CH 13

Around nine o’clock in the morning, Dolph visited my room.

“Your Highness Lilith, if it’s around ten o’clock today, Mr. Crane will be able to introduce you to the person in charge of the medicinal herb garden, but are you okay?”

I cheerfully answered Dolph, the butler, who was worried about my physical condition.

“It’s okay. Going to the herb garden is energizing.”

Plants are a treasure trove of natural energy.

Around 9:50 am, Crane, a royal doctor, came to pick me up.

“I, Schnaiser, will be your escort today.”

He is a jaguar beastman with brown hair that reaches down to his neck and brown eyes. His eyes are slanted and sharp, but his features are fine.

He seems to be 27 years old, the same age as the other bodyguard, Sanse.

I walked to the medicinal herb garden with the royal doctor, Crane, and the escort, Schnaiser.

The medicinal herb garden is inside a large greenhouse about a five-minute walk from the mansion.

First, I changed into the prepared work clothes in the changing room next to the greenhouse.

When I entered the greenhouse, four beastmen wearing work clothes were already working.

“Usually there are at least eight people.”

Dr. Crane told me.

It would be difficult to provide medicinal herbs for all the patients in the royal palace with half the number of people.

“Hey, everyone.”

When Crane called out, everyone stopped their hands and gathered around.

Whether it was dissatisfaction with the interruption of work or dissatisfaction with myself, the gazes that looked at me were somewhat cold.

I know I’m not welcome either way.

“I think I told you yesterday that Her Highness Princess Lilith wants to help collect herbs.”

I was introduced by Crane and said hello.

“Everyone, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Lilith, the wife of His Highness Gresis. Thank you for your guidance.”

Since I was in a position to ask for instruction, I bowed like a lady with respect, and the workers showed a surprised expression.

“To bow to us. . .”

I heard someone’s voice, but Crane didn’t care and proceeded with the story.

“Charlie of the Marquis House will take over the responsibility of Her Highness Princess Lilith. She is 23 years old and a jaguar beastman. She’s been doing service activities in this herb garden for about two years.”

You’re a wonderful person to be doing service activities. With admiration, I turned to Charlie-jousama.

She has a plump body unique to beastman women, and has long brown hair that reaches her waist and is woven sideways. Her slanted brown eyes seemed to carry strength.

I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere. . . but it’s the first time I’ve met a high-ranking aristocratic daughter of the Tenar Kingdom, so it’s just my imagination.

“Nice to meet you, Your Royal Highness Princess Lilith. I an Charlie from the Marquis de Shar. I am a daughter of the Marquis and I am treated as a mere worker here, so I won’t give you any special treatment just because you are a princess. Are you still okay with me?”

“Hey, your language.”

A beastman in his thirties who was near Charlie warned her in a low voice.

“This is the head of this place, Viscount Joan. A wildcat beastman.”

Crane told me, and when I nodded, the beastmen around me looked pale.

They seemed to think they would be punished for disrespect. Of course I wouldn’t do that.

“No problem. I don’t mind being with you all.”

When I smiled, the people around me were clearly showing relief.

“Well then, I have a medical examination, so please excuse me.”

Dr. Crane left the medicinal herb garden, and I was immediately guided by Charlie-jousama to the field of medicinal herbs that needed to be collected.

“A person who is always complaining and is slow at her job is saying something bad to a higher-ranking opponent. What are you going to do if you are held responsible for it.”

From behind me, I heard a muffled and not calm remark.

I pretended I didn’t hear and followed Charlie-jousama.

“First of all, one person will be in charge of one row of the fields. Please don’t pick all the plants, pick only the large leaves and put them in this basket. When the basket is full, spread it on the sun-drying net over there. The medicinal herbs that were dried in the morning of the previous day are over there. Finish by putting it in a small bag one by one around three o’clock, and this is the flow of the day.”

I received a general explanation from Charlie-jousama, and I was handed a basket that would hold about 5 liters if it were used for liquid.

“Her Highness’s quota will be in this line. Those who have finished can take a break.”

“I understand.”

“I squatted down in the field and immediately got to work.

I silently pick the leaves and put them in the basket. Repeating it over and over.

After about an hour, the line I was in charge of ended.

“Charlie-ojousama, the work.”

“Oh, are you tired after all? If so, you can stop.”

Charlie-jousama seemed to have misunderstood something.

“Thank you for your concern. But touching nature gives me energy, so I’m not tired.”

“Well, you don’t have to be strong. So, what happened?”

It may be because I interrupted the work that she was a little suspicious.

“I have finished what I was instructed to do, so may I help you?”

“Huh? Eh? Already?”

Charlie-jousama got up and started checking the line I was in charge of.

“It’s certainly finished. Then, can you do it from the end over there?”

“I understand.”

As I was told, I restarted the work from the end of the line that Charlie-jousama was in charge of, and it was over in about ten minutes.

“It’s the first time I’ve finished so early.”

“It was worth the effort.”

Since the quota is over, I report to Joan, the person in charge, with Charlie-jousama.

“Are you finished?”

“Yes.”

Joan, like Charlie, checked the lines that Charlie-jousama and I were in charge of.

“It’s finished.”

At Joan’s words, Charlie-jousama laughed loudly and looked around.

“Oh no, you guys haven’t finished yet. You always look down on me by telling me I’m too slow.”

Charlie-jousama is delighted.

“You look proud for someone with the habits of a cheating sinner.”

I heard a voice from another place that didn’t belong to Joan.

Certainly, according to the laws of the Tenar Kingdom, cheating is a crime.

A cheater will be punished in some way. I remember learning that.

“Whatever you say, I have no regrets. If you have something to say, why don’t you look at my face without being sneaky?”

Charlie-jousama stared sharply at the direction of the voice. But there was no one.

Apparently, form Charlie-jousama’s words, there is no doubt that she cheated. Some people may not like it.

“Charlie-jousama, please be careful with your words. If you don’t have the attitude of reflection, this will not be an option as a service activity.”

“I know that much.”

Joan was sighing with a troubled face at Charlie-jousama who turned away.

Joan is in charge of the medicinal herb garden, so he has a higher position than Charlie-jousama.

However, even as a sinner, Charlie-jousama is the daughter of a marquis. Joan is a viscount, so it must be difficult.

“We didn’t come here to fight. It’s over. I came here to help others. Where should I collect next?”

“”Eh?””

Charlie-jousama and Joan spoke at about the same time.

“Since we distribute work equally, we always let the person who has finished the quota take a break. Please don’t worry about it and take a break.”

Charlie-jousama nodded at Joan’s words and deeply agreed.

But I shook my head.

“I’m here to help. I’m not going to rest until everyone’s done. If Charlie-jousama is tired, you can take a break without worrying about me.”

“. . . Well, I’m an experienced person, so I can’t be more tired than Princess Lilith.”

It seems that Charlie-jousama still has energy to spare.

“Charlie-jousama, who is in charge, also says so, so please give us instructions.”

I smile at Joan. I should never be intimidating.

“Understood. Then, Her Highness, please take the back row. Charlie-jousama, please take the row over there.”

I follow Joan’s instructions and go to the line to help the other workers.

“Her Highness the Princess is going to help me?”

“Yes, let’s finish it quickly.”

I didn’t care about the worker who looked as if they were taken aback and started working.

“It’s fast.”

When I thought the worker said that, he started working quickly.

“Charlie-jousama is helping? What kind of revenge is it?”

“Nothing in particular. Of course it’s because I’m excellent and kind.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you.”

I heard such a conversation from the direction Charlie-jousama was going. The person I went to help was similar to the owner of the voice that was swearing earlier, but I was relieved that it didn’t seem to be that bad.

“I see, it’s fast and accurate. . . It seems that it’s true that human hands are dexterous.”

For some time now, Joan has been obliquely watching my hands as I work from behind.

“Is that so?”

I simply pluck the leaves in descending order of size and put them in a basket.

I don’t think it’s a task that requires dexterity.

I don’t stop and glance at Joan.

“Beastmen have higher strength and physical ability than humans, but on the other hand, our movements are rough, and it is said that we are especially weak at delicate work using our hands. I just didn’t think there was such a difference.”

“Is it that different? It’s strange even though it looks the same.”

When I was moving my hands while talking, this place was also finished.

“Joan, is there anything else I can help with?”

“No, that’s enough. The place Charlie-jousama is helping is also over.”

The wall clock in the greenhouse indicated 11:45.

“I can’t believe that with half the number of people everyone finished their morning quota so early.”

Joan looked at her watch twice and said so.

“It’s because Charlie-jousama also did her best, even giving up her break.”

“I guess she didn’t want to show her bad side as a person in charge. No way, if she’s helping, it might rain spears.”

Joan’s eyes had a distant look.

Raining spears is an idiom that is similar to ‘it may snow tomorrow.’ It is used when someone is acting out of character or something happens that no one expects to happen.

Jousama – Miss or young lady