Ch#38
“…………Explain it again properly. I just can’t understand it at all. So, you’re saying you’re punishing the maid who was wronged by a noble? Did I hear that right?”
Edel nodded with an awkward smile. Explaining the unfair matter to Laslo made her feel like she was defending the wicked nobles.
“Usually, they say the maid was at fault for her chastity and brought it on herself. Whether true or not doesn’t matter. They think punishing the maid saves face that way.”
“Am I stupid? Why can’t I understand a word you’re saying? How on earth does that save face?”
“If it’s not framed as the maid’s personal failing, it becomes the noble’s own authority and status being ignored—like what happened to you just now, Count.”
Laslo finally understood.
That’s why Terry and Angelo had insisted ‘that woman seduced us’ when caught.
*Spoils of war*
*Duchess*
That was the way for both him and those guys to get off unscathed? Punish the innocent woman and be done.
Truly written by Lemon Frog
Laslo, who had worn an expression of shock beyond absurdity, snorted and shook his head after a moment.
“Sorry to shatter your expectations, but I’m just a lowly mercenary origin, so I don’t know such ‘noble customs.’ From tomorrow, go work in the kitchen and spread the word.”
That decision convinced Edel that Laslo, a mercenary, was more sensible and lenient than many nobles she knew.
So she gathered her courage and made a request.
“Thank you for your generous ruling, Count.”
“Hm?”
“The laundry work is hard not just for me, but for Celia and Laila too. The laundry room is in terrible condition. Could you allow ample hot water at least through the winter?”
“What?”
Laslo’s face turned utterly baffled in an instant.
“What do you mean? Washing laundry in cold water in this freezing weather? The head maid didn’t just make you do cold-water laundry that one day?”
“Yes………… Laundry room aside, the servants’ bathhouse is the same. No one can bathe in cold water this winter, so we just wipe down with wet towels at best……”
- 2 -
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“Yes, Count.”
Laslo couldn’t control his expression, which must have looked dumbfounded. He was more shocked than when hearing about noble customs earlier.
“And until summer comes, make sure firewood never runs out in the laundry or bathhouse—stack it daily. Got it?”
Edel had also noticed something was off.
“Um…… The firewood, can we use it for bathing too?”
“Then why else would I have them stack firewood there?”
“Wasn’t it by your order, Count?”
“Are you mad? Ordering baths and laundry in ice-cold water midwinter!”
The faces of the summoned servants brightened at his response.
“Then did you order hot water to be used, Count?”
Midwinter cold baths were torture not just for maids, but male servants too.
“To be precise, I never issued orders specifically about hot water. But I said to buy whatever’s needed, as much as required!”
“Thank you, Count! We’ll have it ready without fail tomorrow!”
He vented his frustration, then paused and asked.
They bowed loudly and withdrew.
“Do you normally have to order such things explicitly?”
Seeing that, Laslo’s mood sank even further.
“Hot water requires firewood, which costs a lot of money. So permission from the master is needed to use it.”
“What a terrible master until now. Dousing in cold water in winter is torture chamber stuff!”
Laslo’s face flushed red.
“………Thank you for granting the request, Count.”
“I’m the one who nearly missed it until the servants all quit.”
“I never imagined……”
“Didn’t the head maid ever ask?”
He smiled, embarrassment mixed in.
“Not at all.”
For some odd reason, Edel found it a bit cute.
An awkward silence stretched between them.
Who’d have thought the mercenary king could look cute.
But Laslo, rubbing his temple with a serious expression, suddenly asked Edel.
“Does the laundry have a furnace?”
“There’s a stove. In the morning, they boil a large tub’s worth of water with it—for melting laundry soap or soaking heavily soiled items.”
“What about the servants’ bathhouse?”
“A furnace? It seemed built when the mansion was constructed, but unused for so long it’s badly deteriorated.”
So Edel smiled too, hoping to ease his embarrassment a little.
“Then…… I’ll take my leave. Once more, thank you for your merciful ruling, Count.”
Edel bowed politely again and quietly left his room. She felt it odd that Laslo stared at her fixedly until she closed the door, but didn’t dwell on it.
He nodded, gave no explanation, and immediately called for servants.
Then he ordered the two servants who came running breathlessly.
“Right after finishing tomorrow’s breakfast, go to the laundry and fire up the furnace. Once done, properly repair the servants’ bathhouse furnace too—and if needed, bring in one more person to help.”
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