At once, they were met by the musty smell of alcohol. The room was dark, and someone was snoring thunderously. Light peeked in from a gap in the curtains, revealing a spacious room with a sofa and a low table in the center. On the table was a bottle of alcohol, a cup toppled over on its side, and the remains of a meal.
Right by the door was a serving cart that the housekeeper pushed toward the table. Nina promptly set about loading it up with the bottle and other debris. She finished tidying the table in moments.
“You do work fast, don’t you?” the housekeeper said.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“It seems the captain is still asleep.” Nina followed the housekeeper’s gaze to the neighboring room—then gasped. Women’s dresses—and underwear—lay strewn on the floor.
“Let’s be on our way, then,” the housekeeper said. “The captain detests being woken up, so you’re only to go in there when he’s awake.”
“Y-Yes, ma’am.”
The housekeeper looked at her. “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re still innocent about all that?”
Nina was silent. She wasn’t a child. Even she knew what went on between men and women in bed. In fact, her mistress had taught her about it. But knowing it and seeing it with her own eyes were two different things, and Nina had absolutely zero experience in that area.
“So you have a weak point after all!” the housekeeper exclaimed. “I actually feel a little relieved.”
“I beg your pardon, ma’am...”
Perhaps it was a sign of a maid’s proper modesty, but just the sight of the fallen clothing was too much excitement for Nina.
“We’ll go to see Pearly Cloud and Morning Star next.”
At this, Nina perked up again. They crossed to the other side of the corridor where Pearly Cloud and Morning Star’s room was. Effectively, they occupied a position equal to the captain’s.
“There are four doors here, you see. Two lead to a suite. The other two are for Pearly Cloud and Morning Star respectively.”
“Housekeeper!” shouted a man’s voice from the room farther back.
“Oh, that must be Pearly Cloud... Nina, you follow me.”
“Y-Yes, ma’am!” She hadn’t expected to get the chance to meet him so soon.
The room stank of drink just as the captain’s had. Pearly Cloud sat slumped on the floor next to the bed, his hair disheveled and dressed in a sort of bath robe that hung upon around his chest.
“Ugh... My head’s killing me. Get me water.”
“Here you are, master.” The housekeeper, as if she had anticipated his request, poured him a glass of water from a pitcher.
“My head...” he groaned.
“I take it you’ve been drinking again, master? And rather heavily too...” The housekeeper glanced over at the table where Nina, with her typical quickness, was already busy clearing away bottles and wiping the surface clean.
“Wait... Who’s this girl...?”
“My name is Nina, Master Pearly Cloud. If you like, I could bring you a bowl of warm soup.”
“Eh? Why would I want anything hot like soup?”
“I beg your pardon. I thought it might help with your hangover.”
“Oh? Well in that case, let’s try it.”
“Very good, master.”
Pearly Cloud stared after the new maid in confusion until she left the room.
“Who was that?” he demanded.
“Her name is Nina. I’ll be away for a little while, so I asked her to stand in for me.”
“Come on. What can a little thing like that know how to do?”
“She’s an excellent cook.”
“Oh? Wait, don’t tell me she’s the new girl?”
“She is indeed, master.”
“Huh...”
The housekeeper trusted in Nina’s skill as a maid. That was why she hadn’t stopped Nina from offering Pearly Cloud soup.
There was a knock at the door.
“I’ve brought your soup, master.”
“Wait, already?” Pearly Cloud was taken aback. Hadn’t she just left? Still, he obediently accepted the bowl and spoon that she offered him.
It was brown and clear, unlike any soup he’d ever seen before. But when he took a sip, his eyes went wide.
“What’s in this? It’s the best damn soup I’ve ever had!”
“Thank you, master.”
“Bring me another bowl!” Pearly Cloud raised the bowl to his mouth and drained it, not even bothering with the spoon. Nina brought him another bowl and he drained that too.
“Ahh...” he said, rubbing his belly. “That feels better. In fact, it’s made me sleepy...” He yawned. “I’m going to take a nap.”
“Very good, master.”
The housekeeper and Nina went back out into the corridor.
“That soup smelled very good. Whatever did you put in it?”
“I made the broth from simmered veal bones,” Nina said. It was a soup called fond de veau. It wasn’t flavorsome enough on its own, so Nina had added some seasonings, but it still had a rich, gamey taste. Nina had made it for Tien before.
And he liked it too! I thought he might, given that Tien loved it so much.
Nina assumed that as they were both lupalunes, they’d have similar tastes.
“You must have gone out of your way to make this,” the housekeeper said as she sipped the leftovers.
“The truth is, while I never ever dreamed that I’d be coming up here to the third floor, I thought I’d ask you to recommend it to Master Pearly Cloud for me. Warm liquids are good for hangovers, you see.”
Nina had guessed based on the amount of expensive drink consumed on the third floor each day that its residents were heavy drinkers. She’d therefore decided to make this soup in the hopes of catching Pearly Cloud’s interest.
“Well, I never. I’m glad I’ve got you to take care of things for me.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I’ll do my best.”
“Hiring you was a proper stroke of luck, I do say.”
Nina nodded in agreement.
“That’s that, then. I’ll leave things with you!” The housekeeper left the mansion through the back door and was gone.
Nina bowed to see her off, then said, “Right. Time to get to work!”
She set about completing her tasks.
She didn’t notice the blue-haired maid watching her from behind.