Relocating Residence

On their day off, Sylutia and Talia were busy packing up their belongings at home, preparing for tomorrow, the day they had promised Lady Falan they would begin tending to her flower fields.

"Are we really going to move into such a massive mansion?" Talia still found it hard to believe; to her, Lady Falan's estate was little different from the palaces found in legends.

"Yes. Since I'll be tending to the flower fields during the day, we wouldn't have time to commute between the East and West Districts." Lady Falan's mansion was located in the West District, home to the wealthy and noble, a far cry from the East District where they currently lived.

"That's also incredibly far from where I work," Talia said, sounding a bit deflated.

"As for work..." Sylutia recalled Lady Falan's offer, which included permission to bring one servant or attendant to live in the mansion.

"You can just work at Lady Falan's place; she'll agree to take you in," the young girl replied.

"Ugh, in an environment like that? Even if it's an ideal place, I'm terrified. I'm scared I'll break something and not be able to pay for it even if I sold myself," Talia said, thinking back to the luxurious decorations she had seen two days ago.

"It's alright, we'll take it one step at a time." When Sylutia said this, she wasn't just trying to cheer Talia up—she was encouraging herself as well.

"Alright, but if I really mess up, Sylutia, you have to plead for me and let me come back," Talia said, still worried.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine," Sylutia reassured her once more.

After packing their various belongings into trunks, the two hired a carriage, loaded the boxes, and set off for Lady Falan's mansion in the West District.

By the afternoon, their luggage had been properly stowed away, and the maid named Lining approached them.

"I am here to show you to your future living quarters," she said, gesturing for them to follow.

"First, Miss Sylutia's room. Like the Lady's, it is on the second floor, though the Lady resides in the west wing, while your bedroom is in the east."

Following the polished, white-stone-carved banister up the stairs, the three arrived at the equally opulent second floor. The hallway was spacious, offering a view of the vast sea of golden flowers behind the estate. Passing by several closed doors, Lining arrived at the second-to-last room on the east side and opened it, revealing the interior.

Draped in intricate, sheer curtains and decorated with pale blue floral pendants, the room featured soft, ivory-white furniture; the bedroom was as cozy and luxurious as a princess's chamber.

"This is where you will sleep, Miss Sylutia," Lining continued, introducing the space.

"The vanity, the wardrobe, and the soft, comfortable bed are all provided. If you have any other needs, please let me know." She bowed, her manners impeccable.

"Whoa, this... this..."

Talia was so stunned she couldn't find the words to describe the room. She even felt a faint sense of inferiority; if she were to sleep here, she felt as though she might tarnish its purity.

However, when she turned to look at the silver-haired girl beside her, she felt it was strangely fitting. It seemed as though only an environment like this could raise someone so lovely and beautiful.

Sylutia sighed; living in such an environment brought a sense of invisible pressure.

It was like receiving a great gift—one couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility. But since they were already here, being overly coy or polite would only be awkward.

"Thank you for the arrangements, Miss Lining."

"There is no need for such titles; just call me Lining," the maid, who also possessed pale golden hair, replied in a calm voice.

"Understood, Lining."

Afterward, Lining led them back to the first floor and to a separate building on the side of the estate. Passing through a short, reddish-brown floored corridor on the ground level, they found two rooms.

"The room at the back is for Miss Talia, and the one facing the outside is where I reside," she said, opening the door and stepping inside.

The room prepared for Talia was much simpler, furnished with a single bed, a wardrobe, a small table, and a wooden chair, with a brass candlestick sitting on the table.

Even so, the sheets and quilts were woven from fine combed cotton, equally soft and comfortable, and the furniture was crafted from delicate mahogany—simple in appearance, but by no means inexpensive.

"Oh, this is wonderful too," Talia said, moved. She even wanted to step forward and touch the soft, fine cotton.

"As for bathing..." Lining paused to consider.

"If Miss Sylutia wishes to take a hot bath, please inform me in advance. A regular shower, however, is available at any time."

"A shower? What is that?" Talia felt she had never heard the term before.

"It's likely a fine mist of water sprayed from a pipe to wash the whole body," Sylutia said, not knowing exactly what a shower was in this world, but inferring it from the term.

"Correct. Since Miss Sylutia is aware, I shall not explain further." The other woman nodded slightly, a flicker of satisfaction appearing in her calm eyes.

"You may leave your laundry in the bamboo basket in the bathroom; I will collect and wash it."

"I will also prepare your daily meals. Miss Sylutia, you need only arrive at the dining room on time."

"If there is anything you wish to eat, you may tell me in advance, and I will do my best to prepare it. Also, please note that the Lady does not like outsiders dirtying the house."

"Therefore, unless the Lady grants special permission, please do not invite other friends to the mansion for meals or gatherings."

"I understand," the young girl nodded in acknowledgment.

"If other guests visit while the Lady happens to be away, Miss Sylutia will act as the host. During such times, I ask that you conduct yourself with proper decorum." This was likely the requirement and the price of living here.

"You may arrange the meals for guests as you see fit, but you may not allow guests to stay overnight, nor may you bring anyone into the flower fields in the back," she continued, listing the rules.

"If Miss Sylutia makes a promise to a guest, it is equivalent to the Lady making that promise, so please act with caution." She still held a degree of wariness and distrust toward this strange silver-haired girl and felt it necessary to warn her in advance.

"If the guest is of particularly high status, Miss Sylutia may postpone the matter, stating that a decision will be made once the Lady returns."

"And what constitutes an important matter?" Sylutia asked curiously.

"Generally, guests visit for one of three reasons: to request an item, to plead for a favor, or to ask the Lady to intervene in a matter," Lining explained in a steady tone.

"If they are requesting an item and the value does not exceed the Second Order, Miss Sylutia may use your own judgment."

"As for pleading for a favor, if it is something you can easily handle, then agreeing is naturally fine."

"If you hope for Lady Falan to intervene, and if a letter from her is enough to coordinate this, then Miss Sylutia can agree to it."

"When Miss Mailin brought those items over the other day to ask about the books and seeds, I was the one who agreed on Lady Falan's behalf. She has seen many similar requests, so she prepared sets of books and seeds; if anyone came knocking, she told me to simply hand them out," Lining said, looking at Sylutia with a hint of admiration in her eyes.

"Although Lady Falan has gifted books and seeds for horticultural enlightenment to many people, those who actually return with results are few and far between."

"I have never seen anyone else, like Miss Sylutia, manage to cultivate flowers that condense a Aspect Power on their very first attempt," she added, offering a small compliment to Sylutia.

This made Sylutia realize why Lady Falan held her in such high regard.

With the instructions settled, Sylutia finally settled into the luxurious mansion.