Happy Days of the All-around Maid and the Duke - Chapter 2

???Well, Grandma, thank you for everything you’ve done.?

?It’s nothing. It’s the result of your efforts.?

Seventeen-year-old Ririka greeted her grandmother in the house with a leather trunk in hand.

In the last twelve years, her grandmother had grown old. Not that she had the same appearance as she had when she met her. She stood straight with a smile on his wrinkled face, gray hair gathered behind her. Ririka was relieved by the style that even the elegance drifted. She was worried that she would leave my grandmother alone, but this would be fine for the time being.

?I’ll send you half of my salary. And then I’ll come back when I get a long vacation.?

?Don’t worry about me, just make sure you do your best.?

?Yes?

?Ririka. Do you remember what I said to you in the past??

?Of course?

Ririka puts her other hand on her chest and remembers it in her heart.

Hey, Ririka. This world is full of irrationality. You never know what will happen at any time. That’s why you have to stand on your own feet and live by your own power. Don’t mess around.

I don’t know how encouraging it was for Ririka, who is five years old.

Ririka looked up and smiled remarkably, and said.

?Well then, I’ll go now!?

?Have a safe trip?

Grandma also saw me off with a smile.

Right. Whatever happens, don’t mess around.

In order to repay my grandmother for raising me this far, I have to live on my own from here on out.

?? Even if Ririka’s place of work is the mansion of the infamous retired prince in the country.

There are four princes in the Kingdom of Ashbel.

This time, Ririka was offered a job at the residence of the fourth prince.

Your master’s name is Wilgia Leclerc. He is now twenty years old.

However, it seems that Wilgia-sama is a person with a very bad reputation.

He has no real ambition to run a government and he is no good with a sword. He has no talent for music or social skills, and his only hobby seems to be reading history books.

He was abolished as a crown prince because he was too unfit to succeed to the throne, and now lives alone in a mansion in the suburbs.

When Lilica got into a carriage to head to the house, she closed her eyes and remembered what she had said at the agency.

?Wilgia-sama is a person who has no common sense. He always hires only one servant. He has him live in and take care of all the house’s chores, so it’s no wonder people are upset. In addition, Wilgia is dark, unsociable, and unable to converse at all, so she doesn’t listen to our requests at all. I have sent many servants to him, but they all quit within six months. If that’s okay with you, I’ll introduce you. What do you think??

It’s a godsend, Ririka thought. She was confident that she could do all the jobs that her grandmother taught her to do, and the salary offered was very good. With this, she would be able to give her grandmother a comfortable life. The location of the mansion is slightly out of the way, so it was also convenient for her to live in the house. Lilica put her papers on the counter and replied with a quick answer.

?I’ll do this job.?

?Are you sure??It’s a common rumor that if you spend all day in a dimly lit mansion with a dark-skinned prince, you’ll lose your mind.?

?It’s okay. I’ll do it?

?Well then, I’ll keep you posted.?

Thus, Ririka became a live-in worker for the abandoned prince Wilgia Leclerc.

?Let’s see, it’s a walk from here.?

I got off the wagon and walked to the mansion that seems to exist outside the king’s capital.

?I wonder why a prince of a country lives in such a remote place?

The surrounding area was almost entirely forest. It was the kind of place where it would be inconvenient to go anywhere. Ririka walked briskly with her leather trunk in her hand.

After a short walk through the dense forest, I came to an open area where I can see the mansion.

?So this is the house of Wilgia-sama. I see, it has a gloomy atmosphere.?

Surrounded by tall, spiky coniferous trees, the house is dark even in the daytime and even the clear blue winter sky does not reach the house. It was like a haunted house.

There were no soldiers guarding the iron gate and it was unlocked, so Ririka went straight inside, grabbed the knocker on the front door and knocked lightly.

After a while, the senior maid came out.

?Yes, who is it … oh, the new kid who will replace me!?

?Yes. My name is ririka.?

?Thank God, you saved me!  now I’m free of this mansion!?

The senior maid, a chestnut-haired woman with prominent freckles, holds Ririka’s hand with exaggerated joy and tears in her eyes.

?My name is Anna. I’ve been praying and waiting for the last 6 months for someone to replace me. I’m so glad! Well, come on in, I’ll explain the details.?

Anna pulls Ririka’s hand tightly inside the mansion and closes the front door.

The dusty entrance hall was dimly lit and the air was permeated with dampness

?Well, let’s put the luggage down. This way.?

After placing her luggage in the servants’ room, Anna moves quickly and begins her explanation.

There was no sign of her letting go of Ririka’s hand, and she felt?I’m not going to let you get away with this?enthusiasm coming from her.

?First of all, please say hello to Wilgia-sama ……?

?He’s not here right now. He is up at the court. He hasn’t been back for ten days now and I don’t know when he will return. I’ll use this opportunity to tell you what you need to do, so get it into your head.?

?Alright?

?Okay??There are only three things you have to do in this mansion. Cleaning, laundry, and cooking. And you must never enter Wilgia-sama’s study room on the second floor. You won’t get in trouble if you follow these instructions.?

?It’s an easy victory?
?That’s what I thought at first too. But after a week, I began to understand. No matter how good the pay is, I think I’ll; rather spend all day peeling potatoes at a restaurant downtown than work in this mansion. …… But I work here now, so I shouldn’t say such negative things?

Anna pressed her mouth and said, ?Come here, come here?  and guided Ririka to the kitchen.

?There is no vendor to deliver food, so you must go buy it yourself. For laundry, there’s a washing area just outside this door. It’s hard to dry clothes because the sunlight doesn’t reach them at any time of the day. …… Especially in the winter. And the cleaning supplies are here. Any more questions??

?What do Wilgia-sama like or dislike??

?He doesn’t have any. He’ll eat anything. He eats in silence, neither saying it’s good nor bad. Oh, and don’t interrupt him while he’s eating, because he’s reading all the time, not letting go of his book even for a moment.?

?What is Wilgia-sama’s schedule for the day??

?In the morning, He woke up at the time when the bird, Koel, was singing and had breakfast. Then he goes up to the court and goes home after the sun fell. There are times when he eats after he gets home, and there are times when he doesn’t. You have no choice but to listen because it varies from day to day. Sometimes he doesn’t come back like he does now. He’ll leave for a week or so without permission. When he comes back, he’ll be in tatters and looks like a ghost, so be prepared.?

?Are there any guests in the mansion??

?Only one. Gerard-sama, his childhood friend. Other than him, he won’t invite anyone. Mr. Gerard is a friendly person who talks to servants like me, and to be honest, I would have gone mad if I hadn’t had a conversation with him. Well, that’s all for now. I’m leaving as soon as I can, so I’ll leave the rest to you!?

Well then,” she said, raising her hand! With that, Anna grabbed her luggage, which she must have prepared in advance, and walked out of the house. Her speed was like that of a horse.

?…Well?

Ririka looks at her watch. It’s past noon.

According to the explanation, there is plenty of time before Wilgia-sama returns.

Ririka looked around the mansion, which was so quiet.

The entrance hall has its windows closed and thick curtains hung tightly, as if to prevent sunlight from ever entering. It is dusty and damp.

?I guess I’ll start by cleaning up.?

Ririka rolled up her sleeves and walked to the cleaning supplies where Anna had given her earlier.

TL NOTE:

Heya Shield here! damn this chapter was a lot of work i need to overlook all the dialogues to make sure that what I made is correct.

Well then, as always please give me an honest rate to know if my work is worth to your time!

A salmon is mostly appreciated as well as visiting my ko-fi.