Kays Translations

Chapter 103: Mr. Henry, Lady Barbara, and I

　I have been having dinner with Henry almost every day lately.

　This is because I asked him to have dinner with me if possible. Since we can’t have breakfast and lunch together, I thought we could at least have dinner.

　As the days went by, it finally dawned on me that we were engaged to be married. He came to see me every day, both in the afternoon and at night, and was always so kind to me every time I see him. I am deeply happy to have met this man.

“What’s wrong? Why are you staring at me like that? My ears aren’t… sticking out.”

“Are you close to Lady Barbara, Henry?”

“I would count her as a close friend. She had always been very kind to me. She would come to see me twice a year and was very fond of me. Every time I saw her, she would ask me if there was anything I wanted, and when I answered I wanted books she would send me mountains of books packed in wooden boxes. Has something happened to her?”

　I’ll say it. I’ll say it now. Please don’t let this be a problem.

“I was asked to keep this a secret from the Viscount, but… Lady Barbara is aware of your’s and Carlotta’s relationship. Carlotta’s parents were once servants for the Richmond family, and Lady Barbara was apparently good friends with her.”

“This is new to me ……. Please tell me more about it. Why didn’t you tell my father?”

　When I told Lady Barbara’s story to Mr. Henry as he questioned me, he looked stunned.

“Even though she knew who I was, she kept quiet for twenty-five years?”

“She didn’t want to repeat the same mistake. And she wanted to meet Carlotta and apologize.”

“Since diplomatic relations have been established with the Kingdom of Arcetheus, we can now travel there by boat. However, my mother’s whereabouts……”

　 Henry is thinking.

“Also, most of the servants in the Richmond household were beastmen, except for the butler.”

“The servants are almost all beastmen… I guess this is her way of atonement.”

　A little while later, we called it a night. As he was leaving, Henry made the this suggestion.

“If Mrs. Richmond is available tomorrow night, I’d like the three of us to talk in this shop. It’s the most comfortable place for us to talk. Would it be a bother to come after closing time?”

“Not at all. I’d like her to try my cooking.”

“Then, I will ask her to join us.”

　The next day, after closing time, lady Barbara came to the restaurant.

“Welcome, Lady Barbara.”

“Good evening, Mai. Henry told me to come hungry, but I’m sorry I made you work after hours.”

“No, I’m glad you’re here to enjoy my cooking. Here you go.”

“Oh, my. It looks delicious.”

　Illustration (By Mitemin)

“It’s a casual dish, but the taste is guaranteed.”

　Lady Barbara ate the chicken thigh confit with gusto. She also seemed to like the orange bavarois I served for dessert.

　Illustration by Mitemin

“Do you want to sell the recipe for tonight’s dish to my family?”

“I’m sorry. I leave all the recipes for the dishes I make to the Howler family to manage. But I have no problem making them and giving them to you. Please feel free to ask anytime.”

Then Mr. Henry casually broke the ice.

“Mai told me your story. She said you knew all about me and my mother. I was surprised.”

“It’s not something you can talk about lightly. For twenty-five years, I never told anyone.”

“My mother is now in the Kingdom of Arcetheus.”

“Arcetheus?　Did you have any contact with Carlotta?”

“Yes. I tracked down my mother a few years ago. We only had brief conversations, but I met her a few times.”

　Lady Barbara looked up from her slumped position, hesitated for a moment, and then looked up.

“If I said I wanted to go to the Kingdom of Arcetheus, would I be able to?”

“You can go there. Although only government officials and merchants are at the moment going there, there are no restrictions on travel. You want to see my mother and apologize to her, right?”

“Yes. I know it is a selfish request. I am also prepared to be told that she does not want to see me.”

“I see. I wonder if I can find out where my mother is. Also, …… I’m going off topic here, but there’s something I’d like to ask you, Ma’am “

　What Mr. Henry wanted to know was that Lady Barbara had hired beastmen as servants.

“How did you know that?” Lady Barbara looked at me in surprise. I think she has good intuition.

“So this is why wizards are not only respected but feared as well. If you know, I’ll tell you. The first one was by chance. It was after Carlotta and her parents had disappeared from the house. A new servant girl came into my room and my beloved dog at the time started barking at her very loudly. It was around the time that small indoor dogs had just started coming into fashion. The dog’s barking caused the girl to grow her long ears. She was a rabbit-like beastman.”

　According to Lady Barbara, the girl was so upset about having her ears exposed that she cried and tried to run away, but Lady Barbara said to her, “I will keep the fact that you are a beastman a secret. So I want you to continue working in my home.”

　Once Lady Barbara turned 16, she was able to have a say in the hiring of servants, and gradually began to hire beastmen that the young girl knew.

　Whenever someone retired, they hired a beastman, and now everyone but the butler is a beastman.

“I know this is just self-indulgence. But I want to at least make amends in some way.”

“So that’s  what happened. My mother left the country recently. Before that she was working here in the royal capital.”

“She was in the royal capital. Righ…”

“Even if I knew where my mother was, it would take two months to get there and back by ship. Ships sail back and forth from both countries once a month, staggered, but the voyage depends on the weather. If you are unlucky, it can take up to three months to get there and back. Are you okay with that?”

“No problem.”

　Even after hearing Lady Barbara’s firm tone, Henry was still thinking.

“Then, I will ask the civil servants who have gone to that country to hire someone to search for my mother.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry to trouble you.”

“No. I was wondering about my mother myself.”

“Thank you.”

　As she was leaving, the Mrs. said, “You’re searching for the one woman in a foreign country, so it’s understandable that you won’t find anyone. Don’t push yourself too hard.” And then left.

　Once we were alone, he asked me what was on my mind.*

“Ms. Carlotta even refused to see us off, so is it okay to look for her? She might not want lady Barbara to look for her, right?”

“I’m searching for my mother because she’s very important to me. Once I know where she is, I will respect her feelings.”

　Henry has a blank look on his face and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Mai, you make it seem like you live freely and spontaneously, but in fact you don’t. You always put the feelings of those around you before your own.”

“Does it seem that way?”　

“You’re very careful not to hurt or grieve the people around you. Even now, you don’t want all of us to get hurt, my mother, me, and Lady Barbara, do you?”

　-gah, you hit the nail on the head.

　This all started when my parents died in an accident.

　I was ten years old at the time, but seeing my grandmother grieving and crying, I did not want to make those around me, including her, sad, …… so became a child whose first priority is to make others happy.

　Henry looks at me with caring eyes.

“I like how considerate you are, Mai, but don’t worry too much about me. I’m more mature and resilient than you think.”

“Yeah… That’s true. If you see me running around aimlessly, please give me a heads up.”

　When I tried to laugh it off as I usually do, Henry came up behind me and gave me a big hug.

“I’m here for you from now on. Let me carry your worries and anxieties.”

　It was the first time a man had ever said something like this to me, and I felt a gradual surge of emotion.

　Whether he understood how moved I was or not, Henry said, “I don’t want to go home,” before finally leaving.

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