Chapter 8

It has already been a month since I arrived at the Grossroad Marquess family's estate.

While learning the duties of a maid from Marilyn, I continued to observe Lady Sarah without fail.

The stories about her being extremely spoiled and mischievous turned out to be not as bad as I had heard. Her body was just a bit more indulgent, and she was clingy, often hugging me, and frequently getting her dress dirty by playing in the sandbox. To me, these were all within an acceptable range. It's a common story for children.

──That is, if she were a girl of normal size.

"Shiricia~! Sarah's hungry~ snacks~"

When Lady Sarah, who is much heavier, suddenly hugs me from behind while I'm cleaning, I almost dive forward. When she tackles me from a low position in front, it feels like the air is being knocked out of my lungs, and I feel like an American football player every day.

For a normal, frail woman, every day would be terrifying. It's not just mental cruelty; it's purely physical assault.

Of course, I know Lady Sarah doesn't mean to, but even without malice, the physical damage is real, and the burden and anxiety on the maid are significant. I think the people who quit probably did so because of this.

Every day is like a triathlon, far from the gentle image of a nanny.

However, I'm a competitive person, and I'm in a precarious position where I might not find another job if I leave here. When else will I have a chance to hold on if not now?

I've been doing intense strength training in the morning and before bed, and I can now carry Lady Sarah to her bed without my legs shaking, and I can hold her for about five minutes. However, when I hold her, my neck and forearms feel like they're about to pop.

I realized that the reason carrying her on my back is easier than holding her is that when I carry her on my back, the force is distributed across my back muscles and spine, but when I hold her in front, I have to rely mainly on my arm strength and the pressure on my neck from her hugging me.

I don't want to bulk up too much, but I still need to keep training.

Observing her, I noticed that Lady Sarah often gets her tonsils swollen and runs a fever, staying in bed for several days. This happened twice in the past month.

She also gets tired easily, feels sluggish, and her legs swell.

I know someone who had exactly the same symptoms very well—my husband from my previous life.

My husband often got his tonsils swollen because the meat in his throat prevented him from gargling properly, leading to bacterial infections. Lady Sarah might be in the same situation.

Conclusion:

Lady Sarah's frequent illnesses and poor health seem to be due to lifestyle diseases caused by her body weight, or she might be developing them.

Her diet is also extremely unbalanced. She happily eats meat and sweets but barely touches vegetables, at most eating some French fries and buttered corn.

Nutritionally, it's the worst possible diet.

The doctor regularly comes to examine her but always says the same thing:

"Eat a balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and exercise."

He leaves some fever-reducing medicine and goes, as if there's no point in examining her.

Honestly, this isn't something that can be fixed with just medication. If left unchecked, she could develop high blood pressure or diabetes.

I casually consulted the cook in the kitchen, who said:

"But you see, I tried making the salad easy to eat by chopping it finely and adding crispy bacon to the dressing, but she won't eat it at all. She even picks out the green peas and carrots from the croquettes."

He seems at a loss.

"Has Lady Sarah ever had any allergic reactions or felt unwell after eating vegetables or foods she dislikes?"

"Hmm, I just don't like the taste. It doesn't make me itchy. It just tastes bad."

...I see. It doesn't seem to be an allergy.

I remember some recipes I learned to trick my husband into eating better, but I can't make food for Lady Sarah without being the cook.

If I had permission from above, it might be different, but the head of the estate, Lord Roy Grossroad, is out inspecting the territory, and I've never met him.

It's painful to see a small child looking unwell so often. I need to consult with Lord Marquess when he returns.

Thinking about this, Marilyn, the head maid, told me that Lord Marquess would be back tomorrow.

"Lord Marquess is very understanding and respects our opinions as servants, so it might be a good idea to talk to him."

"Yes! Thank you."

I've also discussed my observations with Marilyn. She seems to recognize me as the longest-serving maid, even though it's only been a month. The others who quit after a month must have found it tough too. ...Yeah, even I, at 18, find it quite challenging. I shouldn't blame them.

"Shiricia, I'm thirsty~♪"

Lady Sarah suddenly tackled me in the side, and I gasped for air.

Please, no sudden attacks when I'm unprepared.

"As you wish, but your dress is covered in mud from making mud pies, so please change and wash your hands first."

"Okay~"

Lord Marquess... Master will be back tomorrow. I felt a glimmer of hope.

◇ ◇ ◇

"Welcome back, Lord Marquess."

"Thank you, Marilyn. I'm sorry for being away for so long. Has anything changed?"

"Grandpa, you're back~!"

He didn't flinch even when Lady Sarah tackled him.

I was completely unprepared for Lord Marquess and was shocked by his appearance.

...What a surprise.

Lord Grossroad is... well, he's strong... or rather, he's large and bear-like, with a gentle voice, clear skin without any blemishes, and a relaxed demeanor. He's a man in his mid-20s who is a feast for the eyes and perfectly suited to my tastes.

My heart has been pounding since I saw him, the ultimate ideal boss.

However, I also realized from my past knowledge that he is definitely in the danger zone.

A large, well-fed bear and a free-range girl.

Seeing the two of them side by side is personally very soothing, but I have a strong resolve to do something about both of them.

Perhaps the gods of my past life have given me a chance for redemption.

This meeting felt fateful to me.