Chapter 50

"Looks like the kitchen is this way."

"Ladies! No! You can't go any further! This area is off-limits!"

Just as we were about to enter the kitchen, a flustered servant loudly stopped us.

"I was startled," "......"

Sara was frozen in shock.

"I apologize for startling you. I panicked when I saw you about to enter the kitchen."

"Hmm? Lulia doesn't steal things, you know?"

"That's not the issue. The food brought from the main house—"

The food brought from the main house is apparently delivered to the kitchen by the staff from the main house.

Therefore, it seems the areas where the staff from the main house enter and exit are separated from where we can go.

"I see?"

"We schedule different times and limit the number of people entering and exiting to prepare for any emergencies."

"Right. If it spreads to the guests, it would be terrible."

Actually, it's not scarlet pox, so it can't spread.

However, we shouldn't interfere with everyone's serious precautions.

"We'll block off the restricted areas with this rope, so please don't cross it."

"Got it. Sara, did you understand?"

"......"

Sara was still frozen.

"What's wrong, Sara?"

When I shook her, she seemed to snap out of it and started moving.

"Yep, I got it."

"Woof woof," "Kyuu"

It seems that not only Sara but also Daru and Kyaro understood.

"Then, let's continue exploring the areas we can move freely! Sara, come on!"

"Yep!"

We continued exploring the annex.

We advanced while tapping the floor with a cool stick.

"Lulia, why are you tapping the floor?"

"......To find traps."

"......There are traps?"

"The possibility is low, but in exploration, being too cautious is never a bad thing."

"......I see."

That's what it says in the explorer's book.

It seems Sara also admires my skilled exploration.

The restricted areas appear to be the living spaces of the servants, the kitchen, and the laundry room, where the support team from the main house works.

"This area seems to be free for us to explore?"

"Yep. All the rooms are clean."

While the servant areas are off-limits, the family areas seem to be free for us to move around.

After checking the first floor, we went up to the second floor.

The second floor seems to be the sleeping area.

"This is the bedroom!"

I entered one of the many bedrooms with Sara.

"It's soft."

"Yep. The bedding is also dry!"

Despite not being used for years, there was no musty smell.

It seems the caretaker regularly maintained it.

"Which room do you like, Sara?"

"Which room?"

"The rooms are mostly the same but slightly different. Sunlight, for example?"

"Hmm..."

"I like the bigger room. Daru and Kyaro will sleep with me."

"Woof," "Kyuu"

Sara and I petted the excitedly wagging Daru and the Kyaro on my shoulder.

"......Fluffy."

"Let's sleep together, Sara."

"Is that okay?"

"Of course, it's okay."

"Hehe... Thank you."

Sara smiled happily.

After that, we discussed which room we liked.

"From this room, you can see the lake!"

"Beautiful. The sunlight is good too!"

"Shall we take this room?"

"Yep!" "Woof woof!" "Kyuu~"

With Sara, Daru, and Kyaro's agreement, I'll ask Mother later to assign us this room.

The bed is large enough for Daru to fit comfortably.

"Let's explore the room!"

"Yep!" "Woof" "Kyuu"

We checked under the bed, inside the wardrobe, and the bathroom.

Next to the room, there was a place to wash our bodies, just like in my room at the main house.

"Sara, come over here."

"Yep," "Woof!"

I called Sara to the place to wash our bodies, and Daru ran over with her.

Daru flattened his back and said,

"Woof!"

inviting me to climb on.

"Daru, not now. The water is cold, you know?"

We don't need to wash our bodies right now.

I just need to explain how to use it to Sara.

"Kyuu~"

I petted Daru's head, which looked sad, and turned to Sara.

"Sara, when you turn this, water comes out from there. It's cold."

"Yep."

Sara nodded solemnly.

"You need to wash yourself if you get dirty."

Sara said it as if it were a sad thing.

Maybe Sara doesn't like washing her body.

"I once tried to get hot water to wash Kyaro and ended up getting cold water on my head."

"Woof~" "Kyuru~"

Daru wagged his tail happily, remembering that time, and Kyaro shivered.

Maybe Daru enjoyed getting cold water with everyone.

"Of course, that was when I was little."

I emphasized that it's fine now. It's a matter of maintaining my dignity as an older sister.

"At that time, Marion helped me."

"Mom?"

"Yes. So, if you ever need help, I'll be there for you."

"Thank you. Hehehe."

Sara smiled.

"Yep!"

I petted Sara's head, finding her smile adorable.

"Still, even for Lulia, the shower is complicated. Sara, don't touch it."

"Got it!"

Sara nodded seriously.

"Woof~"

Behind her, Daru put his front paws on the wall, stood on his hind legs, and grabbed the lever with his mouth.

"Wait, Daru!"

"Woof?"

"Daru, don't touch the lever."

"Woofu?"

Daru tilted his head, puzzled, as if to say, "Why? Let's play with water."

It seems he didn't listen to what I said to Sara at all.

"Daru, if you get cold water, you'll catch a cold."

"Woof"

"If you play with it, you'll get in trouble."

"......Woofu"

"Water play is for another time."

"Woof!"

Daru wagged his tail and pushed his big head against me, happy with the promise of future water play.

"Daru is really a child, isn't he?"

Sara and I petted the playful Daru.

At that moment, I glanced out the window.

"Hmm?"

"Is something being built?"

"It looks like something is being built."

Outside the annex, a building was being constructed, too grand to be just a shed.

"Maybe it's a chicken coop?"

"I think it's a house for people. The door and everything are for humans."

"That might be it. Sara, you're sharp."

I petted Sara's head, and she blushed.

"Hmm? That's the butler."

The butler of the Grand Duke's household was overseeing the construction.

The butler is the supervisor of the servants.

"Let's listen in to find out what they're building. Be quiet?"

"Yep."

I opened the window and used my enhanced hearing to listen.

Of course, it's a special skill, so my ears can stretch.

Sara moved her cute animal ears. Daru and Kyaro also moved their ears seriously.

"Guard house?"

"Oh, Sara, you heard it?"

"Yep. Sara has good ears."

"Amazing!"

It seems Father was concerned that the five isolated servants and the guards would be insufficient.

So, they are hurriedly building a place for about ten guards to sleep.

"They plan to finish it by today?"

"Amazing."

Father apparently instructed them to finish it by sunset.

I was worried that the carpenters might be upset about the tight deadline, but they were saying things like,

"Even with a tight deadline, we can't complain with this much pay."

"Ah, I can make my daughter's wedding dress!"

"His Highness the Duke is generous!"

It seems they are being paid much more than the usual rate, so I was relieved.

"Oh, I almost forgot something important. There's no toilet."

"It's over there."

"Yep, there's a toilet for Lulia and Sara, but not for Daru and Kyaro."

"Oh, right."

"As it is, Daru and Kyaro won't be able to use the toilet."

"Woof?" "Kyau?"

Daru and Kyaro seemed to realize the seriousness of the situation.

"Let's ask Mother. Let's go!"

Sara and I climbed onto Daru's back and headed to the base, which is the parlor.

"Mom!"

"What is it?"

In the parlor, Mother was writing.

She was writing at an incredible speed with a pile of documents on the table.

"There's no toilet for Daru!"

"That's right."

Mother didn't stop writing, seemingly very busy.

But this was an emergency.

"Kyaro is small, so I can carry her to use Lulia's toilet, but... Daru..."

"Woofu..."

"If this continues, Daru won't be able to use the toilet and might get sick!"

"Woof... Kyuu"

Daru looked worried when he heard about getting sick, and his tail drooped.

"Don't worry. A toilet for Daru and Kyaro will arrive soon."

Mother stopped writing, looked at me, and smiled.

It seems she had already given the order to bring the toilet.

"Thank you, Mom! That's great, Daru."

"Woofu"

Daru wagged his tail happily, relieved that a toilet was coming.

"Daru should also go for a walk. Can you take care of it?"

"Leave it to me."

Mother gave the instruction to one of the servants to take Daru for a walk.

"Woofu"

Daru, who usually gets excited, looked at me with concern.

He was probably worried about being away in an unfamiliar place.

"Daru, I'll leave the outside exploration to you."

"Woof!"

"Go and mark your territory as much as you want."

"Woof!"

Daru perked up, remembering his important job of marking territory, and wagged his tail enthusiastically.