Chapter 42: Outsourcing
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 42: Outsourcing
‘So, he makes that kind of face when it’s just the two of them.’
Perel watched the unfamiliar sight of his lord, who had crammed his uncharacteristically large frame into a small chair and was leaning as far as he could toward the Grand Duchess.
Just then, the Grand Duchess spotted Perel. She gave him a bright smile and waved.
At her gesture, Loik slowly turned his head. He fixed Perel with a flat, expressionless gaze that only the aide could see and murmured lowly.
“You’re back early.”
In that single sentence, Perel realized the truth.
Because he had unwittingly returned so quickly, he had interrupted the Grand Duke’s private time, and his master was now genuinely displeased.
“You should go now. You said you had a meeting.”
After a moment of lingering reluctance, Loik finally stood up as if being nudged away.
Perel scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit drained as he followed Loik. Despite the disapproving glares sent his way, the Grand Duke actually seemed to be in a good mood.
Until he had greeted the knights earlier, Perel had been secretly anxious, wondering when his lord would send the Grand Duchess back to the capital.
‘Looking at him now, that was a complete waste of worry.’
He was making it so obvious how much he liked her.
Perhaps the first spring of his life was finally blooming for his master.
*
Preparations for the tea party were proceeding smoothly.
Since invitations had to be sent out at least ten days in advance, I naturally had a generous amount of time to prepare.
In the meantime, Madame Ramondria returned with the dresses, having altered them perfectly.
“It’s exactly what I wanted. I love them!”
The dresses, which maintained an air of luxury while boldly stripping away unnecessary formalities, were both elegant and modern.
At my genuine admiration, Ramondria bowed her head, a flush creeping onto her cheeks.
“I have learned much from Your Highness’s refined taste.”
“Madame, you’re being far too humble.”
“I mean it sincerely.”
When I playfully narrowed my eyes at her, the Madame squeezed her clasped hands and spoke firmly.
“Thanks to Your Highness, I finally realized what I had been missing. If you give me the opportunity, I will continue to do my absolute best.”
It was a response far more determined than a simple thank-you for a dress order, so I could only nod awkwardly.
The ladies I had invited all sent replies confirming their attendance. The response from Meisel, whom I had been forced to include on the list, arrived last.
I was looking over Meisel’s reply—which, despite being late, included a rather elaborate greeting—when Reta cautiously called out to me.
To get straight to the point, I had made Reta my personal maid.
Initially, my plan was simply to keep her away from Marzella.
It was obvious that once Reta’s disciplinary period ended, the Head Maid would find some way to punish her in her own fashion. If I turned a blind eye, the girl might have been whipped or locked away somewhere to endure further humiliation.
“How about having her organize the tableware for about a week? The tableware storage is under my jurisdiction as the butler,” Whitley had suggested quickly, catching my drift when I asked if there was any work for Reta after her suspension.
“But I can’t have her just organizing dishes forever.”
“If you intend to keep her close, you could make her your personal maid.”
‘Reta as my personal maid?’
Since I was staying for a year, I certainly needed someone of my own. Even if I eventually selected ladies-in-waiting, I would still need a maid to handle the small daily tasks from morning to night.
However, remembering her blunt expressions and way of speaking, I did hesitate.
‘We’d have to be together from dawn till dusk. Wouldn’t someone a bit more charming be better?’
No.
Unfounded sweetness is a poison one should guard against. Someone who does their job well and isn’t two-faced is more than enough.
Besides, it was much better than picking the wrong maid and having my every move reported to Marzella.
After much deliberation, I asked Reta if she was interested, and she accepted my proposal much more readily than I expected.
‘Actually, she looked surprisingly happy.’
Seeing Reta’s worried face brighten as she bowed repeatedly, promising to work hard, I felt almost guilty for having been reluctant to hire her.
In any case, I was quite satisfied with the choice now. Thanks to this stoic and efficient maid, the quality of my daily life had improved significantly.
“The paintings should be nearly finished. Shall I go get them?”
Even now, as Reta asked me this, she already had my indoor shoes ready behind her. Though she said she would go get them, she had prepared for the possibility that I might want to go see for myself.
‘Ah… luxury service is the best. It’s thrilling.’
“No, I’ll go myself.”
Feeling thoroughly pleased, I stepped into the warmed slippers and walked toward a small room in the East Wing.
It was the room next to Perel’s office, which he had mentioned was empty last time.
As I reached the room, voices drifted out through the cracked door.
“I wondered what you meant by painting, but you’re actually quite skilled, aren’t you?”
“Right? Her little hands are surprisingly nimble.”
They were voices I recognized.
When Reta opened the door the rest of the way, I saw Morina working on a painting.
Flanking her were Perel and Leon, peering at the easel with curious faces.
“How is it going?”
The two men, who had been leaning over awkwardly, straightened their posture the moment they saw me.
“I can understand Sir Leon, but why is our aide idling away here?”
When I playfully arched an eyebrow, Perel cleared his throat, looking flustered.
“My—my apologies, Your Highness. I was just passing by and got curious…”
Morina, Reta’s younger sister, was currently staying at the Grand Duke’s Castle.
It was to paint the food illustrations that would be displayed at Marie’s Inn.
When I suggested putting up illustrated menus inside and outside the inn, Lady Marie had been full of admiration and readily agreed.
In exchange, I had firmly established early on that I would be the one paying the costs.
‘I’m the one most curious to see if this strategy actually works, after all.’
Morina had also accepted my proposal before I even mentioned the commission fee.
Reta had been incredibly tense, worried her sister might make a mistake, but the young artist just kept repeating that she would work hard, seemingly unable to believe she had received a real commission.
Since she obviously wouldn’t have a proper workspace, it had only been three days since I’d filled this small room next to the office with paints and materials and set her to work.
“There must be at least forty items on the menu. Have you finished them all already?”
“The kid has a very steady hand.”
Leon lifted his chin as if he were the one being praised.
‘You’re just a kid yourself…’
Morina, who was standing stiffly and looking nervous, seemed to share the sentiment, as a flash of exasperation crossed her eyes.
“What do you think, Sir Leon? Do the paintings look as good as the food?”
I had actually left much of the painting to Morina’s imagination.
Instead, I had asked Leon to check in occasionally to make sure the illustrations didn’t look too different from the actual dishes served. According to Reta, he had been dropping by quite often to help.
“Of course, Your Highness. Look at this.”
“Th-that one isn’t finished being colored yet…”
Morina reached out hurriedly, but the painting on the desk was already in Leon’s hand.
“Oh, is this a chicken dish?”
“It’s grilled chicken legs. It’s one of our most popular dishes. Though I’m sick of even the smell of it.”
“When I was little, brushing on the seasoning was always my job,” Leon said, wrinkling his nose.
“Let me see.”
I looked closely at the painting.
“I—I’m not very used to using paints yet…” Morina said, watching my reaction.
Perel, Leon, and even Reta crowded a step closer, curious to see how I would respond.
‘Oho.’
As I thought, Morina had great instincts. The painting, with its clean outlines and fine lines adding depth to represent the texture of the chicken skin, was definitely charming.
For someone not used to paints, her color combinations weren’t bad either. However, the coloring was certainly a bit flat.
‘It would look so much better with just a few more details.’
“May I try something?”
I took the brush from the nervous Morina.
Curious gazes gathered at my fingertips, wondering what on earth the Grand Duchess was planning to do.
‘It feels a bit awkward doing this myself, but…’
I could at least mimic the technique.
I mixed the paints to a darker shade and brushed over the edges of the chicken legs to depict a slight char.
As the shading was added, the painting immediately looked more three-dimensional.
‘Not bad.’
Gaining confidence, I used white paint to add a glossy sheen to the surface and added brushstrokes to the vegetables and potatoes to depict how well they were cooked.
I was so absorbed in the work that when I finally snapped out of it, I realized the room had gone silent.
‘Is… is it weird?’
Just as I was about to put the brush down, feeling self-conscious in the strange silence—
“Wow!”
A small exclamation burst from Leon’s mouth.
“It really looks like the food is right in front of me!”
“Don’t tease me, Sir Leon.”
Relieved by his exaggerated flattery, I gave him a light glare.
“I’m serious! Just looking at it makes me hungry.”
“Certainly, if a painting like this were posted, anyone would want to go inside,” Perel added from the side.
Though they were being complimentary, even to my eyes, the food looked much more delicious.
It was only natural. I knew all too well how professional food illustrators emphasized certain points.
“What do you think? Do you think you can do the rest like this?”
Morina, who had been staring at the modified painting with her mouth agape, clenched her fists.
“I—I’ll give it a try!”
The determination in her eyes was very satisfying.
I could easily envision these paintings hanging inside and outside the inn’s dining room.
And the customers who would flock to the restaurant after seeing them.
It had been a long time since I’d felt this kind of excitement when a plan was unfolding exactly as intended.
‘This is definitely going to be a sensation.’
Looking at Leon, who was admiring the work with a bright face, I let out a triumphant smile inwardly.