Chapter 49
I see. Dorine took Hena's advice to heart. Hena guided Dorine to the door. As she stepped outside, scattering petals filled her vision. Though it was late spring, the cherry blossoms at Rohanson Manor showed no signs of fading. Evangeline, hanged from a cherry tree branch, swayed in the wind.
"Thank you for your hard work today. Safe travels."
Dorine tried to gather her senses at Hena's farewell. When she wiped her mouth and nose, white powder came away, but she didn't even notice.
'What was I doing?'
Ah, she had received money from the butler and left. The pocket she casually touched was thick.
"Ahem, ahem. You too, Hena. See you next time."
Dorine bade farewell to the gloomy maid and left Rohanson Manor. When did she get hurt? When she said it hurt, her knee was scraped.
What was I planning to do after leaving the mansion? Right. I was going to send a letter. Only then could she receive the holy water.
But a major problem arose. Dorine had to follow the rules of Rohanson Manor, so she couldn't reveal anything that happened inside the mansion.
What should I do? If I don't write the letter, I won't receive the holy water. While worrying, Dorine wrote the letter first. Of course, that letter never reached Bishop Jabaniya and simply piled up in Dorine's desk drawer.
***
To Bishop Jabaniya.
Bishop, I have safely entered Rohanson Manor.
The Count was away, and a butler named Plox manages the mansion. The interview was very simple. The butler said he wasn't of noble birth, so perhaps due to his lack of education, he didn't realize the documents were falsified and evaluated me quite highly. A drug addict as an etiquette teacher, isn't that funny?
This mansion has so many rules to follow. They're even short on staff, so forcing these rules on a governess means Evangeline Rohanson must be terribly finicky. I'll attach the rules I received. I decided to conduct proper lessons starting from the next visit. But Bishop, what should I teach for etiquette?
Dorine Phonore, who successfully got a job.
To the Bishop who never replies.
Yes. I understand your intentions well. You mean I shouldn't write personal matters and should figure things out myself, right? So I solved it on my own. I went to the library and borrowed a book called
Dorine Phonore.
Bishop, have you grown old enough to pass away?
Please understand that I'm starting with such rude words. This is all your fault, Bishop. When I asked what kind of person Lady Rohanson was, you just brushed it off saying 'she's not ordinary.' I think you must have developed senility. The holy water seems more necessary for you than for me.
Since you live at the temple every day, you must always see the statues placed throughout. That's why you thought of Lady Rohanson as familiar. But what if that statue moves? I would probably faint. That's exactly my state of mind right now. Please understand my situation of teaching etiquette to a living sculpture.
Dorine Phonore, recommending treatment for the Bishop.
To the Bishop.
I'm doing my best in this task. It seems like people around Evangeline Rohanson know more about her than she does herself, so I've been asking around. But the mansion staff, the moment 'E' comes up, they tremble with fear. I heard a few things from Rantana, who likes to show off.
Lady Evangeline is scary and frightening, but they say there's no need to be afraid as long as you don't cross the line. Especially, the two maids beside her do all the menial work, so she said there's no need to get close. I saw three people, and when I asked if there wasn't someone named Kanna, she cursed saying that one talks just like Olive's brat - I don't know who that is. I was told not to even mention that name.
And regarding the two monsters the Lady raises, a maid named Daisy told me everything - that she quit and came back, and stories about the new servants hired at Rohanson Manor. I've truly never seen someone with such a loose tongue.
When I asked why she tells me everything when I might go spread it around, she said 'You won't be able to talk.' What does that mean? It must mean I acted trustworthy, right?
Dorine Phonore, hoping for a token of sincerity.
Bishop. Are you even reading my letters?
You promised to give me a bottle of holy water as an advance payment once I entered the Rohanson Count's household. I waited sufficiently because I didn't want to seem like I was rushing. Do you know how many letters I've sent already?
My withdrawal symptoms are getting worse. At this rate, I might not be able to properly carry out your request, Bishop. Of course, this isn't a threat. How could a drug addict like me say anything to you, Bishop? So please, send the medicine, no, the holy water quickly.
The teachers hired at Rohanson Manor all quit except for me and one other person. None of them could make it through the first day. You see how much effort I'm making, right?
Dorine, hoping for grace.
To the Bishop.
Bishop. Are you just using me? You bastard! What did I say? I said my withdrawal symptoms are getting severe! All day I hear voices telling me to die. The remaining medicine is running low, and only by taking it can I barely keep my sanity. I'm going to teach etiquette while on drugs! Evangeline Rohanson says she has amnesia. Did she do drugs too? This is a strange place. When I walk, I'm stepping on pieces of flesh. I saw Evangeline Rohanson's hanged corpse, and today I accidentally stepped on an eyeball and burst it. I'll end here.
Dorine.
To the Bishop.
I fear the Lady (trace of erasure) Bishop, the Lady is a kind person. She said she'll forgive me even though I've confessed all her private life like a spy until now. I love the Lady more than you who never replies. This is my last letter. I like this mansion. I worship Lady Rohanson. Because she will save me.
Dorine Phonore from Rohanson Manor.
To Dorine Phonore.
Dorine, are you handling the task I requested well? I'm not rushing, but not a single letter from you has arrived. I heard the news of your acceptance but no report on your situation, so I'm worried something might have happened to you. Are you doing well? I'm truly curious how you're doing at Rohanson Manor. Yes, you could tell me about your employer, Lady Rohanson. I hope you haven't forgotten our promise.
From the place where the sun shines brightest, God's beloved Jabaniya.
"Butler, a letter came for Ms. Dorine. What should we do? Should we tell the Lady?"
"No. If the Lady finds out, things could get complicated, so just deliver it to Sir Gabriel. He's visiting this afternoon, after all. Daisy, you handle this."
"Yes. I'll do that."
"We must pray that God's beloved makes a wise judgment."
***
At the time when shadows were shortest, Rohanson Manor, which would normally be hushed and singing a lullaby of silence for the still-sleeping Evangeline, was unusually bustling.
Four carriages had stopped in front of the mansion's main gate, and the manor's hired workers helped move luggage from the carriages.
"You can stay in the guest room on the second floor. I'll move your luggage for you."
"Ah, thank you for your help."
"Hey, the cloth is dragging on the ground! Please be careful!"
Splendid embroidered fabrics and fabrics of various colors, lace decorations, and even the catalogs that couldn't all fit in the carriages required two people to carry and still wasn't enough hands.
"There's really a disgustingly lot..."
Converted to money, selling just those fabrics could probably buy a mansion in a provincial territory.
Watching the procession of luggage being carried, Rapahella marveled involuntarily. At that sound, the woman commanding the situation struck Rapahella's back. With a crisp smack, Rapahella twisted and sank down.
"That hurts! Misha!"
"Then should I have hit you gently so it wouldn't hurt? What are you just standing there for? Hurry up and help."
"What? Me? I'm a knight?"
"Then are those my porters?"
Looking where her index finger pointed, she saw colleagues wearing the uniforms of the Pharos Knight Order, which commanded everyone's respect just by looking at them, working like ants carrying luggage. Thanks to being knights with better stamina, they carried twice as much as others without showing any difficulty.
"Uriel, Seraph..."
Furthermore, even Jeremi, who found breathing itself bothersome, was mobilized. Except for the commander who had gone in first to see Lady Rohanson, there were no exceptions. Rapahella reluctantly dragged her feet to pick up luggage, then suddenly stopped.
"Misha, but why don't you say anything to your sibling?"
"...Michele has a headache right now."
Artemisia looked at Michele as if seeing the most pitiful and heartbreaking thing in the world. Seeing Artemisia's effort to soften her words since it was her sibling, Rapahella decided to become a drowning victim dragging others down. Even if her head hurt, her body must be fine, so she couldn't just let labor power go to waste.
"Sigh..."
Michele had closed her eyes and was breathing deeply. Ignoring Artemisia's glare, Rapahella put her arm around Michele's shoulder.
"Michele, what are you doing?"
"I'm breathing in the air to my heart's content. Perhaps because Lady Rohanson is here, it seems truly pure and fragrant. I've never seen cherry trees blooming so extravagantly either. I have an intense desire to become part of this scenery, but I'm just regretful that I'm a body that must atone in the Pharos Knight Order."
Crazy bastard... Getting goosebumps, Rapahella quietly removed her arm from Michele's shoulder.