TISND Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Primrose was mainly composed of wandering swordsmen.
It was a guild formed by Bahen, who gathered those abandoned by their families and left to wander the streets in solitude.
Living without ever truly feeling the warmth of a loved one’s touch might be understandable, but… wasn’t this too extreme?

“Is it really okay for a duchess to be doing this?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? Cleaning doesn’t discriminate by status. If it’s dirty, it’s only natural to clean it.”

Helena began thoroughly cleaning the mercenary guild building.
Because of security concerns, she couldn’t bring in staff, so she had no choice but to roll up her own sleeves.

“You seem pretty experienced at this.”

“I’ve been cleaning by myself since I was young.”

“Huh? By yourself?”

“Yes, of course.”

No one could predict what would happen next.
Maybe Caligo would take Joshua with him, or maybe Joshua would stay here.

If Joshua were to remain here, she couldn’t possibly leave things as they were.
With Bahen’s permission, she set about cleaning the building’s interior.

Of course, she didn’t do it alone.

“Why does it smell so fragrant all of a sudden?”

“Is that how things smell when you clean?”

The mercenaries marveled at the constantly changing environment as every moment passed.
Helena, on the other hand, found their amazement bewildering.

“Forgive me for being intrusive, but I’d like to ask something.”

Helena turned to Bahen.
“Uh, sure.”

“Is Primrose struggling financially by any chance?”

“No, not at all.”

In fact, it’s financial situation was beyond excellent, nearing a boom.
After all, they had little to spend on beyond food and drink.

“Then why are you using newspapers…?”

“Isn’t it obvious? If you sleep with a blanket, it gets too hot.”

“…Excuse me?”

“And your clothes?”

What they wore could hardly be called clothes anymore. They were rags, mere remnants of clothing.
One man was even wearing a tattered outfit through which his chest was partially exposed.

Like guild master, like mercenaries—was this really acceptable?

“What’s wrong with them? We do laundry once every three days. We’re cleaner than you think.”

Because most of them lived at the guild, they often handled meals, drinks, and even laundry in bulk.

“Laundry’s easy. Just soak it in water and hang it out to dry, right?”

“…I get that you’re modest, but don’t you at least mend your clothes?”

“I’m good with a sword, not with a needle.”

“…”

Then why not just buy new clothes?

In the end, Helena gave up trying to reason with them.

—

“Where the heck are Helena and Father?”

Jane was strolling ambitiously through the streets of Seantillen with Jeremy.

“It’ll be difficult to find them in such a big city. Perhaps we should return.”

Hoping to avoid bumping into Helena or Caligo, they kept circling the streets aimlessly.

“I can’t give up and just go back!”

“Aren’t you afraid or uneasy about walking through an unfamiliar city?”

“Scared? What’s there to be scared of? I’ve even brought an escort.”

“…That’s true.”

“I’m not going back until I find them!”

Jeremy made a determined declaration with a resolute expression.

“This isn’t just about me.”

As he was shouting, he caught sight of a familiar head of hair in the distance.

“Helena!”

Oh no. What should they do now? Jane, looking troubled, spoke.

“Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

“No! I’m certain it’s her. Come on, follow me.”

“…Yes.”

Unable to block her young master’s path, Jane had no choice but to follow Jeremy.

—

It all happened in just half a day.

“Just by changing my pants, my legs don’t feel cold anymore.”

“Wow, I think I smell pretty nice now, too.”

Having changed into the clothes Helena brought from outside, they now looked much more presentable.

“I think you should hire someone reliable to clean and do laundry at least once a week. If not, you should at least clean yourselves every three days.”

“Hmm, I never expected things to change this much. Anyway, thank you, madam.”

Bahen cleared his throat awkwardly.
At first, he had just idly watched, wondering what she was up to. He hadn’t expected such a significant transformation.

Were they really living so miserably before?

“You even bought clothes. How much did it cost? I’ll pay you back.”

“There’s no need to repay me. Eskel has more money than he knows what to do with.”

Helena sighed softly and looked out the window. The sun was already setting.

“Have you eaten yet?”

“Huh? No.”

“How do you usually eat?”

“Alcohol?”

“…”

“…With snacks?”

“Do you have any ingredients left in the building?”

“Huh? There are a few things, but why?”

“To cook.”

“You’re going to cook yourself?”

“Yes. After all, you’re an important person to Joshua. If I don’t step in, you won’t live long eating just alcohol and snacks. People who live like that tend to have short lives. Well, unless a short life is what you’re aiming for.”

“Hmm, you’re quite sharp-tongued despite your appearance.”

“I try not to lie unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Unless it’s necessary, huh?”

“Suit yourself,” Bahen shrugged.

“But there’s something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Why are you doing all this? You’ve gone through all this trouble for no reward. Why are you doing it?”

Although his question was mixed with humor, there was still a hint of suspicion in his tone.

“Do you have a reason for doing this for us? Something you want to ask for?”

“It seems like you think I’m doing this to get on the good side of the empire’s top mercenary guild, but that’s not it.”

Helena laughed lightly.
“If it weren’t for Joshua, I wouldn’t bother with something this tedious, annoying, and dirty.”

“That stings, madam.”

“But it’s the truth,” Bahen chuckled, shaking his head.

“So, it’s all for Joshua, huh?”

“I don’t know how things will turn out, but… if Joshua ends up staying here, I want him to be in a clean and comfortable environment.”

She smiled faintly.
“I can’t be there to take care of him myself, so this is the least I can do.”

“Hmm, the more I see of you, the more surprising you are.”

She seemed like a woman completely unrelated to Eskel.
If he hadn’t mentioned Eskel, one might have thought she was simply a kind and warm-hearted person.

“You seem pretty good at cooking too.”

Holding the ingredients found in the building, Helena began cooking with practiced ease.

“I’ve been doing it since I was young.”

“You said you’ve been cleaning since you were young, too. Cooking as well?”

Bahen, who had been observing her closely, unfolded his crossed arms. A bit of his wariness eased.

“Well, suit yourself.”

“Thank you.”

“Joshua. I’m starting to feel a little jealous of that kid.”

He chuckled bitterly, his eyes filled with nostalgia as if recalling the past.

“I used to have someone kind of like that too.”

“They’re coming,” Bahen said, as if sensing a presence.

Who was coming? Unconsciously turning her head, Helena saw Joshua approaching.

“What… is this?”

Joshua muttered, his lips parting slightly as he took in the completely transformed guild after just half a day.

“You’re here?”

“Why are you here?”

He asked awkwardly, a bit sulkily.

“I told you not to come.”

“Why? Can’t I come?”

“…”

“Are you mad at me too?”

“…No, it’s not that.”

“Whether you leave this place or not, I don’t plan to interfere. I just came to see how you’re living.”

In response to the boy’s awkward question, Helena replied indifferently.

“You haven’t eaten yet, right?”

“No.”

“Help out since we’re eating with the others.”

“Got it.”

Joshua began moving busily.

“What’s this?”

Bahen, watching the scene, burst into laughter.

“It’s not just the woman who seems familiar with this.”

Joshua, helping set the table, also appeared accustomed to it. It was proof that he was used to eating together with others.

A short while later, Helena served freshly baked bread, stew, and some stir-fried meat and vegetables.

For the mercenaries, who had been subsisting on a few pieces of old cheese and raisins, it was a feast.

“This is amazing!”

“Wait, you made this with the ingredients we already had?”

“There’s hardly anything fancy in it, so why is it so good?”

Helena handed Joshua a big ladleful of stew.

She patted his head and smiled warmly. “Enjoy your meal.”

Her treatment of him was completely different from how she had been with the mercenaries, to whom she had dished out stew without a word or even a glance.

“I’m jealous,” muttered a mercenary, watching Helena teasingly pinch Joshua’s cheek.

“Eat plenty, Joshua.”

“…Yes.”

Joshua’s cheeks turned slightly red.

“Uh, madam?”

“Just call me Helena.”

The warm and affectionate gaze she had given the child turned cold and indifferent when directed at the mercenary.

“I’m not your madam, so what is it?”

“Why is the way you treat kids and adults so drastically different?”

“Um… isn’t it obvious?” Helena replied indifferently.

“Joshua is cute, and you all aren’t.”

The mercenaries quietly shed tears, unable to refute the painfully honest truth.

Hey Guys you can read advanced chapters on Patreon
If you liked my work and want to support me then you can visit my page for tips. As I can’t create Kofi because of the unavailability of Paypal in my country, I’ve made this tier which is being updated every week so that you won’t be charged again till you want to donate again by yourself or you can exit the tier after donating 🙂.

Happy Reading 🩷