Surviving My Half-Sister (2) 12
A shabby two-story wooden building.
As always, my day started here.
I washed my face as usual and munched on the leftover cookies.
After getting ready just enough, I headed down to the first floor and opened the counseling office door.
In front of the shop, familiar faces mixed with unfamiliar ones, forming a single line.
It wasn't long, but it was definitely a queue.
Seven maids... no, eight?
By now, it felt less like something familiar and more like a given landscape.
But amid them, something odd caught my eye.
Who's that?
A woman nestled among the maids.
The quality of her fabric alone screamed status at first glance.
...A noble, maybe?
A high-end green dress.
I'd never seen anyone but a noble wear something like that, so probably.
First noble since Chloe, right?
I only just noticed this surprising fact.
Maids were inherently tied to nobles, after all.
Yet my counseling office had seen strangely few noble visitors, even with all the maids coming and going.
As if someone had cut off the rumors midway.
Well, no one would bother with a rundown place like this anyway, so it must just be coincidence.
Shaking off the thought, I picked the usual three, as always.
Two maids, and the mysterious woman in the dress I assumed was a noble.
I handled the first two maids like normal.
Hypnosis—click.
Knead, knead.
Done.
I called in the last one waiting.
She stepped slowly into the counseling office.
With a fan covering her mouth, she scanned the interior.
Shabby desk. Shabby sofa. Finally, her gaze landed on the heart-patterned cushion Chloe had gifted me.
"Eek…."
She let out a small, weird noise.
Wait, hold on.
The desk and sofa were my picks, sure.
But that cushion? Not mine.
While I inwardly felt wronged, she seemed to have finished her assessment.
Though her face was slightly wrinkled, like she'd expected better.
...Reassess without the cushion, please.
"Simpler than I thought... no, shabbier."
"……."
Ah, so it wasn't about the cushion after all.
I'd thought the first floor was decently furnished with affordable but nice stuff.
Clearly not enough for high-class tastes.
Now that I had some income, maybe I'd move someday?
"Embarrassing as it is, I've only just opened up shop."
"I see."
I recycled an old line politely.
She responded with equally rude attitude.
Irritating demeanor.
But I couldn't call her out on it.
First, I still didn't know how to deal with nobles.
Second, well.
No one ever left with bad feelings after the hypnosis wore off anyway.
Super convenient, right?
Though using it too much seems to weird people out a bit, whatever.
Hypnosis
She sat down in front of me, so I started the usual counseling procedure.
"I'm the counselor, Isaac."
"Just know me as from the Fleur Viscount family…."
Self-introduction time before counseling.
That was all the info I got from her.
Is this how nobles are?
Or is this woman just rude?
As I pondered the unknowable, she folded her fan and continued.
"Lady Levantia frequents this place, so I thought I'd try. I've been having bad headaches lately."
"She drops by now and then…."
Word must have spread that Chloe comes here.
I didn't know how, but more noble customers couldn't hurt.
They'd probably pay more than maids, at least.
But seeing her attitude, annoyance came before the money.
Dealing with customers like this would get tiring, even with hypnosis.
"Headaches, huh? Been pushing yourself with a tight schedule lately?"
"Who knows. Even before schedules, other ladies have been like this. Especially Lady Sinclair…."
She covered her mouth after that.
Glancing sideways, like you wouldn't know anyway, so I won't say.
I already know everything, though.
Probably better than you.
For now, I nodded like I had no clue.
"I see. Must be tough every day."
"Yeah, pretty much."
Her shoulders dropped slightly.
The end of her voice softened a bit.
Tension peeled away one layer.
Now's the time—I triggered the hypnosis.
Confirmed she was asleep and circled behind her.
Pressed her shoulders firmly.
Same routine as always.
Maid or noble, no one here was free of issues.
And since she mentioned headaches, I lightly touched her head too.
But.
Hm?
It was hot.
A subtle warmth from within.
The body heat through my palm was definitely different from the maids'.
What is this?
Maids' headaches usually had clear causes.
Overwork and sleep deprivation.
Deep sleep and a rub-down fixed it.
This feels totally different.
Like heat seeping from deep inside.
A cold? Nah, doesn't feel right.
Just a weird sensation I couldn't pinpoint.
I puzzled over it, but no answers came.
No answers meant do what I could.
"Hng…."
From temples to crown.
Firm but not painful pressure.
"Hyah…."
Sultry moans every time I pressed her scalp.
…
Moans like that even asleep? Impressive talent.
After working my hands for a while, I pulled back slowly when it felt done.
The Lady Fleur Viscount awoke gradually.
Dazed eyes.
Pupils slowly refocusing.
Moments later, she realized where she was, straightened lightly, and covered her mouth with her hand.
She stood quietly.
Coughed softly, then pulled coins from her pocket.
Clink, clink, clink on the table.
Three silver coins.
...Not a small amount.
Absolutely not.
But my senses were off.
Chloe gave so much that three felt skimpy.
A noble lady paying cheap? Kinda stingy vibe.
I don't worship the Fleur family or anything.
After the Fleur Viscountess left.
The situation flipped in just a few days.
Noble ladies started mixing into the line.
One at first.
Two the next day.
Three after that.
I shrugged it off up to there.
Arrogant or not, more paying customers were good.
But something nagged.
"Bad headaches—" "My head hurts—" "I can endure for now, but—"
The same symptom from everyone.
Headaches.
Why only noble ladies?
Maids were fine.
What was the difference?
Status? Lifestyle? Diet?
Questions piled up, no answers.
I'm no doctor.
Fantasy world, might not even be illness.
At least they improved post-hypnosis—small mercy.
The real issue came next.
"Um, I couldn't get in yesterday either?"
One lady in line.
Cold voice.
Sharply upturned eyes.
Clearly pissed.
Noble ladies weren't used to waiting.
Much less waiting and still not getting served.
Those who missed out got priority next time, but.
She wasn't happy with that either.
"Even priority means lining up again."
Other ladies chimed in like they'd been waiting to.
"Lady Levantia gets in every time, why not us…."
"Only three a day? Are you even running a business?"
Irritated voices overlapped.
Maids slunk back instinctively.
They knew jumping into noble clashes would just tire them out.
Wise.
Wish I could too.
Unfortunately, this line ended at my door.
Then.
Clatter—
Carriage from the alley end.
A luxury one stopped.
Door opened.
Radiant blonde hair. Azure eyes. Poised posture.
Chloe Levantia.
Same as her first visit.
As she appeared, the ladies' raised voices dropped like magic.
Chloe scanned the line.
I didn't miss that split-second freeze before her smile.
It vanished in a blink.
Then, like she'd been cheerful all along, a bright smile.
"Oh my, everyone's here?"
Soft tone.
But the next words weren't.
"Teacher's counseling is great, but you should follow the line, right?"
Smiling face.
"I wait every time too."
But eyes glaring fiercely.
Scary for real.
The ladies who'd been loud quickly backed down.
"N-no, we know the rules."
"Of course we wait."
Situation calmed.
I seized the gap, called three names.
One maid.
One lady.
And Chloe.
Handled the first two quick.
Like Fleur, just headaches.
Hypnosis.
Massage.
Done.
Sent the lady off, let Chloe in last.
She entered with her elegant smile, waiting gracefully.
But the moment the door closed.
Expression changed.
Perfect smile gone.
Replaced by a sulky, sorry face.
Slightly drooping eyes.
Fingers fidgeting with her dress hem.
Ah, obvious.
She thought the outside fuss was her fault.
"Was it because of me?"
Small voice asking.
Her eyes wavered.
Gaze dropped briefly, then rose, avoiding direct contact.
Like scared of my response.
"No."
I cut it off cleanly.
Hesitation was poison for her.
She'd jump to it is my fault if I dragged it out.
"It would've been messier without you coming."
"……."
"If anything, thank you."
Emphasizing that, her eyes trembled softly.
"...It wasn't hard."
Voice softened.
"Just what I always do."
What she always did.
Handling people in high society, sorting atmospheres, leading flows.
Familiar to her.
But familiarity didn't mean ease.
Her sulky face emerged the second we were alone.
Well, being good at something doesn't mean you like it.
"I didn't want to see you troubled, Teacher."
Even saying that, her gaze slid away slightly.
Sneakily checking the table.
Specifically, the teacup and tea leaf box.
Ah, checking that, huh.
Ridiculous.
Steps up for me, then creepily checks this behind my back?
And beams if we haven't used our cups and leaves?
OK, analysis complete.
Definitely dangerous.
Anyway, thanks to her, today passed smoothly.
Of course, I didn't think it'd work every time.
She couldn't always come shield me.
She had her own social schedule.
A count's daughter lining up daily to manage queues? Too weird.
Today was just good luck.
But.
Still, it'll be fine.
I thought, watching her brew the tea leaves.
I do have ways even alone.