On their day off, Xilutaiya and Taliel were in their room packing up their belongings. Tomorrow was the day they had agreed to look after the field for Madame Falan.
"Are we really going to live in such a huge mansion?" Taliel still found it somewhat hard to believe. To her, Madame Falan's estate was barely distinguishable from the palaces of legends.
"Yes. Since I have to tend the field for her on regular days, we probably won't have the time to commute back and forth between the east and west sides of the city." Madame Falan's mansion was in the West City District, a neighborhood reserved for the wealthy and noble, far removed from the East City District where they currently lived.
"It's going to be so far from where I work, too," Taliel said, sounding a bit disheartened.
"As for your job..." Xilutaiya thought back to Madame Falan's words at the time, which permitted her to bring along an attendant or servant to stay at the estate.
"You could just work at Madame Falan's. She'll agree to take you in," the girl replied.
"Ah, in a place like that? Even though it sounds like a dream, I'm scared I'll break something. Even if I sold myself, I couldn't afford to pay for it." Taliel thought back to the lavish decor she had seen at the mansion two days ago.
"It'll be fine. One step at a time." As she said this, Xilutaiya was not only encouraging Taliel, but bolstering her own confidence as well.
"All right. If I really mess up, Tiya, you have to plead for me and let me come back." Taliel was still rather anxious.
"Don't worry, it'll all be fine," Xilutaiya reassured her once again.
After packing their personal belongings securely into trunks, the two hired a carriage, loaded the boxes aboard, and had them transported to Madame Falan's mansion in the West City District.
...
By afternoon, their luggage had been put away, and the maid named Lining came over to them.
"I will show you your living quarters," she said, gesturing for them to follow.
"First is Miss Tiya's room. Like Madame's, it is on the second floor, though Madame resides in the west wing, while Miss Tiya's bedroom is in the east."
Climbing the smooth balustraded staircase carved from white stone, the three reached the equally luxurious second floor of the mansion. The corridor here was wide and airy, offering a view over the railing toward the vast golden sea stretching out behind the estate. Passing several closed doors, Lining arrived at the second-to-last room on the east side, unlocked the door, and pushed it open to reveal the interior.
Enveloped in layered, delicate gauze curtains, adorned with pale-blue pendant decorations, and furnished with soft, ivory-white pieces, the bedroom was as warm and luxurious as a princess's chamber.
"This is where Miss Tiya will sleep," Lining continued her introduction.
"Dressing table, wardrobe, a large and comfortable bed—everything is fully provided. If you require anything else, please let me know." She bowed gracefully, her etiquette impeccable.
"W-Whoa... this place..."
Taliel was so astonished she could hardly speak, unable to find the words to describe such a room. She even felt a faint sense of inadequacy, as though sleeping here herself would feel like sullying its purity.
Yet looking sideways at the silver-haired girl beside her, Taliel felt it suited her remarkably well—as if only an environment like this could nurture someone so lovely and graceful.
Xilutaiya gave a quiet sigh. Living in such surroundings brought a wave of invisible pressure.
It felt as if, having accepted so much from someone, she was bound to take on equal responsibility. Still, now that she was here, acting shy and over-courteous would only be unseemly.
"Thank you for the arrangements, Miss Lining."
"There is no need to address me as such. You may simply call me Lining," replied the maid, whose hair was similarly pale blonde, her voice impassive.
"All right, Lining."
After that, Lining led them back down to the ground floor and over to an adjacent wing beside the main mansion. Passing through a short corridor with reddish-brown floorboards on the first floor, they came to two rooms.
"The inner room belongs to Miss Taliel, while the outer one is where I reside," she said, pushing the door open and stepping inside.
The room prepared for Taliel was much simpler. It contained a single bed, a wardrobe, a small table, and a wooden chair, with a bronze candlestick resting on the table.
Even so, the bedsheets and quilt were woven from finely combed cloth, equally soft and comfortable, and the furniture was crafted from fine mahogany. It appeared understated, yet was clearly far from cheap.
"Oh, this is wonderful too," Taliel said, feeling touched. She even wanted to walk over and touch that soft, finely woven fabric.
"As for bathing..." Lining pondered for a brief moment. "If Miss Tiya wishes to take a hot bath, please inform me in advance. Ordinary showers are available at any time."
"A shower? What is that?" Taliel felt as though she had never heard the word before.
"It is probably water spraying out from pipes in fine streams, washing over your whole body," Xilutaiya explained, not knowing exactly what a shower was like in this world and merely deducing from the term.
"Correct. Since Miss Tiya is familiar with it, I will not elaborate," Lining nodded slightly, a flicker of satisfaction seeming to pass through her calm eyes. "You may leave your laundry in the bamboo hamper in the washroom; I will collect and wash it. I also prepare all daily meals. Miss Tiya need only arrive at the dining room on time. If there is anything specific you would like to eat, you may let me know in advance, and I will do my best to prepare it. Additionally, please keep in mind that Madame does not like outsiders dirtying the house. Therefore, unless specifically permitted by Madame, Miss Tiya must not invite other friends to the estate for meals or gatherings."
"I understand," the girl nodded in comprehension.
"If visitors call while Madame happens to be away, Miss Tiya will receive them on her behalf. During such times, I ask that Miss Tiya conduct herself with utmost decorum." This, perhaps, was the requirement and price of residing here.
"You may arrange food and drink as you see fit when receiving guests, but guests may not stay overnight, nor may anyone be brought into the rear estate fields," she stated, reiterating the rules. "If Miss Tiya promises a guest anything, it is equivalent to Madame making that promise, so please act with prudence." She still harbored some caution and distrust toward this unfamiliar silver-haired girl, making this advance warning necessary. "If an exceptionally distinguished guest arrives, Miss Tiya may defer the matter, stating that a decision will await Madame's return."
"What kinds of matters are considered important?" Xilutaiya inquired curiously.
"Guests generally visit for three reasons: first, to ask for an item; second, to request a favor; and third, to seek Madame's intervention," Lining analyzed in a steady voice. "For requested items, if their value does not exceed the second-order, Miss Tiya may exercise her own judgment. For requested favors, if it is something Miss Tiya can easily accomplish, agreeing to it is of course acceptable. For Madame's intervention, if a matter can be settled simply by a letter from Madame, Miss Tiya may agree to that as well. That day when Miss Mailin brought things over and inquired about books and seeds, it was I who agreed on Madame's behalf. Madame has encountered many similar requests, so she prepared sets of books and seeds in advance, instructing me to give them out directly whenever someone comes asking." As Lining spoke, she looked toward Xilutaiya, a trace of appreciation in her eyes. "Madame has gifted introductory gardening books and seeds to many people, but those who actually return with fruitful results are exceedingly few. To cultivate grass that condenses an attribute on the very first try, as Miss Tiya did—even I have never seen such a thing before." She offered Xilutaiya a small compliment.
This helped Xilutaiya understand why Madame Falan held her in such high regard.
With all the instructions concluded, Xilutaiya settled into the luxurious mansion.
Chapter 51