The house certainly didn’t seem like it had been built whatever number of generations ago (let’s just say over one hundred years ago). It had been very well looked after. We looked after my old house, but it was still one step away from being a shack due to the lack of money.
Hmm, there’s no comparing them, even.
We were walking down a long corridor.
“The first floor is essentially a public area.”
“Oh, really?”
In the center of the manor was the reception hall, the main dining room, and the salon. They sprawled over the entire first floor. I’m sure in the days of a more lavish owner, there were many events and tea parties held here. Sorry for wasting all this space, I mentally apologized to the past owners.
The kitchen and servants’ dining room were in the east wing. The storage rooms and laundry area were in the west wing.
In the entrance area at the center of the house was a stairway that led up to the second floor. You really got the sense the second floor was private as you climbed it.
The second floor contained the master bedroom (my room), and next to it, Mr. Fisalis’ study. On the other side of that lay the room that Mr. Fisalis used to use. There were also a library and guest rooms for people staying over on the second floor. Rohtas’ room was across from the study.
Dahlia explained that the third floor transitioned into servants’ quarters as you walked to the end of the hallway heading toward the wing.
“How do you get to the third floor?”
The main stairway we had used to go to the second floor led to that floor only.
“At the end of each wing, there are stairs just for the servants to use. You would use those.”
“So you don’t use the stairs we just took from the entrance?”
“You are correct.”
“I see, I see.”
She explained everything in my house from the first to the third floor and everything in between as she led me around.
There was a garden surrounding the manor that was also shaped like a backwards ‘c.’ Descending the stairs that led there, the gardens spread out before my eyes.
There was a fountain in the courtyard which was surrounded by a promenade; nearby, there were flower beds filled with blossoms in full bloom, all vying for attention.
“The garden is huge!” I exclaimed from where I took in the view just outside the courtyard.
The seasonal flowers and trees were overflowing with blossoms, the grass was a lush green... the scene before me was a pleasure to take in.”Yes, it is the jewel of the family.”
Dahlia’s chest swelled in apparent pride.
“It doesn’t even seem like we’re in the middle of the capital. You really feel like the manor is away from it all and that it’s the only thing around.”
The garden, or rather, the manor grounds, were so vast that I couldn’t see the neighboring buildings. I assumed, of course, that the neighbors were also nobles with estates. There was no noise from traffic, either.
“Yes, our head gardener is quite skilled.”
They sure did do a good job! Or rather, I should say that all of the servants, not just the head gardener, are very professional!
The vast, gorgeous manor sparkled from every angle, a testament to the servants’ hard work.
“It has made me so happy, this lovely manor. But I can’t help but feel that someone in it is lonely...”
As I relaxed in my room after being shown around the manor, a sense of isolation descended over me. The house had been beautifully preserved without a single flaw anywhere, but it was so sparkling clean that it didn’t feel lived in. I mean, no one was even living on the second floor until now.
“Ah... is that how you feel, Madam?” Dahlia said, first looking slightly surprised, then casting her eyes downward with a frown.
“Oh! No, I, er, um, it’s very pretty and I can tell everyone worked very hard to keep it beautiful!” I responded in a panic over Dahlia’s sudden transformation.
I was just feeling a little lonely, is all! I swear I wasn’t criticizing anyone! I swear!
Dahlia explained as her eyes started to water, “It’s the truth, what we said about you being here. We haven’t had a mistress in a long time, we were lacking something beautiful in our lives. A house is only a home if someone is living in it, after all. Since the master, to say nothing of a mistress, has been living in the cottage these past few years, we’ve all been lonely,” Dahlia said, with a deep sigh. She was right, a masterless house loses its spirit.
I, at least, will be living here from now on, and although I wouldn’t call myself something as ridiculous as the mistress of the house, I hope I can bring some life to this place.
If Dahlia feels like that, I assume the other servants do, too. I won’t let Dahlia and the others look so glum!
“It’ll be alright! I’ll bring this estate back to life!”
“Oh, Madam!”
My firm declaration seemed to dispel the dark cloud over Dahlia. I held her gaze and said briefly, “I’m certain I’ll have a wonderful time helping everyone to clean up and decorate.”
She then bowed deeply and replied, confused, “...eh? Cleaning...? You’re going to... clean, Madam?”
Her earnest smile vanished and her eyes grew wide.
Huh? Did she not follow what I said?
“That’s right! The cleaning, laundry, and decorating!”
“Th-That’s unheard of...” stammered Dahlia, suddenly confused.
Huh, why? But I want to clean! Or better yet, I want to learn the skills these servants have. Is something wrong with that? I tilted my head in confusion.
“W-Well, alright. Here’s what you can do...” Dahlia finally said, abruptly closing her eyes with a look of resignation.