Ch#39
“What are you talking about? How much have we benefited from Edel that you’d get upset over something like that?”
“Exactly. Thanks to Edel, we can finally use hot water.”
At those words, Marsha’s expression changed completely.
“What do you mean? Use hot water? No, what do you mean it’s thanks to Edel...?”
“Oh my, Head Maid, you didn’t know? When Edel collapsed, the Count came to the laundry room himself.”
Celia’s smile deepened.
“He was shocked we were doing laundry in cold water even in the middle of winter. So starting today, he’s having them install hot water facilities in the laundry room.”
*Spoils of war*
*Duchess*
The male servant silently tearing into his bread across from Celia nodded in agreement.
Truly written by Lemon Frog
“Yesterday, the Count instructed me and Benjamin. Right after finishing breakfast this morning, build a furnace in the laundry room and repair the servants’ bathhouse furnace.”
At that, the other maids nearby asked in surprise.
“The bathhouse too?”
“Really? So we can use hot water when we bathe too?”
The servant nodded vigorously, even as he chewed his bread noisily. Benjamin, sitting beside him, took over the explanation.
“Of course. He said to stack firewood next to the laundry and bathhouse too—enough so it never runs out until the weather warms up.”
“Wow!”
Benjamin’s words sent cheers rippling through the servants’ table.
They’d suffered endlessly without hot water even on freezing days when it turned to ice, but now they could finally wash properly with warm water!
However, amid the universal joy, Marsha’s face flushed red then pale in turmoil.
.
“Everyone, quiet down!”
*No more prep left for breakfast ingredients, so let’s wash the lunch ingredients ahead of time.*
She shrieked, startling everyone, who wondered what her problem was.
The previous maid had prepped lunch after breakfast, but the still-clumsy Edel needed to hustle more.
“I’ve never heard of this! Don’t move a muscle until I confirm with the Count myself. Got it?”
*Then it’ll be time to serve Linia’s breakfast-cum-lunch, and after that, the servants’ lunch. No time to breathe.*
Marsha was displaying arrogance beyond expectations. Edel stared straight at the agitated Marsha and spoke.
She’d assist the cook Arturo when he arrived to prepare the servants’ breakfast, then wash and trim ingredients again after.
“The Count issued the order himself—do you mean we should wait for the head maid’s confirmation? Are the head maid’s orders above the Count’s?”
Marsha’s eyes blazed fiercely, as if they might spit fire—it was only natural.
Even so, Edel felt no fear. She’d never feared a mere head maid to begin with, and everyone around her agreed with her words.
And above all... it was filthy.
Even the taciturn Marco couldn’t hold back today and chimed in.
Places clearly crawling with mice everywhere—Edel averted her eyes as best she could. With this schedule, she lacked the stamina to clean the kitchen too.
Her hands were so frozen after washing lunch ingredients that gripping the knife was hard.
“We’re getting hot water now, but you don’t look pleased at all? The head maid prefers washing in cold water?”
“N-no, of course not! I just hadn’t heard, so I thought there might be a misunderstanding.”
“Ho... ho...”
“Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding...”
Someone muttered softly at Marsha’s excuse, and all eyes glanced sideways at her.
If only she could warm her hands by the hearth fire—but Marsha’s watchdog would pick a fight.
Sensing herself cornered, Marsha tried to shift the mood by snapping at Edel.
*Time’s already gotten this late. Should I trim a little anyway?*
“Anyway, Edel! From today, your kitchen duties are dishwashing, vegetable washing, and prep. If any veggies rot because of you, you’re done for—so shape up!”
“Looking forward to working with you, Head Cook.”
Edel clenched and unclenched her hands a few times, then picked up a small knife and began peeling potatoes.
After soaking the peeled potatoes in water, she had to peel onions while tears streamed down, then split a large pumpkin, scoop out the insides, and shave off the thick rind.
Marsha’s expression soured further as Edel only nodded politely to the cook.
“Ahem! No slacking—do it right!”
As Edel focused on peeling potatoes, Lola, another kitchen maid loyal to Marsha, started nagging the moment she arrived.
Even ‘promoted’ to kitchen maid, immersing hands in cold water hadn’t changed. She couldn’t use hot water for washing vegetables anyway.
Lola, obedient to Marsha, seemed instructed to monitor Edel’s every move and nitpick. That was why Edel couldn’t warm her hands by the fire.
Her start time had shifted earlier too, so she now rose at half past five.
She’d even deliberately sabotaged Edel’s work at times, but after getting chewed out by Arturo, she’d backed off.
Heading to the kitchen at midnight-like hours, lighting the oil lamp, checking the hearth embers, and setting out pre-prepped breakfast ingredients marked the day’s start.
Of course, Edel—who’d abandoned the path of the good little maid—wasn’t exactly compliant with her either.
.
