Chapter 111: Leca’s Harvest (II)

Vio immediately got into the hot bath Jill had prepared, took a deep breath, and tried to collect his thoughts.

There were creepy bugs all over that cave. It was so gross. I’ll have to scrub more, he thought.

Vio got goosebumps just thinking about all the insects in the cave, even though he hadn’t been stung or bitten. He scrubbed and rubbed his skin aggressively as he bathed.

Leaves were floating on the surface of the water. Jill had prepared an herbal bath.

Vio thought perhaps he had told Jill that the area he had ventured to was chilly, as the herbs floating in the water were the same ones he used when Vio caught a cold. A strong, bitter scent filled the bathroom. 

However, this time, he came early.

Vio remembered that Gary Peterson had arrived, and the thought made him stop scrubbing. Gary Peterson usually showed up on the day of the harvest festival, but there were still five days until the festival.

I just recently quarreled with my older brother. Perhaps the inspection is out of spite.

Vio was aware that he was just putting off the inevitable, but he thought he could still take a breather and not be too late to meet with Gary.

Although Gary Peterson was the seneschal at the manor,1 as a son of the noble Lesserhain family, Vio was of a higher social status than him.

Well, let’s put that thought to the side and enjoy the bath, Vio concluded to himself before cupping his hands full of water and bringing them to cleanse his face.

The bathroom door slammed open abruptly.

Vio was startled, as this violent movement was uncharacteristic of Jill. Vio looked over to see the one he had decided to keep off his mind for his brief respite in the bath—it was Gary.

Gary’s eyes were wide with surprise. His eyes were blue, and his hair was salt and pepper. His skin was tanned bronze, and floating in the molten bronze were freckles from all the traveling in the sun he had to do throughout the Lesserhain territory. Aside from the conspicuous mole that hung under his left eye, he was rather handsome for a man who was just shy of fifty-three.

“…Hey, isn’t it rather rude to barge in on someone without knocking, no matter the circumstances?” Vio complained. 

Gary gawked at Vio before coming back to his senses and apologizing, “My apologies, young master Violant. I had planned to do a performance evaluation of the servants in the manor… When do you think you will be returning from your bath?”

“I will be finished shortly. Now, if everything has been cleared up, please get out.”

“What could the butler be doing? Would you like me to assist you?”

“That’s unnecessary.”

Vio curtly refused Gary’s offer that showed a spirit of servitude.

Jill returned with a bath towel.

“I must ask that you, please close the door, Seneschal Peterson. The cool air coming in will chill the bath.”

“Well, it is the summer air; wouldn’t it be beneficial to improve the ventilation a bit?”

Gary frowned, but Vio was on Jill’s side.

“I’ve caught a cold. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to get out.”

“…I understand.”

Gary left reluctantly, and the door was finally shut. A few moments later, Jill briskly walked barefoot into the bathroom with the legs of his pants rolled up.

“Young master, are you okay?”

“Hmm? I didn’t mind. Besides, Jill, he seemed to be looking for dust as he came in. If he becomes too yappy, please tell me, and I’ll bring it to an end.”

“…Certainly. This might be a rather intrusive request, but I must ask that you avoid being alone with that senechal. Please have someone with you, whether it be Lille, Legion, or I.” 

Vio felt a pang of annoyance from Jill’s request, but then he remembered the fiasco at Endsk.

“…Jill, he’s been at the family manor since I was born. Is that really something we have to worry about now?”

“Young master, please be reasonable. I ask that you understand how you appear to others.”

Vio was warned with a bitter look from Jill, causing his lips to crumble into a grimace.

“…Even if you say something like that, you can’t predict the future. Besides, what part of this bean sprout is attractive?”

“Did you say bean sprout?”

“No, forget about it!”

Vio apologized in a flustered manner as Jill’s eyes flew open wide with disbelief.

Vio had narrowly avoided flipping the switch that put Jill into lecturing mode. 

“At any rate, I understand what you’re saying. I will be careful. Also, I can’t stand the man, so I’d rather not be alone with him anyways.”

“That’s the spirit, young master.”

Jill’s eyes glinted as he struck a pose with his fist pulled down in front of his chest.

Vio didn’t understand why Jill felt so strongly about the whole thing, but he was relieved it hadn’t ended up in a lecture. Vio slowly sank into the bath with the water coming to his chin.

＊＊＊

Vio got out of the bath and changed into his loungewear before heading to the study.

Legion was already there, sorting out documents.

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“Lord Violant, Mr. Rourke is here. He is waiting in the reception room.”

“I see, then I shall go meet with Rourke first. Legi, come with me.”

“Yes, sir, of course I will.”

“…Also, Jill might have told you that I’m not supposed to be alone with Gary around.”

“I will escort you as if my life depended on it!” Legion declared fervently after bowing with both feet together, as a knight would.

“…I don’t get it all. Do all uncles see their nieces and nephews as love interests?”

“Well, all due respect, there is a precedent of uncles marrying their nieces.”

“…What about grandfathers to grandsons?”

“He may be an old man, but someone else might find him young.”

“You’re not sugar-coating it at all, aren’t you?”2

Vio felt a little bit of sympathy for him and decided not to resist any further. He figured that if he continued this line of questioning, he would lose in the end.

“I understand. I guess I’ll… be very careful.”

Vio let the words escape with a sigh.

Legion, who had already gathered the writing implements and documents on a tray, nodded as if the subject was obvious while opening the office door.

After going down the corridor a bit, they came across Gary nitpicking Rille’s work.

“Gary, what is the issue here?”

“You’re here, young master Violant! There was dust in the corner of the corridor, so it seems she hasn’t been doing her job with diligence.”

A deep groan echoed in Vio’s heart.

It was like this every time Gary came to the mansion. He had to tell Gary the same thing over and over.

“Gary, I have said this many times over. She is the only maid in this mansion. To ask her to keep every inch of this place spotless is unreasonable. I have asked her to only focus on the rooms that get the most use… So please remind me who is the master of this estate?”

“Well, of course, it’s you, Lord Violant.”

“That’s right. So can you please be more respectful of my wishes?”

“…I see. If that’s what it’s come to, then it can’t be helped. You can be on your way now, then.”

Gary made a shooing gesture at Rille. Rille bowed respectfully, but the look on her face showed that she was just seconds away from committing murder.

Vio felt horrible about how Rille was being treated. He was heartbroken.

“Rille, you know I appreciate all the good work you’ve done for me, right?”

Rille, who was about to leave, switched from a murderous face to one of joy.

“Thank you, Lord Violant.”

Rille lifted the edges of her skirt as she curtsied and then quickly disappeared into the kitchen.

After this, I’ll have to tell her to keep the rooms locked.

Rille was at a very marriageable age. Vio decided he must look out for her safety.

Gary imparted to Vio some of his rather more reasonable wisdom from his years of experience.

“You cannot do this, young master. If you are too soft on the servants, they will take advantage of you.”

“Gary… Lille, Jill, and Hauser have never taken me lightly.”

“Only to your face, however, behind your back…”

“…What did you come here for? You’re here to check the taxes for the feudal state, right?”

Vio felt that his hand was forced. He tried to say this without putting Gary down. Gary nodded as if he was not completely satisfied.

“Yes, of course. I will go check the towns and villages.”

“Then you must check our ledgers, right? I have just returned from a trip and have not kept up on those accounts, so I will need to catch up on that. I will need two days to do that, so you will need to start somewhere else.”

“Certainly, then I will see you in two days.”

Vio urged him to get going, so Gary bowed respectfully and left.

“…So, Jill, do you think I still want to be alone with that guy after all that?”

“No, I don’t think so. My apologies,” Jill shrugged and replied in earnest.

Translator’s Note: I’m just saying that Jill should have broken Gary’s legs for barging in on Vio in the bath like that. Stupid sexy Gary and his middle-aged good looks and social status. Okay, but secret time though? I like a good dad-bod or silver fox.

1 Translator’s Note: The closest word we could get to the original Japanese word was seneschal. If you’re wondering what a seneschal is, imagine a super-powered butler that fused with an accountant. They help manage the estate accounts.

2 Translator’s Note: He said this rather snidely.

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