I Said Something Rather Arrogant
“…But why… Why don’t you grovel at the feet of nobles!? It’s because you’re under the protection of a superior duke, isn’t it!”
“…No. It doesn’t matter that you’re father is a count or below Mr. Ekenhart… I would have refused even if your positions were reversed.”
Depending on how you looked at it, Ms. Anne’s way of thinking was probably not wrong.
If those in authority knew how to lead and were reliable, then people would follow the nobles.
But as for me…I didn’t want to go in that direction.
Perhaps it was wishful thinking.
But then again, I had been watching people like Ms. Claire and Mr. Ekenhart, who did things differently.
But Ms. Anne still did not understand.
As she had shaken her head so much, her rolls were in disarray.
…Her hair was rather amusing to look at, so I wished that she would maintain them… But nevermind that.
“It’s important to ask people about things that you don’t understand, you know?”
There was a saying about how asking makes one appear foolish, but not asking actually makes you foolish.
I didn’t know if there was a similar saying in this world, but Anne was a proud noble who was used to thinking by herself, so she didn’t seem to understand.
“Ask people… But I asked you, and you gave me nothing.”
“Not just me. All kinds of other people. And you’re not guaranteed to get a real answer… But it may give you some kind of hint.”
Especially people like Mr. Ekenhart and Sebastian. They were likely to do that.
And Ms. Claire should be able to give advice, as a noblewoman.
“A noble, going around and talking to people…”
“Is that so hard? You know, when Ms. Claire doesn’t know something, she asks Sebastian as well as others.”
“Ms. Claire is eccentric. Even when in a place where other nobles are gathered, she alone is…”
Eccentric… I had not thought of her that way before.
Well, she had gone to the forest without any guards that one time… That was definitely odd for a noblewoman.
“Yes. …But regardless, we nobles are born with power. What is the point if we do not use it?”
“Just because you’re a noble, it doesn’t mean that you need to exert your power… I would recommend that instead of thinking by yourself, you talk to other people and listen to their opinions.”
“And I will get my answer?”
“…You are so very irresponsible. It was you who brought it up.”
In the end, it was Ms. Anne who had to find the answer.
How should I know what she would learn by talking to others?
“Well, if there is one thing that I can say…”
“People will follow you, even if you don’t exert your power. And you would know that if you watched Ms. Claire. If you continue to rely on your authority, then I will hardly be the last person who would refuse you.”
“Or anyone in this mansion. Talk and make connections that are unrelated to your position… And think of ways to make people follow you.”
With that said, I started to head for the door.
I probably sounded rather arrogant, that was all that I could think of after talking to Mr. Ekenhart and Ms. Anne.
I could not lead her to a perfect answer, but I hoped that she was able to find it herself.
Also, I hoped she would stop thinking of ways to hurt people for profit.
…In fact, if she did do such a thing, Mr. Ekenhart and the country would crush her entire house until there was nothing left… It was inevitable.
…But as someone who had now becomed involved with her in a way, I hoped that she would change for the best.
I had only come to check up on her, but it ended up being more like a lecture…
“Very well. …I shall consider your words carefully and act as I see fit.”
“Good. I may have sounded arrogant, and I can’t say that I’ve been good at doing it myself. But I wish you the best.”
“Hahaha. And I’m glad to see that you’re better.”
I said jokingly at the end.
As Ms. Anne had been smiling the moment before I left the room, I believed that she would think about it.
It would be nice to see her again, with her hair carefully rolled like drills that went down to her waist… Such were my thoughts as I left Ms. Anne’s room.
“Uhh, next is Milina…”
It was almost time for my training with Mr. Ekenhart, but I had to talk to Milina first.
I needed to tell her about the medicine.
Milina was in the drawing room and being instructed by Ms. Lyra.
I had even searched the dining hall, but they were here…
“Are you listening, Milina? When someone is leaving or coming to the mansion, you have to greet them so that your voice is synced with everyone else.”
She was so focused on this lesson that she didn’t notice me.
And since she had her back to the door, she didn’t see me come into the room…
“Now, we’ll start with what to do when Lady Claire is leaving.”
They were in the middle of practicing their greetings.
So the servants really did have to practice in order to say it together…
After calling to them from behind, the two finally noticed me.
…Maybe I shouldn’t have disturbed them?
“Uhh, do you have a minute…?”
“Yes, of course. What is it?”
“What is it, master?”
“Well, there is just something that I need to tell Milina.”
Milina looked puzzled at this.
I now felt a little bad about adding more work to her schedule when she was busy with her servant duties…