with her current career... despite the very illegal and unethical job terms. And trying to change things to give the maid more time off wouldn’t go well for him. At best she'd think he was pushing his culture onto her - at worst she might think he was trying to separate her from Peregrine.

  He leaned into Peregrine’s hand, pressing it to his forehead for strength.

  “In Peldeep, attendants are only allowed to work 30 hours a week, plus a paid one hour break. They can work up to 50 hours by special request, but the rest of the time is their own.” Bastian explained.

  “Do you only work 30 hours a week?” She asked in disbelief. Then again, she’d seen him guarding Rowen on the trip.

  “I don’t.” He admitted. “The royal family members are exempt from certain regulations. Mostly to keep the realm going… though I think I might start, now that you’re here.”

  “Breakfast.” Lish walked into the gathering room with two plates.

  “We were just talking about you,” Peregrine said, making Lish freeze.

  Bastian swallowed, and hurried to add, “I would like to preface this by saying that you do not have to stop doing what you are doing, just that Peldeep workers' regulations allow you more freedom and days off if you wished to use them.”

  Lish frowned, “That is not necessary.”

  “It doesn’t hurt to learn about them,” Peregrine said, releasing his hand and picking up her bowl of oatmeal.

  Lish stared at Peregrine, her face stiff. She was clearly unhappy but unwilling to argue. “...If you say.”

  Bastian repeated what he’d told Peregrine, and added travel time, sick days, benefits and extended leave. Peregrine was positively intrigued. Lish simply stood there with a polite look on her face.

  “The greatest effect to you,” Bastian finished on, “is that Mr Sakiyama will be going back to regular hours tomorrow and we’ll be left on our own for a few days. He’s already worked overtime helping with the shed and clearing the house, so he’s due extra time off.”

  “Actually,” Mr Sakiyama appeared in the doorway with the tea. “I was going to have Kiki come in. She wanted extra spending money for the festival and you could use the help.”

  “She’s home?”

  “Her party got back before you did.” The fae smiled, setting down his tray on the table and pouring the traditional Peldeep blend into four cups. “She's rested and restless.”

  Bastian told Peregrine, “Kiki is Mr Sakiyama’s granddaughter, and a member of Ember Fire, a C Rank Adventuring Party. She’ll be able to answer any questions you have about the guild.”

  “Excellent! Maybe I’ll have time to visit before the wedding.” Peregrine set down her now empty bowl and eyed the hot tea.

  Just hearing the words left a wrench in his gut, but Bastian pushed away the anxiety as he scooped up Peregrine’s free hand. The feeling subsided a bit, and she didn’t seem to mind, grabbing her cup with her non-dominant hand.

  “I should take you.” Bastian stated for purely selfish reasons. “Work can wait a few more days.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Peregrine assured him with a smile. “And Their Royal Highness sent word they’re on their way home as we speak - don’t you need to make sure everyone survives and the place doesn’t burn down before they get back?”

  Bastian had little sympathy right now for his fellow knights, since they'd interrupted his vacation daily with missives from the palace. “Arson is rare. Poison or stabbing is more the usual.”

  “All the more reason to go back tomorrow.” Peregrine replied. “I can find things to occupy me in the meantime.”

  “I don’t think we’ll have time for that, My Lady,” Lish interjected. "We need to set up your room tomorrow. If we go anywhere it'll be the furniture store we passed on the way here."

  “All right,” Peregrine finished off her tea and sighed a content sigh.

  That calmed his nerves, and he rubbed the back of Peregrine’s hand for additional reassurance. “Then I’ll return, but you must send word if you leave the house and where you're going.”

  He thought Peregrine might resent his request, but she simply nodded. “Of course.”