โIt seems like the kitchen is over here.โ
โYoung ladies! No! This area is off-limits!โ
When I tried to enter the kitchen, I was stopped by a flustered servant, who shouted at me.
โThat scared me.โ
โโฆโฆโฆโ
Sara was frozen, shocked.
โI apologize for surprising you. I got flustered because I thought you might enter the kitchen.โ
โHmm? Luria wouldnโt steal anything, though?โ
โThatโs not it. The food brought from the main residenceโโ
Apparently, the servants from the main residence are bringing the food into the kitchen. So, it seems they are separating the areas where the servants can enter from the areas we will use.
โI seeโฆโ
โWe divide the time and minimize the number of people entering, to be prepared for any possible situation.โ
โRight. It would be terrible if it got passed to Father and the others.โ
Actually, itโs not a contagious disease, so it wouldnโt spread. But we shouldnโt interfere with the precautions everyone is taking seriously.
โWeโll block the off-limits area with this rope, so please donโt pass through it.โ
โGot it. Sara, do you understand?โ
โโฆโฆโฆโ
Sara was still frozen.
โWhatโs wrong, Sara?โ
When I shook her, she seemed to snap out of it and started moving.
โYeah, I understand.โ
โWow-wow.โ
โKyuu.โ
Not just Sara, it seems like Daru and Carro understood too.
โOkay, letโs continue exploring the areas we can move freely in! Sara, come with me!โ
โOkay!โ
We continued exploring the other parts of the building, tapping the floor with my cool stick as we moved.
โLuria-sama, why are you tapping the floor?โ
โโฆโฆTo find trapsโฆโ
โEhโฆ are there traps?โ
โThe likelihood is low. But when exploring, you can never be too cautious.โ
โโฆI see.โ
I had read that in an explorerโs book.
It seems like Sara respects my skills as an explorer.
The off-limits areas seem to be where the servantsโ living spaces, the kitchen, and laundry rooms are, the places where work is being done. Thatโs where the support team from the main residence is likely working.
โThis area seems free to explore?โ
โYeah. Every room is clean.โ
The servantsโ areas are off-limits, but it seems the areas for the masterโs family are free to move around in.
After checking the first floor, we headed upstairs.
The second floor seems to be where the bedrooms are.
โThis is the bedroom!โ
I entered one of the many bedrooms with Sara and the others.
โItโs soft.โ
โYeah. The futons are dry!โ
Even though itโs been unused for years, thereโs no moldy smell. The caretaker has probably been maintaining it regularly.
โSara, which room do you like?โ
โWhich room?โ
โAll the rooms are almost the same, but they differ slightly. Maybe the sunlight?โ
โHmmm.โ
โAs for meโฆ Iโd prefer a bigger room. Daru and Carro will sleep with me, after all.โ
โWuff.โ
โKyuu.โ
I petted Daru, who wagged his tail happily, and Carro on my shoulder along with Sara.
โโฆSo fluffy.โ
โSara, letโs sleep together.โ
โIs that okay?โ
โOf course, itโs okay.โ
โEh-heh, heh-hehโฆ Thank you.โ
Sara smiled happily.
After that, we discussed which room we should choose.
โThis room has a view of the lake!โ
โItโs beautiful. The sunlight looks good too!โ
โShould we choose this room?โ
โYeah!โ
โWuff-wuff!โ
โKyuu~.โ
Since Sara, Daru, and Carro all agreed, Iโll ask Mother to make this our room later.
The bed is big enough for Daru to lie on, so Iโm relieved.
โLetโs explore inside the room too!โ
โYeah!โ
โWuff.โ
โKyuu.โ
We checked under the bed, inside the drawers, and the water facilities.
Next to the room, there was a space to wash our bodies, just like my room in the main residence.
โSara, come here.โ
โYeah.โ
โWuff!โ
When I called Sara over to the washing area, Daru ran along too.
Daru flattened his back and,
โWow-woof,โ
He showed signs that he wanted me to climb onto him.
โDaru, not now. The water is cold.โ
I didnโt need to wash myself right now. I was only showing Sara how to use it.
โKyuu~.โ
I petted Daru, who looked a little sad, and turned to Sara.
โSara, if you twist that, water will come out from there. Itโs cold.โ
โOkay.โ
Sara nodded solemnly.
โIf you get dirty, you have to wash it off.โ
Sara said this as if it was a sad thing. Maybe she doesnโt like washing herself.
โI once tried to use hot water to wash Carro, but ended up splashed with cold water.โ
โWuff~.โ
โKyur~.โ
Thinking back to that time, Daru wagged his tail happily, and Carro shuddered.
Maybe Daru had enjoyed bathing together in cold water with everyone.
โOf course, that was when I was still a child.โ
I made sure to emphasize that everything was fine now. It was important for my reputation as an older sister.
โAt that time, Marion helped me.โ
โMom?โ
โYeah. So if something happens to you, Iโll help you, Sara.โ
โThank you. Eh-heh-heh.โ
Sara smiled shyly.
โYeah!โ
I patted Saraโs head, thinking how cute her smile was.
โThat being said, even I have a hard time with the controls, so donโt mess with it, Sara.โ
โGot it!โ
Sara nodded seriously.
โWuff~.โ
Behind her, Daru stood up on his hind legs, placed his front paws on the wall, and grabbed the lever with his mouth.
โWait, Daru!โ
โWuff?โ
โDaru, donโt mess with the lever.โ
โWuff?โ
Daru tilted his head in confusion and looked at me with his eyes, silently pleading, โWhy? Letโs play with water.โ
It seemed he hadnโt listened to the conversation I had with Sara at all.
โDaru, if you get soaked with cold water, youโll catch a cold.โ
โWuff.โ
โIf you mess with it just for fun, youโll get scolded.โ
โโฆWuff.โ
โWater play will have to wait for another time.โ
โWuff!โ
It seemed that Daru was happy with the idea of โnext time,โ as he wagged his tail and pressed his big head against me.
โDaru really is just like a child.โ
Sara and I gave Daru a good scratch.
At that moment, I suddenly looked out the window.
โHm?โ
โIs something being built?โ
โIt looks like something is being built.โ
Outside the villa, a building that was too grand to be considered a mere shed was being constructed.
โIs it a birdcage?โ
โI think itโs a house for people. The doors and everything seem like theyโre meant for humans.โ
โMaybe. Youโre sharp, Sara.โ
When I patted Saraโs head, she blushed and shyly turned her face away.
โHmm? Thatโs the butler.โ
The one overseeing the construction was the butler of the Dukeโs household. A butler is the head of the servants.
โLetโs be quiet, and Iโll listen carefully to see what theyโre building, okay?โ
โOkay.โ
I opened the window, enhancing my hearing as I did so, using my special skill. Of course, since itโs a skill, my height increased.
Sara moved her cute animal ears. Daru and Carro also moved their ears with serious expressions.
โA guardhouse?โ
โOh, Sara, you heard it too?โ
โYes. Saraโs ears are good.โ
โImpressive!โ
It seemed that Father had thought it would be dangerous for only five servants to be isolated as guards, so he was quickly constructing a building where around ten guards could sleep and stay.
The five servants who were isolated with us were responsible for guarding the mansion, while the other ten servants would secure the outside.
โAre they planning to finish it today?โ
โThatโs amazing!โ
Apparently, Fatherโs instructions were to finish it by sunset.
I was worried that the carpenters werenโt angry about the tight deadline, but then I overheard them saying:
โWith this kind of pay, we have no complaints.โ
โYeah, we can make our daughterโs wedding dress with this!โ
โHis Highness the Duke is amazing!โ
It seemed they were being paid considerably more than the usual rate, which reassured me.
โOh, I forgot something important. Thereโs no toilet.โ
โItโs over here.โ
โYes, Luria and Sara have toilets, butโฆ thereโs no toilet for Daru and Carro.โ
โOh, right.โ
โIf this goes on, Daru and Carro wonโt be able to use the toilet.โ
โWuff?โ โKyuu?โ
It seemed Daru and Carro had realized the gravity of the situation.
โIโll go ask Mother. We need to go to the kitchen!โ
Sara and I climbed onto Daruโs back and headed toward the base, which was the lounge.
โMother!โ
โWhatโs wrong?โ
In the lounge, Mother was writing. She had a pile of papers on her desk and was rapidly moving her pen across them.
โDaru doesnโt have a toilet!โ
โI see.โ
Mother didnโt stop writing. She seemed to be incredibly busy.
But this was an emergency.
โCarro is small, so Luria can just carry her to the toilet, butโฆ Daruโฆโ
โWuffโฆโ
โIf this continues, Daru wonโt be able to use the toilet, and heโll get sick!โ
โWahโฆ kyuuโฆโ
Daru seemed worried when he heard that he might get sick, and his tail drooped.
โDonโt worry. Daru and Carro will get their toilets soon.โ
Mother stopped her pen and smiled at me.
It seemed she had already given instructions to have the toilets brought over.
โThank you, Mother! Youโve saved us, Daru.โ
โWuff!โ
Daru wagged his tail happily at the news that he would soon be able to use the toilet.
โIt seems Daru should also go for a walk. Could you handle that?โ
โLeave it to me.โ
Mother instructed one of the servants to take Daru for a walk.
โWuff.โ
Normally, Daru would be excited, but today he looked at me with concern, unsure if it was okay for him to go.
โDaru, youโre in charge of exploring outside.โ
โWuff!โ
โGo ahead and assert your territory as much as you want.โ
โWuff!โ
Remembering his important job of claiming his territory, Daru wagged his tail energetically.