Chapter 142 Excitement In The Playroom
Sara noticed that the atmosphere in the playroom was different from before when she moved in with the bureaucrats and maids. The counter and card tables were still there, but the maids had added their own touches, such as changing the curtain colors and rearranging the small decorations, giving the room a softer and more elegant feel.
The Marquis had instructed the office maids to enjoy a party together, so Sara was holding a glass with some hesitation.
Since Sara couldn't drink, Eliza, the head of the office maids, had brewed her a cup of herbal tea. As Sara sipped her tea, she looked around the playroom and noticed a bookshelf that hadn't been there before. On the shelf were mystery novels, romance novels, and, for some reason, Robert's books.
"Oh, Uncle's books have been moved here?"
Sara sat down at a nearby table, and Eliza came over to explain.
"We decided to put entertaining books here. At first, I thought it was strange, but Sir Robert's books are surprisingly popular among the maids too."
"Really? Is that so?"
"There are some slightly explicit descriptions, but basically, they're romance novels."
'Ah, I see. It's like a TL novel. I guess it would be popular among women too.'
"There was even a suggestion to use it as a textbook for pre-marriage education..."
"Pfft!"
Sara couldn't help but choke on her herbal tea.
"But we, the older servants, opposed the idea."
"I suppose it's not something for young girls to read, is it?"
"It's too idealized, so when you face reality, you'll be shocked, won't you?"
"I see."
Eliza let out a deep sigh.
"Milady Sara, you can't have a normal conversation in that getup. It's really careless."
"Eh?!"
"My family has been serving as attendants for generations. My father is Joseph, the butler."
"I see."
"I realized Milady Sara isn't an ordinary young lady when I let the attendants into the office. Probably Father thought the same. Attendants share various information to carry out their duties smoothly. But when it comes to Milady Sara, we don't share too much."
"Why is that?"
"This is to avoid sharing information with servants of the royal residence and spies of other houses. Attendants have more eyes and ears than you think, Milady. So, it's better to assume that many secrets you and His Excellency the Marquis or Sir Robert have are already known to the attendants. If you don't hide things thoroughly, they'll spread to many people in no time."
"I see..."
"Milady Sara, can you use your soundproof magic to enclose just us in this room, so others won't find out?"
Sara surrounded herself and Eliza with wind-attribute soundproof magic.
"This should be safe. I mean, you knew that."
"Is it because Lady Sophia can use soundproof magic? Or is it because milady secretly practices being Lady Sophia at night? Or is it because milady made new fairy friends at another mansion without using soundproof magic?"
"U, ah, yes..."
"Luckily, it's not known that Lady Sophia and Milady Sara are the same person, and the servants at Baron Walt's mansion don't know about it either."
'W-wait. So how did she find out?'
"Milady Sara, my family has the same history as the Grandchester family. Our ancestors served the first Grandchester, Sir Kazuya. Our family was called 'Shinobi' by Sir Kazuya."
"H-huh? So you guys are ninjas?"
"Yes, Milady Sara seems to understand. We've been serving the Grandchester family for generations, just like Sir Kazuya, and we've been waiting for the one who possesses the Zense no kioku (Memories of Past Life). We're waiting to serve our true master."
"True master? You don't mean the head of the Grandchester family?"
"If Milady Sara permits, we will continue to serve His Excellency the Marquis. Our salary is important, after all. But in reality, we are Milady Sara's vassals, so if His Excellency the Marquis and Milady Sara give conflicting orders, we will follow Milady Sara. Of course, if Milady Sara leaves the Grandchester family, we will accompany milady."
'Heavy... What's with this vassal thing?!'
"This matter, I will explain slowly later. But for now, please be careful not to reveal too much about yourself, milady. Soon, the younh Marquis and his wife will arrive, and if the royal family or other households find out about it during the hunting tournament, it'll be troublesome. The Grandchester servants might be okay, but if the servants of other households see it, they'll report back to their masters right away. Please be careful."
"I understand. Thank you, Eliza."
Eliza bowed her head deeply, and after Sara dispelled the soundproofing magic, she went back to checking on the other maids amidst the commotion.
'Ugh... what's Mr. Kazuya doing? Was he a young boy in his past life or an old man? But he's definitely got a bad case of chuunibyou!'
Sara was lost in thought about her unknown ancestors when the Marquis called out to her in a loud voice.
"What's going on, Sara? Why are you hiding in the corner like that?"
"I wasn't hiding; I was just interested in the books lined up here."
Robert panicked when he heard that.
"Whoa! Who put those books there?"
"This isn't a place where children usually come and go, so I thought it was better than the study room, Sir Robert."
Eliza replied calmly.
"What's wrong, Robert? Did you write those books or something?"
"Grandfathre, according to Ms. Eliza, it's a romance novel with explicit descriptions. It's popular, and even Mr. Ben is a fan, it seems."
Sara blurted out the truth.
"Hey, Sara, I think it's better to keep that kind of thing a secret."
"But Grandfather is interested, so I had to answer. My mother told me I'm not allowed to read it, saying 'I'm not supposed to read that'."
"Wow...Robert, you're writing something bad for kids, aren't you?"
"Grandfather, it's not that bad, I just think it's too early for me. Besides, the maids seem to like it too."
"Huh, the maids to my book?"
"That's why we'll formally publish it later and sell it through the merchant guild. And if needed, we can create a 'all-ages version' with edited out extreme descriptions."
Then, Marquis burst out laughing like he couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Hahahahaha! Robert, you're getting told off by your daughter! You've lost all dignity as a father!"
"Father, Sara is special, so there's nothing we can do about it!"
"Grandfather, what's important is making money. The details don't matter."
"Sara...you're not very noble-like at all."
"I haven't signed the adoption papers yet, so I'm still a commoner."
"Even if you become a noble, I don't think it'll change."
"I think so too."
The people around them were also holding their stomachs, trying not to laugh. ...No, Jeffrey was already laughing with his arms around his belly.
Feeling a bit sorry for Robert, Sara decided to change the subject.
"By the way, have you all tried Elma Brandy?"
"Not yet. We can't just open it without permission, after all. But we were allowed to open the Elma liquor barrels. This is delicious!"
"Elma Brandy is made from this Elma liquor. Apparently, Mr. Fran's mother brewed the liquor."
"Wow, it's made from this liquor. I'm torn between drinking it as is or making it into Brandy."
Marquis tilted his glass, and the bureaucrats and maids agreed.
"Ah, speaking of which, I have a letter for Milady Sara."
Maria rummaged through her things and handed the letter to Sara. It was from Tonia, Fran's mother.
----
I humbly apologize for my impolite letter.
I am deeply grateful for your purchase of a large quantity of Elma liquor from my daughter-in-law and me.
Additionally, we were honored to try your Elma brandy.
We have also heard that it will become a new specialty product of our territory.
I would like to express my gratitude to Lady Sara for giving us this valuable opportunity, and I am overjoyed that we can contribute to the development of new specialty products.
I will await your instructions on the quantity of barrels needed in the future, as well as any other assistance we can provide.
Although we are ignorant and do not know how much we can be of help, we look forward to serving you in the future.
By the way, I heard that the engagement between Sir Robert and Viscount Orson's daughter, as well as the adoption of Lady Sara, has been decided.
Therefore, I would like to offer this Elma liquor as a celebratory gift.
It may be a small thing, but I would be happy if you could accept it with a smile.
Tonia Harlan
----
"Does Mr. Fran's mother have noble blood, Grandfather?"
"Tonia's father was a knight, but he has already passed away."
"Wait, didn't Mr. Fran's mother used to be the lady of Elma Farm?"
Pollux chimed in at that point.
"Hmm, this is Elma liquor from Harlan Farm, isn't it?"
"Is it famous, Grandfather?"
"Yes, because they produce the best Elma liquor in Grandchester."
"Is that so?"
"The owner of Elma Farm, Ms. Tonia, bought out the farm that was on the verge of collapse and became the farm owner herself. She married her husband afterwards, I hear, Miss Sara."
"Huh, why did Mr. Fran become a blacksmith, Mr. Pollux? I thought his great-grandfather was a blacksmith or something."
"The husband is a blacksmith who supplies farming tools to Harlan Farm too. He doesn't have a hand in farm management or winemaking, though."
"Wow, he sounds like an amazing person."
"He's a legendary. I think Miss Sara would get along with Ms. Tonia just fine, don't you?"
"That's someone I'm looking forward to meeting."
Fran's mom seems like a really interesting person.
'I'm getting super excited!'
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