Lina and Brigid arrive bearing a load of grocery bags and one annoying Maeve. According to them Maeve quickly caught up and tagged along stating that she felt something fun going on. Is she psychic? Wait, she is. But her powers should be sealed up, unless she’s already found a way around the seal?

I bring up the Party menu and inspect Maeve but it lists under her status that she is still wearing the special choker and it hasn’t been broken. She must have an incredible nose for trouble, possibly a unique skill that can’t be detected or removed.

Maeve 「 Hey-o Boss! I found out you’re up to something fun so I hope you don’t mind if I tag along. 」

Becca 「 I do mind, and you better mind your manners. I’m not going to save you if you get on the sister’s bad side. Oh, and no using ESP around her. 」

Brigid 「 Don’t worry! As a knight of fair maidens, I will gladly shield them from harm with my own body. By the way, this sister of the church, is she a beauty? 」

Becca 「 I don’t see why that’s important, plus there’s a few flaws with her so I wouldn’t if I were you. 」

Therese 「 Wouldn’t what? Huh? What are you girls talking about behind my back? 」

I feel a chill on my spine and several other warning signals as I reluctantly turn back to face the sister’s stern face. She is silently boiling in rage. Not good. I have to change her focus to something else quickly.

Becca 「 Hey, Sister. I invited my friends over to throw a feast for the kids. It’s my gift since I’m stopping by. 」

Therese 「 Absolutely not. We don’t accept charity. Everything we have we earned. Are you looking down on us? I don’t raise cowards and beggars. 」

The sister is close to blowing a casket.

Becca 「 No, of course not. In fact, I just lost a major bet with one of the kids and I promised dinner. And not just for him but for everybody. You always said we should be true to our word or no one would take us seriously. 」

Therese 「 Hah? What sort of crock are you spitting? 」

May joins in the conversation to sway the opposition.

May 「 It’s true. As witness I saw the bet go down. 」

Therese 「 Are the kids gambling again? I thought I told you to stop them. Either way, a bet is in no way the same as a promise. The answer is no! 」

The kids who also witnessed the bet crowd around the sister pleading her to let us treat them. They are not fools wet behind the ear, they can clearly see the kind of premium food we brought with us just waiting to be cooked up.

Under the pressure of puppy eyes the sister remains steadfast and firm in refusal. She is being extra stubborn today, probably because she would never dare accept charity from a former room and boarder like me.

She may be acting tough but I haven’t known her for many years for nothing. I catch the twitching of her eyelid, a sign that she is close to forfeiting. May delivers the final punch.

May 「 Ah! That’s right, we’re actually out of ham and veggies. All that’s left is the rice. We don’t have anything to eat for dinner. I completely forgot to get more groceries. If I send Mark or Hannah now it will take an hour to reach Aunty’s store. But the kids will starve by then. What are we going to do sister? 」

May’s lie sounds a bit too obvious but it riles up the kids who are crying out for dinner. If the cook says there’s no dinner then of course chaos will break out.

Therese 「 … Fine! Becca’s friends can help out. But if any of you brats want dinner you better help out. Make groups and set the table, utensils, plates, and break out the cola. I know you kids have your personal savings of snacks so you better bring the good stuff to the table. If we’re having a feast then we’ll have to show our best hospitality dang-it! 」

Everybody cheers as the feast gets underway. Lina and May cooperate as tempting smells waft from the kitchen. Maeve plays with the kids and show off in front of them. Even though I expressly forbid Maeve from using her psychic powers she shows what she calls “magic tricks” in front of the kids. Those aren’t tricks, they’re clearly her powers!

Brigid talks up sister Therese with fervor. She is practically drooling all over her. What is this feeling, like someone is aggressively hitting on my mother?

Brigid 「 Sister! I have been a naughty girl, please discipline me with your hot love! 」

Becca 「 And that’s enough, I’m going to send you back unless you cool down. 」

Brigid 「 I just want to exchange some poignant words. As a knight, there has always been a close relation to the church. Wouldn’t it make sense to strengthen our bonds? 」

Becca 「 I’ll terminate your premium subscription to those sites of yours you keep in incognito mode. Right now. 」

Brigid 「 ‘Tis just a jest! A joke! I wasn’t being serious. 」

Brigid breaks out in sweat at the mention of losing those services she keeps bookmarked in her browser. I don’t regret teaching her about incognito mode but surely she could have named her bookmark folder something else than, “Brigid’s Princesses”?