(I want to update twice whenever possible on weekends...)
Then, for four days... I didn't see Lord Cyrus once.
Lord Cyrus is busy not only with his duties as a viscount but also with his work as a merchant. It's common for him to stay away from the castle for several days.
"Which dress will you wear today, Lady Marie?"
When Mio asked, I couldn't answer.
Mio frowned.
"Is there nothing you like?"
"…No. They're all so beautiful, I don't know which one to choose…"
After thinking for a while, she said, "Then this one," and dressed me in a beautiful lemon-yellow dress.
Breakfast was brought in.
This morning, there were several kinds of freshly baked bread, ham steak, fluffy omelets, and a fresh salad piled high with nuts. The bread of the duke's family is different from ours. It's rich in the flavor of wheat, and its softness is so inviting that I almost fell asleep the moment I bit into it. The butter is neither salty nor gamey. It's truly delicious, as if by magic.
Still, there are many ingredients I've never seen before. The salad vegetables are incredibly fresh, as if they were just picked. I thought there were hardly any fields in the capital, so where are they bringing them from?
When I asked Mio, she pointed to the window.
"They were picked this morning. From the courtyard we always pass through."
"Really!? There's a vegetable garden in the castle!?"
"We keep it hidden from guests. The head chef requested it, and the gardener, Johan, works hard on it."
"Wow, that's amazing! Not just flowers, but vegetables too... Mio, I'd really like to see it. Could you show me?"
But then, she shook her head.
"…I'm sorry. I will be relieved of my duties to you for a while."
"What!? Why?"
"Lord is returning, and I need to welcome him. Please have Hanna and Ilza attend you today."
"I, I understand..."
My nodding voice was trembling with anxiety, which made me want to laugh at myself.
Ah, of course... The head maid of the viscount's household is Lord Cyrus's maid. It's only natural.
I shouldn't say I don't want anyone but Mio, or that I'm shy around people, or that I'm afraid of noble young ladies.
Right. I should use this opportunity to get along with those two.
First, I should ask what their favorite foods are and serve them a home-cooked meal. I'm not the best cook, but I've been cooking for a long time, so I can manage.
If we use the vegetables harvested that day and cook together, it will surely be more fun.
After lunch, Hanna and Ilza came to replace Mio.
I immediately moved to the courtyard with the two of them.
Ah... It's really beautiful.
The garden is always in full bloom with colorful flowers, and clear water sprays from the white-polished statues, sparkling in the sun. Butterflies dance, and birds sing, making it seem like a fairy tale.
Every time I cross it on my way to the bath, I am greatly healed.
Yeah, the maintenance is perfect today too. It's amazing how beautiful it is.
But those flower seeds and seedlings are expensive...
Even in the baron's household, we did our best, but there was a budget limit, and we could only decorate the front yard. A rose arch like that is out of the question. Still, it's a lot of work.
As I was admiring it, I suddenly saw someone moving in the back. Johan, the gardener, was working on a stone path.
"Lady... Good morning, how are you?"
With his awkward way of speaking, he still greeted me. Just like the first day, he seemed uncomfortable with me. He doesn't say anything mean, but he quickly turns his back.
When I saw what he had in his hands, I gasped.
"Those are tomato seedlings, right? Are you transplanting them?"
"Huh!?"
Johan let out a surprised cry. He looked back and forth between what he had in his hands and my face.
"No, I was pruning them. To make them grow big and delicious, I was removing the extra branches and leaves..."
"Ah, I see. So that's better, huh? At home, we wanted more, so we didn't even pinch the flowers."
"Lady, you grew vegetables!?"
Behind his thick white beard, Johan's mouth opened wide. I blushed and nodded.
"Yes, I grew all kinds of vegetables. It's a lot of work, but it's much cheaper than buying them, and if there's extra, you can sell them."
"Lady, as Lord's fiancée, you must be of noble birth, right?"
"U-um, we were poor. Besides, fresh-picked vegetables are especially delicious!"
I waved my hands, trying to explain. It's not an excuse.
"But I learned on my own, and it was hard to make them look good. I couldn't make the tomatoes good enough to sell."
"Ah, tomatoes are prone to pests and diseases. They seem easy, but they're quite deep."
Johan nodded. I nodded too.
"They would always get ruined by something like mold... What should I do about that?"
"Hmm, it's a common problem with many vegetables. It's because of overwatering. Tomatoes need less water, and they become sweeter too."
"What if it rains continuously?"
"Spread lime. You also need a rain cover. And it's important to space the seedlings to allow air to circulate."
"How much space should there be between the seedlings?"
When I asked, Johan looked up into the sky and pondered. Then he smiled and beckoned me.
"Let me show you the real thing. Come this way. Not just tomatoes, but all the ingredients for the castle's salad are growing here."
"Really!?"
Yes! I was invited to see it before I even asked!
I stepped off the stone path to go down into the garden. But then,
"Kyaa, I don't want to!"
"No way!"
Hanna and Ilza's screams made me stumble.
They were hiding their mouths with fans, leaning in so close their faces almost touched, and whispering in very loud voices.
"Unbelievable... That person just tried to walk on the soil. Does she not know that the garden is for viewing, not walking?"
"Can't she see her shoes will get dirty? It's unbelievable. There are bugs and the male gardener too."
"No, wait, maybe she likes it. It's an unusual hobby, but we maids shouldn't criticize Lady's hobbies."
"Likes bugs? The male gardener?"
"Ho ho ho ho ho, of course, the bugs. Ew."
"Ah ha ha ha ha, right, even if, that's just too much!"
Their high-pitched laughter echoed loudly, reaching Johan.
H-how rude!
—Be quiet! Regardless of me, there's nothing for Johan to be laughed at by you!
I wanted to shout, but... my throat froze and wouldn't move.
Johan frowned and turned away. He seemed to be putting distance between us, walking far away.
I stopped in my tracks.
I'm sorry.
I really want to chase after Johan right now. I want to apologize, and if possible, be forgiven and become friends.
I want to walk around the garden, stepping on the soil, chatting, and making a garden together.
But...
The beautiful, glass-like shoes given to me by the viscount.
I know these shoes... must not be dirtied. I couldn't move.
After soaking in the bath, having my hair and body scrubbed, and putting on a new dress, I returned to my room. I was called for dinner and returned again. I sat and waited for the night to deepen, enjoying the tea and sweets brought by the maids. I changed into my nightgown, washed my face and mouth, and got into bed.
"I'll turn off the lights. Good night."
"Yes, good night."
Before I could finish saying "good night," the lights were turned off, and Hanna and Ilza left the room.
I sighed.
...I'm so tired.
But I haven't done anything, really.
Not the morning water drawing, firewood chopping, cooking, or side jobs, or even calculations. Even combing my hair is left to others.
On the first day, my dramatically changed hair and skin were further refined.
My hair was fluffy, and my skin was smooth and silky, even without makeup. I smelled sweet without perfume. My nails were transparent, and there was nothing dirty about me.
It's a dream-like life—no, a life I've never even dreamed of.
I am truly, truly well taken care of at the Granado Viscount's castle.
So I shouldn't be thinking like this—it's wrong, but...
...I feel uncomfortable.
It was a dull pain, but it was in my stomach, spreading and throbbing. I was afraid it would eventually break through.
"...I can't sleep..."
As I said it out loud, it turned into a sigh.
—My throat is dry.
I sat up. I put on a shawl over my nightgown and quietly left the room. The maids were probably already asleep, and the hallway was pitch black, with only the corners dimly lit by gas lamps.
I had already memorized the layout of the mansion from many trips.
I would get some water from the dining room on the first floor. I needed to change my mood and get to sleep quickly.
Tomorrow morning, the maids would wake me up. If I was still groggy, they would be disappointed in my upbringing.
I moved forward by the faint light and arrived at the dining room on the first floor.
What if the door was locked? The thought that came to me too late turned out to be unfounded.
The door was open. There was a bright light inside.