It was already dark when Nina and Tien got back to the Sable Fin Inn. Emily and Astrid lay sprawled face down on their beds, totally wiped out.
“E-Emily...? Astrid...?” Nina said hesitantly.
There was a pause. Then, they both sat bolt upright.
“Let’s go!” Emily said.
“G-Go? Where to?”
“To get a drink! Nothing like a drink after a hard day’s work! Isn’t that right, Astrid?”
“Our opinions are aligned down to the millimeter!” Astrid agreed.
Nina was taken aback by how rapidly the two of them leaped into action, but also glad to find that they’d waited for her and Tien before going to get dinner. They headed to the same tavern as the day before and told each other about their days as they ate.
The dwarf blacksmith had been only too happy to help—after talking to him, it turned out he was a big hot spring fan—and said they could test out drawing water through the extended pipe the next day.
Nina recounted the day she’d spent with the children. When she got to the part about building two new huts for them, Emily and Astrid exchanged a look.
“Astrid, she’s at it again.”
“Let’s just be glad that those children aren’t going to spread rumors to any adults.”
They both nodded, satisfied. They wouldn’t be able to believe their eyes when they actually saw the huts, but that was a few days away yet.
“So what are you going to do with the kids?” Emily asked.
“I’d like to teach them skills that will help them in life.”
“Getting ambitious again, huh... Telling them is easy enough, but whether they learn it is another story, isn’t it? That’s if they even want to learn.”
Nina smiled brightly. “Well, Panther said he’d try for me!”
She didn’t know if he’d understood how much she cared, but he’d returned her gaze firmly and agreed to have a go. Then he, Nina, and Tien had discussed their plan. Once the children woke up from their nap, Nina taught them how to use the stove to make dinner and breakfast for the next morning, and by the time she was done, the sun was already setting. They waved goodbye to Nina and Tien until they were both out of sight.
“Yeah?” Emily said. “Well, if they’re motivated, that’s great. What’re you gonna teach them, then? Maid work?”
“Yes, I thought that’d be good for the ones who’re interested. But whether the hotels will hire them is another question...”
“Oh, true... With the kind of money those places have...”
In Côte Sud, the only places that could offer work for a maid were the luxury hotels. However, because they catered to the wealthy and privileged of the capital, not only were they operated by people from the capital, they also hired their staff there. Apparently, the hotels didn’t interact with the locals at all. They probably never considered the possibility that the Côte Sud locals could do maid and butler work.
“Perhaps we could ask Mals Mojito from the Mojito Merchant House,” Nina suggested.
“That’s an idea... He should talk to us, and I bet he’d be happy to take on anyone trained by you.”
But even as she spoke, Emily had misgivings. She didn’t want to end up owing Mals Mojito a favor, lest he get even pushier about asking them to work for him. He seemed nice enough as a person, but he was also a highly successful merchant. Nina would be no match for him in a business negotiation, and Emily and Astrid probably wouldn’t fare any better. Also, it was only because of Nina that they had any relationship with him. She doubted the kids could keep up that connection after Nina was gone.
“Even temporary work would be better than nothing,” Nina said.
“I guess so, though even that would come with a risk... But wait up. Nina, what’s got you so invested in these kids, anyway?”
“You...want to know why?”
“Yeah. I mean, every town has slums. We can’t go getting involved everywhere or we’ll never see the end of it.”
“I-I’m sorry. I’ll do my best not to inconvenience you.”
“That’s not what I mean! I’m not blaming you, I just... Uh... Oh man, how do I put this?”
“Emily is worried about you,” Astrid supplied helpfully.
“Worried...” Nina said thoughtfully. “Yes, that’s it. I suppose I’m worried too.”
“Huh? Worried about what?”
“Back in Izumi Mine, where we met Tien, the nuns and the priest took good care of the children at the orphanage. This town has nothing like that. These children don’t have any grown-ups to worry about them.”
“Ah...” Understanding dawned on Emily. “That’s probably true, huh. I mean, even the capital has orphanages at least.”
“By the time I was three, I knew I loved helping out with the housework. Then I met my mistress, and she encouraged me, made me want to be a maid. I thought that perhaps these children needed someone like that—grown-ups who’ll worry about them and teach them the skills they need to make their way in life.”
So that’s it, Emily thought. Now it made sense.
Of course, she’d felt sorry for the kids too. She might have thrown them some coins or bought them a meal—offered them her “charity.” But that only made the receiver—and the giver—feel good for a little while. It didn’t last. These kids knew that charity didn’t change anything, and so did Nina. That was why she wanted to teach them skills.
Nina is amazing... She might look like a little girl, but she was full of surprises—not just because she was a supermaid, but right down to the core of her character.
“Okay, I get it now,” Emily told her. “If you want to teach them life skills, then I’m all for it. I’m just not sure about introducing them to the Mojito Merchant house.”
“You aren’t? But why not?”
Nina still didn’t appreciate the worth of her skills, but Mals Mojito would jump at any chance to recruit her—this was the risk that Emily foresaw.
She sighed. Even if she tried to explain it, Nina would just say, “But any maid could do this.” Her so-called “mistress” had probably taught her that. Emily didn’t want to think about what sort of education Nina must have had to make her self-esteem so low. She knew it was thanks to the incredible lessons that Nina had learned from this woman that Emily’s own life had been turned around, but even so, she had a bone to pick with her for being so insensitive. So heartless.
“We’ve got a hard road ahead of us, huh?” she said. “Oh, but what about the boys? What’ll you teach them?”
“That’s just the thing—I don’t know. I thought I’d ask all of you what you thought.”
Nina had no idea what sort of jobs there were for Panther and the other boys. She knew that boys did work at estates as footmen and page boys and so on, but how they were educated was anyone’s guess. She had no idea if hotels even employed any to begin with.
Emily considered it for a moment. “Wouldn’t the best bet be for them to make their own money?”
Nina gaped at her. “Make...their own money?”
The idea of selling things to turn a profit rather than earning a salary had never occurred to her.
“Yeah. That’s how they make money now, isn’t it?”
“Y-You’re right! They said people buy coconuts, and fruit from the forest, and shellfish, and even large leaves that insects haven’t eaten!”
“Fruits and shellfish are edible, so there’s that. Coconuts can be turned into juice and oil, and they probably use the leaves as garnishes or plates.”
“Of course! Oh, but they said they only get one small copper for a coconut, so I don’t know if they can make a living that way. Especially given how heavy and hard to carry they are.”
“O-One small copper?! That’s way too cheap! They’re getting ripped off!”
“Ripped off...?”
“That coconut juice was two silvers a cup!”
“Nina, what Emily means is that the buyers may be paying the children unfairly low prices,” Astrid explained.
Nina’s brow furrowed. “But that’s awful. Those children work so hard...”
“Uh-huh. It’s starting to piss me off too. Forget grown-ups who’ll worry about them—some are even taking advantage of them.” Emily clapped her hands together. “Astrid, I’ve got an idea.”
Astrid sighed, giving her a long-suffering look. “I can’t even keep up with the ideas Nina comes up with.”
“Doesn’t this bother you?”
“It does, but... Oh, fine. Let’s hear this idea of yours.”
“I want you to make a magic item. Then I’ll use it to teach the kids life skills.”
“Uh... A magic item for children? All of a sudden, I’m feeling dubious about this plan.”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?! I’m the best at this sort of thing! I’ve got loads of ideas for ways to make money at a hot spring resort!”
With a hearty laugh, Emily downed her beer. Nina looked on, blinking in puzzlement. Tien had gone quiet some time earlier. It was late, and she’d long since drifted off to sleep.