It was just my imagination… right?
Let’s think about this rationally.
There’s no way a shadow could talk.
(Then again, considering all the impossible things I’d already experienced here, maybe I shouldn’t be so certain.)
I was bewildered for a moment, but I’d finally gotten his permission. I couldn’t keep him waiting forever.
“Um… then I’ll head out tomorrow or the day after.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Huh?”
Edwin’s reaction was strange.
It was as if he didn’t even remember saying those words himself.
“Um… didn’t you just tell me it was fine?”
“I…”
The duke looked at me silently, as though he had been about to say something.
A moment later, he answered calmly.
“…So I did.”
“Y-Yes.”
Had I accidentally done something wrong?
His stiff expression made him look angry, and I cautiously watched his face.
Did he not want me to leave?
But if I wanted to complete the quest, I absolutely had to leave the castle. There was no backing out now.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but if you tell me, I’ll be careful. If you’re worried I’ll go outside and say something I shouldn’t—”
“No. That was never even a consideration.”
“Then what is it?”
“He might…”
He fell silent again.
This time Edwin lowered his gaze to his feet.
It was only for a brief moment, but I thought I saw him mutter something under his breath.
I leaned forward slightly, trying to hear him better, when he spoke again.
“For today…”
His crimson eyes settled quietly on mine.
“This is enough.”
He placed his napkin on the table and stood.
At some point I’d completely lost track of his train of thought.
Still holding my fork like an idiot, I simply watched him move.
What?
What is going on?
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a meaningful conversation.”
With those words, Edwin gave me a flawless, perfectly graceful bow before turning and walking out of the dining room.
He had left rather abruptly, but strangely, I didn’t feel upset.
It was because of how impeccably polite he had been.
So that’s what the aide keeps calling “proper noble etiquette.”
The more I think about it, he’s nothing like the Edwin I met yesterday.
He looked exactly the same, but his speech and mannerisms were so different that he felt like an entirely different person.
Just then, someone came rushing toward the table.
“O-Ohhh!”
It was the head chef.
His voice trembling with emotion, he dropped to his knees before the duke’s seat.
“He… he hadn’t taken even a single bite all this time…!”
“Chef? Are you alright?”
Thinking something terrible had happened, I hurried over.
Then—
“He ate…!”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Y-Your Grace… ate… at least one bite of every dish…!”
He ate?
When?
Had I been so focused on our conversation that I hadn’t noticed?
Looking down at the table, I saw that the food in front of Edwin had indeed been eaten—just a little from each plate.
Does he eat less than a hamster?
Then how is he built like that?
The chef, still gazing at the table with overwhelming emotion, turned toward me.
“Miss Windsor, thank you so much!”
“I didn’t really do anything.”
“No. Thanks to you inviting His Grace to dine with you, I was finally able to make up, even if only a little, for my past mistake. I’ll have to work harder before he finishes an entire meal, but…”
His voice quivered.
“Thank you… truly.”
As he bowed deeply, a message appeared above his head.
[Favorability +10]
The chef’s favorability had now reached 45.
Unlike the head maid, who was always around, I usually only met the chef in the dining room.
His favorability wasn’t far from its goal either.
I really don’t think I did much this time.
Feeling awkward about receiving so much gratitude, I glanced at my half-finished plate and smiled sheepishly.
“W-Well then, I’d better get going too!”
The moment I stepped through the archway leading into the hallway, my cheeks suddenly grew warm.
Being thanked so sincerely left me unsure how to respond.
Isn’t he… a little too pure?
To be so genuinely happy simply because he could finally do his job…
Maybe the servants’ spirits had started improving—not because they could even see my face—but because I’d finally given them meaningful work.
As I thought that, I realized I was growing more and more attached to this strange game.
That’s right!
Giving each servant in the castle work they could take pride in—that was what was truly best for them.
That was exactly why I’d gone to see the ridiculously strict, overzealous-fanboy aide.
Why?
Because the Ceremonial Department handled tailoring, handicrafts, ceremonial assistance, and all the clothing and supplies needed for both official events and everyday life.
Unfortunately…
Reality was a disaster.
The dresses and accessories they brought me were all a complete mess.
Once I’d noticed that, I started seeing other things too.
The servants’ uniforms. They’re freshly washed, but somehow they still look shabby.
It didn’t take long for me to realize the librarian I’d met earlier had been an exception.
Unlike her obsessive perfectionism, the average servant’s clothing was in terrible condition.
You know how it is.
Sometimes clothes come out perfectly clean, but the fabric itself has become so wrinkled and worn that no matter how much you wash it, it still looks old and messy.
That was exactly the situation here.
Clothing—especially uniforms—not only creates a sense of belonging but also affects professionalism and morale.
If every servant in the duke’s household looked shabby and poorly dressed…
That was definitely a problem.
Which was why I’d come to ask the aide in charge of the Ceremonial Department to improve things.
“It’s impossible.”
He rejected the idea the moment I brought it up.
“What?! Why? If the servants of the honorable House of Belmond dress like this, won’t it damage the family’s prestige?”
Inside the office, its walls covered with portraits of the monk Lorax,
the aide, seated behind a desk piled high with books that he’d apparently borrowed from the library, let out a quiet sigh.
“T-That’s true, but…”
After hesitating awkwardly, he continued.
“To be more precise… the current situation makes it impossible.”
“What situation?”
“We currently have no usable fabric in the castle.”
Why?
As I listened to the explanation, I slowly forced my mouth shut.
Apparently, all the stored fabric had been kept improperly.
It had become old, torn, and even covered in mold.
No matter how thoroughly you cleaned cloth in that condition, there was only so much you could do. Worse, it required harsh chemicals that weakened the fabric even further.
In other words, repairing it would only waste manpower.
“Furthermore, all of our sewing equipment—sewing machines, needles, thread, fabric cutters, measuring tapes—is so old that it’s unusable. The sewing machines might be salvageable with oil, but everything else would have to be replaced. The problem is…”
“Don’t tell me your department also lost contact with the merchant company, so you can’t get supplies?”
“So you’ve already figured that out. Yes, exactly.”
Well, that made sense.
If a place this large was already running short on something as basic as salt, it wasn’t surprising.
After thinking for a moment, I spoke.
“Actually… because of the head chef’s request, I was planning to visit the Luden Trading Company.”
“The Luden Trading Company? Don’t tell me…!”
“Yes. If there’s a problem, I’ll solve it—whatever it takes—and restore our business with them.”
The aide’s voice immediately brightened.
“In that case, would you also handle our department’s problem while you’re there, Miss Windsor? I can prepare a list of the materials we’ll need.”
[A Side Quest Has Been Added.]
▶ Torn Clothes, Torn Pride
(Linked Quest: The Whereabouts of the Forgotten Merchant Company)
The Ceremonial Department of Belmond Castle is currently unable to repair or produce clothing due to severely deteriorated fabric and a lack of sewing equipment!
Restore trade with the Luden Trading Company and secure fabric and tailoring supplies.
Rewards
2,000 Diamonds
Favorability with the Aide
Of course I’ll do it…
After reading the quest, I nodded.
So this had all been setup for another quest.
Just as I thought—nothing in this game became worn out for no reason, and nothing stayed broken without a reason either.
I’d tried to solve one problem, only to end up with another one.
That was exactly what had happened to me.
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