No More Regrets, Just K*ll Me

“Ah!”

 

Thud.

A young maid was pulling weeds. It seemed she had fallen while trying to pull out a particularly deep-rooted weed. Her back looked familiar.

Her name was…

 

“Rodi, what are you doing here?”

 

Another maid asked the young maid, Rodi. The girl wiped the sweat from her forehead with her dirt-covered hand.

 

“The gardener told me to pull out the weeds, so I was doing that.”

“Really?”

 

I paused for a moment, puzzled, and asked the maid.

 

“Is it really okay to have such a young child do that?”

“She’s still in training, so she’s been assigned to help in various places where we’re short on hands.”

“But she’s so small…”

 

From my perspective, it seemed odd to make such a young child work. Though it wasn’t a stark contrast to the memories I had as Ariadeline, it still felt uncomfortable seeing a child working in front of me.

After thinking for a moment, I pointed to a nearby garden bench.

 

“Do you want to talk with me for a bit? I’m feeling a little bored.”

“Huh?”

 

Rodi’s eyes widened as she looked at the other maids. Oh, dear, it seems she hasn’t been trained well enough. In situations like this, she should listen to someone of higher status instead of looking at the maids.

 

‘Wait, hold on. I’m a sinner, so I’m not really that high up, am I?’

“It’s okay, Rodi. Just do as Miss Ariadeline says.”

 

The other maids, unsure how to handle this awkward situation, whispered softly. I nodded in thanks to the maids and soon sat down on the bench.

Rodi hesitated for a moment.

Plop.

 

“Why are you sitting there…?”

 

She kneeled on the ground.

 

“I was taught not to sit next to someone of high status.”

“Well, I’m not exactly of high status. Actually, it’s a bit ambiguous since you’re serving me now. Anyway, I want to sit next to you and talk.”

“Is that really okay?”

 

Rodi still seemed unsure about many things. I smiled reassuringly and patted the spot next to me on the bench.

 

“It’s fine. Isn’t it?”

 

I looked to the other maids for their agreement, and they nodded. Seeing this, Rodi cautiously stood up, and I reached out to dust off her knees.

 

“Your stockings got dirty.”

“Uh, they got dirty while pulling weeds.”

“Really?”

 

I gently pulled her by the hand to sit next to me, still smiling.

Rodi hesitated for a moment but then sat on the bench, sitting up straight and looking ahead. Her nervousness made me chuckle lightly, and I asked,

 

“How’s the work going?”

“Yes, yes! I like it very much!”

“Well, it’s good that you like it, but honestly, working isn’t that easy, is it?”

 

Then Rodi, after some thought, said quietly,

 

“Well, I can earn money.”

 

In this world, it was common for people to start working at a young age, especially for commoners who often struggled to make ends meet.

 

“Is that so? Is this a good place to work?”

“Yes, everyone is k-kind, and the pay is much better…”

“Well, it is the duke’s household. Since I don’t know what will happen to me later, should I ask Carlothian for a recommendation letter?”

“Miss Ariadeline!”

“How could Miss Ariadeline do servant work?”

“Why not? I’m healthier than I look. Moreover, if I leave here, I have nowhere else to go. Or maybe I’ll be locked up in the temple again.”

 

I was seriously considering it, but the maids looked horrified. Why do they care so much about someone else’s business? They’re such kind girls.

 

“So, what will you do with all the money you earn? Buy lots of delicious food.”

 

Rodi shook her head.

 

“No. I’ll give it to my family.”

 

I smiled bitterly at that.

 

“To your family?”

 

It’s not good to grow up too fast. I hid my thoughts and spoke a bit more cheerfully.

 

“Your parents must be pleased.”

 

But Rodi looked downcast.

 

“N-not really. It’s still hard for my family to make ends meet…”

 

I tilted my head in confusion for a moment. If her parents were working and this girl, who looked around fifteen, was also working, how could it be tight? Let’s see if she has four family members…

 

“Really? Do you have any siblings?”

 

Rodi nodded her head.

 

“I have an older brother.”

“How old is he?”

“Twenty.”

“And it still isn’t enough?”

 

Is Rodi’s family doing better than I thought? Do they spend a lot? As I sat there with a confused expression, Rodi hesitated before speaking.

 

“M-my parents and brother don’t work.”

“They don’t work?”

 

I unknowingly asked sharply. The child, startled, began to hiccup.

 

“Hic!”

“Oh, sorry. Did I scare you? But why don’t they work? Are they sick?”

“They, um, just have various aches and pains. Thankfully, it’s not anything serious…”

 

I felt dizzy for a moment, processing the information. So, this fifteen-year-old girl has her whole family dependent on her?

 

“What do you do with the money you earn?”

“I-I send it all to my family.”

“What about money for yourself?”

“Well… I get food and a place to sleep here, so I don’t need it.”

“What do you do on your days off?”

“Nothing.”

“……”

 

I glanced over at the maids. They seemed a bit surprised, but they watched the girl with sympathetic expressions, as if this were a common situation.

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to save a little bit of money for yourself?”

“If I send even a little less, my brother will starve…”

“Why would he starve?”

“Because there isn’t enough money to buy enough food.”

“Sorry, but how much do you get paid?”

 

Sensing that something was wrong, Rodi nervously glanced around before answering.

 

“I receive fifteen gold coins a month.”

“Fifteen gold coins…?”

 

That’s definitely much better than the usual salary for common noble servants. Especially considering how recently she started working.

Typically, servants earn between eight and ten gold coins a month. So with that amount, they shouldn’t have trouble making ends meet.

 

“From now on, send only ten coins to your family and keep five for yourself.”

“Y-yes? B-but…”

“Honestly, I would prefer to tell you not to send any money at all, but I’m doing this because I don’t want to make things uncomfortable for you.”

“But I can’t just let my parents and brother go hungry…”

“With that money, they won’t starve anywhere. You must also have things you want for yourself.”

 

She’s still only fifteen. She probably wants to buy new clothes and shoes and explore the city.

It’s unacceptable for a child to be cooped up in their room on their days off because they have no money. I sighed and patted the child’s head.

 

“You need to be happy and healthy so you can help your family.”

 

I bitterly smiled, thinking of my own childhood.

 

“Is that really how it is?”

“Of course.”

 

Rodi fidgeted with her fingers, her eyes reddening. It seemed she was on the verge of tears.

I continued to gently pat her head, waiting for the redness around her eyes to fade.

 

“So, what is it that you want to do?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Then you should find out. For instance… I like singing.”

 

I slowly hummed a tune. The breeze seemed to warm up a bit. The rhythm, flowing without lyrics, resembled the sound of the wind. The maids watched with wide eyes.

They must be surprised, since it’s their first time seeing me sing. I hummed a song that didn’t exist in this world, tapping my toes. When I looked down, the child was gazing at me.

 

“At your age, you should try everything you want to do.”

 

Of course, it doesn’t mean that you have to earn it yourself, but it’s natural here.

 

“Can I really do that?”

“Of course.”

 

I stopped singing and looked at the child. The redness around her eyes had mostly disappeared. I patted Rodi’s head once more and said,

 

“If anyone gives you trouble, call me. I’ll take care of it.”

“Even if it’s just words, I’m grateful.”

“It’s more than just words. I mean it.”

 

I gave her a big smile.