I’m such a lecher!
Miss Moe never gave me leave to have such thoughts and here I am, imagining her touching me, stroking me.
By the Seven! What is wrong with me?
I straighten my back and attempt to dispel those forbidden thoughts—at least for now. I won’t be able to face Miss Moe if I continue on like this.
Soon I’m in the Mortal District. As I reach the restaurant, however, I notice the doors are closed. Usually, they’re wide open to indicate it’s open, with people going in and out of the establishment.
I reach to open the door, but it’s locked.
Frowning, I lean in and try to look through the window. The glass is foggy but I can tell there’s no movement inside.
Odd. Miss Moe had not mentioned anything of the sort. In fact, she’d asked me whether I would come today. She wouldn’t have extended the invitation had she known the restaurant would be closed.
I walk around the restaurant, searching for another window to peek inside.
“It’s closed,” someone calls out from behind.
I turn and see an older woman working at a food stall by the street.
“Do you know why? I thought it was open today.”
“If you’re hungry, I have steamed buns,” she offers.
I shake my head with a smile. “I was hoping to talk with the family who owns the restaurant,” I explain.
“Oh.” She nods. “You should come back another day then. They left early in the morning.”
At that, I frown. “Do you know why?”
She shrugs, as if minding her own business, but I can tell sheknowssomething.
“I’ll have one steamed bun please.”
She gives me a smile, fishes out a steamed bun from inside the stall and wraps it for me. I pay for it and continue to probe, “It’s unusual for them to leave on a business day, no?
“Not that unusual if you know their situation,” she bristles.
“Their situation?”
She leans in, “They’re up to their necks in debt. The restaurant is running on borrowed money, and Mr. Denos was bound to cash in at some point.”
“Mr. Denos? Who is that?”
“You don’t know about Mr. Denos? Everyone knows about him!” She exclaims. “He’s the richest man in the neighborhood.”
“And you think they went to this Mr. Denos to pay off their debts?”
“Pft!” She rolls her eyes. “As if they had the money to pay back. Once you borrow from Mr. Denos, you owe him for life.”
“I see. But why would they close down the restaurant? Their kids could have run it while they were away.”
She waves her hand. “The kids went with them, too. If you ask me…” she pauses and lowers her voice. “That daughter of theirs is the only thing they might have to offer Mr. Denos. I hear he likes them pretty. Though she’s not that young anymore…”
My eyes widen.
“You think…”
