SHC25_25_Chapter 25 The Talent Essential for a Maid.

25. The Talent Essential for a Maid

“It’s actually kind of a well-known story around the mansion.”

During Regulus’s afternoon study-and-nap time, I casually told Utsunomiya-san, who was acting as his caretaker, that he’d gained a new teacher.

She looked rather pleased with herself as she responded.

“It’s well-known that Genzou-san used to be a top-tier adventurer?”

“Oh, yes. And the story of how the former head of the family took him in is something most people around here know too.”

“Huh, I didn’t realize…”

Apparently, Utsunomiya-san had not only been subtly promoting Regulus’s cuteness and intelligence to gather allies for him (as I’d requested) but also had been collecting intel around the mansion under the banner of "Know your enemy and know yourself, and you need not fear a hundred battles."

“Oh, and it’s not just Genzou-san—the previous head of the house also took in Rottenmeier-san.”

“Rottenmeier-san too?!”

“Yep. She was sold off, like me, due to being another mouth to feed. The old lady of the house took her in. Genzou-san, meanwhile, got badly injured after barely succeeding in a monster hunt from the guild. The head found him in a bad place, forcing him to retire.

“A discarded child and a wounded warrior…”

“By the way, when I say ‘the previous head,’ I mean your grandmother. People don’t talk much about your grandfather.”

I nodded as I stroked Regulus’s hair while he flipped through a cloth picture book.

Since I don’t even remember my parents’ faces, of course I don’t know my grandparents either. But no one ever mentioned their names before, so they’re probably no longer alive.

Come to think of it, have I ever seen any portraits in this house?

“Utsunomiya-san, how much of the mansion have you had the chance to look around?”

“Everything except the madam’s room, actually. Rottenmeier-san showed me the ropes when I was learning how to clean.”

“Then… did you ever see any portraits?”

“Oh! About that!”

Apparently, from her experience working in noble households, it’s customary to have painted portraits of the current and former heads of the family—having a renowned artist paint your likeness is a mark of aristocratic prestige.

But this Kikunoi estate doesn’t have any portraits—not of the current head, nor the previous, nor even the one before that.

“So the Kikunoi family specializes in dysfunctional parent-child relationships?”

“Wait, young master—how do you know that?”

“Because a count’s household that can’t even afford to commission portraits would be too embarrassed to show their face in noble society. And my parents met at a high-society ball hosted by a major noble family.”

“Oh… I see now.”

“It’s probably also connected to the decline of the family. If the parents had better relationships with their children, they’d have ensured someone capable remained behind to manage the territory.”

Then again, you can’t say it always works that way—some parents pamper their kids so much they end up blind to reality.

Still, even if you can’t discipline your beloved daughter, surely you could’ve knocked some sense into her husband. Why didn’t you?

Well, whatever. The dead can’t help us now.

If I need to know something, Rottenmeier-san will let me know, and Romanov-sensei would never just sit back and let me flounder—he might enjoy teasing me, but he’s not heartless.

Still…

“Utsunomiya-san, do you have the makings of a spy, maybe?”

“Oh no, not at all~”

“You’ve been pulling in information remarkably well, though.”

“That’s because I’m a maid! Maids are always supposed to be discreetly observing things through door cracks. Haven’t you heard of ‘The Maid Saw It!’?”

…Did she almost say "housekeeper" just now?

I gave her a sharp look, and she produced a theatrical cough to cover up the slip.

I doubt she’d confess even if I pressed her, so I let it go.

“Well, Rottenmeier-san did tell me that a maid must be the eyes and ears of her master—gather information widely, report it to the master, and never let a drop of it leak outside.”

“Makes sense.”

“Also! I was praised for my mop-handling skills!”

Mop-handling… So she’s good at cleaning?

I must’ve had a question mark plastered across my face, because she puffed out her chest with a smug little grin.

“In short, Utsunomiya will continue to work hard for the young master and for Regulus-sama!”

“Thank you. I’m counting on you, Utsunomiya-san.”

“Leave it to me!”

She gave a quick, deep bow, and Regulus, thinking we were playing, mimicked her with a big nod of his own.

Although his head wobbled slightly, it seemed that thathe might be getting sleepy.

“Regulus-kun, do you want to take a nap?”

“Mmm…”

It was hard to tell if he was groaning or just grumbling sleepily, but he was rubbing his eyes and mumbling something incoherent.

“You’ll grow big and strong if you take naps when you’re sleepy, Regulus-sama!”

“I’ll grow?”

“You will! Right, young master?”

“Yep. Sleep well, play lots, study hard, and eat plenty.”

“Bigger than Niini?”

Though drowsy, Regulus’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Utsunomiya-san and I exchanged glances and both nodded.

“You could definitely grow taller than me.”

“Taller than Sensei?”

“Sensei… oh, you mean Romanov-sensei?”

He nodded seriously.

I compared Romanov-sensei and Father in my head—Father was about a fist taller and broader.

“I think you could. Father was quite tall and well-built.”

“Your mother was also tall for a woman! And I’ve heard Regulus-sama’s grandfather was tall too!”

I remembered the Regulus from that fleeting vision—he had looked like a tall and dignified young man, even from what must’ve been my crouching perspective.

Now that I know a bit about his mother too, that image feels even more real.

Regulus smiled softly at our reassurances. So cute.

Then, standing up from the soft mat, he tugged on my hand repeatedly, as if asking me to get up.

Once I did, he led me straight to my bed.

Then he slipped under the covers, patted the space beside him, and said:

“Niini, nap too.”

“Eh? But I’ve got stuff to do… Also, shouldn’t you nap in your own room?”

“Wanna nap here.”

Why though?

Despite being moments from dozing off, Regulus shook his head firmly and puffed his cheeks in protest, staring up at me with pleading eyes.

The first one to cave was Utsunomiya-san.

“Young master…”

“But I still have embroidery…”

“Didn’t you say yesterday that you already finished the pieces Romanov-sensei asked for?”

“Well… yes, but…”

“Sleep helps you grow too, young master!”

Utsunomiya-san was pushing nap time hard, and Regulus joined in, squirming to rest his head on my lap like a pillow. Every time he moved, his soft golden hair tickled me until I went limp—and then he body-slammed me like a tiny whirlwind.

“Gah?! Heavy!”

“Hold him down, Regulus-sama! I’ll get the blanket!”

“Okay!”

In perfect sync, the two of them had me pinned and tucked into bed before I knew what hit me. I couldn’t help but tap the blanket like a wrestler tapping out.

“I give! I give!”

Utsunomiya-san, grinning like a referee, pulled the blanket over me. Thus ended the Nap-Time Wrestling Match in Regulus’s victory.

“Good night,” Utsunomiya-san said, lifting her skirt hem slightly in a graceful curtsy as she left.

Regulus lay down beside me.

Well… might as well follow Her Highness’s example and sing him a lullaby.

I dug deep into my memories.

There was a man I’d befriended at a bar I used to visit with Tanaka. He was from Okinawa, the southernmost island of Japan, and spoke the dialect fluently.

He had taught me a lullaby—though I’m not sure if it was a traditional one. But it was warm, and full of parental love.

It had taken me forever to learn the lyrics and unique pronunciation, and I’d been so proud when I finally managed to sing it.

Now, though, I could sing it easily, even gracefully. Somewhere in the corner of my heart, “the old me” sulked in disbelief.

As I finished, Regulus was already breathing softly in sleep, a faint smile gracing his lips, as though dreaming something wonderful.

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Eunie: Thanks for reading!!

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