Chapter 17

In the capital of the Crescent Kingdom, "Crescent City."

The Markwood Manor, which had rapidly gained a reputation in recent years, was in an uproar from morning.

"—Hey, I was the first to get my hands on this!"

"—What? There's no way you can make tea."

"—Leave it to me. I have more experience."

About ten maids gathered in the pantry next to the kitchen, and a tense atmosphere hung in the air.

"Hey, what's going on here?"

Chef Roy muttered in exasperation as maid Mona arrived.

"Roy, didn't you hear that a guest is coming? Oh, right, since the guest isn't having dinner, the kitchen isn't involved."

"What does that have to do with the maids fighting over the teapot and tea leaves like demons?"

"Well, they want to meet the guest when they serve the tea, and maybe get closer to him."

"......"

Roy, who was already exasperated, was now speechless.

"......Nina used to do this job, but those maids have been bad-mouthing her, saying she's monopolizing it. I don't know why Nina was the only one who could do it."

"They're more interested in finding a good husband than doing their jobs properly. No wonder they don't understand."

Gardener Tomes arrived and said,

"I heard that without Nina, the maids are having a hard time. Is that true?"

"Well, for me, it's fine as long as I can do my job... but the maids who serve the Earl, his wife, and the young master and mistress are always upset. 'This is missing, that's wrong, this is incorrect'—you can hear them shouting every day."

"......Hmm. I also heard that the Earl's mistakes are increasing outside the manor."

Roy, who had regained his composure, said. Roy, being a chef, had many acquaintances in other manors and among the nobility. According to them,

—The Markwood Earl's facade is starting to crack.

The Earl, who had risen in the noble society over the past few years, has recently made many blunders. He has proposed absurd policies, been duped by counterfeit art, and even had frayed hems on his wife's dresses at social events. It seems things are not going well both inside and outside the manor.

"Well... the Earl's failures outside can't be Nina's fault, right?"

"......"

"......"

"Hey, Mona and old Tomes, don't just stand there silent!"

"......Well, it could be Nina, you know."

The three of them didn't know everything Nina did. Nina prepared historical books and reports related to the Earl's desk to keep up with the political changes in "Crescent City." She also dealt with art dealers who tried to sell him counterfeit art. She fixed the frayed hems and outdated motifs on the dresses. The butler was good with money but knew nothing about politics or art, and didn't understand what Nina was doing. The head maid was good at bossing around tailors but knew nothing about fashion trends, especially when time was short.

"Well, the Earl probably wants to entertain this guest well and recover his lost ground—"

Just as Roy said this,

Crash.

A teapot fell and shattered on the floor.

"—It's your fault!"

"—Huh!? You were the last one to touch it!"

"—Your makeup doesn't suit you, stop it!"

The maids continued to argue without even trying to pick up the broken pot.

"Mona"

"What?"

"You... you're quitting at the right time, aren't you?"

Mona had two months left before she quit to get married.

"Let me know how things go after I leave. I'll make it my entertainment in the countryside where there's nothing to do."

Mona said this with a serious face and then left to do her job.

The Earl of Markwood greeted the guest with a broad smile.

"Welcome once again. The pinnacle of mages and one of the 'Five Sages'—"

"No need for such formalities. I've been here many times."

He looked like a human in his twenties, but he had already lived for over 300 years, and his speech was somewhat mature. His long golden hair was slicked back, and his ears were long and pointed—distinctive features of a true elf. His green eyes were framed by long lashes, and his skin was flawless. His robe, made of white and light green fabric, was a symbol of a mage, and those who knew would recognize the rare material used. It stored magic to support the mage's movements and was also designed to resist ordinary blades.

"Yes! I am delighted that Sir Twylight Fal Wilhelm Scott has honored my humble abode with his presence again this year."

The elf, Twylight, got out of the carriage. Several nobles accompanied him, but they glared at the Earl of Markwood. They couldn't follow him further, not because it was the Earl's manor, but because Twylight himself preferred to be alone and relaxed.

"I'm a bit tired from the long journey. Is that terrace still there?"

"Of course, it is. The garden has been meticulously maintained, especially since you enjoyed it last year."

"That's good. The Golden Spoon Lily should be in bloom now, shouldn't it?"

Twylight entered the manor with the Earl, looking pleased. The terrace he was led to was the same as last year—no, it seemed different.

(Hmm...? The taste seems to have worsened.)

Twylight noticed the golden vases on the shelves, which lacked any artistic sense.

(This wasn't the case before...)

He felt a sudden concern but shook it off. There were few places in the world where Twylight, who traveled the globe, could find peace. This was one of them. He didn't want to be distracted by trivial matters.

"Oh, the garden is splendid this year as well."

Twylight was pleased to see the well-maintained garden, just as he had last year. The Golden Spoon Lily was in full bloom, with several golden flowers supported by thin stems. But there were also colorful flowers and lush greenery to complement them.

"Indeed! However, if you like the Golden Spoon Lily, we should have prepared more of them!"

"......"

The Earl laughed, but Twylight sighed inwardly.

(It seems the head of the household still doesn't understand.)

To Twylight, beauty was not just about the presence of something beautiful but about the harmony it created with other elements. This was especially true for an elf who loved nature. A "place of peace" required more than just a good garden; it needed hospitality, a well-prepared tea, and many other elements.

"Then... Earl, could I have a moment alone?"

"Of course, of course. —Hey, Twylight is resting! Prepare the tea!"

The Earl's good quality was that he didn't intrude unnecessarily, and Twylight thought this as he sat down. The garden was indeed beautiful, and he could tell it was designed with more greenery for the elf.

(A good gardener, and a good—)

The sound of a cart wheel echoed, and a tea cart was wheeled in.

"Sir Twylight, shall I make the tea?"

"......?"

The maid who appeared was unfamiliar. It seemed a different maid was serving today.