Chapter 92. Asterope Franz, Part IX
Translator: Khan
Editor Group: Liber Reverie
“Now that you’ve got a maid under you, I should give you a present. You think a brooch isn’t enough, don’t you?”
Aria presented Annie and Jessie one more golden brooch, which she had kept so far.
“Oh, my God…! Thank you very much, miss!”
“I’m really fine…”
Then Annie, with two brooches on her chest, disappeared with a very triumphant step, saying, “I’m going to go round the mansion.” Berry’s eyes, which chased Annie’s back, were filled with envy.
As Jessie lift T-Pot with a look of sorry, Aria slapped her hand on the back and warned her. “Jessie, this isn’t what you’re going to do. Sit opposite to me. It’s Berry’s share to pour the tea. I’m sure she’ll be sad if you take her job away. Right, Berry?”
“Yes, yes. Miss.”
Then T-Port came into Berry’s hand, and Jessie sat opposite with an awkward smile. She might have done it hundreds more times, but somehow Berry’s hand pouring the tea on the teacup was trembling slightly.
‘Is it disgraceful to pour the tea to a new owner who is vulgar, or is it frustrating to pour the tea to Jessie, who was a maid like you?’ Aria clicked her tongue and pointed out her behavior.
“Are you sick? What if you drop the tea pot while shaking like that, what are you going to do?”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Miss.”
“I hope you don’t do anything you’re sorry about in the first place.”
It was pleasant and exciting to scold Berry as if she had recovered her true self.
“Have you ever learned to pour tea?”
“Yes, yes. Miss, I’ll pour again…”
However, she could not pour the tea properly after being scolded severely. Berry’s hand trembled again.
“Phew. I don’t think you really can. I don’t know why Mielle sent you. Okay, make another tea and bring it again. Try to change the refreshments too. I am sick of these things here.”
Berry hurriedly bowed and left. As soon as she went out, Jessie looked nervous watching Aria who had a big smile.
‘Oh, no. I can’t show my mean look to Jessie.’
Only then did Aria give her an excuse. “I thought I knew what Mielle was thinking about sending Berry. Berry is not a newly hired maid, but she’s been waiting on Mielle all the time. I’m sure it’s not a good intention. So I have to teach her some manners.”
Then Jessie nodded in acknowledgment, but her expression remained uncomfortable.
“Moreover, I’m sure it’ll hurt if she despises you guys. Look at what she just did. As I know, she has done a good job so far, but isn’t it quite awkward her present behavior? I can’t help it, for the time being, so you have to understand.”
This time, Jessie’s expression was clearly loosened. When Aria told Annie the same story, who had gone around the mansion, she expressed her willingness to participate.
Aria was ready to thoroughly harass Berry, who had made the situation to bring out the evil nature of Aria, and who had falsely accused of her. Much to her gratitude, Berry spent considerable time preparing for the new refreshment, and the harassment began as soon as she returned.
“Oh, my God. I thought you went to grow tea leaves.”
Annie expressed her discomfort in an exaggerated gesture. Jessie briefly agreed, saying, “Yes, I thought so too.”
“You’ve been preparing it for a long time, and would you bring that much good refreshment? Pour the tea again.”
At the order of Aria, Berry shuddered and poured the tea. Then, Annie hit her hand lightly on the back as if she had waited. Due to that, a few drops of tea dropped, which was filled in the tea pot, on the table.
“Have you been away for so long to do this?”
“… I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“You spilled the tea! What are you doing without wiping it out? Can’t you see the table’s in a mess?”
“Well, I’ll be cleaning it right away.”
“When are you going to pour the tea?”
“… Ah, well…”
‘Did Annie ever hate Berry in the meantime?’
Aria pretended to wipe her lips with Sarah’s handkerchief, as she was going to burst out laughing.
‘You should be treated like that by the youngest maid in the mansion! Isn’t it pretty?’ Aria took a step back from the battlefield with a smile of joy, because of Annie who was bothering Berry well.
Berry would have a worse feeling to be scolded by Annie rather than Aria, who had been a maid like her but had risen in status. Aria was sure that Berry got angry. If it repeated itself, hate would arise, and when it couldn’t be expressed, it would be directed elsewhere. It might be directed to Emma who had sent herself to a wicked woman or Mielle. If it were the latter, it would double her pleasure.
But Berry couldn’t express her dissatisfaction with the real masters, so Aria was sure Berry would pour it out on other maids. But she wouldn’t get any appreciation from them. Why?
‘I’m going to be very nice to all the maids and servants except her.’
It was clear that everyone would think Berry was wrong. “Why are you speaking ill of Miss Aria who is so lovely and kind?”
‘What should I do about her lastly? Should I make her put poison into my tea? Then shall I make her head be cut off in front of everyone? No, it wouldn’t be too bad for me to carry her around all her life and let her work like a slave. As Jessie who I had misjudged and kicked out, it would be good to clean the dung of the stable. The choice is varied, so I could bother her as much. Until all of Berry’s bones are melted away.’
Aria’s smile deepened.
* * *
Finally, it was the day of the meeting that Asher invited.
It was obvious that the men were central, so Aria wore plain clothes. She didn’t have to draw attention. She thought about wearing women’s pants made for traveling, but she quit because it seemed to be overly concerned. She just chose the most casual dress she had.
“Why don’t you put a hairpin on, miss?”
Annie asked, bringing a golden rose-shaped hairpin. It was the hairpin that Oscar had given her.
‘Of all occasion, why did you bring it…?’ Aria shook her head.
“It’s okay. I don’t have to look pretty today.”
“Whew, I feel some distress, though…”
Annie, who didn’t even know where her master was going, was annoyed by the appearance, and Aria could see Jessie pulling out a hat that fits her suit.
“How about a hat?”
“Let’s do that.”
When she tied the straps attached to the hat under the chin in a ribbon-shape, she looked like a pretty well-mannered modest woman. Aria, who saw it through the mirror, hurried out with a smile that she liked it.
As Annie left the mansion, she ordered Berry. “Dust out every nook and corner until Miss Aria gets home. Don’t forget the ventilation.”
Perhaps because of a few days of hard work, Berry hastened to nod. The meeting was held a short distance from the center. It was a quiet place, with the majority of houses.
Aria entered a small cafe there and ordered a latte with macaron to the owner who was asking if she would like to order. The eyes of the owner, who answered yes, went to Annie and Jessie.
“What about the two of you who come together?”
“I’d like to have a coffee in Vienna, please.”
After Annie, Jessie ordered.
“I’d like to have a latte with macaron like my master.”
Then the owner’s expression turned into trouble.
“I’m sorry, but the macarons ran out. I think you’ll need another order.”
“Ah… then I’ll have a Vienna coffee.”
“Yes. Please wait for a moment. The lady who ordered the macaron, this way.”
When Aria, who had received the hourglass from Jessie, tried to go somewhere alone, her maids, Jessie and Annie, rushed to follow her in embarrassment. This was because they didn’t know the details. Aria ordered them to wait, shaking her head.
“I have business here. Please wait, and drink some coffee. You can order something else and eat, so you have to be quiet.”
“Miss…”
As Aria turned around coldly, Annie and Jessie watched her back with a worried look. As she followed the owner and went outside through the back door of the cafe, she saw a small door in the corner that could be barely passed by one person. It was a door that looked like a warehouse.
The owner said, opening the door with the key, “Everyone is waiting. I’ll lock the door outside, so you can go down.”
Aria nodded and went inside. She thought it would be dark, but it wasn’t inconvenient because there were bright lights everywhere. As she took a step forward, she heard the door slamming. Aria, who looked back in surprise for a moment, recalled that he would lock the door from the outside, and then stepped back down the stairs again.
‘It’s pretty dangerous…’
