As per Ayla’s words, the traps were reset to a reasonable level.
Although they could still blow off an enemy’s ankle if triggered, it was sufficient. High-ranking nobles’ vaults often have magic spells that could sever a wrist.
“By the way, I haven’t heard the names of the staff who will work here.”
After receiving a report on the traps, Ayla said.
“I apologize. I’ll summon the staff immediately.”
“Is a head maid not capable of showing such basic flexibility?”
“My apologies, Lady Ayla. I will repay this sin with my life.”
“You sure say such things lightly, not even meaning them.”
Of course, I mean it. If Ayla said she’d take my life, or if she needed it, I’d gladly give it.
This life was Ayla’s from the beginning; she was the one who saved it.
I wonder what she would say if I expressed that thought. She’d probably frown again, saying it’s too heavy or something.
“Why that expression?”
“My apologies, Lady Ayla.”
Ayla was growing into her dignity as a master. Or rather, she seemed to be regaining her composure.
Just a small display of vulnerability from me seemed to ease Ayla’s heart.
Perhaps it’s also because she knows I am relatively close to the staff.
Either way, it’s not a bad thing for Ayla. Just like my words about being willing to offer my life or even dance naked in earnest.
Of course, I know full well that Ayla would never sincerely issue such commands, which is why I say them.
“Well, fine.”
Ayla seemed to recognize that prying further would only tire herself out and said,
“I’ll personally observe the staff one by one. As you suggested, gather them.”
She spoke while reclining casually on the sofa in the mansion’s reception room, gesturing lightly.
Whose mannerisms is she mimicking with that movement?
The Ayla I knew from the past would never have displayed such behavior—
“That commanding presence is remarkable, Lady Ayla.”
When I said that, Ayla finally furrowed her brows.
“Sometimes, I feel like you’re trying to outsmart me.”
“My apologies.”
“Well, fine. Just make sure to handle the assigned tasks properly.”
“Understood.”
“You’re good at answering, at least.”
Ayla likely believed I couldn’t completely manage the staff. She seemed certain I wouldn’t gather them promptly or know all their names.
But Ayla’s trying to outmaneuver me as much as I might seem to her.
A battle for dominance—specifically, a struggle to tighten her leash on me.
However, at least in this particular battle, I have no intention of losing.
Because there’s one miscalculation in Ayla’s thinking.
At my command, the staff stopped everything they were doing and lined up in front of her, causing Ayla to blink in surprise.
Perhaps she had expected them to ignore me so she could enjoy watching me flustered.
“Before I introduce the staff,” I said politely, folding my hands and bowing deeply, “I would first like to deeply apologize to Lady Ayla, the mistress of this estate, for failing to introduce them sooner.”
“My apologies!”
Following my bow almost perfectly, the staff behind me mimicked the motion, bowing in unison.
The young lady sitting a little distance from Ayla looked slightly startled by this display.
When she first saw me gathering the staff, the young lady had gone straight to Ayla, seemingly intending to complain about me being given unnecessary tasks.
But Ayla, unfazed by the young lady’s words, didn’t even blink. Though the young lady seemed slightly hurt, Ayla casually dismissed her remarks.
It would’ve been better if she vented her feelings by giving me trouble.
Unfortunately, this time, I couldn’t yield either.
“First, allow me to introduce the butler of this estate. This is Helena. She will oversee the other staff when I am attending to Lady Ayla.”
“Greetings, madam. My name is Helena. Though I am unworthy, I have been granted the privilege to serve here through Miss Luna’s introduction. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.”
The mention of “Miss Luna” made me uneasy. Ayla glared at me at that moment, clearly perturbed.
Though I wanted to glare at Helena, doing so would make it seem like she had me wrapped around her finger.
That impression would be unacceptable, as it would reflect poorly on the dynamic between me and Ayla.
“This is Agnes. Agnes is an exceptional cook. All of Lady Ayla’s meals will be prepared by her and her team of maids. You already sampled her cooking yesterday, Lady Ayla. Did it suit your taste?”
“…It wasn’t lacking,” Ayla replied with a slightly displeased expression.
I smiled faintly and gave a small bow in acknowledgment.
“Let me continue introducing the rest of the staff. This person is in charge of the estate’s hygiene…”
I introduced a total of fifteen staff members. Though I wanted more, I had to be mindful. In addition to the estate staff, we’d also need to recruit people to manage the forest.
The Marquis is usually accommodating of my requests, but exceeding reasonable limits could occasionally provoke his displeasure.
When that happened, he wouldn’t hesitate to land a sharp rap on my head. Though most would consider it a mere tap, the Marquis’s “light taps” often left one unconscious for days.
I couldn’t afford such an unsightly display.
“That concludes the introductions, Lady Ayla. If you have any further questions or concerns, please inform me, and I will address them immediately.”
As I finished the introductions flawlessly, Ayla’s lips pursed slightly.
I recognized that expression. The same one she wore the first time I bested her.
Though I’d lost to her many times since, the days I disarmed her blade had grown more frequent over time.
Was it the difference in physical capabilities between men and women? Or a pure difference in talent?
I lean toward the former. When skills are evenly matched, differences in physique inevitably come into play.
By the time I reached my teens, I had already grown much taller than Ayla, forcing her to look up at me.
Yes, even then, when she became acutely aware of our height difference, Ayla had shown this slightly sulky expression.
“Hmph.”
Ayla stood up, seemingly looking for a flaw, and walked toward me.
Now, once again, Ayla’s gaze was above mine. It wasn’t because I was bowing slightly to show respect. The reality is that my height, which had been broken and remade by fate, was now clearly shorter than hers.
It was a bitter fact.
“Well, fine,” Ayla nodded. She seemed to realize that picking on something trivial wouldn’t make her look particularly graceful.
“From now on, don’t use the term ‘madam’ when addressing me. It’s bothersome.”
At her words, the young lady sitting behind us stiffened in her expression. She didn’t recognize Ayla as her mother, and her feelings toward the Count were nothing like the strong bond between biological parents and their children.
However, the young lady was still a noble. She must have been raised to recognize her position from an early age. Even if she were later sold off as a naïve noblewoman to another aristocrat, as long as she were noble, she would know how to assert her rights.
If just a little more time had passed, she might have fully transformed into a villain.
The self-centered villainess that the young lady often mentioned in the fairy tales she so loved.
“Just ‘name’ will do,” Ayla declared.
In a way, she was stating that this estate wasn’t even the Count’s anymore. She was declaring that it was hers, even without a name passed down.
Yet the staff didn’t react at all.
Ayla curled one corner of her lip slightly.
“Now, I’ll ask you all a question.”
Ayla spoke.
“You all promised to protect me if danger ever came my way, correct?”
“Of course, Lady Ayla,” the staff answered in unison.
“So, what would you do if I were to harm Luna?”
There was no answer.
Ayla’s hand moved to my shoulder and slowly trailed down to my neck.
“What if I were to strangle Luna’s neck right here and now? Would you still protect me?”
Again, no answer.
No sign of hesitation either.
Only the young lady’s face showed signs of fear. Her eyes held a slight rebellion.
“Heh.”
Ayla seemed to enjoy the reaction and laughed.
“Luna, it seems not everyone will act as you might think.”
She removed her hand and turned away.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. That situation is unlikely to happen—”
“Lady Ayla, if I may, may I speak?”
At my words, Ayla’s steps stopped.
“Luna,” Ayla turned to face me.
I reached into the pocket of my apron and pulled out something. It was a black cloth, resembling a short piece of fabric— a choker.
The act of choking.
The meaning behind it.
Of course, no one here would recognize it. The magic required to create such an item was rare, and only a few great magicians could make something like this.
Perhaps, for example, the witch living near the estate’s forest.
“What’s that?”
However, Ayla seemed to recognize that this wasn’t just a simple object from my demeanor.
“This is an item that controls the wearer’s actions. Of course, it’s also connected to the owner’s breath. If the owner is harmed severely, the one wearing this choker would likely suffer the same fate.”
I spoke.
“Lady Ayla, if you don’t trust me, would you be willing to wear this yourself?”
Ayla’s eyes fixed on me intently.
I returned her gaze with equal intensity.
Are you afraid?
I added a slight challenge to my words.