Chapter 8 (1/2)

Ch.8 Exploring the Mansion!

With a begging attack that is completely out of character, I forcibly join the maids during meals.

“But it is a little earlier than mistress’s usual meal time……”

To the apologetic Dahlia, I return a ‘I-say-it’s-impossible-so-give-up’ face, and with that to the servant dining room I GO[1] full of smiles☆ I don’t mind if it’s earlier or later! If I am not alone, it’s fine.

Here’s a bit about the duke’s housemaids.

There are fifteen maids in total. The two head maids, Dahlia and Mimosa, are exclusive to me and there are six with the Duke[2]. Those six provide assistance to the Duke, and his lover, Calendula, in groups of three, alternating every other day. The remaining seven are to attend any children born from here on out (but they won’t be my children~☆) and for when visitors come to visit. When there are no maid-like jobs, the maids do things like the laundry and cleaning together with the other servants. They take meals half at a time on a shift system because if they all came at one time, when they eat, there could be problems. It seems the shift changes according to the day. Lotus and Dahlia decide on it.

The above, is what Dahlia told me.

Even though I do not eat a formal meal, at the detached house my husband and Calendula eat proper meals, so the ingredients supplied are all splendid. They are all things that could not easily be seen at my parent’s home. To supply them was a luxury!! Even if they were supplied we wouldn’t have been comfortable with it.

The soup is the same as the one sent to the masters so, (although there are lots of delicious ways to make it), naturally it is wonderful. The bread is also the same. The salad also, with the exception of soft spots, while saying that, there are no complaints. Later today it will be scrambled eggs accompanied by bacon.

I’m eating this with the maids, whilst everyone is making a din! Aaa, happiness! This delicious food seems even more delicious!!

“Everyone, good morning. From today I will be joining you. Your graciousness is sufficient so please do as you usually do”

They allow me into the servants area, so before I sit down I gave my greetings,

““““Certainly, Mistress!””””

Everyone, aren’t you totally not doing as you always do? Well, that is natural. Because the mistress of the house, me, is suddenly here, in this sort of place.

“I am sorry. In my selfishness I intruded on everyone’s precious relaxation time. I really desire that you pay no attention to me. If possible I do not even want to be referred to as Mistress……”

I say, feeling despondent.

“That’s not the case! Because everyone is grateful to eat with Mistress!”

Said one of the Duke’s maids in hot haste.

“That is right! Mistress never comes to this kind of a place so we are just surprised”

“It is right after you coming yesterday so we are still nervous”

Other maids also unanimously say. I looked at the maids and it seems to be their true feelings. It seems everyone are just good people by nature.

“Thank you.  so, let’s eat”

““““Yes””””

Well, I thought it would be better if they opened up more. If possible I would like to be called “Vii” but that is impossible, right?☆

The maids are all young people, so in the end they quickly opened up. Although everyone is older than me.

Finishing breakfast, I return to my room but today I also have nothing to do.

I finished writing the thank-you letters yesterday.

“Hmmm. In what way should I pass today?”

I stand alone in a daunting pose when,

Dahlia said, while making tea,

“Allow me to show you around the estate today”

“Aah, that would be pleasant! The estate is very large and beautiful, right!”

That will be real house exploration right?!  Towards the, so to speak, ‘taking a peek’ into another person’s house, I’m thrilled, even I know that my eyes are sparkling. Aaa, but why don’t I have any consciousness of it now being ‘our house’!

The mansion, built in a U-shape, is a imposing stone building. Nantoca style[3] and so on, built by a M-era head of house and so on. I have absolutely no interest in those incantation like words, so they go straight through my ears. Sorry, Dahlia.

But the style of having been built in the previous M-era can’t be seen, it is a beautiful estate that has been reliably maintained. As for my parent’s home even if they wanted to maintain it they can’t because of the lack money, it is one step away from a dilapidated house. Uu (T/N: sniff/whine) . They cannot even be compared.

While walking down a long corridor

“The first floor is roughly a public space”

“Is that so?”