New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World
Chapter 93: IT SCREAMED ’I’M A BOSS’

Chapter 93: IT SCREAMED ’I’M A BOSS’

"You’re here, Your High— Miss Aris!" Dorothy greeted when she saw Aristia enter the restaurant. She was holding a rag in her hand and was in the process of wiping a table. "Welcome."

Aristia noticed that a customer had just left before they arrived.

"Hello, Dorothy," she nodded in response to Dorothy’s greeting.

"Mister Owen, Miss Adeline." Dorothy nodded at Owen and Adeline who also nodded back in return. "Please, have a seat."

Aristia nodded and sat down at her usual spot by the window.

"Excuse me, your highness." Dorothy called. "I will inform Dahlia of your arrival." She turned around and headed to the kitchen.

[What a coincidence.] Aristia was surprised. Whenever she came, the two sisters were in the restaurant together.

Not long after, Dahlia came out of the kitchen behind Dorothy. She hurriedly wiped her hands on the apron of her dress and approached Aristia.

"Forgive me for meeting you in this state, your highness." She bowed. She was in the kitchen just now and there were some oil stains on her dress.

Aristia shook her head. "Have a seat." She gestured to the chairs in front of her.

Dahlia and Dorothy did as told. They waited in silence for Aristia to speak.

Aristia sat straight in her seat. She was silent for some seconds before she opened her mouth to speak.

"Did you tell your friends and acquaintances about the offer for work?" She asked.

"Yes, your highness. We did. Quite a lot of them showed interest." Dahlia replied.

"Did you also inform them of the test I told you about, to check their skills?" She continued to ask.

"Yes, but we do not know when the test will be held. They are asking questions." Dorothy replied, glancing at her sister.

Aristia hummed thoughtfully in answer. "It will be held in six days. I will reveal the location soon. Spread the news. Remember to not reveal anything about the building in the heart of the Capital and about it’s owner." She warned.

"We understand, your highness." The sisters replied simultaneously.

"Three days before the examination will be held, I will reveal the venue for the event."

Suddenly, the door to the restaurant was pushed open forcefully.

Everybody turned in surprise to see the person responsible for such action.

"Dahlia! Dorothy!" The person yelled.

It was a pretty little girl who looked to be about five years old. She had dark brown hair and eyes. She was a little chubby. She looked around the restaurant and walked towards the sisters when she spotted them.

She stopped when she noticed Aristia, Owen and Adeline.

"Excuse me, princess." Dorothy said in a whisper. Then, she got up and approached the little girl, looking around and noticing that she was alone. "Leila, what are you doing here? How many times have I told you not to come to the restaurant alone?"

"I wanted to see you. You know you and Dahlia have both been coming to the restaurant together more frequently lately." The little girl, Leila, replied.

The sisters knew that the girl was correct. Ever since they accepted the princess’s offer, the both of them had been been going to the restaurant together instead of their habit of taking turns each day, because they didn’t know when Aristia would come in search of them.

"You can see us when we return home." Dahlia replied, then sighed, "Come." She gestured for Leila to come forward.

Leila did as told. "Who are they?" She asked curiously, pointing in Aristia’s direction. "They want to eat? Dahlia, you’re getting customers!"

Dahlia folded her hand over Leila’s pointed finger. "Don’t leave home again, Leila. You’ll make the others worry. You could also encounter danger on your way here." She tried to explain patiently.

Leila just made a sour face.

Dahlia sighed and pinched the little girl’s cheeks.

"Oomf!" Leila pouted and sulked.

Dorothy pulled out a chair and Dahlia placed Dorothy in it. They turned to Aristia.

"Please forgiv—"

"Hello, I’m Leilani. My friends call me Leila. You can call me Leila too." A voice interrupted the sisters’s apology. Leila smilingly waved at Aristia, Owen and Adeline.

Aristia smiled back. The child was adorable. "Nice to meet you too, Leila. You can call me Aris."

Owen, on the other hand, kept his poker face but Adeline smiled at her. To Aristia, the smile looked as plain as a smile could be.

"I’m Adeline. Hello, Leila."

[Please put more energy into that smile.] Aristia thought with a weak smile, thinking of the usual bright smiles Adeline would shoot her way.

Five seconds passed in collective silence.

"What about you? Don’t you have a name?" Leila asked Owen. She seemed to think he didn’t have a name because he didn’t introduce himself.

Before anyone could reply, Leila continued. "That is sad. I can give you a name." She suggested.

Seeing that Owen had no plans of replying, Aristia spoke up. "He’s Owen. He’s just very shy."

Owen whipped his head to stare at her and she smirked in reply.

She would admit that she felt curious to know what name the little girl would give him.

"Oh, so he does have a name!" Leila said loudly.

Aristia smiled and turned to Dahlia and Dorothy. "We’re done here. We will be taking our leave now." She stood up.

"You’re leaving? Well then, goodbye Aris!" Leila waved, swinging her legs back and forth with a bubbly smile on her face.

Aristia’s gaze lingered for a second, before she replied.

"Goodbye, Leila."

***

"Lucas, return to the Palace." Aristia ordered.

Inside the carriage, Aristia couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

"She’s so energetic. Isn’t that so, Shy Owen?" She teased.

Owen just ignored her, leaving Aristia chuckling.

As the carriage rode out of the restaurant’s premises, Aristia caught sight of a boy approaching.

The carriage rode further away and she looked out the window to see him enter the restaurant and close the door. She averted her eyes and listened to the sound of the carriage wheels rolling on the uneven road.

***

Inside the restaurant.

A young boy glared at a little girl. On looking closely, they both possessed similar features.

"Leila, why did you leave without a word? You made everyone worry." He scolded,looking down at her pointedly.

"Carry me, Leif." Leilani ignored him and spread her arms, looking up at him.

Leif sighed and picked her up.

"What about the others?" Dahlia inquired.

"They are fine." Leif waved his hand. "I saw a carriage leave at the entrance of the restaurant. Customers?" He asked.

The sisters nodded.

"That should be Aris." Leila said, swinging her legs in Leif’s arms. It seemed like she liked Aristia.

"Aris?" Leif asked.

"Yes. She just left. I met her in the restaurant." Leilani said, this time moving her head from left to right. There was a small smile on her lips. "She’s my friend."

Leif sighed and shook his head, looking at Leilani’s happy face with disbelief in his eyes. So, she had just met the girl and she was talking like she had known her a long time?

"Ahem. Are you returning home?" Dorothy cleared her throat and interrupted, trying to shift the topic away from Aristia.

Leif paused, then shook his head. "No. We’re already here. Might as well help out."

Dorothy nodded and handed him a rag. "You can clean the tables and watch for customers. Leila can help too."

The sisters returned to the kitchen and closed the door behind them.

"Hmm..." Leif hummed thoughtfully, his eyes still on the door the sisters had just entered. He had a feeling they were hiding something.

They had been acting really strange recently. Usually, one of the sisters would stay behind to help take care of the children, but recently, they had been going to the restaurant together more frequently and putting the younger kids in the care of the older kids.

"Leif, let’s clean the tables." Leilani called excitedly, grabbing Leif’s attention away from his thoughts.

She wiggled around, trying to get down.

Leif averted his eyes and put her down, grabbing the rag and going to clean the tables.

***

The sun had already set by the time they arrived at the palace.

The carriage door opened and Aristia stepped down. She yawned tiredly and stretched her arms.

"Owen, you don’t need to follow me. You can return to your room." Aristia dismissed him.

She entered the Palace and went towards her room.

"Mama?" Aristia called when she saw Catherine coming toward her.

"Your Highness." Adeline bowed.

Catherine nodded in reply. "Tia. The servants informed me of your arrival." She smiled and gently rubbed Aristia’s head. "Did you find what you were looking for?" She asked.

Aristia nodded. "I did. It will be sent home."

"I will ask your father to inform Butler Cedmond to prepare to receive the items." Catherine said.

"Thank you, Mama. That would be much appreciated." Aristia smiled, then looked behind her mother.

Catherine could tell what she was thinking. "Allie is with Papa."

Then, she turned to Adeline. "Adeline, assist the third princess in taking a bath and in getting ready for dinner." Catherine ordered Adeline.

"Right away, Your Highness." Adeline bowed.

Catherine turned around and returned in the direction she had come from.

Aristia soaked in the tub and closed her eyes. The warm water enveloped her and helped in relaxing her muscles. After drying her body, she went to the dining room.

Most of the royal family members were already seated. She smiled at them and took her seats. Not long after she sat down, her grandparents, who were the only ones remaining, entered the dining room.

The couple always spent time together. Aristia wondered if she would get a little aunt or little uncle soon. It was not impossible. After all, the couple was not that old.

"Sorry for keeping everyone waiting. We were a little busy." Melvin chuckled with hidden innuendo.

"Father!" Rowaine and Catherine cried in surprise.