Vol 2 Chapter 4 (1/2)

“… Am I in your way?”

“… I don’t really mind.”

Hetty and Mina were both subtly embarra.s.sed by the mood as I was feeling awkward.

I don’t know what to say, mood must be important to such sensual like situation.

Until a while ago, Mina and I had a good atmosphere, but it seemed that cold water was thrown to that feeling.

However, Hetty didn’t do anything bad.

Rather, I must thank Hetty because she proofread my letter while I was away from my desk.

“Master, it might be presumptuous of me to say this, but I think it’s better if I write the letters on your behalf. If it’s me I can write the characters a little more neatly. Would you let me do it?”

I see, that might be good.

As I thought about it and turned back to Mina next me, she looked puzzled for an instant and murmured “Speech.”

“Ms. Hetty. It is expected for you to exist as a slave to Master Tos.h.i.+ki. Therefore, you shouldn’t speak so formally towards Master Tos.h.i.+ki.”

“Oh my, Master, if you would please grant me this desire to continue using formal speech. If you please, Master?”

Hetty’s smile was similar to teasing.

I noticed that she was enjoying the situation.

“Ah, I won’t force the issue of using formal language. As long as you don’t tell the other slaves to do so, I have no problems leaving things as they are.”

“Oh my, you have a big heart, Master.”

Hetty was smiling, it seems that att.i.tude was irritating Mina.

She murmured, “Master Tos.h.i.+ki is too soft”, in a low voice.

“With that situation, the other slaves might get excited.”

True, Mina was a very serious servant.

I understand what she feels. But I think it’s good to maintain the way as it is.

Personally, I think that if I get used to being spoken too formally, there would be a possibility that I would get arrogant.

So I don’t want to force them to speak a formal language.

Also, I’m not that soft.

“I’m not soft. Because I will be giving Hetty some work.”

That was to say, giving work was easy. I said “Here, the log book”, and gave Hetty the client log book.

It seems Hetty didn’t realized my intention, and asked me “What will I do with it?”

“The client log book. You should be familiar with the customers listed there.”

“… In other words.”

“What kind of a person was the customer? Are they polite or impatient? I want you to write down every detail that you remember.”

I saw Hetty stopped smiling, and I thought Ah, she can actually show an unpleasant face like that.

“……”

“Well then, go sit there, Mina.”

And with that, Hetty left to work.

That means that there are only 2 people left in the shopkeeper’s tent.

It seemed that Mina noticed that fact, and she began to feel somewhat uncomfortable.

“Uhm, Master Tos.h.i.+ki. Was it ok to ask Ms. Hetty to do that kind of work?”

“Hmm, ah, It’s alright if it’s Hetty.”

I would probably need to start a conversation with her because she hasn’t calmed down yet. As for her, her eyes were not steady since a while ago.

“Hetty is a high-cla.s.s slave, actually, she was made to help some work for Mark.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, she is used to serving customers, so I think that there are only a few things I can teach her.”

I soaked a cloth in the bucket with water while replying.

I was now wiping Mina’s body. I was only doing that, however, I’m getting a little conscious.

It was strange if I think about it.

Just a few days ago I was always doing this thing to her, but the moment our relations.h.i.+p became that of a master and slave, it became an awkward situation.

“Uhm, Master Tos.h.i.+ki. If it’s all right you, I am perfectly capable of wiping myself.”

“No, you don’t need to make a fuss about it.”

I was suddenly worried about what I say.

I uttered you don’t need to make a fuss about it. That expression was strange.

It was a good idea, it was an expression that ignores the likelihood that I dislike Mina.

Under normal circ.u.mstances, I would have replied “Is that so? Well then, why don’t you wipe by yourself?”

That is, If I don’t use the result of the Appraisal Skill.

However, looking at the results of the credibility numbers and mental chart, I chose to do it this way.

Actually, to tell the truth, I don’t dislike Mina.

“… Well then, thank you very much.”

She kept glancing over here and looked like she was waiting for something.

Looking at Mina’s current appearance, I thought that I should wipe her body carefully.

“Come to think of it, Mina.”

“What is it?”