Oh, that startled me.
The first person seemed timid and cautiously opened her mouth, but the second was different. Even with her head down, her voice was so loud and clear that I couldn’t help but listen. I nodded at Juliet.
“Her Highness the Archduchess graciously gave permission to speak.”
Juliet again conveyed the permission. It was a truly uncomfortable way to communicate.
“Thank you! We have come to offer ourselves to the owner of this magnificent store!”
… … Eh? What does that mean? The loudmouth’s words were devoid of any further explanation and contained only the results. If you’re going to explain, do it properly. I motioned for them to come closer. I heard they were sisters, but they turned out to have very contrasting appearances.
“Well, we are artisans who made products under a contract with a nearby workshop.”
Hair that was almost gray. Clothes like sackcloth that barely covered her bony hands. The first woman seemed to be the very embodiment of poverty.
The second woman, whose clothes were similarly riddled with holes, was not so pitiful as the first but still was pitiful to look at.
“Originally, we signed a contract with the owner of the workshop and made clothes and bags. However… a few years ago, they started not paying wages, and now they ask us to take things like wheat instead.”
Ah. My mouth dropped open slightly as I realized what I was hearing in her voice, which was growing increasingly agitated. Yes, they were exploited. It was unfair, but there would have been no one to hear that it was unfair.
‘But why did they choose me?’
I wanted to know that. Why did it have to be me?
“Well, we heard that the owner of this store is very kind and treats commoners well… w-we came here to ask if you’d be willing to hire us.”
The gray-haired woman had to pause several times as she spoke because she was out of breath. It looks like she is ill somewhere. Juliet, who must have had the same thought as I did, slipped silently in front of me.
“Her breathing is strange. She may be carrying a disease, Master. Why don’t you ask her to speak a little further away?”
Juliet doesn’t know good from evil because protecting me is her strongest instinct. So, she didn’t realize how offensive her words might be. Of course, I noticed the younger sister’s eyebrows twitch.
‘Ah, being noble is such a hassle.’
I’m crossing my legs in a graceful manner on the outside, but inside I’ve been beating my head against the wall for a long time. I just want to talk openly. Only when the strong fight against each other do they have to be in good form, but I am facing weaklings right now. So weak they can even be considered to be the world’s weakest, so why should I have to go through all these?
I sighed deeply and quietly raised my hand.
“I need everyone to leave.”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t you hear? I need everyone to leave, leaving only these two and Juliet here.”
Okay, let’s just take off the rank insignia and talk. That would be better. I can’t stand it anymore, it simply doesn’t suit my temperament.
The escort knight asked, but I didn’t even turn around.
“We will be retreating then.”
Madame was the first to realize the mood, took care of her assistants and staff, and retreated. The escort knight seemed to hesitate for a moment but eventually stepped back. Juliet would have done a physical examination on both of them before bringing them to me anyway. Even if there are dangers, it doesn’t really matter because Juliet is there.
With the surroundings quiet, I spoke without using Juliet as an intermediary.
“I will apologize on behalf of my maid for her rudeness. You must have been upset, right?”
“… … ?!”
“Now, raise your heads and sit here. Let’s have a little chat.”
There are three glasses of sweet and sour juice made from finely grated oranges in front of me. Without hesitation, I offered juice to the hesitant, gray-haired woman.
“Go ahead and drink. There’s nothing strange in it.”
“Well, we… people like us can’t drink this…”
“And who are these people like you? You have skills, so you must be artisans, right?”
“Yes? B-But—”
“It’s alright. You won’t die from drinking a glass of that.”
The gray-haired woman trembled, standing up and resting her buttocks so slightly that they almost slid over the edge of the sofa. Sitting next to her was a woman with mottled red-gold hair, which was cut so messily that it was jagged in length.
The red-blonde-haired woman hesitated at first but soon seemed to have made up her mind, grabbed the glass, and unlike the gray-haired woman, took a gulp.
“Kyaa.”
Then she even made a refreshed sound after. It was a reaction that would have made anyone think she had drunk beer.
‘I quite like her.’
She seemed to have a straightforward personality. It was obvious, even without us exchanging many words.
I crossed my legs and asked a question.
“So, you want me to hire you? Is that all?”
Then, after looking at each other in silence for a moment, the red-blond-haired woman slammed the table with a bang.
“Well, if you can, please help us get our overdue wages too!”
“Ilyin! You can’t talk to a noble like that!”
“Shut up, Sister Pepper! How can we get anything done if we act as hesitantly as you do? How do we know if she’ll really help us or not?”
Aha. So, the one with reddish-blonde hair is called Ilyin, and the one with gray hair is Pepper. I watched them with interest and asked another question.
“How are the two of you related?”
“We’re sworn sisters… I’m the older one.”
“You have such different personalities?”
“Yes, yes. I’m a little timid… … ?”
Pepper lowered her eyes and answered cautiously. It’s cute, like watching a tiny lamb. The strange breathing sound was probably a lung problem, if possible, I wanted to cure her because she was so endearing.
“So, the conclusion is that you want me to hire you and help you get revenge?”
I deliberately raised my eyebrows and continued speaking.
“Then what can you offer me?”
“Well, that…”
“Why should I trust you and even hire you? Do you know how much I lost today because you blocked the front of my store and disrupted my business?”
You can now sponsor a chapter by buying me a Kofi! 1 Kofi = 1 extra chapter
