The spoons finally stopped scraping against the bowls. Everyone leaned back with happy, full sighs. The stew had been simple but warm and comforting after all the moving.
Bertha pushed her chair back and stood up. "Thank you for the lovely dinner, Miss Elara. It was delicious. Miss Sara, we should head home now. It's getting late."
Before Sara could even stand, Elara spoke up quickly, her voice soft and polite.
"Sara… why don't you stay the night?" she said, smiling gently. "It's already dark, and you've done so much for us today. It would be rude to send you home so late. Plus, we have plenty of rooms now."
The table went quiet for half a second.
Sara's eyes lit up like she had been waiting for those exact words. She stood up fast, clapping her hands once. "Oh my, should I? Maybe I will!" she said, sounding way too happy for someone who had just been invited. "That sounds wonderful!"
Everyone stared at her.
Mira's mouth fell open. Lys blinked in surprise. Even Elara looked a little shocked at how quickly Sara had accepted.
Bertha stepped forward, frowning. "Miss Sara, you can't. Everyone at the house is waiting for you. Your mother will worry if you don't come back."
Sara waved a hand like it was nothing. "Just go back alone and tell them I'm staying here tonight. I'll come home in the morning. Mom won't worry at all if she knows I'm at Lys's house. She likes him."
Bertha opened her mouth to argue again, but then she looked at Sara's bright, eager face, cheeks pink, eyes sparkling like a kid who just got permission for a sleepover. Bertha closed her mouth, sighed, and gave a small bow.
"…As you wish, Miss Sara. I'll let them know." She turned to the others and smiled politely. "Thank you again for dinner. Good night, everyone. Please take care of her."
Bertha walked out the door, closing it softly behind her.
The room stayed silent for a moment after that.
Lys was the first to react. He let out a big, surprised laugh and shook his head. "Wow… I didn't expect that. You really just… decided to stay, huh?"
Sara grinned shamelessly and shrugged. "What? Your mother invited me so nicely. It would be rude to say no."
Mira was still staring, half-stunned, half-amused. "You're… really staying? Like, right now?"
Sara nodded happily. "Yep! First night in your new house, I want to be part of it."
Elara smiled, but it was a little awkward, even for her, like she had opened a door she couldn't close anymore. "Well… of course you're welcome. I did invite you to stay after all."
Lys chuckled again and rubbed the back of his right ear. "Alright then. Mira, go grab one of your new night dresses, the soft blue one you bought today. Sara can wear that."
Mira blinked, still processing, then nodded slowly. "O-okay…" She stood up, giving Sara one last wide-eyed look before heading upstairs.
Sara turned to Elara with a sweet, innocent smile. "Thank you again, Miss Elara. I promise I won't be any trouble."
Elara let out a soft laugh, cheeks still a little pink. "You're never trouble, Sara. Just… make yourself at home."
Lys watched the two women, feeling a warm, strange mix of surprise and excitement settle in his chest. Sara had always been confident, but this playful, almost childish side of her was new, and kind of cute!?
The big new house suddenly felt even fuller.
Mira came back down the stairs holding the soft blue nightdress, looking between Sara and Lys with a tiny, curious smile.
"Here you go…" she said, handing it over.
Sara held the soft blue nightdress against her body and tilted her head, smiling playfully.
"Now… where should I sleep?"
Lys rubbed the back of his neck, trying to keep his voice steady. "Upstairs, I guess. There's a nice room right next to Mira's. You two can stay on the upper floor. Mom and I will take the rooms downstairs."
Mira's eyes sparkled. She leaned against Lys's side and whispered loud enough for Sara to hear, "Lucky us… we get the whole upstairs to ourselves."
Sara gave a delighted little laugh and bumped her shoulder against Mira's. "Looks like we're going to have fun tonight, little sis."
Elara's cheeks turned a soft pink. She smiled but stayed quiet, her fingers twisted at the edge of her dress, as if she sensed something strange in their words.
Lys led the way up the stairs, one lantern in hand. The wooden steps creaked gently. He pushed open the door to the room beside Mira's.
"Here," he said, stepping inside and holding the lantern high. "It has a big window, a soft bed, and your own little wardrobe. You'll be comfortable here, I think."
Sara walked in slowly, running her fingers along the wooden bed frame. She turned and gave Lys a long, warm look that made his stomach tighten. "It's perfect… though the bed feels a little big for just one person."
Mira giggled from the doorway. "You can always come to my room if you get lonely, Miss Sara."
Lys cleared his throat. "Alright, settle in. Mom and I are right downstairs. So call for us if you need anything."
He went back down, very aware of how both girls watched him leave.
-----
Downstairs, they finished sorting the last few things for the night. Elara washed the dishes while Sara dried them, their hips brushing every time they moved. Lys carried the final sack to the pantry, his eyes drifting to the way Elara's dress clung to her curves when she reached up. Every small movement reminded him of the well earlier, how soft she had felt, how she had trembled under his touch. But he kept working, ignoring his own dirty thoughts.
After everything was put away, they took turns washing up lightly in the bathroom. The pump gave cool, fresh water. Mira went first, then Sara. When it was Lys's turn, he caught Elara watching him from the hallway as he pulled his shirt off. Her gaze lingered on his bare chest before she quickly looked away and ran to the kitchen.
After that, Elara was the last to wash. When she came out, her hair was damp and her cheeks flushed from the cool water. She stopped beside Lys in the quiet hallway.
"My room is the one at the end," she said softly, eyes meeting his. "Yours is the middle one…So, if you need anything…"
The way she said it, low and a little breathless, while her whole body was a little wet from the bath, sent a slow jolt of current through Lys's body.
He nodded, throat tight. "Okay, Mom. Good night."
Elara gave him a small, shy smile and walked toward her door. Her hips swayed gently, the thin nightdress she had changed into clinging to her full figure in the lantern light.
Upstairs, soft giggles drifted down. Mira and Sara were already talking and laughing in Sara's room.
Lys blew out the lantern and stepped into his room, the door clicking softly behind him.
The first night in this new house had only just begun. But something told him none of them would be sleeping right away.