8 — Back to the Usual

“I’ll see you later. I don’t think I’ll be home too late tonight.”

“See you! I should be back around the same time as Cercis.”

“Bye, Vi! Be sure to take it easy, alright!”

“Have a good day!”

I saw Mr. Fisalis and my in-laws off from the entrance, with all the servants in attendance too. Mr. Fisalis was going to work, Father Fisalis had been summoned by His Majesty The King, and Mother Fisalis had been invited for tea by the Queen. They all had different ultimate destinations, but they were all three headed to the palace together. I was staying home, of course. I mean, yeah, that was normal, but I was happy.

Since I was in such a good mood, I walked them all the way to the carriage. After watching them ride off through the manor gates together...

“Fufufu~ What am I gonna do today?” I broke out into a big grin. My in-laws weren’t around for the first time in a while, so I could finally do whatever I wanted! It’d be a waste to just spend this time loafing around. I’ve gotta stay active!

“Madam, you look quite pleased,” Rohtas said with a wry smile.

“Of course I am—no one’s home! I can eat lunch with everybody in the servants’ dining room! I can even clean and do laundry without sneaking around. I couldn’t possibly just do nothing! Ah, I’m gonna put on my uniform right now!” I skipped off excitedly.

“Aren’t you going to stop her?”

“Madam needs a break sometimes.”

Both Rohtas and Dahlia must have given up, since they didn’t even try to stop me.

I pulled my favorite uniform out of the depths of my closet. “Ahh, this is the best. I don’t have to worry about getting it dirty, and it’s easy to move in!” I was even wearing an apron today, so I could really go as hard as I liked. No matter how many times I was told it was fine to get my regular clothes dirty, I still worried whenever I wore them.

As I twirled in front of my mirror, Stellaria giggled. “You look quite cute in it, though. Now, let me do your hair,” she said, starting to braid a few strands together. Now, the plain old maid look was ready☆

“I think I’m gonna start with laundry! I haven’t been able to do it very often, since it’s got the biggest risk of being caught. I’m gonna flap those sheets as hard as I can today!” Since Father and Mother Fisalis could be lurking anywhere, I’d stuck to just playing in my garden lately... But if I didn’t do the other chores, I’d forget all those maid skills I’d managed to learn. That’d be a big waste!

“One, two—!”

After joining the maids in washing the sheets, we flapped them up and down all together before we hung them out to dry. Get lots of air and become fluffy and soft! Bring on the comfiness~! My bed, Mr. Fisalis’s bed, the cottage bed, come one, come all—I’ll fluff ’em all up!

Once I’d finished the laundry with no problems at all, I joined the cleaning team in tidying up the manor. I left the expensive decorations to the pros, though. I’m not letting myself touch them—not after last time.

Since we were out of camellias for my cleaning concoction, I went out to the gardens to replenish my supply. Yes, the cleaning secret I brought from my family home. After I’d shown everyone how to clean with the camellia skins, the whole manor had picked it up.

Stellaria and Dahlia both looked busy, so I went out to the camellia tree without bothering them. I’d only be running out to grab the plants quickly, so I didn’t think I’d be gone long. And I was very familiar with the gardens, so I should be okay alone.

Or so I thought.

I’d made it to the tree, but unfortunately, there weren’t any fruits that I could easily reach today. I jumped up, trying to grab the lowest one, but I kept barely missing it.

“Grr. I can’t get it by jumping. ...Since no one is looking, I’ll just climb up there.” The trunk was thick and the branches sturdy, so it should bear my weight easily.

Giving a final check to make sure no one was around, I started climbing the tree.

“Okay, got some... Whoa!?” I picked a bunch of the camellias that were within arms reach, put them in my pockets, and was about to try climbing down when my foot slipped off one of the lower branches.

I scrambled to steady myself, but I lost my balance and slammed onto the ground, landing on my back.

“OUCH! Ow, ow, owww...” I laid there in anguish. Luckily, the grass had cushioned my fall a bit, but the impact knocked the breath right out of me. I just lay there groaning for a bit, only to hear Stellaria’s voice as she ran over.

“Madam! So you were out here! We were all looking for you, since you vanished so suddenly... Is something the matter?”

I’m saved. But I’m definitely in for it.

“Stellaria~! I just kinda fell out of the tree. Is my spine still in my body? My vertebrae aren’t scattered all around the garden, are they?”

“Huh? You’re all in one piece. But you fell from a tree?”

“I was just grabbing some camellia fruits, but my foot slipped. Teehee☆” My spine is okay. Thank goodness! I tried to laugh it all off, but it didn’t go over well.

“Don’t ‘teehee☆’ me!! Bellis, carry her.”

“Right.”

Bellis emerged from behind Stellaria, both of them glaring up a storm. He picked me up and carried me back to the main building. Thanks!

While I changed out of my dirty uniform into my normal clothes, Dahlia had a look at my back. She was nearly ready to call a doctor, but since it wasn’t hurting anymore, I managed to convince her not to do that by promising to be good for the rest of the day.

“Anyway. Please don’t go wandering off on your own without telling anyone. Do you know how worried we were?” Rohtas read me the riot act in the salon.

“I’m sorry. Since everyone looked so busy, I thought I could climb up that usual camellia tree on my own.”

“Even if you could.”

“I won’t do it again. I’m sorry.”

“What am I going to tell the Master...” He shook his head, holding his temples.

What? You’re gonna tell Mr. Fisalis!? “No, don’t tell him! He’ll kick up a big fuss... Cough, I mean, he’d be so worried. And I’m not hurt, so it’s not really a big deal. I promise I’ll never wander off without telling anyone ever again, so please? PLEASE?” I begged. If Mr. Fisalis found out I fell out of a tree, he’d probably ban me from ever going to the garden again.

“But—”

“And I don’t want the rest of you to get in trouble because of me. Please?” I laid it on even thicker once he started to falter. “It was my fault, so I should be the only one who gets punished. I’d feel horrible if the servants got in trouble for not supervising me. Let’s just sweep it under the rug.”

Rohtas gave a big sigh and smiled bitterly at my frantic begging. “Alright. I don’t think I could bear to tell him you fell out of a tree, after all. So—you promise to tell someone before you go anywhere from now on?”

“Of course!” I gave him a salute.

I ate lunch in the servants’ dining room. It really was fun to eat with a big group of people again! I’d gotten used to eating with Mr. Fisalis and enjoying(?) a quiet chat, but I was really in my element here.

After lunch, I ended up feeling really bored, since I’d gone and promised to be good the rest of the day. As that left me with nothing to do, I sat snugly on the sofa and watched the maids work. It seemed like they were using the camellias I had picked. I’m glad they didn’t go to waste.

While I continued my observation of the maids, Stellaria giggled at me, asking, “Are you really that bored, Madam?”

I looked over, suddenly smelling something wonderful, only to see Stellaria in the middle of making a pot of tea. She skillfully measured the tea leaves and put them in the pot before pouring in the hot water and covering it with a tea cozy. I was entranced by her graceful movements.

Now that I think about it, all of the maids here are great at making tea. No matter who does it, the tea always comes out perfectly delicious. I’ve been forced... I mean, taught tea etiquette, but I’ve never learned how to make it like that. Oh! Why don’t I ask them to teach me, since I’ve got this chance? I could be the one making tea for Mr. Fisalis while he relaxes on his days off. Wow, that really sounds happily domestic! Wouldn’t that be great? I’ve gotta learn how! It’s a high-power servant skill, after all!

“I wanna learn how to make tea. Then I could make Mr. Fisalis a delicious pot on my own,” I told Dahlia, striking while the iron was hot.

“Oh my—heheheh. That’s true. It would be good to learn for yourself.” Though she initially looked sort of shocked, she almost immediately agreed. She was smiling for once. Did I say something funny?

Moving to the servants’ dining room, my tea lessons started. Since it was right beside the kitchens, we could get tea leaves and hot water quickly. We chose a few different types of tea leaves, and the right teapot for each type.

First, I had Professor Dahlia give me an example run.

“Different types of tea leaves need to steep for different lengths of time. Once you memorize those, you’ll always make a good pot. For milk tea, steeping it a bit longer will make it stronger and more tasty,” she explained, her hands never stopping as she did so. The scent coming from the pot was so wonderful.

First, I tried it straight. After enjoying the beautiful color, I appreciated the scent. Oooh, my tea etiquette is already perfect! Never forget your manners, right, Dahlia? She nodded in satisfaction at my movements. You have to focus your whole body right down to your fingertips, but it’s easy once you get used to it. I won’t mess up anymore!

I tried it out myself next, mimicking her example. I warmed the pot, measured the leaves, and poured the hot water in the moment it came to a boil. After measuring the time with an hourglass, I poured it into the cup at the precise moment it was perfectly done. I could do it exactly how she told me~! All that’s left is finding out if it’s good or not.

The color was lovely, and so was the scent. I timidly set it in front of Dahlia. I hope it’s okay... I’m so nervous! I watched her take a sip with her perfect movements.

“It’s very well brewed. Delicious.”

“Really? Yay!”

“If you keep practicing, you’ll make an even better pot. You passed your first test with flying colors.” I got a smile and Dahlia’s seal of approval! I did it, I’ve acquired another maid skill!

“Can I keep practicing?”

“Yes.”

Since Dahlia had given me the okay, I tried brewing all the other types of tea too. And since it was there, I had the servants who came in on break drink it. I got a little carried away during the snack break, since it was so well-received—that I just made more and more.

“Madammm, we’ve had way too much already!”

The complaints from the servants were all part of the fun!