Half an hour later, a luxurious four-wheeled carriage arrived at the manor. Elisa, accompanied by Eve, Maria, and Simon, went to the entrance to welcome the visitors.
“Elisa!” Mabel jumped down from the carriage and threw herself into Elisa’s arms.
She really is lively.
If we were back in the Archipelago, I’d pick her up, spin her around once, and then put her down. But this isn’t the Archipelago. This is the royal capital.
Following the etiquette of high society, Elisa merely gave Mabel a gentle hug.
Mabel released Elisa, then greeted Simon and Maria as well. Simon and Maria bowed in return.
Once she had finished making a fuss, Eleanor stepped gracefully down from the carriage and curtsied. “Good morning, Miss Elisa.”
“Good morning, Miss Eleanor.” Elisa returned the greeting.
She glanced at Eleanor’s chest. Beneath her black curls were curves only slightly fuller than her own.
They’re not that big! She’s not even as well-endowed as Eve or Maria, much less that kitchen maid famous for her magnificent figure.
Elisa opened [Simon’s Log], curious to see the male servant’s assessment.
[Simon is observing the coachman.]
How strange. This male servant is actually checking out a man!
Puzzled, Elisa looked toward the coachman. Her gaze swept over the other person’s figure, and her expression immediately sharpened.
That wasn’t a coachman at all, but a woman dressed in men’s clothing. Upon closer inspection, the fabric of her clothes was clearly of excellent quality….far beyond anything an ordinary coachman could afford.
Eleanor noticed Elisa’s gaze and introduced her. “This is Miss Caroline from the military. She has some questions regarding yesterday’s theft at the manor. She was originally supposed to come speak with you separately, but we happened to run into each other.”
Caroline gave a gentlemanly bow. “Miss Elisa’s keen eye is truly admirable. I thought my disguise as a coachman was flawless.”
Your disguise really was flawless, but my male servant’s powers of observation are even better!
Elisa exchanged greetings with Caroline, thinking that last night’s case had indeed been handed over to the military.
Eleanor said they had happened to run into each other and come over together, but that was merely a tactful way of putting it. My etiquette teacher specifically taught me about this sort of thing.
What probably happened was that Eleanor learned the military was coming to investigate and deliberately came along to back me up so they’d treat me more politely.
Just like Mabel, Eleanor is a good person!
I’m really lucky. At the very first salon I ever hosted, I managed to make two such kindhearted friends.
And I have that hateful male servant to thank for it, too.
Until the transcendent item I need for my disguise arrives, I suppose I’ll let the male servant play with the [Finger Bone] to his heart’s content.
Elisa welcomed them into the manor and led them to the drawing room.
Half a cup of black tea later, Caroline brought up the attack on the police station. Elisa appropriately showed surprise and a brief flash of unease before regaining her composure.
Caroline then asked Maria and Simon a few questions before concluding her business. Her visit was merely a routine inquiry; she did not believe there was anything suspicious about the manor.
After wrapping things up with a couple of amusing anecdotes, the female officer rose to say goodbye and left the manor.
Simon and Maria withdrew from the room as well, leaving the young ladies to themselves.
Elisa looked at [Simon’s Log] to see the latest information the male servant had given her.
[Simon discovered that beneath Miss Eleanor’s impeccable manners lay an arrogant streak. She looked at everyone else as though they were curly-haired baboons. Among them, the curly-haired baboon Mabel had earned her favor and become her special pet.]
[Miss Eleanor believes she has the right to look down on others.]
Arrogant? There is a bit of that, Elisa thought, especially when Mabel and Eleanor interact.
Whenever Mabel behaved improperly, Eleanor’s gaze would carry a faint trace of helplessness and a tiny hint of reproach.
I thought it was the look of a strict older sister dealing with a mischievous younger sister, but it turns out it’s actually an owner looking at her pet?!
Isn’t your relationship a little unhealthy? Was helping the two of you reconcile really the right thing to do?
Elisa briefly became lost in thought and only snapped back to her senses when Mabel called her name.
She raised her head, her gaze sweeping over Eleanor, only to catch a helpless look tinged with reproach.
“……”
Why are you looking at me the same way you look at Mabel?!
Am I supposed to be your pet too?!
“Elisa, what do you usually do for fun?” Mabel looked miserable. “I’ve been grounded lately. If it weren’t for Eleanor, I wouldn’t have been able to get out today at all. It’s so boring at home.”
You ran away from home last time and charged straight into the Eastern District. Of course you got grounded!
Elisa pondered Mabel’s question, but for a moment, she couldn’t think of an answer.
What do I usually do? Spy on the male servant? I definitely can’t say that.
Eve thoughtfully reminded her, “Miss Elisa, you spend most of your time reading the newspaper. The Searl Daily is your favorite.”
“Reading the newspaper?” Mabel brightened. “Just like Eleanor! And you both read the [Searl Daily]!”
Miss Eleanor likes reading newspapers too?
Wait, Miss Eleanor actually likes reading newspapers too?!
Elisa began to panic.
Whenever people meet someone who shares the same hobby, they all react the same way. They start talking about it endlessly.
And if they really hit it off, they might even feel like kindred spirits who should have met years ago, invite the other person to stay the night, and talk until dawn by candlelight.
But I’ve never actually read the newspaper! I haven’t even finished a single news article!
The newspaper is just a cover for me to read [Simon’s Log]!
I’m doomed. The moment Eleanor starts talking, my whole image as someone who loves reading newspapers will collapse. Whether it’s the maids or Eleanor and the others, they’ll all think I’m a pretentious fraud, some vulgar poser pretending to be cultured!
My reputation, what everyone thinks of me…
Elisa glanced at Mabel and Eve. Both of them had expectant looks in their eyes, eagerly waiting for her and Eleanor to launch into an enthusiastic discussion.
No!
It’s too late to change the subject now. I can only deal with whatever comes. Worst case, I’ll be exposed on the spot.
Elisa resigned herself to her fate and waited for Eleanor to expose her, but the drawing room remained completely silent.
Elisa and Eleanor looked at each other…. and saw the same terror reflected in each other’s eyes.
The terror turned to confusion, then to delight.
They both suddenly understood!
So you’ve been pretending to read the newspaper too!
Elisa spoke first, casually making up a news story about plantation economies overseas. Eleanor nodded and followed up with a fabricated set of statistics. Elisa nodded and declared that Grade Thirteen concrete was the future. Eleanor shook her head and said she had more faith in pasta. After debating for a couple of sentences, the two jointly concluded that concrete paired with pasta was the key to the overseas economy.
Eve and Mabel were completely lost, but although they understood none of it, it sounded incredibly impressive. They gazed at the two with admiration.
After finishing their discussion, Elisa and Eleanor reservedly lifted their cups of black tea and took a sip.
Eleanor set down her tea and stood. “You two keep chatting. I’m going out for a stroll. The manor must be beautiful after the rain.”
Elisa was about to get up and show her around, but Eleanor shook her head and smiled. “I prefer strolling alone. A sense of solitude makes the scenery even more beautiful.”
Mabel moved over beside Elisa and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry about Eleanor. She just likes doing this. Last time, she wandered around my family’s new manor for over an hour! Heaven knows why she enjoys strolling around so much!”
Eleanor left with a smile, walked out of the manor, and headed toward a secluded corner.
She raised a hand and spread her fingers, letting a length of silver chain dangle between them.
Hah. How could you two ignorant mortals possibly understand the pleasures of someone like me?
I am a noble transcendent! I’m not strolling around…. I’m treasure hunting!
Let’s see how many lost silver and gold coins I can find around this manor, along with all those little pieces of jewelry.
Hmm. I’ll return anything relatively new to Elisa. Anything old, I’ll take home and add to my treasure vault.
Eleanor was positively thrilled.
Leave a Reply