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“You know, Benno, this is exactly why people keep thinking that you’re my father.” It’s another normal day with Myne carting Benno all over town on her next crazy idea. And, as usual, Benno decides to carry her, unable to stand her slow walking pace.
“What are you saying? The only person who thought that was Johann. And with him asking you to be his patron, you can’t really say that he is in his right mind.”
“Bwah!” Myne’s cheeks puffed out and she poked Benno in the cheek. “Why would you say something so mean?”
“As if I would have a child as out of control as you. You wanted to only break even with the books you’re creating. No merchant’s daughter would be that careless with profits.”
They arrived at the woodworker that made Myne’s diptychs, Benno’s normal shop still overrun with all the orders for the eatery. Once they walked through the door, Benno gently set Myne down on the ground, making sure her feet were under her before he let go. The foreman must have just finished with another customer since he was still in the front, looking over some forms.
"Ah, the Gilberta Company girl. What can I do for you this time? More of those board things?" Myne sat down with the foreman and pulled out her order forms from her bag.
"Actually, today I need you to make these." Myne then went over all the details for her prototype printing press. Afterwards, they settled on a price and Myne paid for the down payment.
"Your daughter sure does make some weird things, Mr. Benno."
"She's not my daughter!"
This is the second person to mistake Benno as Myne's father. And Myne is willing to bet that even more people think that and just haven't said anything.
The man just looked shocked between the two customers. "Really? But, you're always with her, and you carry her around everywhere. I just assumed."
"Do people really think I could have raised such an idiot child?" Benno groaned into his hand. "I'm just her financial guardian due to her age. I would never have enough patience to deal with her everyday."
"Bwah!" Myne puffed out her cheeks and glared up at Benno. He just picked her up, ignoring her, and walked out of the workshop.
That continued on for the next few weeks. Any time Benno was seen carrying Myne around town, people would point out how good of a father he was to her, or how much of a father he looked like. And every time this happened, Benno would shut down the line of thought, making sure people knew he was just her financial guardian. Still, Benno refused to let Myne walk on her own, preceding to carry her and keep at his own pace.
It was nearing summer and Benno, Lutz and Myne were walking through the plaza towards the Gilberta Company. As usual around this time, food stalls were set up and people were eating at the tables set throughout.
Grrr. Myne looked down at her stomach in slight shock. Due to living in the temple over the summer, and going there nearly everyday after returning home, Myne has gotten used to the large meals served to her on a schedule. Today was the first day in nearly a year that she almost skipped lunch.
Hearing her stomach, Benno immediately turned towards one of the food stalls. Ordering something easy to carry, he handed one to Myne and another to Lutz before continuing towards his store. "Not a word."
Myne just smiled at him as she munched on her food. Benno tries to deny it, but he really is such a dad. "Thank you Benno." Whoops, that came out a little more smug than Myne intended.
Benno just groaned as he entered his store with the two kids. Myne is going to be the death of him. But even still, she has somehow worked her way into his heart. Now if only she could stop causing it to stop.