Chapter 5: Let’s ‘sleep’ and ‘eat breakfast’ together!

“Haaam…”

The young lady yawns widely.

Hmm, she must be tired today.

Now the sun is setting…

“Young Lady, would you like to go to bed early today?”

“No.. Good sleep.. More sleep…”

“Will you sleep soundly like you did last night?”

“…Then, Good sleep.”

“Yes, then I’ll escort you to your bedroom.”

“Thank you…”

I hold the half-asleep young lady in my arms.

…She definitely has a higher body temperature than I do.

I carry the young lady, dressed in comfortable pajamas, to the 2nd floor, and gently lay her down on the bed in her room.

“Then, have a good night, Young Lady.”

“…Mana?”

“I’ll go to bed after a while.”

“I see…”

“Sleep, soundly. See you tomorrow morning?”

“Mhm… Good night…”

“Yes, have a good night, Young Lady.”

I cover her with a blanket and watch her sleep for a while.

…Cute.

She’s also lovely.

If a few more years pass, boys will be lining up to talk to her.

Well… Then, shall I do some housework?

Actually, there’s a lot to do in this mansion.

First, how did the previous person maintain cleanliness? I have to scrub the entire inside and outside of the mansion.

The outside is covered with moss and too much dust, so it needs to be dealt with quickly.

Pending cleaning, laundry, ironing, bathroom cleaning, toilet cleaning, kitchen cleaning.

If you list them all, there are probably about 190 things to do, but I’ll pick the top priorities.

Once the young lady’s emotional stability is established, I’ll have to start her education. That’s why I came here, acting as a governess.

It’s good to have a lot to do.

I quietly go outside and start with the pending chores.

Preparing to greet tomorrow comfortably.

Starting with inventory, organizing the place where I will sleep tomorrow…

Phew, good. I did 7 tasks in 40 minutes. I’m indeed a competent maid,

– Kyaaaaaaah!!!!

“Young Lady?!”

My body reacts first to the Young Lady’s scream, and I run up to the second floor.

“Young Lady!!”

“He, hiccup..! Whaa..! Hiccup..!”

“Young Lady, what’s wrong!”

“Ma, Mana..?”

“Yes, it’s Mana, Young Lady. What happened.”

I approach quickly to the side of young lady.

Is she hurt somewhere?

I don’t see.. any wounds.

Did she have pain in her head?

The Young Lady is trembling and hugs her tight in my arms, as is.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry. Young Lady. I’m here.”

“Hauu.. Hauu.. Ugh…”

…Cold sweat.

“Mana… I…”

“It’s okay…”

Perhaps she had a nightmare.

As I tightly hold trembling young lady, little by little, the trembling begins to subside.

“Haa… Haa…”

“Young Lady…”

“…Sorry.”

“It’s okay that Young Lady is scared.”

“…Sorry. Don’t leave me.”

“Yes? Why would I leave the Young Lady.”

“…Hiccup..”

…She must have had a bad dream.

“You’re really not going to leave..?”

“Yes, I won’t leave. How could I do that.”

“…Yes, I understand….”

Poor Young Lady.

I hold her in my arms until the Young Lady calms down.

“…Heee… Mana…”

“Yes, Young Lady. I’m here.”

“…Don’t go.”

“Yes, yes, I won’t go.”

“Really.. Don’t go.. Please…”

“Until the Young Lady falls asleep, I will stay right by your side.”

“…Can’t you sleep with me?”

“…I will.”

Originally, no matter how exclusive a maid is, they don’t sleep together.

If anything, they would use a comfort object, or take other measures.

But right now, leaving the Young Lady alone or providing something else seems to produce much worse results.

There’s a lot of work piled up, but…

Even so, nothing is more important than the safety and stability of the owner.

“Then.. Will you wait a moment, please? I’ll go change into my pajamas.”

“No, no… I’m scared..!”

“…Then would you like to go down to the 1st floor with me for a moment? All my belongings are there.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

Our young lady.. You’re still very young.

I go down to the first floor while holding Young Lady.

Small room used by servants.

“I always stay here. Young Lady

“Ah…”

I carry the Young Lady and go back up to her room.

Fortunately, her bed is quite large, so it seems like two women lying down in a large size would be fine.

“…Mana.”

“Yes, young lady?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Yes? There is nothing to be sorry about. If the Young Lady is happy, then that is enough for me.”

“…Aren’t you unable to sleep well because of me?”

“Please don’t say that. Young Lady, I am happy when I am with you.”

“…Really?”

“Of course.”

Work, well, that can be done later.

As an elite maid, I can handle that much.

The Young Lady and I lie down on the bed together and face each other.

“…Mana.”

“Yes, please speak. Young Lady.”

“…Can I hold you too?”

…She’s cute.

“Of course. I’m all for it.”

“Thank you…”

Hug.. The Young Lady places her face on my chest.

“Are you comfortable?”

“Mhm… it’s warm and nice…”

“I’m glad. If the Young Lady is happy with it.”

“…Soft and warm.”

“Hehe, it’s a special pillow just for you, Young Lady.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, it is.”

Of course, on this side, the small and warm young lady was put in my arms, so it is mutually beneficial in a way…

Haa… it’s nice…

Small, soft, and with good smell, the warm Young Lady.

…I’ll get some scolding from the head maid if she finds out about this.

But she will understand.

Because it is all for the Young Lady.

“..Can you stay by my side.. until I wake up?”

“Hmm… Of course. It is possible. It’s just that, breakfast might be a little late, would that be okay?”

“Mhm… I like that…”

“Then, good night, Young Lady. I hope you have a happy and pleasant dream.”

“…Yes, you too, Mana.”

Oh, dear…

For a while, I will not be like an elite maid…

I’ll be waking up a little late.

It is morning.

…Actually, to be more precise, I was awake since dawn,

The important thing is that the young lady hasn’t woken up yet.

Oh… And the Young Lady came into my pajamas.

I was surprised when I woke up and there was something inside my clothes, but it was the young lady.

She must have come in, looking for warmth.

Hmm, well, I guess I can teach her slowly, right?

If it were up to me, I’d like to wait until the young lady wakes up like this, but..

It’s already 7 am.

“Young lady, it’s time to wake up now.”

“Hmmm… 5 more minutes…”

“…It can’t be helped, I see.”

Then, should I allow for a 5 minutes sleep?

Then.. breakfast should be quick-to-eat kind, like a cereal,

No, no matter what, it is growing period. The young lady must have a proper meal,

I gently stroke the Young Lady’s hair and leisurely enjoy the morning.

“…Mana?”

“Yes, young lady.”

“…Eh????”

“Ah, that’s my chest.”

“Chest?”

“….You came into my pajamas. Did you sleep well?”

“Ooh.. Heave-ho!”

The young lady pokes her head out from between my pajamas and my chest.

“Mana!”

“Yes, yes, it’s Mana. Good morning, Young Lady.”

“Yes! Good morning to you too, Mana!”

“I’ll help you with your morning shower.”

“Y, you do that too?”

“Of course.”

I go into the bathroom with the young lady and we take a quick shower before coming out.

“Does the Young Lady like white dresses and one-pieces? There are a lot of white clothes among your everyday wear.”

“Hmm… I’ve never thought about it. It’s just that there were a lot of white clothes.”

“Ah ha… Then I’ll buy clothes of other colors that fit the Young Lady’s body type next time. Do you have any colors you like?”

“Hmm…”

Hmm?

“…Sky blue. And brown, green, white, black?”

“…Is that me?”

“Yes.”

…Does the Young Lady know how to flirt already?

“…I’ll buy some appropriately. Come on, I’ll dry your hair~”

“Okay!”

Ha, cute….

I carefully dry every single strand of the young lady’s hair with a cool breeze.

“Feels good…”

“I’ll do it for you every day from now on.”

“Every day..?”

“Yes, that’s a maid’s duty.”

“…I love it so much. I’m happy. Mana.”

“From now on, I’ll make you feel like this happiness is normal.”

“…Mhm, I don’t think that will happen. I’m always happy when I’m with Mana.”

…Young Lady, will I cry?

I’m so touched?

“Hehe…”

After carefully drying the Young Lady’s hair, we go down to the kitchen together.

Time to eat breakfast.

“Do you have any favorite foods?”

“Anything Mana makes! I want to be big like Mana too!”

“…Alright. Then!”

This Mana! I will do my best!

I roll up my sleeves and prepare breakfast.

I lightly butter the soft bread, toast it until it’s crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, spread strawberry jam on half and blueberry jam on the other half, and spread peanut butter on the other side to make toast.

While making the toast, in the remaining time, I delicately cook a soft-boiled egg, one well-done sausage, two strips of bacon, a salad with dressing, and mashed potatoes with chopped carrots.

Finally, I make cute shapes with the food for the young lady and peel some fruit to complete it!

“Wow! Mana is amazing!”

“Eat quickly, Young Lady. This is today’s breakfast.”

Finally, I pour orange juice into a transparent glass to finish.

All of this is done in just 12 minutes.

“Wow…!”

“Come on, eat it quickly before it gets cold?”

“…Aren’t you eating, Mana?”

“I’ll eat later.”

“…I want to eat with Mana…”

Ah….

…It’s against etiquette to eat with a servant.

Hmm.

“Can…we not? I want to eat with someone…”

“Of course, you can!!”

I’m sorry, Madam. I’m sorry, Head Maid.

I’ll definitely educate her later.

But for now, I think I need to be the young lady’s friend…

She’ll definitely make friends her own age later, she’s a wonderful young lady.

But for now, I think I need to take up a lot of her emotional space.

“Then, can you wait just one minute?”

“Okay!”

I pour milk over the boiled, soaked, and dried grain cereal and bring it.

“…Why are you eating that, Mana?”

“Because I’m not in my growth period? This is enough for me to eat.”

“…Mana.”

..!

The Young Lady stabs a sausage with a fork and offers it to me.

“Here, Mana, eat this!”

“Young Lady..!”

How can she be so kind..!

“And from the next meal on, eat the same thing as me!”

“Th, that is…”

“…Can’t we..?”

Ah….

I, I shouldn’t do this….

“I understand, Young Lady… But remember? That’s against etiquette. You must never do this with other servants, okay?”

“…I don’t need other people. I only need Mana.”

Looking at the young lady’s determined eyes…

We still have a long way to go.

“Shall we eat first?”

“If Mana takes this!”

Ugh…

Fine.

“Umm, not that!”

“Yes?”

“I’ll feed you!”

…Not with the fork as is?

“You did it yesterday, too!”

“…That’s also against etiquette, young lady.”

“But Mana did it first yesterday?”

“That’s because I’m a servant… It’s rare for a noble to offer it like this.”

“Umm… Then can’t we..?”

“…Just this once, okay?”

“Yes!”

It can’t be helped.

I gently bite off a piece of the sausage the young lady offered with my front teeth and chew.

The seasoning is just right.. and the meat ratio is good. The spices aren’t too strong. It’s high quality.

…I get weak when it comes to the Young Lady.

I shouldn’t be like this either.

“Is it tasty?”

“Yes, it is delicious, young lady.”

“Hehe.”

Ah, she shouldn’t eat it as is after I’ve already bitten into it.

…I need to make sure to teach her etiquette, rather than other things, first.

“I’ll enjoy it, Mana!”

“Yes, enjoy your meal, Young Lady.”

A servant and the master having a meal together.

…It feels really awkward, somehow.

But, I feel good.