Why don't we just have a girls' night out?

"A girls' night out?

Lydia tilted her head, unsure of what the gardener's boy was suggesting if they wanted to talk openly.
I'm not sure what you're talking about.

"Anyway, it's a girls-only gathering.

"So we should have a women-only tea party or party?

Those kinds of things already exist. Since Emilia is also a marquise, should she be invited as a daughter? As Ludia pondered, the gardener's apprentice shook his head.

I'd rather stay in the same room and hang out than have a, what was it ......, slumber party. I'm sure you can do it.

"Pajama party, .......

Although she had never heard the term before, it sounded strangely appealing to her. She had never experienced sleeping in the same bed with a non-family member before, so it was uncharted territory, but it sounded fun.
The apprentice gardener's eyes narrowed in amusement, as if his own eyes were shining too brightly.

I would like to invite Master Torde and the others to join us next time.

"Then why don't you ask the chairpersons to join us for a rehearsal?

That's a good idea.

......

Ludia and the gardener's apprentice turned to face the caller. Then they saw Emilia standing upright with a difficult expression on her face.
Both of them tilted their heads in wonder, but Emilia was the one who wanted to ask the question.

Why are you plotting against me in front of me?

As a guard and a maid, she had intended to keep quiet, but now her master and her friend were discussing how to win her over in front of her. I couldn't keep quiet.

I'm not very good at hiding things.

"I'm not good at hiding things." "You don't seem to like being kept in the dark, Mr. Chairman.

The master, who doesn't like to hide things because it doesn't suit him, and the apprentice gardener, who makes predictions about his likes and dislikes. It is true that gossip and backbiting among the ladies is not her forte, and Emilia is put off. However, it is difficult to know how to react when he speaks so openly, as if he has regained his composure.

So, why don't you come along with me for my rehearsal?

".......

I'm not sure how to react to that. I'm sure she's really looking forward to it, and her cheeks seem to be flushed. Emilia is at a loss for an answer.
Since it was not a command from her master, but a plea, there was room for Emilia to refuse. But if she refuses, her master will inevitably be depressed. As a maid and a guard to protect her master's body and soul, Emilia did not feel comfortable offending her master unnecessarily.

"No, is it ......?

"I understand.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. I'm not sure if you've seen this before.

I'm not sure what to say.

Emilia was bewildered that she could be so pleased with the behavior of a single servant. Emilia's master gave her a very lovely smile. He was dignified at a tea party, but his expression became more expressive in front of his family and friends, and the same was true for the servants in the mansion.
As a servant, Emilia is trying to keep a respectful distance from them, but she is bewildered whenever they smile at her. She doesn't know how to respond.
Unable to vent her inner confusion on her master, Emilia glanced at the apprentice gardener next to her and scrutinized him.

You've got a strange idea about Master Ludia.

I just want the girl to smile. I just want you to laugh. Besides, it's up to you to decide if you want to use my idea.

The apprentice gardener replied matter-of-factly, despite Emilia's sharp glare. The fact that he was only making a suggestion made Emilia's expression even more stern, as she could not pay any more attention to him.
Seeing this, the apprentice gardener put his finger between his eyes.

"You look prettier when you smile, Mr. Chairman. It'll make your daughter happy.

"What?

The gardener's apprentice, who smiled distractedly, made Emilia angry. You can't trust a man who says things like that. She could only assume that he thought she was a woman and was mocking her.

"Don't you underestimate me!

"What?　What are you talking about?

The puzzled reaction of the gardener's apprentice boy seemed to Emilia to be a mockery. That made her even more angry.

I'm an escort. I'm a bodyguard. I can't just sit back and relax!

Just because you're an escort, ......, doesn't mean you can't think like one.

What?

"You think it's cute when the chairman smiles, don't you?

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it. Emilia's shoulders jumped when her master broached the subject, and she lost her temper and argued with the gardener's apprentice. This would get her another warning.

"That's, of course, an argument .......

But Lydia only nodded with an awkward smile.

"Miss?

"Miss Lydia?

You'll be able to see the difference in the smile on her face. But Emilia's instincts as a guard made her glare at the apprentice gardener.

It's your fault.



"What, me?

For a moment, the apprentice gardener rolled his eyes as if he had been caught off guard, but then he got up from the library's single sofa, moved to the side of the sofa where Lydia was sitting, and bent down.

"Miss, I'm sorry. Did I do something wrong?

No. No, ......, I'm just surprised you asked me to talk to you so suddenly.

The apprentice gardener lowers his eyebrows at Lydia, who smiles awkwardly.

What can I do to make you forgive me?

So ......

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what's going on in your life.

'...... Then you can read this book to me.

Since the apprentice gardener's literacy has reached a certain level, we've been reading books of our choice to each other in silence. I felt nostalgic for the days when I used to ask him to read picture books to me to practice my pronunciation. I guess that's why such a suggestion came to my mind.

Oh!

Hearing Lydia's small request, the apprentice gardener smiled kindly. After receiving the book, he sat down next to her and began to read, taking care not to stumble as much as possible.
Emilia gritted her teeth as she saw the joy on Lydia's face as she began to read. I don't like the fact that he, a commoner, is sitting there even though his master allows him to, but most of all I don't like the fact that he can so easily take advantage of his master. He must have some ulterior motive.
Emilia, in order for her master, Ludia, to be able to fulfill her duties as a duchess without delay, refrains from speaking privately when she is escorting her, and makes preparations ahead of time based on a schedule she knows. Petra nodded, but it was doubtful that she was listening, and Jelk made many excuses.
That's why I have to be disciplined. That's what Emilia was thinking. Occasionally, her master seemed to miss her a little, but she was sure he would understand.

It's time to end this, Master Lydia. It's time for your piano lesson.

I interrupted the reading to tell her that the time was almost up.

There's still time, isn't there?

I can't keep you waiting.

"Yes, .......

I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it. It was something Emilia was used to seeing.

"Well... I'm looking forward to hearing you play the piano. Why don't we continue the book next time?

The apprentice gardener smiled and said that he was going to work near the room where the piano was. Hearing his words, Lydia's cheeks flushed red.

I can't believe you're listening to this ......!　It's something I'm practicing!

You can't listen when you can hear yourself. Besides, I like the beautiful sound of your playing.

I'm sure you'll be able to understand that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this. This time Lydia's cheeks stained in a different way than shame.

"Zak, work as far away as you can!

"Eh?

She turns away from the disappointed gardener's apprentice boy and leaves the room.
As he watches her go to the library door, the gardener's apprentice notices the open book in her hand.

Ah, a bookmark.

I've memorized the pages, so I'll tuck them in later.

Emilia looks down at the open pages and holds out her hand as if to hand the book over. He couldn't touch the words without the warmth of his master, and he couldn't possibly have a bookmark.
The apprentice gardener rolls his eyes.

The chairman is amazing!

You're supposed to be able to do this!

The gardener's apprentice boy overreacts when he learns a page with just one glance. This bothered Emilia so much that she took the book from him, almost as if she were taking it from him.
Emilia catches up with Lydia and takes the handle of the door before her. As she opened the door, she could tell from the expression on her master's face that he was in a good mood.
As she closed the door, Emilia glared at the cause.


As night fell, Katrin, the maid, said puzzledly as she dimmed the light of the lamp to just the area around the bed.

Is it okay with you that I'm here ......?

I'm not sure what to make of this.

If you want to invite Master Torde and his friends, you have to make sure that there are more than four of you, including me, who can sleep well.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's had a bad experience.

"Wait, Petra?

The actual reason for this is revealed by Petra, and Ludia gets nervous. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to try to find out. If you're not sure, you can always ask Petra, who smiles and covers her mouth with a spare sleeve.
If you're not sure what you're looking for, you can always ask her. She looks at Katrin as if to stare at her.

"What is it ......?

"No, I feel very honored.

She smiled happily at him, and Lydia, filled with relief and joy, fell silent.

Emilia, don't just stand there, come here.

Petra calls out to her colleague, Emilia, with her whole body and up and down vigorously. The vibration of Petra's movement reached Lydia who was in the same bed. Emilia, in a light purple negligee, stood motionless with her mouth drawn up in a straight line.

I'm giving up.

"Come on, Emilia, sit down.



"...... but.

I'm not sure what to make of this. As Lydia pondered what to do, she noticed a slight discomfort.

"Didn't something just glow?

When the hem of Emilia's skirt swayed, the light from the lamp reflected slightly. When Lydia tilted her head in wonderment because there was no glowing decoration, Emilia came to her senses and lightly lifted her skirt to expose her right thigh.
There was a metal cross, a stiletto, held in place by a belt.

"There's not much room to hide in my nightgown.

You can't rest if you carry a weapon to bed. ......

Lydia was surprised to see that he had brought a weapon into the safety of his bedroom. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of this, but I'm sure you've heard of it. But now I can't tolerate it. It would be difficult to turn over in bed with the metal in my crotch.
I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do that.

"But ......

I'm not sure if you'll be able to find the right one for you. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do, and how you're going to do it. She turned her head down in distress, and her straight black hair fell from her shoulders.
In the meantime, a sigh escaped from Ludia, and Emilia looked up.

I can't help it.

Thinking she had been taken aback, Lydia walked over to the chest next to the bed and pulled out a small square of paper from the top drawer. On one side of it, like a piece of notepaper, was a magic circle drawn in ink.
Lydia spread the paper over her palms, looked down at the magic circle, and lowered her eyelids. A moment later, there was a flash of lightning in Lydia's eyes. Immediately afterwards, there was a chilling sound from the entire wall of the room.
Emilia and the others involuntarily looked around the room where the sound came from. After confirming that nothing had happened except for the sound, they looked back at Ludia and saw that the magic circle paper in her hand had disappeared.

I've set up a lightning ward. You won't need to carry a weapon now, will you?

The wards that Ludia had put up would, if there were any intruders, electrocute them to the extent that they would stop moving, and the sound would alert them.
After the attempted kidnapping, Ludia asked her mother, who has the same lightning attribute, to help her learn how to use magic. She learned how to draw magic circles at the school, so she was taught how to distinguish between different types of magic circles and how to put magic power into them. The power and duration of a magic circle with the same effect depends on the amount of magic power you put into it. It was a lot of magic, but it was necessary training for Ludia, who did not want to hurt anyone.
Emilia raised her eyebrows and looked concerned, contrary to Lydia's expectation that she would be able to disarm without worry.
Rydia tilted her head slightly, but from Emilia's point of view, she could not stand by and let her master protect her as her guard. It was natural for her to feel uncomfortable. But the fact that her master's safety had been secured made her reluctant to take off her belt and place the stiletto on the chest.
Seeing that Emilia was sitting upright on the bed in the corner, Ludia smiled and Petra patted her around to get her closer.

I'll make you some cocoa, then.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this. A sweet aroma drifted with the steam. Not only was she staying up a little late, but the situation of eating something sweet at this hour felt immoral to her.

I'm a little nervous, aren't I?

I'm the kind of person who eats sweets whenever I want, so I don't mind.

You'll get fat.

Petra replies to Ludia's nervousness as if she is doing something wrong, but Petra says she is used to it. Emilia gave Petra a reproachful look.

I'm sure you've heard of it, but I'm not sure if you've ever heard of it.

"Wise words?　You're not a cow, you can't have several stomachs. Don't be silly.

What, does a cow have more than one stomach?

Oh, yes, ....... It goes through four stomachs to digest grass.

Oh, really?　Emilia knows a lot, doesn't she?

The Marquisate of Pechstein has a thriving livestock industry.

Petra knows a lot about geography, doesn't she?

You'll be able to find a lot of people who are interested in this sort of thing. Lydia stroked her flaxen hair, saying that she was doing a great job at her request.
Emilia was puzzled by Lydia's normal admiration. She replied without thinking about it, and the topic was the biology of living things. The topic of internal organs, such as internal organs, is not something that a normal young lady would like to discuss. It was surprising that even the Countess Petra, though eccentric, accepted it without hesitation.
The Marquesses of Pechstein, a patriotic family, trained men and women alike, so they were taken hunting from an early age and saw dismemberment. They become accustomed to the smell of blood and flesh before they become accustomed to beautiful things such as flowers and jewels. Emilia is also a girl, so it's not that she's not interested in women's things, but it's hard for her to keep up with topics that are dominated by them, and it's hard for her to talk about them.
Originally, she was fine with the fact that she had to choose between becoming a soldier and becoming an escort for important people in the country. But now that I'm in the service of the Ernst family, I don't know what to do since I'm not treated as just an escort.
With a small smile at the three of them, Katrin placed the cup of cocoa she had prepared on the bed.

It's okay for tonight.

I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

Here you go.

It'll warm you up," she said, handing one to Emilia. Emilia received the cup of cocoa with a sense of incomprehension, even though at first she had been intimidated by her own bravado.
Since Ludia and the others had already taken a sip, Emilia followed suit and took a sip. The sweetness spread as if it were sinking into the tongue, and the heat that went down her throat warmed her body slowly. It was at the same time that all of us let out a feverish sigh of relief.

It's delicious.

"You're very good at making cocoa, aren't you, Katrin?

Thank you.



Emilia was impatient that she had been caught off guard, but the three of them were drinking their cocoa peacefully without seeming to care.
Emilia felt strange, even after all this time, that she was in such a harmonious place.
Lydia smiled at Emilia when she noticed her dumbfounded gaze.

It's warming up, isn't it?

Go to .......

Why is she smiling so daintily at a mere escort? It's not like me to be a princess and only be able to offer tactless topics.

...... Aren't you creeped out by me, Master Ludia?

Why is that?

You can find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier. She tilted her head, wondering what in Emilia's mind was creeping her out.

"Tell me about the cow, .......

Oh.

Emilia's muttering convinced Lydia. It's true that livestock is not a topic of conversation at tea parties.
I'm not sure how to explain it to you," she said.

I keep an exchange diary with your father, don't I?

Emilia wondered what he was talking about suddenly, but since she had been entrusted with the task of delivering it, she nodded and urged him to continue.

The other day I followed your father's example and went to the kitchen to thank the chef and his staff for all their hard work. They were just starting to prepare dinner and there was a lot of food on the table.

Not only were there colorful fruits and vegetables, but of course there was also meat. Lydia saw upside-down bleeding chickens and fish with glowing eyes before they were unloaded.

I was surprised to see them before they were cooked," she said. I was so frightened that I didn't eat much dinner that night.

I remembered the moment when my eyes met with something that was already lifeless, and I felt horrible, and the sight of an empty space where my head should have been was burned into my mind, and I felt sick in front of the food.
Just as it was my turn to write in the diary, I wrote down the fact that I had felt a fear that I could not express well with my mouth, along with an apology for worrying me.

I apologized in my diary, and your father replied, "I'm sorry.

Ludia took out her father's diary from the chest and opened it to the corresponding page.

My Dear. The fear you felt is a natural instinct of every living being. I'm glad you feel the weight of life.
In the future, you may think it's wrong to be hungry and feel good about food, but that's not a blame. It is also a natural instinct of living beings.
In fact, it is not good to disrespect something that has already lost its life. It is up to us to trash them once they are on the plate.

Emilia was surprised to see the contents of the open page. She had thought that the childish duke would have written words that only spoiled her. She was surprised to find that it contained a scolding.

"Thanks to your father, I have realized that I am reluctant to eat.

Lydia smiled especially happily as she showed him the response to her diary. She warned me that I had almost misjudged what to deny and what to accept. I was very happy to feel my father's thoughtfulness and his attitude as a nobleman ruling a territory.

And so...

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that," she said, clasping her hands together in front of her chest and looking down at her hands.

I now understand the true meaning of Zak's words, "Thank you for the food" and "Thank you for the meal.

He probably knew what he was talking about when he said he was grateful for nature. However, as a nobleman, Lydia understood that the people she knew were the ones who made the food and grew the ingredients, and she was grateful to the people.
But that was a mistake.

It's a way to be grateful for the food we eat and to remember that we're eating life.

I had been secretly imitating the gardener's apprentice as a kind of spell, but when I did it after realizing that I was eating a corpse, the fear and confusion I had been carrying fell into my heart. I didn't know that paying respect to the life in front of me could clear my mind so much.

...... You don't seem to have such lofty thoughts, sir.

I'm not sure that I'm going to be able to do that. I've never felt that the apprentice gardener had the brains to teach his master anything, although I have considered the possibility that he might be foolish enough to suspect an ulterior motive. Isn't my master Lydia just thoughtful and intelligent?
The look on Emilia's face made Lydia smile, as if her thoughts were coming out clearly.

It's not so difficult for Zak to worry about.

For him, it's very obvious and simple. What Ludia needs to worry about before she can understand it is not necessarily difficult to understand. Emilia thought it was noble, but it didn't seem like such a big deal to Lydia.
Whether you realize it or not. It's just a matter of what you notice and how you accept it.

"All you have to do to taste good is to eat a lot.

"That's true.

Petra laughed and drank her cocoa with relish. Petra laughed and sipped her cocoa. Ludia nodded, thinking she had a point.

"So, Emilia. I can talk about animals, and I want to hear your story. You are a very kind person who knows the value of life.

She is sensitive to even the smallest danger because she fears for her master. The reason why she is so careful about her own behavior is because she wants to make sure that she will not be ashamed of being a duchess in the future. There are times when I feel anxious or sad that her words may have offended me, but later I realize that she was thinking of me.
In the beginning, I was puzzled by Emilia's attitude, and I once consulted my father through the exchange diary. My father told me that a person who can be tough for someone else is ready to be hurt himself. He also wrote that such a person was the hardest on himself, and that my master, Ludia, should be kind to him.
In response to my father's words, I looked at Emilia for a while. Emilia's attitude is that she is the one who is the most strict with herself. If Ludia were her, she wouldn't be able to go that far. It takes a lot of determination for Ludia to be so hard on someone, even if it's for their sake.
I admired her, but I was also very worried. I wondered if it wasn't hard for her to be so hard on herself.


I feel like it would be better if she smiled.
I don't know how to make her laugh, so I want to hear what she has to say first. And if she is so hard on herself that she denies herself, I will affirm her loudly.

"It's impossible for me to be creeped out by someone as beautiful as you.

The word "beautiful" is appropriate for an honorable woman. She has straight, wet-haired hair and sharp, piercing eyes that show her strength of will, and she is much more beautiful than she is.

"I'm ......?

Emilia is shocked by her master's words.
Her dark hair was whispered to be gloomy, and her sharp eyes were often misunderstood by her peers as staring. So, she had thought she was far from the word "beautiful. It seems that my sense of value had somehow been eroded by the fact that I was willing to ignore the negative comments.

I envy you your dark hair, it's much shinier than mine.

"Oh, I like Katrin's black hair too, it's so soft.

I like your black hair too, it's so soft.

Is that so?　That's cunning.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's envious of your looks. It tickled her to no end. Emilia bit her lower lip and tried to hold back the heat that was rising in her cheeks.
While Emilia was enduring her first emotions, her own hair problems were being revealed: her hair exploded when she woke up, her hair swelled when it was humid, and she was afraid of the next morning if she didn't braid her hair.

......, you're all in a lot of trouble, aren't you?

You can find a lot of people who have a lot of problems with their hair. She felt like an idiot for trying so hard to fight her embarrassment.

"Oh, Emilia, you think you're someone else's problem, .......

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I was laughing at ...... you.

Yeah.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's even better.

In the event that you've got a lot of time, you'll be able to take a look at the web site and find out more about it.
When she tried to stop Emilia, thinking it was a waste of time, she remembered something and admitted her fault in that respect.

"Um, Emilia ......, I'm sorry about the other day.

Emilia's eyes rolled back in her head as her master suddenly bowed to her.

I'm sorry.　What are you talking about?

I'm sure I didn't do a good job of nodding my head when Zach asked me if Emilia looked pretty when she smiled.　It was the first time I'd heard Zach say that another girl was pretty, so I was surprised.

I had been careful not to say it when he accompanied me to parties, so it was the first time I had seen him compliment someone of the opposite s*x who was close to his age. I was surprised at the difference from the time when I felt proud when he complimented my mother, sister, or other relatives.
Slurring a bit, Lydia made a fist where she wanted to say it most, and declared emphatically, "So, Emilia, never ever.

So, I don't think that Emilia is not pretty!　I'm sure you'll understand.　Emilia is much prettier than I am.

"Master Ludia, that's an exaggeration.

I'm not sure if you've ever heard of this, but I'm sure you have. You can't deny the fact that your husband is better looking than you.

"Of all the ladies, Master Ludia is the most beautiful, of course.

"And she's the prettiest.

She is the best looking.

The other two seemed to agree with Emilia's statement. The other two seemed to be in agreement with Emilia's statement and tried to hide their blushes with two loosely braided braids.

The three of you,......, you're being too patronizing,......!

It's true.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
Trying to get out of this uncomfortable situation, Rydia pondered and remembered one thing.

I've never punished you for laughing at my hair habit. ......!

"Oh, no, not my hair.

Emilia's hair is so smooth, she can say that.

"Even Petra. ......

In the event that you've got a lot of time, you'll be able to take a look at the following.
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm not sure what to do.　Master Ludia.

When Katrin asked her what she would do, Lydia said, "Of course.

"You will be sentenced to braids!

Emilia was surrounded by three people who wanted to know what it was like to have frizzy hair. They braided her hair, struggling to get it through their fingers, and told her to stay the night. By the time the braids were done, however, Ludia and the others had succumbed to sleep, and one by one they fell asleep.
The last of them, Catrin, pulled the covers up to their necks and gently extinguished the lamp, leaving the three sleeping peacefully.


A few days later, in the late afternoon, Lydia, wearing a winter cloak over her dress, looked satisfied.

Now we can show Emilia.

"What?

She'll understand when we get there.

Lydia followed the apprentice gardener as he led the way through the forest-like trees, followed by Emilia in the shingari. Emilia, who doesn't know where they are going, looks dubious in contrast to the humming young apprentice gardener. This difference was somewhat amusing to Lydia.
After the pajama party, Emilia became more tolerant of private conversations, and Lydia began to get to know her personality little by little.
The thing that made him most happy was that she liked pretty things as much as he did. She had never revealed this to her family, saying it was not her nature. I was very happy that she revealed it to me first.
Thinking that it would be unfair to let Emilia be the only one to know, he decided to reveal the only thing he had kept from her.



"Just ahead.

The apprentice gardener stopped and pointed to a hedge. Emilia wondered.

Isn't it a dead end?

You have to go through here.

When she looked closely at the point, she saw that there were many gaps in the branches, and somehow there was enough room for a person to go under.

No way. ......

That's why I wore a hooded jacket.

In the event that you've got a lot of time, you'll be able to take a look at the web site and find out more about it. Emilia, frustrated, is at a loss for words. I didn't think my master chose his cloak based on the premise that he was going to go through a hedge.

"I see.

In the end, Emilia could only nod. I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with this. If you're going to lecture her about being a princess, you should do it when you're making her walk through the trees without a path.
Emilia loves pretty things, but she doesn't know that the prettiest thing in the world is Ludia. Aware of her weakness for smiles, Emilia kept quiet about it.

I'm not sure if the hedge here is the same as the one near the mansion, by the way.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

I'm not sure what to do with it. The coral trees look nice, but they take a lot of care.

What Ludia was used to seeing was a hedge with glossy, fresh leaves. The one in front of her now has thin, thin leaves reminiscent of the wings of a dragonfly.

But there are two kinds of mansions, aren't there?

No, only the coral tree is used for the hedge.

But there are no red berries at the entrance.

The area from the main gate to the main entrance, as well as the reception rooms and guest rooms, are all green, while the area where Ludia takes her walks and has tea parties with her mother has red berries hanging from the bells. Despite the obvious difference in appearance, the apprentice gardener says they are the same tree. Lydia tilted her head, wondering if it didn't add up.

I prune the flowers in the summer in the visitor's area because it's too hard to clean.

Why don't you prune the areas I see most often?

"Don't you love pretty things, young lady?

It's a simple story, the apprentice gardener boy replied simply. His father was the main gardener, but he still made it a priority to please the eyes of the Ernsts he served. He keeps the hedges as they change with the seasons to suit the tastes of the women of the house.
He said it was natural for the gardener of the Ernst family, but didn't he just say that it was a hassle to clean up the fallen fruits? What is wrong with the Baumgartners that they ignore all the trouble for their own sake?

"......".

I'm not sure if you're an idiot or not," he said, hastily holding his tongue. I don't mean to call out his father's devotion either. If he hadn't spoken from his own point of view, he wouldn't have overreacted so much.
The apprentice gardener, who doesn't understand what I'm talking about, just looks back at me with resentment.
The apprentice gardener takes one look at the Inumaki hedge and mutters to himself.

"Well, I like Inumaki better.

"Why is that?

It's rare for him to say what he likes. I was more interested in him than in complaining, which I had been until a moment ago.

"Because I can eat.

"What?

The simple answer made Lydia's eyes light up. The apprentice gardener took one of the cedar berries and tore off the softer of the two, the reddish-black one and the hard black one, and ate it.
Lydia, who had never eaten a fresh fruit before, was surprised that he did not hesitate to eat it.

"Do you want some too, young lady?

While she was dumbfounded, he ripped off another fruit, and then tore off two of the berries in a row and offered one to her.

You're not going to let Lydia eat them!

"Oh. Sorry, I'll wash it.

When Emilia warned him about hygiene, the apprentice gardener quickly used his water magic to remove the dirt from the fruit on his palm.

"Here.

Lydia was puzzled when he offered it to her again. He felt Emilia's eyes on him, telling him to take it easy. I understand her concern, but I don't feel comfortable dismissing his kindness.
After a few seconds of pondering, she reached out and took the fruit from his hand. She swallowed her spit once, and then took the fruit in her mouth with determination. Emilia watched with bated breath to see if anything was wrong with her master.

"It's sweet .......

The fruit was sweeter than I expected, perhaps because it was ripe. A hint of sweetness slipped down my throat. It was really just a sweet fruit, and I was surprised at how easy it was to eat. The gardener's apprentice offered Emilia some of the washed berries as well, and she sipped them as if she had no choice but to mutter that they were as sweet as Lydia's.
The apprentice gardener smiled in satisfaction at their reaction.

It's good to have something like this once in a while, isn't it?

Emilia thought that her master, who was accustomed to eating fine sweets and expensive fruits, would not be able to eat something as simple as this, but since it was not bad, she could not find the words to protest.

But it wasn't bad, and she couldn't find the words to protest. "Well, it's not bad sometimes.

The apprentice gardener was smiling at her, so she knew he liked her.

You didn't tell Jörg, did you?

"No. Porgy was eating a lot the other day.

That idiot is too greedy. ......

Fearing that her voracious colleague would be rude if he knew, Emilia wanted to nail him, but it was already too late. He had picked some for himself and packed them in a bag, and when she gave him a taste, he had eaten them all. She had to scold her colleague later, she thought, holding her eyebrows and fighting back an angry headache.



Well, you must have been hungry.

Why don't you get angry?　He took my stuff!

I can eat whenever I want.

You can eat whatever you want. - You can eat whatever you want on Ernst's property.

Emilia, just calm down for a moment. I've brought you here to show you something beautiful.

You're raising the bar.

I'm not sure what to do, but I'd like to know what you think. I'm not sure why the apprentice gardener laughed at her words.

"Showing ......?

"Yes. If I like it, Emilia will like it too.

What the hell are you doing at ......?

It's my garden.

What garden?

It's just down the road.

I'm sure Emilia will like it too. He seems to be very uncomfortable because his master has raised his expectations. Emilia was inwardly surprised to see that even he could have a serious expression.
Amused by his unusual reaction, Emilia raised the edge of her mouth.

"Let's see what you can do.

"Well, after you.

He hands her a cloth to go under the hedge, saying, "Don't laugh. Emilia took it as a challenge.
She decided to laugh if it was poorly made, and went under the hedge.

She did not know that she would be admiring a fountain covered with sparkling jewel-like grapes.

And the master, not the creator, smiles triumphantly.