It had become a habit.
Whenever Eris stepped outside, she covered her face. She'd have a cap on. And a pair of sunglasses. It was a must.
Her head was lowered slightly and Deb noticed it immediately.
The walk to the administration office had started only a few minutes ago, but every time someone approached them from the opposite direction, Eris visibly stiffened. And every single time those people passed by without recognizing her, she released a quiet sigh of relief loud enough for Deb to hear.
"You've got a lot going on up there, huh?" Deb finally said.
Eris looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
"You panic every time somebody walks toward us."
"I do?"
"You do."
Deb's voice wasn't judgmental. Just observant.
"But you don't have to," she continued gently. "This whole move is supposed to be liberating for you."
Eris looked away.
"And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"
"Start by taking off the cap and glasses and live like a normal person."
Eris almost laughed.
"A normal person?" she repeated. "How am I supposed to go back to that?"
Deb shrugged casually.
"Go back to the days before you were famous. The days when you were just another stranger among strangers."
Eris stayed quiet.
"You don't owe your life to anybody," Deb added. "So nobody should have complete control over how you live it. Let go of the fear."
Eris's fingers tightened slightly around the frame of her sunglasses.
"I tried doing that before," she admitted softly. "It backfired."
"This isn't the city," Deb replied immediately. "This is The Hill."
There was something oddly reassuring about the confidence in her voice.
"People here stay in their lane unless you invite them into yours."
Eris glanced around the street again.
"So… nobody knows me here?"
"Some people do," Deb admitted honestly. "Obviously. But nobody's going to make a huge deal out of it." She smiled. "Just wait and see."
After a moment of hesitation, Eris slowly removed her sunglasses. But she kept the cap on. Baby steps.
They eventually arrived at the administration office.
The building itself was small and simple, but the garden outside stretched beautifully across the property. Flowers lined the stone walkway, and vegetables grew neatly in wooden boxes nearby.
A man stood outside waving excitedly at them.
He looked close to forty, though years of farming had given him a naturally strong physique without him even realizing it. Broad shoulders, sun-kissed skin, rough hands. The type of attractiveness built accidentally through hard work.
"Who's that?" Eris asked quietly.
"That's Killian," Deb answered. "The town mayor."
Eris blinked.
"Is everybody in this town young and accomplished," she asked, "or are my eyes fooling me?"
Deb laughed.
"We have people of all ages here. Most parents prefer staying deeper in the countryside though. It's calmer there."
"Calmer than this place?"
"Way calmer."
They walked through the gate.
"Deb and her new tenant!" Killian greeted warmly. "Glad you made it."
"How long have you been standing out here?" Deb asked suspiciously.
"Not long." Killian pointed toward the building. "I saw you coming from the window."
"Creepy."
"I prefer attentive."
Deb rolled her eyes before introducing them.
"Well, this is Eris, my new tenant. Eris, this is Killian, our mayor."
"Nice to meet you," Killian said politely.
"Nice to meet you too."
"Come on in."
The office interior surprised Eris.
It was spacious, clean, and neatly organized. Three desks occupied the room. One clearly belonged to Killian, while the remaining two sat empty.
They took seats while Killian retrieved a file from a cabinet.
"Alright." He placed the paperwork in front of her. "Miss Eris Endellion. In order for you to officially become part of our little town, you'll need to sign here."
Eris stared at her own name for a brief second: Miss Eris Endellion. The name still felt heavy sometimes.
She took the pen and signed anyway.
Killian replaced the first form with another.
"This one confirms that you agree to attend town meetings and required community activities unless there's an emergency."
"What kind of activities?" Eris asked.
"General town cleaning every Saturday. Recycling programs. Seasonal festivals. Community support events." He leaned back slightly. "You'll also need to join at least one local group."
"What groups do you have?"
"The Hill Women's Community. The Hill Men's Community." He paused dramatically. "And the Market Association."
Deb snorted.
"Since you don't own a market stall," Killian continued, "I'd recommend the women's community."
"I see."
Eris signed again.
"What's next?" she asked.
"Do you own a car?"
"I do," she answered. "But I heard about the town rules. I'll get a bicycle."
"Very good."
Killian nodded approvingly before flipping through another paper.
"What about work?"
Eris hesitated. Five years ago, she would have answered proudly: Influencer. Brand ambassador. But now? Those titles felt, if anything, bitter.
"I'm not doing anything at the moment," she admitted.
Killian looked thoughtful.
"Do you have experience in administrative work?"
"Not really," Eris said honestly. "But I'm a fast learner."
Killian's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Well," he said casually, "I actually have an opening here."
Eris blinked.
"My assistant is getting married soon and moving out of state with her husband," he explained. "Which means I'm about to drown in paperwork."
"Did I just get hired?" Eris asked in disbelief.
Deb laughed as she nodded.
"Work starts Monday," Killian replied. "Nine a.m. sharp."
For the first time in a long while, genuine excitement flashed across Eris's face.
"Yes, sir."
Five years ago, if someone had offered her a regular office job, she probably would have chased them away with a selfie stick.
But life had changed.
And slowly—
She was starting to change too.
…
The tour around town truly opened Eris's eyes.
The Hill was beautiful.
Not in the polished, artificial way cities tried so hard to be. There were no giant billboards screaming for attention, no crowds rushing nowhere, no expensive buildings competing to look more important than the next.
The beauty here felt real.
People waved at each other from bicycles. Small cafés played music through open windows, and even the harbor somehow looked peaceful instead of industrial.
Eris silently prayed she would adapt well here. And more importantly—She prayed Deb's "stay in your lane" speech turned out to be true.
They had already toured the farms, the market, and the harbor. Only one final stop remained.
"I hope you're hungry," Deb announced enthusiastically, "because our last stop is the best restaurant in the world."
Eris laughed.
"That's a huge claim."
"It's true." Deb pointed ahead dramatically. "It's owned by two brothers who inherited it from their parents, so the food has this homemade feeling I seriously can't describe."
"Now I'm excited."
"You should be. I'm starving."
As they approached the restaurant, Eris immediately noticed how crowded it was.
The parking lot was full. People moved in and out constantly, waiters rushed between tables, and the entire building buzzed with energy and conversation.
"Are you sure we'll get seats at this point?" Eris asked cautiously, mentally preparing herself to survive on the emergency chocolates sitting in her fridge.
Deb looked completely unbothered.
"We will."
"How?"
"One of the brothers is my boyfriend."
Eris blinked before grinning.
"Oh, you bagged yourself a chef?" she teased. "Way to go, landlady."
Deb burst into laughter.
They hurried inside.
The restaurant was packed, loud, lively—and somehow still comfortable. The kind of place where noise blended into warmth rather than chaos.
Near the back, they spotted one empty table. Both women immediately accelerated toward it before someone else noticed. Eris laughed the entire way there.
Everything about this felt new to her. And maybe the best part? Nobody in the restaurant secretly lifted their phones toward her. That alone deserved five stars.
"You should check the menu," Deb suggested while searching around for a waiter. "I already know what I want."
"I'll just have whatever you're having."
"Dangerous choice."
"I trust you."
A moment later, Meshack approached their table carrying a notebook and pen.
"Hello there, ladies."
"Hi, Mesh." Deb smiled. "This is Eris, my new tenant."
Meshack turned toward her politely.
"Hi, Eris. I'm Meshack." His smile was warm and effortless. "I hope you stay with us for a long time."
Something about the phrasing touched her unexpectedly.
"I hope so too."
"So," Meshack opened the notebook, "are we ready to order?"
"Yes."
Deb immediately started listing dishes while Meshack wrote everything down carefully.
Meanwhile, Eris had become distracted by another investigation entirely. Which brother was Deb dating? She had already met Meshack. Meaning there was one brother left.
Meshack eventually left the table.
"What did you order?" Eris asked immediately.
Deb stared at her.
"You weren't listening at all, were you?"
"Not even slightly."
Deb laughed.
"Fried squid, rice, coconut beans, and sautéed spinach."
Eris's stomach practically applauded.
"That already sounds addictive."
"It is."
Deb leaned back proudly.
"People drive two whole hours from the city just to eat here."
Eris looked around the restaurant again and she believed it.
"Some of those people outside aren't even dining in," Deb continued. "They're delivery drivers waiting for takeout orders."
"That's insane."
"But worth it."
"Clearly."
About fifteen minutes later, their food arrived.
This time, another man approached the table. Duante.
The second the dishes touched the table, Eris's mouth watered violently. The presentation alone looked incredible. The squid was golden and crisp, the rice perfectly molded, the spinach glossy with seasoning, and the smell—
God.
The smell alone deserved awards.
For a split second, pure instinct kicked in.
Normally, this would have been the moment she grabbed her phone, took several photos, adjusted the lighting, and uploaded a story recommending the restaurant to millions of followers.
But that life belonged to another version of herself now.
And honestly?
This restaurant clearly didn't need her help getting customers.
"Duante," Deb said while pulling Eris back into reality, "this is Eris, my new tenant."
Duante finally looked at her directly.
"Hi."
He was quieter than Meshack. More reserved. The type who looked like he spent more time thinking than speaking.
"Hey," Eris replied.
Duante carefully placed the final dish on the table. The second he stepped back, Deb impatiently reached for her plate—Only for Duante to suddenly grab her wrist.
Deb blinked in surprise.
"Be careful," he warned. "It's hot."
His voice carried actual concern. And disappointment. Like he already knew she would ignore him.
"It's okay," Deb brushed him off casually. "I got this."
"You always say that," Duante muttered, "then end up getting hurt."
"Okay, alright, geez." Deb rolled her eyes. "I'm not a little girl."
Duante gave her a look.
"I guess you forgot to check the mirror this morning."
Eris smiled quietly to herself.
Scolding had always been one of her love languages. And judging by the way Deb reacted— She had officially figured out which brother was the boyfriend. Or she believed it to be so.
***