Volume 10, Chapter 26 – Let’s Pick Servants for the Mansion (Part 2)!

Furthermore, because Yisi had an idea, she didn’t just send the unselected people home after the interviews. Instead, she had them leave their addresses for future contact. Some of them weren’t incompetent, just not as outstanding as the noble-born maids. There was a branch of Margaret in this city of trade, and Yisi planned to visit in the afternoon. If they were short-staffed, she would introduce these unemployed women to them.

During the interviews, almost all the maids had answered that they came to work at the mansion because their families were struggling, and they were drawn by the high salary Yisi offered. According to them, ever since Adonis abolished the nobility system, causing the landless nobles to go bankrupt, they had also lost their jobs and had to find other work. But there weren’t many wealthy people of noble birth left in the city, and the wealthy, non-noble merchants had a vulgar habit of sexual harassment. Unwilling to be taken advantage of, they had to rely on their husbands or parents, living an exceptionally frugal life. Their clothes were washed pale, and their complexions were malnourished, all because of a lack of money. This included the seven noble-born maids as well.

“If you’re done selecting Miss Yisi, I’ll take the rest back. I’m still contacting the Adventurers’ Guild about the guards for the mansion’s security. Those adventurers, who reek of sweat, turn red in the face just from seeing a woman. I’m afraid I won’t be able to find guards befitting your status in a short time. Please be patient.”

Solanya waved happily at Yisi, preparing to leave. For every person she successfully introduced, she could collect a fee. The money she had earned in the past two days was equal to her usual income over several months. Before bed last night, she had almost woken up from laughing in her sleep.

“Wait a moment, Miss Solanya. You don’t need to find guards anymore.”

“You don’t need them?”

“Mhm, I’ve already found suitable guards.”

Cornelia’s Mansion wasn’t that large, and it was also equivalent to a miniature Tower of Alexia, with a crystal ball inside that functioned like a surveillance system. As long as one person watched the crystal ball, they could monitor suspicious individuals approaching the mansion from all angles, so they didn’t need many guards.

“Are you sure you don’t need any? It’s always more reassuring to have more guards, you know?”

“Thank you for your kindness, Miss Solanya, but we really aren’t short-staffed.”

Solanya looked disappointed. “Alright, I understand. Well, contact me if you need anything. I’ll take these people back first.”

“Mhm.”

“Miss Yisi, you must remember me if you’re free!”

“And me!”

“I’ll be sure to train myself while I’m at home, so that next time, Miss Yisi, you’ll pick me!”

Although they were rejected, the maids weren’t discouraged. Instead, they energetically promoted themselves, the hope and vitality in their eyes making Yisi smile. Yisi had Mary and Refina hand out a small dessert to each of the rejected maids and gardeners as compensation for their trouble. These desserts were all made by Mary. Because Yisi felt they had too much sugar, she had stored them in the storage without eating them.

In return, the maids, with exaggerated expressions and eating habits, stuffed the desserts into their mouths in a few bites. Their cheeks puffed out like squirrels, but they didn’t forget to exclaim “Oooooh!” to praise Mary’s desserts.

It’s good that it’s delicious, but please don’t make such exaggerated statements, like this is the first time you’ve ever eaten a dessert, all while wiping away tears.

Afterward, Mary asked if she could give her previously failed dessert attempts to the maids. Yisi, on the grounds that one shouldn’t give bad things to others, allowed Mary to make a new batch of desserts in the afternoon and deliver them to the maids’ homes with Laxy. It was just the cost of some sugar and flour. Compared to everyone’s happiness, the latter was clearly more precious.

At that time, I should also make some gifts for the people living near Cornelia’s Mansion. After moving into a new home, I have to manage the neighborhood relations. Even if the nearest residents are a hundred meters away.

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According to Solanya, the hundred-meter radius of empty land around Cornelia’s Mansion all belonged to the mansion. Yisi could build any facilities she liked on it. This also explained why Cornelia had dared to develop such a large underground storage area.

After spending some effort to see off Solanya and the rejected maids, Yisi finally had time to face the seven maids and two gardeners.

They were born nobles, but they look so sallow and thin.

Sizing them up for a moment, Yisi began to assign their tasks. Of course, it was just the same work as any ordinary maid: cleaning, laundry, preparing three meals a day, and so on. Since Laxy was around, they didn’t need to be by her side at all times to take notes.

As for the gardeners, they just needed to take care of the courtyard. Midway, Yisi was asked what style of courtyard she wanted. Not understanding noble tastes, Yisi could only answer that “clean is good enough.”

“Well, that’s all I have to say. Remember, you are absolutely forbidden from entering the other two buildings in the courtyard, aside from the main building. Understand?”

“”We understand!””

The seven maids nodded repeatedly. Yisi, who wasn’t good at maintaining a stern expression, relaxed slightly and waved at Camilla.

“Camilla, take out the clothes.”

“Okay.”

Chanting softly, Camilla took one maid dress after another from her black-hole-like storage magic. These were based on the long maid uniform Laxy often wore, but adjusted for size. They were originally prepared for the staff at Margaret, so there was no problem giving them to the mansion’s maids.

“A magic caster!?”

“No wonder she’s so rich…”

The maids who saw Camilla use magic whispered in amazement.

Ignoring their astonishment, Yisi had Refina and Mary take the uniforms from Camilla and hand them out, three to each maid.

“From now on, you must wear this uniform when working. Of course, after work, you can wear whatever you like.”

“Th-these clothes are for us?” one maid asked, her mouth agape, as she held the uniform.

The others stroked the clothes, as if feeling the fabric. Some even gently rubbed their cheeks against them.

“So soft, it’s the same fabric the noble lord I used to serve wore.”

“This is washed silk, right? It must be! A single bolt costs several silver coins!”

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“What if I accidentally tear it? Such a fine garment, I’d have to pay several months’ salary to replace it…”

“This could practically be formal wear.”

“…Do we have to give it back to you if we’re dismissed? You won’t say we have to pay for them before we can leave, will you?”

Hey, hey, you’re already thinking about being dismissed before you’ve even started.

Forcing down the urge to snark, Yisi shook her head with a warm smile.

“These are necessary for your work, you don’t need to pay. If you work here for more than six months, the clothes are yours. Also, if they don’t fit, you can exchange them for one that does.”

“N-No need! If it doesn’t fit, we can alter it ourselves!”

As if afraid Yisi would take the clothes back, the maids quickly shook their heads, hugging the uniforms tightly. Interestingly, as they were marveling at the uniforms, Yisi heard a whisper: “These clothes are worth way more than the dessert.”

Yisi’s expression stiffened.

Come to think of it, when I handed out desserts, I only gave them to the rejected maids and gardeners. I didn’t give any to these seven.

So they were staring at the rejected maids because they wanted dessert?

Yisi cleared her throat. “Ahem. Besides the three necessary meals, as long as we are living here, we will provide free desserts to everyone every afternoon.”

“Onee-sama, it’s better to make it once a week. We can’t spoil them,” Camilla whispered in Yisi’s ear.

“Mmm… no, I take back what I said. Let’s make it dessert once every three days.”

“Really?”

“Do we get dessert just for working?”

“That’s something only rich people can eat… I remember when I worked at the noble lord’s house, a manservant was beaten and had his leg broken for stealing a dessert.”

“Is this heaven…”

“Idiot. If the benefits are this good, the bad parts must be just as bad. Didn’t you see the pay is one gold coin? That’s three or four times the normal salary.”

Reminded by her companion, a more mature-looking, reliable maid, around 27 or 28, asked worriedly.

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“Miss, we haven’t seen the master yet. Is the master out right now?”

Master?

Yisi froze for a second before realizing. These maids probably think someone else is the head of the house. After all, the “men are superior” phenomenon is common in this world. It’s rare for a woman to be in charge.

“As you can see, I am the head of the house.” Yisi placed a hand on her chest. “My name is Yisi Enya, a Cardinal of the Ymir Church. There are no men among those you will be serving. Furthermore, I require you to treat everyone else in this mansion as you would the head of the house. There is no hierarchy between my companions and me.”

“Understood!”

For some reason, when they heard “no men among those you will be serving,” Yisi felt as if the maids breathed a collective sigh of relief. After thinking for a moment, she raised her eyebrows.

Did these maids think the reason I offered three or four times the market salary was because they had to provide… ‘that kind’ of service?

Just how desperate for money are they, to apply even with that in mind?

Sensing Yisi’s gentle nature, another maid quickly asked, “Then… will we need to provide blood for your companions? I heard the Blood Clan eats people…”

“Pfft.”

Refina, standing next to Yisi, couldn’t help but laugh. Because Refina was of the Blood Clan, the maid who had asked the question trembled in fear, her shoulders hunching.

Yisi smiled and waved her hand. “Of course you don’t need to provide blood. My companions are very strict about their blood. Unless your malnutrition improves, we won’t be setting our sights on you. Besides, we will pay extra for blood, in silver.”

“Gulp.”

Everyone swallowed at once. Yisi, misinterpreting this as interest, felt proud. However, the maids quickly shattered her pride.

“It’s not… one silver coin per barrel, is it…?”

“Huh!?”

What kind of demon does that!

“How could it be! Look here.” Trying to be angry but also finding it funny, Yisi took a clean test tube from her pocket. “See this? Just fill this up, one silver coin per time.”

“With such a small cup, wouldn’t we get a gold coin in no time?”

“That’s true. But compared to your monthly salary of one gold coin, the money from blood seems rather small, doesn’t it?”

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Besides, I’m not going to take blood from them. The only reason I said this was to ease their fear of the Blood Clan. Pepe is too picky to take their blood, and Refina, who is even gentler than me, would never do it.

“That’s true… but we don’t mind having more money! Please, Miss Yisi, feel free to come to us!”

These maids are definitely scared to death of being poor…

Yisi sighed, exasperated. “Yes, yes, provided you all get stronger and healthier. Alright, I’ve said what I need to say. Do you have any other questions?”

“Me!” A maid, about Mary’s height and the youngest of the group, raised her hand. “Miss Yisi, I want to know where we’ll be living. Miss Solanya said you’d provide us with a place to live, but I want to live somewhere that doesn’t leak—”

Before she could finish, the mature, 28-year-old maid clapped a hand over her mouth and gave Yisi an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry, Miss Yisi. We are already grateful that you’re providing us with lodging. You don’t have to take what this child says to heart.”

Yisi, having heard whispers like “I never want to live with that drunkard again,” and “we just need to patch the drafty parts with mud,” had to clarify.

“You can live in the empty rooms on the first floor of this mansion. Although there aren’t many rooms, and you may have to share, two to a room, I guarantee they won’t leak or be drafty.”

The mansion’s barrier hadn’t protected the separate servants’ building, so it had long since collapsed. But even if it hadn’t, Yisi had no intention of making them live in such a crude place. The so-called “separate building” was just a simple, one-story house. Therefore, Yisi planned to clear out one of the two buildings Cornelia had used as warehouses and turn it into the servants’ quarters and a special-use area.

The mature maid frowned.

“Living in the same building as you, Miss? Servants and masters living together will lower outsiders’ opinion of the master. You’ve given us such good treatment, we wouldn’t complain even if we had to live in the stables.”

“Ah, it’s fine. I’ll have the separate building cleared out soon. Until then, you can stay here. Of course, you can also choose to go home after work.”

“I’d rather sleep on the street than live with that guy again. I’ve had enough.”

“Exactly! I only put up with him because I couldn’t find work. Now I can finally say goodbye to him forever.”

It seemed some of the married maids had been oppressed by their husbands.

Every family has its own troubles?

Thinking this, Yisi finished her final explanations. Soon, under the hopeful gazes of the maids, Yisi gave them their first assignment.

To have lunch.