Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Back at the Atelier
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After my release, the atmosphere at home could only be described as gloomy and depressing, no matter how positively I tried to spin it.
There were various reasons, but the core cause was me.
During dinner on the day I was freed, I belatedly realized it was my birthday and casually joked, "Well, at least I got released as a birthday present!" That broke my parents.
Thanks to that, for the first time in my life, I witnessed my father coughing violently mid-meal and spitting food onto the table, while my mother trembled her eyelashes and dropped her fork and knife on the floor.
I'd meant it as a way to say something good happened on my birthday, but I realized too late that it came off as outright mocking them to their faces.
But the words were already out, and the mood had sunk heavy ages ago.
After that, I tried to lighten things up somehow, but every word I said just dragged us deeper into the mire, so I gave up and fled to my room right after eating.
Up to here, it was just a simple slip of the tongue, but the problem was that afterward, my father and mother kept gazing at me with those distant, wistful eyes. It was too much pressure.
So, the moment breakfast ended, I bolted to the atelier with Emily.
"Mari, hello."
As I stepped down from the carriage and entered the atelier, I immediately ran into Mari strolling down the hallway.
"Uh... huh? Wha-what?"
Mari, who seemed to be prepping for work with arms full of fabric coming out of the storeroom, locked eyes with me and let out incoherent noises. Her eyes went wide, ears and tail perking straight up.
With her fur bristling, she approached slowly and cautiously, sniffing at my nape and lower back before parting her lips and staring blankly into space.
"What's wrong?"
Her expression was a subtle mix—shocked, startled, or maybe horrified. Worried, I checked on her, and only then did she snap out of it, squinting and stepping back a few paces.
"...Why are you really out?"
"What kind of talk is that?"
It was absurd and baffling—not "Is it fake?" but "Why is it real?"
Was my early return a problem?
They hadn't said anything, and everyone seemed to be handling things fine on their own. Had I shown up too soon without reading the room?
I thought I'd been doing a good job...
I started feeling a bit hurt.
Am I turning into a demon like this?
Should I lock you up and feed you just steamed buns?
"How did you get out so early? You didn't break out, did you...?"
"...His Majesty released me early."
"Ah! I see. I heard you might be locked up for a long time, so I was worried. That's really a relief!"
"Yeah, sure."
Thankfully, before my heart turned pitch black, Mari greeted me with a pure smile, averting my descent into evil boss territory.
Whew, a little later and I'd have been scouting warehouses with basements.
"Ahem, anyway, everyone came in on their own just fine?"
"Lady Elizabeth said to keep working as usual for the time being. Taking time off might cause more issues, she said."
"Mm~ Good job."
I gave a satisfied smile and lightly patted Mari's head.
With such bad luck hitting, slacking off right away could've buried us for good, but the staff handled it well.
"Everyone must've had it rough."
"Not just me—Lady Fanny and Sir Herbert really suffered."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, filling in for Sir William and Lady Elizabeth, plus teaching Elin and Walter how to cut fabric—they looked like they needed three bodies and it still wouldn't be enough."
"Whoa..."
I let out an impressed sigh and glanced at the workshop door.
Auto-farming feels too sweet.
"Man~ Could've done without me, huh?"
"Doesn't seem like it."
Mari stared straight at me with a serious face at my thoughtless joke, her pupils elongating vertically. She seemed seriously displeased.
"Th-that was just a joke..."
"Not funny."
"Sorry..."
Awkward.
Has the world changed a lot in those ten days locked up?
My joke batting average has tanked since yesterday.
"Ahem... Anyway, everyone's here today, right?"
"Yes! Everyone except Lady Elizabeth."
"Good, let's go in and say hi."
"Okay."
I couldn't repeat the home fiasco, so I quickly changed the subject and headed into the workshop.
"Walter, Elin—prepped?"
"Y-yes...! R-ready to start...!"
"Caterina! It's embroidery today, not chores, so get your sewing ready, got it?"
"Yep~"
"...?"
The workshop scene that hit me as I opened the door felt off.
Prince Herbert, usually laid-back, looked urgent; Princess Fanny, normally businesslike but soft, now had a strict boss-lady vibe.
The other staff moved with disciplined precision too—three times more intense than usual.
"Uh... um...?"
I pointed ahead, mouth agape, and glanced at Mari. She tilted her head slightly with a 'See what I mean?' look and peeked at me.
"I told you—they worked insanely hard."
"Yeah..."
Now I got why Mari had gotten so serious.
If I vanished once more, this place would really be in trouble...
"Mari! If you're here, hurry and set up the fabric!"
"Ah! Sorry! Something unexpected came up!"
Feeling a crisis in the atelier's sandcastle-like state, Princess Fanny barked at Mari beside me.
"Unexpected? We're about to start work— this'll delay... Huh?"
Frowning, she turned—and upon seeing my face, her eyes and mouth flew wide open, freezing solid.
"...Sir William?"
At Princess Fanny's dazed words, the staff turned their gazes one by one.
"......"
Their stares stung.
The silent staring was downright eerie.
"Uh... hey, everyone?"
Standing still under their hot glares felt too awkward, so I waved lightly in greeting.
"“Whoaaaa!”"
And as if on cue, they all shot up from their seats, yelling in unison.
The staff then swarmed me, grabbing my arms with expert skill, begging like I'd descended as a god.
"Sir William! We really, really missed you!"
"We'll do anything—just please don't disappear again!"
"Ah, I get it, calm down..."
"Sir William...!"
"Sir William...!"
"Uwaaaah..."
S-save me...
_
"So, what should we start with?"
After about ten minutes of fervently welcoming me, the staff gazed at me with blissful expressions, awaiting orders.
Like puppies eyeing their owner—devoted eyes, polite demeanor, everything.
"Ha..."
Not sure if it was my imagination, but after jail, their loyalty seemed way up.
Why...?
I knew they'd suffered, but I couldn't fathom why loyalty to me increased.
Shouldn't they be more vicious instead?
It was good for me, no complaints, but the logic escaping me made it scary...
"Mm, you know there's a masquerade ball this weekend hosted by the Marquis of Tweedale?"
No point brooding alone—it'd just build anxiety. Time to counsel the staff one by one soon. For now, I brought up work as they wanted.
"Yes, we know."
"Masquerade?"
"Like a play?"
As expected: nobles knew, commoners didn't.
Unlike the widely known Founding Day festivals, masquerades were noble-only fun. Natural reactions.
"A ball where you wear masks and dance. Nobles throw them when they wanna cut loose without pretenses."
"Aha~ But why bring it up?"
"Someone commissioned accessories for it. Kinda unique—hard for anyone but us."
"Wait, Sir William—you took clients even from jail?"
"Kinda happened that way?"
"Ha... haa..."
"Such insane determination..."
"......"
Prince Herbert and Princess Fanny's gazes turned otherworldly.
Fanaticism laced with madness—like they'd buy me walking on water.
"So, what unique accessories? Nothing jumps out as us-only."
As I eyed the noble duo in disbelief, Adelaide chimed in with a question.
Hm... Wonder how the beastkin'll take the uncle's commission.
Offended?
Or pleased?
"Headband and waistband stuff."
"Hm? Common accessories, right? Others could make 'em fine."
"The design and concept are unique. Wants to cosplay as a cat beastkin servant."
"Cat beastkin disguise..."
"Cat ear headband and cat tail."
"I see."
Adelaide's reaction wasn't bad.
Actually, positive.
She probably didn't care as long as it was clothes.
I subtly checked other beastkin staff like Mari and Caterina.
"What's fun about our race's costume?"
"Dunno, humans like anything. You never heard of half-elf or half-whatever?"
"One of my great-great-grandpas was human!"
"Oh..."
They seemed indifferent.
Worried about negative vibes on beastkin costumes, but better than expected.
"Good commission, right?"
"Definitely something only we could do."
"Fine by me."
"I like anything."
"No harm, yeah?"
Other staff reactions good too.
Green light, no hesitation.
"Alright, then Mari and Caterina help me a bit; rest, business as usual. Got it?"
"Yess~"
"Yes."
I pointed specifically at Mari and Caterina, then waved the others back to seats.
One by one, they returned to stations; only me and the two remained at the central table.
"Um, Sir William, anything I can help with? First time singled out—kinda flustered."
Mari scooted her chair close and asked hesitantly.
True, among commoner staff, only Adelaide or Caterina had been tapped before. Must be awkward.
"Nah, nothing hard. Just show me your tail and ears?"
"......"
Mari and Caterina flinched at my words, eyes darting rapidly.
"...Up to the roots?"
"Yeah, gotta match exactly. Never seen a cat beastkin tail."
"Whoa..."
"Gasp..."
Mari's face flushed beet red.
What'd I mess up...?
"Ah."
I squeezed my eyes shut and clutched my head.
You idiot mouth.
Just back from jail and boom—sexual harassment arrest incoming...