TL: Zimming

Give me someone I can trust. Four, no, five people.

What are the conditions?

They need to be a good housekeeper.

Seria seemed to be confused, but soon nodded.

Where should I send them?

To Count Barthous house.

If I couldnt meet Leticia because she doesnt have time, then I could make the time for her.

***

Leticia blinked at the visitors of Barthou mansion.

Youre here for an interview?

Yes, Lady.

A middle-aged woman with a kind impression took off her hat and lowered her head slightly. The people who came with her also greeted her with a smile.

It was really weird.

s were being issued every week but they quit due to the delayed payment.

Leticia hasnt even done an interview for the last three months, and she couldnt believe there were five people in a day.

Given their age and seeing their hands, they seemed to be quite skilled.

Whats the matter?

A voice came from the stairs. It was a Count Barthou who was coming down with a newspaper.

Leticia, who glanced at people, approached her father and lowered her voice.

Theyre here for an interview.

Good. I was very annoyed at this filthy mansion. The more the better.

But there are five people. Its hard to even pay their salary, so how can we hire five people?

Duke of Marche would help us soon. Besides, your brothers are about to graduate, and theyll soon have a job at the Imperial Palace. You dont need to worry about money.

Her father believed that the Duke of Marche will help the Barthou family, but Duke Marche has never helped them.

Rather, Count Barthou was having a hard time because of Duke Marche that he even paid for their mansion fully.

Leticia was well aware that the desire for his sons to be admitted to the Imperial Palace was only a dream.

Although they spent a large sum of money to put them into an academy for children of status, the brothers had been suspended from graduation for years.

While Leticia was frowning, her father said,

Lets get to work right away. Start cleaning up. One of you please prepare the tea.

Father!

As she shouted, she could hear a child crying upstairs.

Dont say useless things, and make sure I didnt hear that shit. If you come back with a child, at least you should control them.

Leticia forced herself to move as her father chased her away.

As she went up to the room, she could see her five-year-old son was crying.

Im sorry, Lionel. You must be so surprised.

Her son quickly hugged her.

I hate grandfatherhe always bother mother.

Hes bad at talking but deep inside hes really nice.

You always liegrandfather is a bad guy, but when will you play with me mother?

Lets go out today.

Really?

Yes. So my baby, stop crying and change first.

Yes!

As if he never cried, he quickly got up and ran to the closet.

I have to do work first.

If she crosses the abandoned Rossel Bridge and goes to the shopping district, she will be able to go outside without being seen.

Leticia dressed the child and sneaked out through the back door.

Lionel walked alone for the first 10 minutes or so and quickly began to whine.

Then,

Lady Barthou!

She could hear a girls voice.

It was Leblaine Dubbled, wearing a black hat covering her ears and a yellow long coat.

Where are you going?

Oh, to the shopping district

Im on my way there too! Can we go together? Tell me another fairy tale!

Behind Leblaines back was a luxurious, giant carriage of blackwood, which was hard to see even in the capital city.

But

But who is he?

Leticia was shocked. She wondered how to explain it, but Leblaine continued,

Aha. Hes your cousin isnt he? I got it right!

The child must be cold too. Lets go together. The carriage is very warm.

Just in time, Lionel coughed.

I think shes alone. Im sure I can explain the situation well to Leblaine.

Leticia followed the child who pulled her hands.

***

Thats Lionel Locard, the only son of the Grand Duke.

The child vomited after being in the carriage for a while. It looks like he has never been in a carriage before.

Hello?

The child flinched when I spoke.

Hello.

I laughed and took the cookies out of my small bag on the side.

Here.

This is delicious. Eat it.

He looked at his mother as if asking for permission. Leticia smiled and said,

Dont forget to say thank you.

Thank you

The child, who took a bite of the cookie, widened his eyes. And then, as if he was possessed, he took all of the cookies.

Ive never had such a delicious thing before

Come over to my house! Theres something more delicious too.

Really? But whats your name?

Leticia panicked and called her son quietly.

You shouldnt be rude to her. Shes the Lady of Dubbled.

A Lady?

I nodded because he was looking at me.

My name is Leblaine Risette Dubbled.

Im Lionel!

Nice to meet you Lionel.

I greeted him and looked at Leticia.

Where should I drop you off?

Id appreciate it if you could drop me off near the entrance.

Lionel replied hearing her mother,

I have to be alone again when my sister goes to work.

In front of people, Lionel was used to calling his mother a sister.

Then should I accompany you?

As I said that, Leticia widened her eyes.

I cant give you that much trouble.

Im fine. I came out to play alone but I felt lonely. Im going to tell Lionel about the stories that you told me.

Leticia smiled as I spoke to her.

Thank you very much.

Youre welcome. Can I go to the bakery with Lionel?

Of course.

Soon the carriage stopped. We got off the back door and walked close to the room.

While she was in working, me and Lionel were supposed to be at the bakery, but before I saw Leticia off, the child clung to the grocery store window next to the bakery.

Wow, wow! I know this! This is really cool!

I was wondering what it was, but it was a toy that was popular in the capital city recently.

When people demonstrate the toy, a very, very weak fire comes out of the round mana stone attached to it.

A mana stone was attached on it so naturally it was an exclusive property of noble children. It was very expensive.

Cant we just watch this? Huh? Huh?

When Leticia saw him whining, she looked troubled.

Because he wouldnt go after looking at it. Once he touched it, he would have lied down on the floor and whined to get it.

Leticia seemed to be very soft hearted when it came to disciplining her son.

Just look at it for a minute. You can promise me that right?

Yes!

The child answered loudly.

And a while later,

she knew this would happen.

Buy it~! Buy it!!

This child!

Leticia tried to force the child to get up from the floor.

But Lionel hugged the toy and rolled around on the floor.

Leticia sighed and went to see the price tag.

10.000 Francs.

That was the amount she couldnt earn even if she spent all night working.

Get up. Well buy it next time.

But the child kept being stubborn.

No, buy me this. Please buy me this

As soon as the situation became a bit more quiet, some well dressed noble boys approached us.

The tallest child strode straight towards us.

When he saw Lionel on the floor, he clucked his tongue and picked up a toy which was much more expensive than the bow Lionel was hugging.

Wow! Its a new thing. Its the most expensive one.

My father said I could buy it.

What about your last purchase?

I threw it away. I only played with it once.

Wow thats so cool! Youre so lucky to be rich.

Not really. Oh, but its nice not to beg like that for a piece of shit like this beggar.

Then the boys hit Lionel and giggled as they looked at him.

Even the young Lionel stopped struggling as if he understood these words.

Leticias face hardened.

You guys, what are you talking about?

Huh, you seem familiar.

The big boy looked at Leticia.

Oh its that grandpas daughter who came to borrow money from my father last time. Who was it? Bar, bar, bar, barBarthou!

Leticia hardened and the boy grinned.

His whole family is a beggar.

He tried to pick up another toy, but I caught it first.

Ill buy this.

What? Hey, you little girl! I chose this first!

I called the owner of the grocery store. A middle-aged man, who was cleaning up the place, came towards us.

Whats the matter?

Wrap it up please.

Hey! I picked first! Uncle, sell it to me. Otherwise, I wont come again!

The boy was a regular so the owner was conflicted.

Um, Lady, we have many other options too

I didnt say I was buying only that one.

Pardon?

I said that as I pulled out the Dubbled seal.

Ill buy all of the toys here.

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