Chapter 190 (1/2)
Territory Pioneering 4
[Sophia-chan’s point of view]
More recently I’ve been experiencing an unusual sense of fulfilment from my work.
It’s not the work of a maid that has caused this either. Tanaka-san has tasked me with managing the finances of the town he recently built. Previous to this I had only managed a single restaurant, but now I’m overseeing an entire town.
It would be fair to say that my family’s restaurant was doing well and I had to do a fair amount of calculations on a monthly basis to balance the books but that amount doesn’t compare to the money brought in and spent by the dozens of revenue streams in the city. I’m being forced to count up into higher digits that I’ve never used before.
This has naturally motivated me to try my hardest to provide an accurate balance.
It’s an amazing feeling spending each day lounging around in the school dormitory, but facing a challenge in life exhilarates me like nothing I had experienced over the past several weeks.
Ah, but it can’t be too difficult. I wouldn’t even know what to do.
“….”
Not long after I came to the realization that the job I enjoy the job I’ve been given and it gives me a sense of fulfilment, Tanaka-san said he wants to offer me a reward.
A reward would make me happy.
I’d be so happy.
I’ve been trying my hardest and a reward would show that my efforts haven’t been wasted.
It made me feel as if he was truly appreciating me and the work I’ve been doing.
And for a commoner like me to be rewarded by a member of the nobility for their work is truly amazing. Of course, proper payment is also important.
But, to be honest, I still have the gold I received for the dragon extermination contract and I have no complaints about how I’m treated on a daily basis. If he suddenly asks me for something I’d like, I have no answer to give him.
Even now, I’m sitting at the edge of my large bed, in a room so large it’s difficult for me to even call it a bedroom. It wouldn’t be inaccurate to compare this bed to sleeping on a cloud while my bed at home is similar to sleeping in the mud.
Still, if he’s asking what I’d like, I guess I would like to no longer have to serve tea to the nobles. But Ester-sama is a nice person and I believe I’m getting used to being around Fahren-sama.
Then, maybe I could at least ask to be allowed to refrain from serving members of the royal family. I was terrified when I met the Princess the other day. My mind went blank when I brought in the tea and I can barely even remember what happened after I entered the room.
“…that is my decision.”
I’ll ask to no longer serve tea to members of the royal family.
It’s the one thing I can think of that keeps me from being happy at work.
Yes, that is the right choice.
Now that that’s settled, let’s head to the baths.
I left my room and visited one of the public baths in the North District.
***
[Sophia-chan’s point of view]
I quickly got out of my maid outfit after arriving at the baths and relaxed in the hot water. The bath additive that Tanaka-san came up with worked in tandem with the hot water to create a soothing feeling, unlike anything I’ve experienced before. I’m tempted to stay in here overnight.
It’s already quite late at night and I’m the only one here. It’s like I’ve reserved the entire place for myself.
“This feels amazing~”
Apparently, this maid isn’t allowed to relax for too long.
The door to the baths opened and my consciousness immediately shifted to find who had entered.
Members of the nobility also use these baths from time-to-time. My commoner mind took over and I instinctively began moving to the corner of the bath in order to hide from whoever had entered.
Then, as I was making my way to the corner, the other party came into sight.
“….”
Oh no, this is dangerous.
“Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed? It’ll just be the two of us.”
“Umm, still Angelica-sama, I’m not sure the two of us….”
“It’s fine, Annerose. You’ve made great advancements in position over the last few weeks, haven’t you? You shouldn’t have any concerns about our difference in status.”
“T-That’s true.”
“Then do you just not wish to bathe with me? I guess an untrained body such as mine would never match up to the well-toned body of an imperial knight. I don’t even deserve to be in the same water as you.”
“That’s not it all!”
It’s the Princess.
And Mercedes-san is with her.
I was hiding myself in the shadows behind a statue of a strange creature that spat water out of its mouth. I assume it was designed by Tanaka-san, but I didn’t recognize the creature.
“Then it should be fine? Unless there’s another reason.”
“O-Of course not….”