Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Assembling the Team
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As the appointed time drew near, people began gathering at the coffee house one by one. With about ten minutes to go, Adelaide arrived last, completing the group.
"Oh my, everyone's already here? I should have left a bit earlier."
"It's fine. We just arrived early."
Adelaide looked surprised to see everyone already there waiting for her—everyone except herself, that is—and bowed her waist slightly in apology.
I shook my head lightly to show it was no big deal and pointed to an empty spot at the table.
Adelaide pushed aside a chair she couldn't sit in anyway with her spider body and stood in front of the table.
At first, she'd seemed a bit intimidating, but after seeing her several times, I'd grown used to it. Now she even struck me as stylish.
"Eek...!"
"Ugh..."
That said, this was just my personal take. Everyone else—commoners and nobles alike—showed a bit of unease at her appearance.
"It's my first time seeing an insect-type Ain in person. Quite... striking."
"I agree with the impression, but Lord Herbert, spiders fall under the arachnid classification, not insects."
"Lady Pani, let's gloss over that detail..."
The nobles meeting her for the first time today were especially rattled.
"Spider tribe...?"
Even Duchess Elizabeth, who had been calmly sipping her tea no matter who arrived, flinched at the shoulders and widened her eyes.
After staring at Adelaide for a while, Duchess Elizabeth leaned close to me and whispered behind her fan.
"So it really is true that you accept all kinds of other races without much discrimination."
"Yes."
"Doesn't it make you uneasy? They're unfamiliar people."
"You can only tell how people get along after meeting them. They may have their differences, but they're intelligent beings, so I believe we can work through it somehow."
Whether people mesh well or clash is something you learn by meeting them. These were folks who'd come all the way to the capital to work, so they had a baseline of social skills guaranteed.
Those who didn't probably couldn't even make the trip.
So I wasn't too worried.
"It's not as easy as you might think."
"True enough."
Even skin color sparks discrimination—adding different races on top of that won't be simple.
I took a sip of tea and glanced sideways.
I'd just noticed it now, but she'd naturally taken the head seat.
These things usually go by rank, but she'd hidden her status...
Tsk...
Feeling a bit miffed, I set down my teacup.
Seeing Emily bring Adelaide a drink, I stood from my seat.
"Thank you all for coming. You were my top priorities, so I was worried there might be no-shows. I'm thrilled you all responded positively—you have no idea."
I smiled and expressed my gratitude, then dropped the smile and continued.
"I've covered most of what I needed to in the letters, so today I'll explain what roles you'll each take on moving forward. Details might adjust slightly, but the big picture won't stray from these assignments."
I held up three fingers.
"There are three main jobs: sewing, pattern-making, and clerical. You all know sewing and pattern-making. Clerical covers everything else—like reception or assisting."
Sewing is stitching, pattern-making is designing and cutting the fabric.
In everyday terms, they're not strictly separated, but I personally rate pattern-makers a notch higher.
They handle broader aspects than sewers.
Clerical is basically odd jobs or counter duty, but calling it that sounds low-class.
"......"
I paused to gauge reactions.
I'd half-expected pushback since the categories were rough, but everyone just watched me calmly.
No major issues, apparently. I turned to Duchess Elizabeth and Lady Pani beside me.
"Duchess Elizabeth and Lady Pani, you'll handle pattern-making. For the time being, though, you'll need to help with some sewing too. Is that okay?"
"Fine by me."
"That's all right."
"Thank you."
With their quick affirmatives, I turned to Adelaide and the twins, who were farthest from me.
"Miss Adelaide, and Walter and Ellin—you three will be sewers."
"Just as I expected."
"Um... Young Master William, we thought we'd be on odd jobs..."
Adelaide nodded in satisfaction, but Walter—the brother of the twins—looked deflated and questioned my choice.
"Walter and Ellin both have decent skills, so it'll be fine."
Their sewing was average, but they were only fourteen—three years younger than me.
Kids with tons of room to grow.
"Us...? We don't think so..."
"If you're unsure, I'll vouch for you."
"If you say so, Young Master William..."
The twins still looked dubious, but they backed down when I insisted.
No more objections, so I glanced at Lord Herbert.
"Lord Herbert, you'll handle reception and pattern-making."
"Got it!"
He might wonder about reception, but the lord answered crisply with a smile.
Next, I shifted my gaze to the elf. Unlike the other women, she wore a tunic down to her hips and a skirt to her knees, boldly exposing her limbs.
She looked like a fresh-faced late teen like me, but she was actually fifty.
An adult even by elven standards.
"Miss Caterina, you'll be the model and embroidery specialist."
"Model? Embroidery? Isn't my role suddenly the odd one out?"
Caterina pouted, pursing her lips in complaint.
With everyone else getting sewing or pattern-making, model did sound weird.
"Humans have this fantasy about elves, so there's an 'elf premium' among them. Same item, but if an elf made it, it looks better—that kind of illusion."
"Cosmetics do love phrases like 'fairy spring' or 'great forest flower' tied to elves."
"Ah, I get it now."
Duchess Elizabeth chimed in, and Caterina perked up her brows with a smile, like she'd caught on.
She looked at me expectantly and said,
"So I'll be trying on all the new clothes from now on?"
"Very likely."
"Not bad. No complaints if that's the case."
"Thank you. For now, though, please help Miss Adelaide too."
"Sure, I can do that."
Caterina was on board too.
I pointed at Marie, who sat right next to me, ears perked as she listened quietly.
"Miss Marie, you won't do sewing or pattern-making, but I hired you to assist other staff. Side note: you're apparently great at massages."
"Yes! That's right! Grooming, massages, heavy lifting—I'm good at it all!"
"So she says—keep it in mind."
Marie popped up unprompted to pitch herself.
I chuckled and shifted my gaze again.
"Mr. Reginald."
"Y-yes! Y-Yes, did you call me?!"
The plain, brown-haired middle-aged Reginald was sweating bullets alone, face pale, breathing ragged.
"Mr. Reginald, are you unwell? You look exhausted."
"L-Lord William, it's awkward to say after coming all this way, but... I can't do it..."
"Pardon?"
I blinked in shock, eyes wide.
He had pattern-making experience and a family to support—he'd replied positively to the letter. For him to back out now was baffling.
"Wh-what's brought this on suddenly?"
He rolled his eyes sideways, glanced around, then shuddered and said,
"I-I'm... s-sorry to Miss Adelaide, but... I have arachnophobia..."
"Ah..."
I sighed, covering my mouth with my hand.
If they'd been seated apart, it might've been fine, but they were right next to each other.
"Oh no..."
Adelaide looked regretful as she quickly retreated to a corner, but it was too late.
"I tried to tough it out, but... I just can't."
"Mr. Reginald, how about holding off a few days to adjust?"
"No, I-I'm truly sorry to Miss Adelaide, but... really, this is... too much..."
"This is..."
If it were terms he disliked, we could've negotiated. But fear of a coworker? No fixing that.
And watching him stutter worse by the second killed my urge to persuade.
"I can't force you. You're free to go, Mr. Reginald."
"I'm sorry..."
"No, if you change your mind, come back anytime. I'll be waiting."
"Yes... thank you."
Bowing with a near-tearful face, Reginald shuffled out on shaky legs.
I stared blankly at his retreating back.
Until he fully vanished from the coffee house, I watched him. Then I scanned the room and cautiously spoke up.
"...Does anyone else have any phobias?"
"......"
Thank goodness—nothing beyond Lord Herbert's fear of heights.