Chapter 29

I was heading home from “Flower Mole Pavilion” in high spirits, walking along the street as it began to grow dim, when I suddenly noticed something writhing at the edge of the road.

“Is it a magical beast?”

Magical beasts mostly inhabit the forests and the sea; it was said to be rare for them to appear in the middle of town like this. However, there were exceptions to every rule.

Feeling a surge of anxiety, I moved a little closer to observe, only to realize it wasn’t a beast but a human man. He appeared to be crouching at the side of the road as if he had been taken ill.

I instinctively rushed over and called out to him.

“Um, are you alright?”

The man slowly lifted his head… and his eyes widened in shock upon recognizing me.

“Y-You are…”

“Ah…!?”

I let out a startled cry of my own. As it turned out, the man collapsed on the ground was someone I knew.

“Sir Henry!!”

“L-Lady Agnes… Why are you dressed as a maid…?”

Oh no! I had forgotten I’d changed into a maid uniform so I could walk around town more freely!

“Th-There’s a bit of a reason for this,” I said with a strained smile, trying to change the subject.

I didn’t want him prying into my secret outing in a maid’s outfit, and more importantly, I was worried about Sir Henry’s condition.

“Sir Henry, what are you doing in a place like this? If you’re feeling unwell, I should call for help.”

However, Sir Henry addressed me with a look of frantic dismissal.

“No, don’t worry about it. It’s just my usual dizziness and anemia. I’m used to it.”

“Th-That’s terrible…! Dizziness and anemia…!?”

What an awful state of affairs…!!

Those were illnesses I had no personal experience with. I didn’t even know the proper way to treat them.

“F-For now, I should bring you to the mansion. It’s close by… Yes, let’s do that.”

Coming to a quick conclusion, I hoisted Sir Henry over my shoulder with a “Heave-ho!”

I was dragging him a little bit, but it was better than leaving him there. My status as “strong” had already been certified by Lord Nazel. I wonder if it’s because I always wore those heavy formal dresses back at my parents’ house?

Maybe those old-fashioned dresses weren’t all bad. Though I’d never want to wear one again.

“Lady Agnes!? Please, stop!”

While Sir Henry desperately tried to get me to stop, I continued to drag him along until we reached the mansion.

Upon our arrival, Kelly was there to greet us.

“Welcome back. I am relieved to see you are safe. Lady Agnes… who is this?”

“I picked him up.”

Kelly let out a small cry and, rare for her, ran in a frantic hurry to prepare a guest room. Fortunately, it seemed the cleaning there was already finished.

While I was tucking the limp Sir Henry into bed, Lord Nazel returned home from work.

“This is…”

Visiting the room where we were, Lord Nazel made a complicated face upon seeing Sir Henry lying in the bed.

“…Why is Henry at our mansion?”

“He had collapsed on the street, so I picked him up. He said it was dizziness and anemia.”

“It’s probably best not to move him. We should notify his family and call a doctor… It’s in times like these that our lack of manpower really hurts.”

It was certainly inconvenient having no one else to rely on.

“I’ll head out, so Agnes, could you watch over Henry for me?”

“Of course! Lord Nazel, it’s getting dark, so please be careful.”

“I will. I’ll be back soon.”

Sir Henry’s home was reportedly near his workplace. Luckily, the doctor’s house wasn’t too far away either.

After a short while, Lord Nazel returned with a doctor.

The diagnosis was exhaustion from overwork, and Sir Henry was ordered to rest for several days.

However, the man himself did not seem convinced.

“I cannot. I simply cannot afford to take time off work.”

Sir Henry kept trying to get up on his own, only to collapse back toward the floor. Each time, Lord Nazel and I had to catch him and return him to the bed.

“Sir Henry, we’ve already contacted your family, so please rest properly. You look so pale.”

“You are mistaken. I was born looking like this.”

“Then all the more reason you mustn’t push yourself. The doctor prescribed medicine to improve your circulation, so please take it after you eat. The stew from Flower Mole Pavilion is delicious, you know.”

Once that was settled, we all had our dinner.

“Oh, Lord Nazel. There’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

“What is it? I’d like to grant any request you have, Agnes.”

“I’m planning to start hiring servants soon, and I’d like to make Kelly the Head Lady’s Maid. We already understand each other well.”

Normally, as a commoner, Kelly wouldn’t be able to become my personal lady’s maid.

But well, this is the frontier, and there are no other candidates for the role. As long as Lord Nazel gave his permission, it was possible to appoint her.

“Does Kelly herself say she is okay with it?”

“…She was hesitant because she’s a commoner, but when I told her I insisted, she gave in.”

“Then there’s no problem. I want to respect your wishes, Agnes.”

“Thank you! I’d like to hold recruitment interviews for other servants in the near future.”

“I’m sorry for leaving all the mansion’s affairs to you.”

“Not at all. I am your wife, Lord Nazel, and the Lady of the Sutrena Territory.”

Even if it started with an order from His Majesty the King, now that I held the position, I intended to fulfill my duties thoroughly.

Satisfied with my answer, Lord Nazel wore a look of pure joy.