Compared to salons, picnics had a somewhat more social aspect to them, and some picnics even served as matchmaking events.
This picnic wasn’t one of them. Mabel disliked men, while Eleanor thought every man she saw was a curly-haired baboon. When the two of them organized a picnic, they naturally didn’t invite any gentlemen.
Once they arrived, Simon parked the carriage and joined Eve in socializing with the other servants.
Elisa headed toward the lakeside, where the guests had gathered to chat. She first greeted Mabel and Eleanor, then left their side to mingle with the other young ladies her age.
The purpose of a gathering like this was to make new friends, not catch up with old ones.
She surveyed the size of the picnic. Sixteen young ladies were in attendance, and a long dining table had been set up by the lake with various dishes and refreshments laid out on it.
Hosting a picnic of this scale cost around 6 pounds, which wasn’t particularly expensive, but only because that didn’t include the hidden costs of the servants and the estate.
Maintaining a lakeside estate and a full staff of servants would cost at least 2,000 pounds a year.
High society really does burn through money like water.
After lamenting the expense, Elisa joined a conversation between two young ladies. One was the daughter of a senior employee at City Hall, while the other was a medical student at the Kingdom’s public university.
The former belonged to the old class, people who depended on the nobility, while the latter belonged to the new class, representing the emerging power of the city’s intellectuals.
Even in a small picnic like this, one could glimpse the undercurrents now stirring throughout the Kingdom.
Elisa conversed with the two of them with practiced grace. In preparation for this picnic, she had specifically gone to Lady Helen for a crash course in picnic etiquette.
Once she finished chatting with them, Elisa headed for her next battlefield to make some new friends.
During a lull, she reflected: These young ladies are all quite friendly toward me. It’s not because they’re naturally friendly, either. In fact, quite a few of them are constantly trying to one-up each other.
They know I’m close with Mabel and that I’m also connected to Eleanor, so that’s why they’re treating me so kindly.
These young ladies of high society are all very calculating and eager to curry favor with those above them. It’s a product of their environment.
It’s all thanks to Mabel and Eleanor. Otherwise, I’d probably be getting hit with veiled jabs and barbed remarks too.
And I have the male servant to thank for being able to befriend Mabel and Eleanor so smoothly in the first place.
Elisa took a sip of black tea and rested briefly before opening [Simon’s Log].
Let me see what my male servant is doing right now and whether he’s managed to uncover any hidden information.
This is your first mission since becoming a Transcendent. Make good use of your abilities and do your job as a spy properly!
Full of anticipation, Elisa began reading the [Log], starting from when the picnic had begun.
[Simon has a delightful conversation with the maids Daisy and Lucy. With elegant playful words, he compliments both maids on their beauty]
You’re flirting with maids again! And two at once this time!
Elisa sighed inwardly. She had expected as much. Given the male servant’s personality, it was perfectly normal for him to spend some of his time flirting with maids. As long as he didn’t spend the entire picnic doing it, she could live with that.
She skipped past the part about the two maids and continued reading the entries that followed.
[Simon has a delightful conversation with the maid Ada. He compliments the handkerchief she embroidered]
Another maid! Do your job properly!
[The maid Emma approaches Simon. Simon politely turns her down and walks away without a trace of reluctance]
What? You actually turned down a maid? I’m impressed!
[The rejected maid Emma is somewhat disappointed, but there’s nothing to be done. After all, she only has two little mounds]
Little mounds… You bastard! Show poor Miss Emma some affection!
Elisa could deeply sympathize. If they were in the Archipelago, she would definitely find Miss Emma and offer her a glass of rum.
The latest entries in [Simon’s Log] ended there. Elisa had finished resting as well, so she gathered herself and headed into her next social battlefield.
By now, she was skilled enough at dealing with the young ladies that she could socialize while simultaneously reading the contents of the screen.
In the [Log], Simon had finally stopped flirting with maids, but Elisa found herself wishing he had just kept flirting with them instead.
[Mabel finds Simon. Simon performs a magic trick for her, earning her applause and cheers]
Mabel has little mounds too! You status-chasing male servant!
[Eleanor finds Simon. Simon tells her an ancient legend, and she becomes completely engrossed in the story]
Eleanor isn’t that big either! Why are you telling her stories?!
At that moment, Elisa finally understood the saying, “Power is the finest clothing”. Though perhaps it ought to be changed to, “Power is the best breast pad”.
Elisa amused herself with the terrible joke in her head.
While she was distracted, the male servant had already found himself a new favorite.
[Simon has a delightful conversation with Julia. Julia asks Simon how he has been getting along at Miss Elisa’s estate]
Why are you asking that?
He’s my male servant!
Elisa immediately grew alert. Julia was Mabel’s housekeeper. She had to be fishing for information so she could poach him from me!
[Simon realizes Julia’s intentions. Thinking of his mature and intellectual Teacher, he politely declines Julia’s offer]
I’m glad you can turn her down, but could you stop thinking about my Teacher? Think about the beautiful Miss Elisa more often!
[Simon changes the subject and brings up the incident in the East District, mentioning Miss Mabel’s reckless behavior. With his guidance, Julia voices the worries she has kept buried inside and releases all the stress she has accumulated for so long]
[Simon patiently counsels Julia, greatly increasing Julia’s intimacy toward him]
[Julia asks Simon whether Miss Elisa happens to need a housekeeper]
Elisa rubbed her forehead.
What the hell is going on?! At first, Julia was trying to poach the male servant, but just a few lines later, she’s the one who wants to jump ship and work for me!
What kind of spell did this male servant use?! I don’t remember giving you any hypnosis charms!
Hurry up and turn her down! How am I supposed to face Mabel otherwise?
Besides, I already decided who my housekeeper is going to be….Maria!
Elisa suddenly realized that she had forgotten to promote Maria to housekeeper.
As soon as I get back, I’m giving Maria that promotion!
[Simon jokingly talks Julia out of changing employers. After bidding Julia farewell, he looks toward a young lady he has been watching for quite some time]
A young lady? What young lady? How many women have you flirted with already, and you’re still going after another one? Can you even keep up with all of them?!
[She is a short-haired young lady dressed rather plainly. Instead of chatting by the lakeside, she sits alone on a bench in the garden]
[Simon picks up a glass of lemon tea and walks over to the young lady. His gaze sweeps over the prominent curves of her chest before he asks whether she needs any help]
You’ve never even brought me tea!
A sense of crisis rose in Elisa’s heart. Until now, the women Simon had flirted with were either maids or flat-chested young ladies. This time was different. That was a well-endowed young lady!
What if the male servant hit it off with her and happily jumped ship?!
Elisa set down her teacup and stormed toward the garden.
You bastard! Flirting with busty maids every day was bad enough, but now you even dare make a move on a young lady! I’m definitely going to teach you a lesson!
[During their conversation, Simon activates his Spirit Vision. An evil spirit is clinging to the young lady’s back]
Elisa stopped in her tracks, returned to the lakeside, and picked up her teacup again.
So it was just a misunderstanding. Hehe, of course I trusted my male servant all along. I was just going over there to help.
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