Chapter 13


    Business was prosperous.


    Donna was born and raised in this area, and when they arrived, her eyes widened, saying that it wasnt like this until just a while ago. There was no road like that there beforerather, it was a garbage dump.


    Everywhere they went, she would burst into exmations. The improvements were going crazy fast. Sure enough, the Evans family, who hadnt been here for long, continued their diligent hunt.


    Look over there, goodness Such a big circus came to this town.


    Right.


    Instead of cherry picking the Hare household, the Evans family was trying to take the territory for themselves. Thats why the fief was being developed at such a crazy rate thanks to the enormous wealth and skills being poured out by Evans.


    The fiefs residents were puzzled, but they couldnt take their eyes off the entertainment and wealth being provided, and they secretly started favoring the Evans family.


    Even Donna, who couldnt hide her hostility towards the Evans family, showed such excitement at the spectacle she was seeing. She begged Borwen.


    Excuse me Mister Borwen


    Yes.


    When the two girls looked up at Borwen with shining eyes, he was forced to check the time once again and bought a ticket, reminding them once again that they shouldnt bete ining back.


    Its still a bit of timeter, so lets just look around the town a bit more, Carynne said.


    Yes.


    The number of people increased, and Carynnes old fatherwho wasnt good at businessand her clumsy fianc were being eaten up by the sneaky merchants from the city. She already knew about those facts, but she wasnt thinking about interfering in this life.


    Very smoothly, the Hare household was dropping into ruin. That was just a minor thing for Carynne this time. The household would go bankrupt, everything would be seized, their meals would be shabby, Dun would return to the monastery in the mountains, and the deste fief lord would die in agony.


    It was a good enough tragedy that would add to the pitiful loveliness of the female protagonist.


    The streets are really crowded!


    Borwen hurriedly followed behind the young women, who were running amongst the people on the street. When Carynne and Donna picked this and that, Borwen was the one who paid and carried the things. Then, when he looked up again, they were suddenly already at another store far away.


    The attendant was quickly drained of his energy.


    Tsk, tsk. Surely enough, men who only do convenient things have only that much stamina.


    Donna smiled as she entered the hatters shop first, followed by Carynne. Without entering the store, Borwen waited outsideit was awkward for him toe in because the store sold only items for women.


    Filled with fluttering fabrics, harmonious decorations and various hats, it was a ce that induced excitement. In addition to the hats, they also sold inexpensive essories and sewing tools.


    Carynne was the daughter of the fief lord, so she didnt exactly buy things. The best items were first given to the lord. Rather than opening their own stores like this, the best seamstresses and the most skilled workers were bound to be employed by the mansion.


    However, barring the actual quality of the items, she found that there was a unique charm about going around like this. It was a different kind of fun. Instead of buying things for herself, she either watched her servants or bought things for them.


    Between folds of fabric, Donna whispered while looking outside the store window.


    Male attendants dont do much, and theyre just annoying because they just try to look cool.


    Really?


    Yes.


    But all the attendants do physical work, right?


    Bringing tea, carrying luggage or opening the doors when there are guests?


    Why are you so upset?


    Theres heaps of work, but see. We came on this outing here thanks to Mdy.


    She put on a hat and turned around.


    Not that.


    Donna grew sullen and picked up another bo. The sky bluerge brim hat looked quite good on Donnas brown hair. While looking in the mirror, she smiled as though she knew it, but Carynne shook her head.


    Thising summer will be quite hot, so a boater hat would be better than a bo thats made of fabric. The bos brim would cover your face, but the fabric would make it humid, so your hair would stick to your sweat.


    Thising summer?


    To be exact, she couldntpare it to  another summer  because she didnt know any other. However, she knew that the servants, the merchants and everyone else would sneakily roll droop in the heat while rolling up their sleeves and go out without wearing their undergarments.


    Yes, thats what I said. Anyway, what do you think of Borwen?


    Its not that I dislike Mister Borwen.


    Comparing the sky blue bo with the boater hat made of straw, Donna nced at the attendant.


    Its just I think there are too many attendants in the manorpared to the number of maids. Actually, attendants do less than the maids, right? Maids have so much to do throughout the day, like washing dishes, preparing meals, cleaning and changing the bed sheets. Meanwhile, all the attendants have to do is dress up, open the door and sometimes carry luggage, but hnghh. They even get paid more, hnngh.


    Is that so.


    Was it due to her fathers vanity? Or perhaps it was a product of a romance novels worldbuilding. In her mind, whats left of the words that described Carynnes life was such an old memory that there were ashes.


    The memories were seared into her brain as though theyd been scorched by mes, and even after a hundred years, they throbbed as they revealed their existence.


    There didnt seem to be anything like the number of maids written in the script. When she giggled, she waved a hand when Donna looked at her strangely.


    Should this be called an error? But its too grand tobel her fathers mismanagement as divine error.


    Not too long ago, Sera said that she was scolded by Lady Ise while delivering a telegram. Its not like <i>shes</i> paying us or anything!


    In a few months time, shell be giving you your sry. Carynne giggled again. For a maid, Donna had a rather rash mouth. Was it because she was still young and because she was originally in charge of theundry?


    However, it was more satisfying to have new dialogue so as to brush away boredom. Bringing out Donna to this trip also had such a reward like her prattling.


    What happened?


    While delivering the letter, Sera was scolded for giving it with her hands instead of putting it on a tray.


    Oh my.


    Its like she detests even touching us, goodness.


    Oh right, we dont have trays for letters.


    Uh I-Its not that Oh I apologize.


    Having been acquainted with the Countess, Carynne knew how many nobles thought it was disrespectful to touch their bodies, but she didnt want to tell Donna about it.


    Instead of graciously informing her about how ss differences worked, Carynne med her own poverty. In a countryside like these, there were insrws and customs, so it was meaningless to give such advice.


    Im joking.


    Uh


    Laugh.


    Ohoho.


    Though it was awkward, the two burst intoughter.


    In the end, people of the same gender spent the most time closely. Evenparing time spent for dialogue, Carynne would spend more than half of the novel with Ise rather than Raymond.


    However, Raymonds importance as a character was naturally higherpared to Nancy, Donna and Ise. Even Duns importance was higher than the maids since this was a romance novel.


    Instead, lets add some decorative cloth on the boater hat. Not flowersribbons.


    But this time, Nancy as a character has be more prominent. Right now, instead of Raymond, Nancy enthralled Carynnes daily life more intensely.


    Whenever she opened her eyes in the morning, she saw Donnas face, not Nancys, and she would feel a sense of aplishment.


    She previously thought that it was a meaningless change because all maids were the same, but because Donna was just aundry maid who had never been a personal maid, her fingertips were not as smooth as Nancys. She was also a bit dense, but she was cheerful, and Carynne liked the eighteen-year-olds innocence.


    Above all, she was proud that she had managed to change the characters.


    So while giving Nancy or Donna time and affection, Carynne enjoyed thinking about cutting into the maids stomach with a knife at any given time.


    Though she could be regarded as someone wicked, her beautiful heart was not a lie, and so there was nothing to worry.