The Eternal World - Chapter 10
Rosy abusing the poor books
The action of my grandparents, who had arrived at the main house, were extremely fast.
They immediately went to visit the Cabanel house and demanded for the acquiescence of the divorce. When mother’s parents heard and saw the proof of our family’s terrible situation they couldn’t say anything.
As I expected, father seems to have known the real reason our grandparents had come, since he had nothing to say about the divorce. It looks like father himself had felt that the situation had deteriorated too much. Enough that he had had to show the unsightly image, that he can’t even protect his own children, to his parents.
And then my parents’ divorce became a reality.
Even till the end, when the carriage from her home town came, mother was still acting unsightly.
By the time she was pushed into the carriage, words of resentment were spilling from her mouth. I am glad I had Rita take care of Oscar and not let him see this. Letting him remember that this is his own real mother would be too sad.
It was decided that mother would live at her father’s territory’s villa. And to take care of their still young grandchildren’s education, my grandparents decided to stay at the main house. That was great since Oscar had gotten attached to them.
It seems that the Randal family’s divorce had become quite the hot topic in the social circles but maybe because the circumstances were guessed easily the rumors died down fast. I can’t help but think that that means that mother’s bad ways were well known among the people.
With this, mother’s case came to an end but this was not the only thing that was resolved. It’s about that matter that has been bothering me from before. As a matter of fact, I found out some information about it at the palace, even if indirectly.
The answer that came back when I asked “Are maids changed often?”, was of course a NO. If so, there must be a certain reason. As I had time during the time my grandparents were dealing with mother’s case I continued my observations.
And then I realized something. There’s another maid that has served our house a long time just like the noh-mask maid. It’s the maid that looks after Oscar. She wears a different expression than the frightened ones the others are displaying.
I decided to win that maid over.
I watched her enter Oscar’s room and then I followed after.
I didn’t miss the surprise that showed for a second at my sudden entrance.
I grabbed the hem of her maid outfit and looked up at her.
“There’s something I want you to cooperate with me for a bit.”
“Ah, yes. What is it?”
“What do you mean cooperate, elder sister?”
“Our maids, you see, quit their jobs quite frequently. But, you see, that doesn’t happen in other households. It’s strange, right? Up till now I’ve counted at least ten.”
“Is there a problem with that?”
“You see, Oscar, if for some reason we’ve treated them unjustly, it will bring shame to our house.”
“Hmm”
“Do you perhaps know something? It may not be convincing coming from a child like me but I promise I’ll get father to resolve things, so please tell me the truth.”
The maid’s shifting eyes steadied themselves as she came to a decision.
“To be honest, the head maid takes commissions from the maids.”
“Haa? Commission? What’s with that? I don’t follow. How come she gets to take commissions like that? That’s strange no matter how I look at it.”
“Older sister, the way you are talking is strange?”
“Ara, I apologize. Oho ho ho ho.”
A sister that gets stared at by her 3-year-old brother is well
“I see. Could it be she takes them the day you receive your wages?”
“Yes, that’s right, young miss.”
“Where does that transpire?”
“It takes place in our break room.”
“Then I’ll take care of that. Do you know the approximate time?”
“Yes.”
“In any case, she is using mother’s backing to force you into giving her your wages, right. It’s a villain’s way of doing things, alright. I’ll have to think about the time.”
“What time?”
“The time of change. The time to carry out the big clean-up of our house.”
“Hmm.”
“That’s right. What is your name?”
“I am called Cecile.”
“Cecile, when everything ends, would you like to become my personal maid? There’s a lot I would like to request of you. When grandmother takes over I would request it of her. It is alright, right?”
“Ah, eh,um, yes please order me as you like.”
“Is that so. Thank you, Cecile. Sorry for interrupting. Will you be suspected if it gets late? Are you going to be alright?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Then please tell me more another day.”
“Yes.”
Cecile went back to her work and exited the room.
“Young miss, please refrain from doing dangerous things.”
“Rita. There’s nothing dangerous. I’ll get grandmother to cooperate. Even if I try to do something there’s a chance that I won’t be taken seriously since I am but a child. In that case, I just have to use the authority of the adults.”
“Young miss where exactly did you learn this kind of.”
“Something of this degree you can find in just any book. Mystery novels are full of things like deductions, you know.”
“Maa. You’ve read even these kind of novels.”
As expected I haven’t read that at all. It’s just when I was looking around the library I found out there were a lot of these kind of books. And since it’s a convenient excuse I’d like you to forgive this lie.
“Since it’s decided, I have to meet grandmother. Ah, Oscar, keep my share of cookies please.”
“Older sister’s share should be in your room, right?”
“That is right. I’ll go take a look.”
Saying this I left, leaving Oscar, who was stuffing his cheeks full of cookies, to see me off.
I went to visit my grandmother, who was having tea while reading in the greenhouse.
“Grandmother, is now a good time?”
“Ah, Rosy, of course.”
Making an eye signal, grandmother had the maid step away, leaving us alone.
“It’s about our house’s maids.”
“Ara, what about them?”
When I finished explaining the current situation of the maids, grandmother had furrowed her brows.
“To think the house has been infected this far”
“It would probably take place two days from now at payment day. Would it not be fine if we suppress this at that time?”
“Since we’ve found out, wouldn’t resolving the problem right away be better?”
“No, grandmother. We have to make her suffer for tormenting the maids all this time. For that we’ll take charge and reveal all of her crimes. Also, we’ll have her return the maids’ money.”
“Rosy, you, where did you”
Right. That kind of reaction is correct. It’s not something a 5-year-old should say.
“This much can be read from books? It’s common in mystery novels.”
“Maa, even these kind of books.”
“Books are treasure chests of knowledge. Because of that, I can even consult with grandmother.”
“I am happy you’ve grown up so splendidly.”
“Thank you very much, grandmother.”
Seeing me smile grandmother gave a gentle smile in return.
“I understand. But how did you get that information?”
“I found a reliable maid among the staff. Once everything ends can I have her as my personal maid?”
“That’s alright. Is there something you want her to do?”
Uwaa. Great instincts, Granny!
The crimes committed by using mother as a shield were brought to light splendidly. The plan we came up with Cecile was as follow: I would hide in the room to listen and so that she would not be able to talk her way out of it, grandmother would then enter the room suddenly.
But well, since she was holding the money, there was no way for her to talk her way out of this. When we subtracted the previously taken maids’ part from her wages, there doesn’t seem to be anything left, but what do I care.
After that, so that she won’t be able to put any useless resistance, we didn’t give the discharged noh-mask maid any letter of recommendation. Like this it would be quite hard to work in an aristocrat’s house. Not having a recommendation letter basically means “a problematic maid”.
I had to act fast, so that the maids won’t receive any unjust treatment from mother when she flies into a rage. Throwing the divorce papers in mother’s face sealed her movements. After that I transferred the power over the mansion to grandmother.
The maid’s long years of anguish came to an end. As such they were no longer wearing those gloomy expressions. They also stopped presenting letters of resignations as before.
It looks like the noh-mask maid was the head maid. Not that it was said anywhere but since Rosy got rid of her we can forget her,I guess.
