TMRDWMP CH9

Chapter 9

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Is That You?

Despite going to bed early, Monica spent the night with her eyes wide open. It wasn’t because the bed was uncomfortable. In fact, it was the coziest and most comfortable bed she had ever slept in during her twenty-odd years of life. But she found it difficult to get a good night’s sleep.

In the end, she rose, while still fatigued, and washed herself again in the bathroom. She turned the tap on and waited a moment before warm water began to flow little by little. In the past, she might have been moved by the warm water, but she didn’t want to dwell on that now.

When she went to the kitchen early in the morning, the maids were already working.

“Good morning, Miss.”

Maria, whose name Monica already knew from meeting her yesterday, offered her a seat at the kitchen table. Monica glanced at the maids. They were sitting roughly in a corner of the kitchen, each holding only a small wooden bowl as they ate breakfast. Maria, noticing her gaze, smiled.

“This is comfortable for us. We have a lot of work to do once, so we eat quickly.”

“I hope I’m not adding to your workload...”

“If you feel that way, then please pick up your spoon. The quicker you finish your meal, the easier it is for us.”

Maria was a cheerful person. Her manner of speaking was unpolished but comfortable. After finishing her breakfast of warm soup and white bread, Monica asked Maria for the location of the nearby market.

“What do you need?”

“A hairbrush and... some simple things.”

“Oh.”

She had packed large items like clothes, but was missing many small accessories. It would be good to buy a straw hat, or something similar, as a temporary measure since the sun was strong. The kind the sailors wore at the harbour didn’t look very expensive.

“For that, you’ll have to go all the way near the train station! Hey! Hans!”

 Maria went out the kitchen side door and called out loudly.

“What?”

The person who came and stood leaning against the side door was a pleasant-looking young man. He was clearly a gardener, with a newsboy cap casually pushed down over his reddish-brown hair, leaves stuck to the top, and hands covered in dirt.

“This is Monica, the Young Master’s new governess. You’re going to the market soon, right? Go together.”

Hans craned his neck over Maria’s shoulder. Monica tried to decline, but Hans smiled.

“I’ll be leaving in a little while, so please come to the main entrance of the mansion!”

Monica nodded, somewhat bewildered. On second thought, it worked out well. Martinel’s doctor was supposed to come around lunchtime. She could go and come back quickly, following someone who knew the way. Monica put on the most comfortable dress she owned. It was the dress she had worn when she left the orphanage at eighteen to be deployed as a nurse.

Although it was a dreary grey and already worn after five years, it was very sturdy, as the clothes of orphans usually are. Moreover, the sleeves could be rolled up and down, and the hem ended around her calves, making it a dress she could run around in without losing dignity.

She tied her hair up and braided it. When she would meet Martinel later on, she could just simply coil the braid into a neat bun. Hans, who she met at the mansion entrance, opened his eyes wide.

“I heard you were a governess...”

“Oh, actually, I’m not really a governess, but a nurse. Everyone says that out of courtesy. You can speak to me comfortably.”

Hans waved his hands.

“Oh, no! It’s not that! I didn’t notice when I saw you earlier, but you look quite young.”

The gardener’s cheeks were flushed. The morning was long, but it was still early, so the air was cool. The conversation they had on the way to the market was ordinary, but some of it was information Monica needed.

“Come to think of it, you’re the same age as our eldest young lady! Then you’re not that young.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“Of course. Even among the servants, we whisper that Miss Riella is about to become an old maid!”

Then am I an old maid too?

Monica rolled her eyes. Hans went on with his boasting.

“But Miss Riella’s spoiled days will soon be over. There’s talk of an engagement with a groom from a very distinguished noble family. Someone saw him before, with splendid blonde hair and...”

The servants seemed to enjoy the good news of the household as if it were their own. But, Monica didn’t want to show much interest in Riella’s marriage talk. So, she quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, that rose is very beautiful. Do you have it at the Mollet mansion too?”

“Oh! That’s an imported rose. It’s very expensive and rare, but surprisingly, our master is cultivating tulips that are even more expensive than that! That pink one is nothing compared to our tulips...”

Fortunately, Hans didn’t realize Monica had changed the subject and rattled on about the garden for a long time. Yet, the young man swiftly moved through the long, narrow alleyways without stopping. He said it was the fastest way from the mansion to the market.

“Carriages for high-ranking people don’t come this way, so you don’t have to worry about watching your step.”

“I see.”

Still, I should avoid coming here alone.

Monica glanced at the ground. As soon as they left the wealthy area, the alleyways quickly became dirty. Old ropes, trash, and a single lost shoe from long ago were scattered everywhere. Moreover, a musty odour mixed with the salty smell blowing in from the sea. Hans skilfully avoided everything, but Monica naturally slowed down.

“I’m going to the blacksmith to order a new shovel. For your comb, there’s a general store if you go that way. If it’s okay, let’s meet here and head back up together!”

“Oh, that would be great. But please don’t wait too long if I’m late.”

“But it’s your first time here! This market is complicated, and there are many drunkards... Should I just go with you instead?”

Monica emphatically refused Hans’ offer to go with her to the general store. The young man, who was subtly showing interest, made her feel uncomfortable. Hans waved frantically until Monica disappeared down the alley. Monica forced a smile and waved back.

“Phew.”

The market was already bustling in the morning. People carrying fruits and vegetables, merchants piling up and selling fish... Withered vegetable scraps and crumbs fallen from wooden boxes were scattered on the ground, while men pushing carts hurriedly passed through the gaps.

Monica quickly avoided them and entered the general store. She bought a wooden comb and a straw hat from among the glass jars filled with small white candies and silk ribbons sold in cut lengths. As he she turned to leave , she turned back again.

“Could you give me enough of that blue ribbon to wrap around this straw hat?”

“Oh, the Young Lady has great taste!”

The general store owner grinned, holding the ribbon.

“Sixty shillings!”

“That’s expensive!”

“It’s silk ribbon, you know it’s expensive!”

After some haggling, Monica received a ribbon long enough to make a small decoration.

“Oh dear, the Young Lady is going to be rich!”

The owner, who had sold an expensive ribbon in the morning, grumbled jokingly as she left. Regardless, Monica was in a good mood. She would be penniless until she received her weekly salary, but it would be fine since she wouldn’t have to spend money while working at the mansion.

And when I get my weekly salary, I’ll be a rich woman with five hundred shillings!

The general store owner put the ribbon in a small paper bag. The bag had a purple floral pattern printed on it, albeit with low-quality ink, still it made her feel a little better.

I should use this bag when sending a thank-you letter to Diana, for writing me a letter of recommendation.

“What should I do?”

Monica hesitated near the spot where she had promised to meet Hans. She didn’t dislike Hans, but she felt like going back alone. It was still early, so she had plenty of time until lunchtime.

Monica pondered, then eventually took a different path. Since she told him to go ahead, he probably wouldn’t wait for her. But Monica soon regretted it. Hans’s words were not empty warnings. She underestimated the complexity of the market’s alleyways and got lost.

“Where am I...”

She asked a few people how to get to the wealthy district, but still couldn’t find her way. Only then did she truly realise that La Spezia was a city built up through constant additions and expansions.

The alley she took became progressively dirtier. What had been a street of restaurants turned into one lined with taverns. Drunkards lay sprawled about. And it wasn’t a good neighbourhood, as drunkards who had been drinking all night were sprawled on the street.

Not good. I should go back...

As Monica turned around to retrace her steps rather than wandering aimlessly, she collided hard with someone.

“Ah!”

Monica involuntarily cried out and fell backward. Her skirt was completely flipped up. The person she collided with also took a hard hit, as they uttered a choke and staggered. Monica, unable to see properly, immediately blurted out.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Are you all right...”

“Damn it, what idiot...”

Monica, trying to get up, froze. The person was a tall and sturdy man, but despite colliding with a small woman like her, he was staggering and clutching the wall.

The smell of alcohol...

He was completely drunk.

“Damn it. Talk about bad luck...”

Monica would have and immediately gathered her belongings and fled, but she didn’t. Because the drunkard, who was now leaning against the wall and retching, was someone she knew. The blonde hair that shone even in the alleyway’s shade. And the unusually broad shoulders. Even though he was hunched over, he was obviously tall.

“Louis?”

The person lifted his head and looked at her. Deep, blue eyes. Familiar, like the night sea...

“What, is that you?

“Why are you looking for that idiot in front of me?”

Monica’s mouth fell open. She was dumbfounded.

Chapter 8

Chapter List

Chapter 10