Volume 1 Chapter 30 Commoner Servant, Meeting
"Miss, you keep talking about things up in the clouds—I hope you're all right..."
I, Roberta, kept thinking about this as I did the work assigned to me within the academy where this noble lady attends. I don't know where the young lady learned it, but she could write letters and numbers even when she was very young. I don't remember well, but my brother says that when the neighboring knight attacked, she was the first to take up a sword and fight. After that, my brother always followed the young lady around, earning money by exterminating bandits and hunting beasts—sort of like a hunter's job but not quite... Well, I can't complain, since I got this job because of that connection and was allowed to learn to read and write.
The work here is roughly divided into the behind-the-scenes work that we common maids do and the front-line work that the noble-born maids handle. I'm always doing laundry and cleaning, going out to buy ingredients, and sometimes I get a share from the friendly academy chef, which is quite beneficial. However, I see the front-line maids doing light work like preparing tea for their masters. The young lady said she was doing important work that we cannot see, but the friends around me say they're definitely having an easy time. I don't know which is correct, but the one thing I know is that, rather than complaining, working hard gets you rewards—like sweets from the young lady—and the senior maids invite you to go shopping together on holidays.
Usually, seeing the young lady speak so formally is a privilege that the villagers don't know about, allowing me to know a side of her that others don't. I remember the young lady saying that if she studied seriously and worked hard, a good marriage proposal would come. Even a farmer's daughter like me could marry into a merchant family if I could read, write, and calculate. Living in the city is certainly something I yearn for. My parents would be relieved if my brother brought a bride home... Marrying the eldest son of a hunter from the countryside... or becoming someone from the neighboring territory... I feel like I'd be more at ease as a sister if I was married to someone sturdy rather than kind, someone who would take care of me.
Maybe because I was thinking about such things, I ended up bumping into someone, which usually doesn't happen.
"Ouch!"
"Oops, sorry, I was looking elsewhere and bumped into you... Are you okay?"
"Ah, I apologize, I was lost in thought..."
The boy who extended his hand to me had a somewhat unreliable air about him. As he helped me up, a sharp pain ran through my foot.
"Ouch..."
"Did you twist it? It's my fault... I'll lend you my shoulder for a bit."
After saying that, he supported my shoulder and led me to a nearby shop.
"Hey, Yo. You can't just bring a girl into the shop like that, can you?"
"Idiot, I caused her injury, so you'd better bring some bandages."
"Hey!"
The young man who slipped away lightly into the back seemed to be the shop's apprentice. He was casually interacting, so he was probably not the top apprentice but likely the son of the shop owner.
"Excuse me, thank you for your help."
"It's fine, it's fine! I caused the injury, so I've got to do this much, or else my old man will get angry."
With that, he went outside to draw water, and when he returned, he had a cloth and a bottle with him. He wiped my foot with a cloth soaked in water, then the shop apprentice brought another cloth with comfrey leaves, which he placed on the wound before tightly wrapping it with a bandage.
"It might hurt a bit, but if you leave it like this for a while, the pain will fade."
"Ah, thank you very much..."
But although I could say thank you, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Exposing my bare feet for treatment, even if it's for healing, I wonder if my brother won't come to kill this person...
"I'm... Yoash. The oldest son of this shop. What about you?"
"Ah, I'm Roberta. I'm currently serving as a lady-in-waiting to..."
"A lady-in-waiting? So you're serving some noble?"
"The Kamitafiraknight, who governs both Machiki Village and Domaro Village. My lady is amazing."
Sometimes, I wonder if it's the same person, but of course, I can't say that.
"Huh, I see. Sorry to ask, but where is it located?"
"To the south, it takes several days by ship..."
"I thought it might be a trade route, but is it far away?"
I could tell that my face was turning red with a smile that I liked. Surely, this must be what love feels like.
At that time, I was daydreaming about such things, without realizing how much trouble I was causing the young lady....
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