“Was it too much?”

“It was very much.”

The magic must have been really bad. Gibnen did say that measuring the magical energy was difficult. Despite casting pathetic magic with a rattailsized magical energy, the fact that I passed was surely due to Gibnen’s influence.

Or maybe it was the impact of a perfect score in writing.

“Anyway, I was able to pass thanks to you. I came to thank you.”

“Just words? Nothing else?”

“I want to treat you to a meal.”

“I have expensive taste, can your pocket handle it?”

“I have some saved pocket money. That should be enough…… or maybe not, but I’ll do my best to treat you.”

“Pocket money……”

Arpeggio sighed long.

Eating away at the money of a pauper who had to live on pocket money, he felt a pang of conscience.

But to receive no reward at all felt very unfair for all his efforts.

“You find something suitable, I don’t know much about the outside world. I don’t go out much.”

“When would be good for you?”

“Anytime after 6 PM is fine.”

“I’ll set the schedule and contact you.”

“Do that.”

Arpeggio waved her off, then hesitated.

“Wait, those earrings.”

“Yes?”

“What’s that, I’ve never seen it before.”

“Gibnen gave it to me as a present to congratulate me on passing.”

“Huh?”

Arpeggio’s face soured.

“Why that face?”

“It’s nothing. Just go.”

“Yes, I’ll be going then.”

After Riley left, Arpeggio muttered, exasperated.

“Now he’s even shackled the child, crazy.”

(This is a time separator.)

There were those more excited about Gibnen and Riley’s journey.

Rachel and the other servants gathered around Riley and started to dress her up thoughtfully. They had barely talked out of calling Madame Blanche, too. It was not a matter to call such a busy person just for going on a trip.

“Young lady, your skin is so good that anything you put on suits you well.”

“Really?”

“This is the trending travel look these days, do you like it?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t really know what the difference was between the trend and the casual clothes she usually wore.

Rachel smiled knowingly and adjusted Riley’s clothes.

“There, all done, have a good time.”

Rachel waved at Riley, as excited as if she were going on a date herself. As Riley left the room, other maids gathered around Rachel.

“Master and young lady are going on a trip together?”

“It seems so. Even packed a suitcase and sent it down, right?”

“They’re really going to get married this time, aren’t they?”

“Hey, were there any other women brought into this house by Master other than the young lady? This time it’s for real.”

“What do you think of the young lady? Does she seem suitable to be our mistress?”

Perhaps this was the biggest concern of the servants in this house.
I’m not bothered by my master’s love affairs; what’s important is the lady who will become the fiancée.

Though this mansion was Gibnen’s residence, in fact, Gibnen seldom stayed here, so from the servants’ perspective, it was an extremely peaceful and ideal workplace. The occasions to serve their superiors were rare, and it was just a matter of managing the mansion neatly.

But now, with the master bustling about with determination, and even bringing his prospective bride to the mansion, the servants were on edge in various ways.

“Miss Riley is very kind. She’s rather timid, so sometimes it can be frustrating, but I like her. She doesn’t act too superior, and even feels like a friend… Somehow, watching her, I feel the urge to take care of her more.”

“Really? …I won’t need to submit a resignation, right?”

“Where else can you find a place like this? You’ll have to bury me here.”

“Well, anyway, it’s a relief that Miss Riley is kind. It will be easy to serve her.”

“Is that what’s important now? The fact that the master and his wife are leaving the mansion today is what’s crucial!”

Gibnen and Riley’s overnight date was welcomed by all the servants with open arms.

A day without the master, free to themselves. Once, masterless days were the norm, but not lately. There was a definite difference in fatigue between having a superior to serve in the same space and not.

A night without the master.

A small party was also planned here.

(This is a time separator.)

“Is all this my luggage?”

The number of trunks that filled the floating stone carriage was not ordinary.

Is this what you meant when you said you’d prepare everything? Riley guessed how hard Rachel and the mansion’s servants must have worked, and expressed her sorrow. And yet, they also dressed her beautifully without a hint of fatigue…

“I told you to pack leisurely since we’re going far.”

“Going far? Where to?”

“To a warm place.”

In a white linen shirt with a tie, cuffs of the same material and color, a nicely fitted black vest, black trousers, and even gloves. In the perfect image of a gentleman, he looked even neater and more dashing than usual.

He’d brushed half of his usually drooping bangs back, and due to the conspicuous brow bone and slightly raised eyebrows, he looked very masculine.

He seemed a bit more effortful and dressed up than usual.