Chapter 26
While Saffinia was left behind in the chicken coop to clean—
“Hmm… that’s strange… where could Saffinia have gone?”
Clara was searching for Saffinia in the dining hall. That morning, she had gone to Saffinia’s room to fetch her, only to find it completely empty. Thinking that Saffinia might have followed the maids heading to breakfast, Clara came to the dining hall as well. However, she still couldn’t find her.
“This is troubling… Saffinia isn’t anywhere to be seen…”
Just then, her friend Kate spoke up.
“Good morning, Clara. Aren’t you going to get something to eat? If you don’t eat soon, you won’t make it in time for work.”
Kate held a tray with food.
“Y-Yes, that’s true, but…” Clara glanced at the counter where food was being served and saw a long line of staff members receiving their meals.
“I feel uneasy… did something happen?”
“Well, actually, I’m looking for the new maid who started yesterday, Saffinia.”
“Saffinia? What kind of girl is she?”
The staff were busy with work, so even when a newcomer joined, they didn’t usually introduce themselves in front of everyone. The unspoken rule was to introduce oneself when meeting someone on the job.
“She’s only six years old. That’s why I’m worried…”
“Eh!? Six years old!? Such a little girl became a maid!?”
Kate’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Then I understand why you’re worried. I’ll help you look for her!”
Clara tried to stop Kate from getting up.
“It’s okay, Clara. You should eat first, right?”
“Then I’ll help you search right after we finish eating. If she’s that small, it shouldn’t be hard to spot her, but just in case—can you tell me what she looks like?”
“Well… her hair is a rare silver color, and she’s a cute little girl with gemstone-like green eyes.”
“Got it. So I’m looking for a girl with silver hair and green eyes.”
“Yes, thank you.”
After asking Kate for help, Clara continued searching through the spacious dining hall.
——*****——
Meanwhile, César was having a meal with Porthos in his room.
“César, make sure to take care of Lady Saffinia today as well.”
“Yes, I understand, Grandfather.”
“Today, take Saffinia with you and clean the Old Manor. That way, you can provide her with the minimum education expected of a duke’s daughter. Here is the key to the Old Manor.”
“The key to the Old Manor?”
Porthos handed over the key, and César accepted it.
“I am the only one who has this key. If you lock it, no one can enter. You can use cleaning the Old Manor as an excuse for a while. That way, you can teach Lady Saffinia without any worries, right?”
“Thank you for your consideration. Well then, Grandfather, I will go to Lady Saffinia.”
“Ah, go ahead.”
And so, César headed to Room 303 to fetch Saffinia, unaware that she had been injured by the cruel maids, that she had been denied her meals, and that she was forced to clean the chicken coop all alone—
