Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: A Companion for Lara
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That night, Breina, who had been hovering around Lara's room, grabbed Marsha as she emerged from it.
"Breina? What's the matter? Miss Lara just went to bed."
Marsha asked in surprise at the sight of Breina, who hadn't returned to her quarters despite the late hour. Breina shook her head in response.
"Don't worry, Marsha. There's no need to wake Miss Lara."
"Then why are you here...?"
"I need to discuss something with you."
Though Breina held a high position as the Diarc Family's chief physician, Marsha was the one with the most experience and authority. All internal affairs of the mansion passed through the butler's hands before being reported to Theodor.
Seeing the conversation might drag on, Marsha suggested first.
"Let's go to my office, then. It's been a while— we can have some tea while we talk."
Confirming that official business hours were over, Marsha returned to her office with Breina and brewed tea.
Collecting tea leaves was one of Marsha's long-standing hobbies. Breina savored the aroma of the finest blend she'd been served in ages as she settled onto the sofa.
"So, Breina. What kept you waiting for me until this hour?"
"It's about Miss Lara."
Breina adjusted her round glasses once. Steam rose gently from her teacup, fogging the lenses.
"I spoke with the Master about Miss Lara's attendant situation the other day. Since she still seems uneasy around our service... I suggested he meet with her more often."
"I see. What did Master Theodor say?"
"He said he'd think about it, but who knows."
Breina let out a sigh.
"The Master isn't exactly the affectionate type. Fortunately, Miss Lara doesn't seem afraid of him."
That much was true. She was timid and wary of most things, yet strangely at ease in Theodor's presence.
"Miss Lara does seem quite fond of him."
"But... the Master is terribly busy as usual, and so are you, Marsha. He hasn't been Family Head for long, so things will only get busier. The same goes for you. With so much on your plate, isn't it impossible to devote yourself entirely to Miss Lara?"
Marsha couldn't bring herself to refute Breina's words.
Since becoming Family Head, Theodor had made the old Aren mansion his main residence. With the long-sealed estate reopened, Marsha's tasks never ended—especially in this frigid season, when her responsibilities doubled.
A touch embarrassed, Marsha replied.
"Thank you for your concern. But I'm managing my workload fine. Yes, it's busy, but who else could I entrust Miss Lara to? The Master commanded us to treat her as his bride, so giving her the respect she deserves is only right."
Breina nodded as if she'd been waiting for those exact words.
"That's just what I mean. She's human, not Beastkin, so we should follow human customs to some extent. From what I know, human noble ladies all have girls their own age as maids. So, Marsha, how about finding a girl to attend Miss Lara?"
"We haven't even hired a governess yet, and now you want a personal attendant?"
"If there's a girl she can chat with comfortably, Miss Lara would feel more at ease."
"But Miss Lara is awfully shy around strangers. Bringing in someone new..."
"We won't know unless we try. I'm the chief physician, and you're the butler—truth be told, we might not be the ones she can relax and talk to. There's quite an age gap, after all."
Marsha, who had started out skeptical, gradually came around to Breina's view. She refilled the teapot with hot water as it emptied, lost in thought.
Hiring reliable new servants in Aren territory, training them properly, and managing them was one of Marsha's duties, after all.
"Even if we decide to, where would we find one...? Most of the servants here in the Aren mansion barely know humans. They avoid contact with Miss Lara as much as possible, terrified of falling out of Master Theodor's favor."
"Then... how about hiring a Beastkin who knows humans well? Someone friendly."
"Beastkin familiar with humans aren't exactly common."
As Marsha sighed, Breina made a suggestion.
"Actually, there is one. My distant relative's daughter—she's around Miss Lara's age. She's a Crow Beastkin... You know Bird Beastkin get along well with humans, right, Marsha?"
It was a tempting proposal for Marsha, too, so she listened closely to what Breina had to say next.
This seemed worth considering seriously.
"...So, you're planning to hire a companion and attendant for Lara?"
Theodor spoke once Marsha's report concluded.
Marsha nodded, gauging his expression.
"Yes, Young Master Theodor. Fortunately, Breina knows someone. Her distant relative, so her background is solid. And the same age as Miss Lara, so she could make a fine companion."
Theodor was deeply skeptical about the "companion for Lara" part. If she needed someone to talk to, he was right there—plus Marsha and Breina.
He gestured for her to continue, and Marsha proceeded cautiously.
"Miss Lara seems lonely when she's alone. There aren't any children her age in the Aren mansion. No one to talk to except us."
Theodor had to admit the place was bleak. The old Aren mansion had its antique grandeur, but after years vacant, it still needed work everywhere. His unique constitution meant few live-in servants, too.
He couldn't ignore the part about Lara being lonely.
"Noble young ladies usually keep a compatible attendant their age. Humans feel loneliness more acutely than Beastkin."
Coming from the butler, who knew such matters well, Theodor could concede the point to some degree. But...
"Master, humans can't survive alone."
"..."
"Aren's winters are long and dull. I think it would help Miss Lara. She's almost of age—better to find a compatible friend beforehand."
Marsha fell silent, awaiting Theodor's command.
A compatible friend. Unnecessary in Theodor's view, but as the butler said, Lara was human, not Wolfkin.
'Whenever Lara feels uneasy, she asks me to stay by her side. Guess I'm not reliable enough.'
Recalling the chief physician Breina's advice left a bitter aftertaste.
He had no real counterargument—after all, just recently, hadn't he blurted nonsense to Lara's face about devouring her?
Since then, Theodor had deliberately avoided seeing her. He wasn't sure if the wild surge of emotions when facing her stemmed from the cursed moonlight or something else.
In the end, he accepted the proposal. The moment Theodor gave his approval, Marsha breathed a sigh of relief.
"If Lara doesn't like her, send her away. I don't want to force it."
"Understood, Master."
With those final words, Theodor ended the discussion.
Marsha hoped this would turn out well for Miss Lara. Breina felt the same.
"Whoa, is that the famous one I've only heard about?!"
The girl, lugging heavy bags in both hands, cried out as the Aren mansion came into view.
"Loud voice you've got there, miss. Sit properly in the carriage."
"I'm tough—I can handle it! Don't worry!"
The coachman shook his head at the girl's undaunted reply.
"Lord almighty. What a wild one."
"That mansion is so cool, isn't it, mister? Have you ever seen Duke Diarc?"
"A coachman like me? No chance. Maybe I've brushed past him once or twice on the road? I used to live in the capital."
The coachman chatted freely.
"Now that he's moved his residence to Aren territory, folks like us are thrilled. Aren's always been nice enough, but with him here, it'll only get better."
"Right? That's what I think too! I've lived in the countryside my whole life, so I grew up hearing stories about Aren, the Family Head, and the Duke. They say he's amazing—ahh, I'm so excited!"
Clasping her hands with sparkling eyes, the girl had simple, energetic looks—brown hair tied in a single ponytail, freckles dotting her face, and cheeks still plump with youth, all adding to her lively vibe.
"Hmm? Where's your hometown?"
"Uh... it's pretty far from here! Such a backwater, you probably haven't heard of it."
She couldn't tell others about her small village of fellow Bird Beastkin, so she'd taken a long detour to reach Aren.
Lepayrun blurred the lines between Beastkin and humans, but within their worlds, the divide remained sharp.
'All that hard work at Mom's shop really paid off!'
Being summoned here by her distant relative Breina—such a famous doctor—was the greatest joy of her life so far.
Her village fell under Diarc protection, but aside from Breina, no one had laid eyes on the legendary Family Head.
'I'll be the first among my friends to see the new Family Head, right?'
I want to see him soon. Once I arrive, I'll write Mom a letter—tell her all about the Family Head and the young lady I'll serve!
The Crow Beastkin girl Rin gazed at the approaching Aren mansion, eyes alight with dreams.