Chapter 024: Picnic, an Unexpected Gift
Typically, the lower maids working in noble households were mostly young women who had just shed their girlish innocence.
The primary reason for this was the poverty of lower-class families.
In a harsh reality where they had to worry about the next meal, children, once they reached a suitable age, had to enter the labor market early to support their families.
The tasks of a lower maid mostly involved simple labor that didn’t require specialized skills, and working as a maid in a noble household was a good job, offering stable income and meals.
The second reason was that the employers preferred younger women.
Young enough to endure the stamina required for over 12 hours of daily labor and compliant enough to follow the orders of superiors or the master without resistance.
These two factors converged to create a narrow age range for lower maids, all roughly the same age.
As a result, the topics of conversation among maids were often predictable.
Gossip about employers and superiors, talk of romance, or rumors circulating among maids doing the same work.
Right now, the conversation everyone was focused on was exactly that.
It was a story often heard around here.
A tale of an unmarried maid getting pregnant and being sacked.
Most employers—nine out of ten—were reluctant to keep a maid who had conceived out of wedlock in their household.
Some would even dismiss them harshly, fearing they’d set a bad example for the other maids, so what more was there to say?
Thus, the story Celine was sharing wasn’t particularly shocking, but Deborah found it curious that everyone was reacting with such astonishment.
It didn’t take long for her to understand why.
“People were whispering that the child in that maid’s belly is none other than Viscount Lanfrey’s. That’s why the viscountess secretly sent her away to keep the rumors quiet.”
“But hasn’t that story been going around for a while now?”
“Yeah, they said a pretty-faced maid deliberately seduced the viscount.”
“What? Isn’t Viscount Lanfrey over fifty?”
“Fifty? I heard he’s almost sixty.”
As they shook their heads, the other maids’ brows furrowed sharply.
“She’s got some guts. No matter how much you like money, how could she…”
Hanna made a gagging sound, scrunching her face, prompting Celine to narrow her eyes and ask,
“Why? If you think about it, that might actually be the smarter move.”
“What? What’s that supposed to mean? Smarter?”
At the incomprehensible remark, Hanna’s furrowed brow deepened further.
“Think about it. Compare our lives as lower maids to hers—how different will they be in the future?”
“Different how?”
Blinking at the question, Celine let out a long sigh, as if exasperated.
“You guys, what do you do with the wages you earn here?”
Well… The maids glanced at each other, trailing off. Celine let out a scoff and cut in.
It was obvious without hearing it.
“You all send every penny home without touching a single coin, don’t you?”
“…Are you saying you don’t?”
At the snarky remark, someone asked in an indignant tone.
“Well, I’m the same. What makes me any different?”
Everyone looked puzzled, wondering why she’d say that if she was in the same boat.
“That’s what I’m saying. We work ourselves to death here, but in the end, we’ll have nothing left and end up marrying men in the same situation, raising kids just like us.”
“…”
“But what about that maid we’re badmouthing? I heard the viscountess gave her a small estate in the countryside, along with enough assets to raise the child.”
Finally understanding what Celine was
getting at, the atmosphere grew heavy.
She wasn’t saying that life was necessarily better.
It was merely a bitter acknowledgment of a society where status and class were fixed at birth, a reality where no amount of struggle could break those barriers.
Deborah wore an awkward expression as the mood sank.
Of course, she wasn’t oblivious to their feelings.
Though she hadn’t spoken of her own troubled past, there was likely no one sitting on that worn linen cloth with a fate more unfortunate than hers.
But the weather was so bright and warm, and this was a rare picnic.
Though simple, they had pooled their money to prepare fragrant bread, roasted potatoes, and herbal tea.
After today, they’d return to their grueling routines, so it felt like a waste to spend this time in such gloom.
Before that topic came up, they had been enjoying the sunshine, laughing and chatting, having a truly happy time…
Feeling regretful and wondering how to lift the heavy mood, Deborah was deep in thought when—
*Rustle.*
The sound of grass being stepped on brushed past her ears.
At the sound of someone approaching, all eyes turned toward the source.
Oh—someone let out a short gasp upon spotting a familiar face among the approaching group.
Deborah, too, widened her eyes and blinked repeatedly.
Robin.
Why on earth was he here, and…
Everyone’s gazes shifted to the people behind Robin.
They were familiar faces too.
Some of the footmen from Elfengrin.
Seven pairs of eyes blinked busily, darting around.
Robin signaled to those behind him, and the young footmen carefully placed the baskets they were carrying onto the linen cloth before turning back the way they came, as if their task was complete.
After the footmen left, all eyes focused on the baskets on the linen cloth.
Three baskets, no less.
And they looked… well, unmistakably like picnic baskets.
Why had they left them here?
The seven faces all seemed to ask the same question.
“The weather’s really nice today, isn’t it?”
Haha, Robin’s loud laugh caused a few eyebrows to twitch slightly.
To suddenly show up and say something as trivial as “The weather’s really nice today” left everyone dumbfounded.
But for some reason, they only exchanged glances, and no one stepped forward to ask.
Finally, unable to stand it, Deborah spoke up first.
“Um, Robin, what’s all this about…?”
“Oh, Deborah.”
With a warm smile, Robin turned to her.
“It’s really a nice day.”
“…”
“Perfect for a picnic.”
“…”
Just as Deborah was starting to get annoyed with his vague remarks, he continued.
“His Grace returned from an outing earlier.”
Deborah’s expression stiffened slightly at his words.
Everyone present knew that already.
About an hour ago, they had all seen the duke’s carriage heading toward the mansion along the garden’s outer path.
But why bring that up now? As if reading her thoughts, Robin continued immediately.
“As he passed by here, he must have seen you all and told the kitchen to send these.”
Pointing to the baskets with a nod and a smile, Robin caused everyone to exchange even more puzzled looks.
The duke sent these? …What are they?
Everyone stared at the baskets with serious expressions.
The atmosphere grew tense, as if they suspected the baskets might contain poison. Robin laughed out loud and spoke again.
“It’s fine, don’t worry. Go ahead and open them.”
Nodding reassuringly, he urged them on, and Celine was the first to move.
With a tense face, she opened a basket, and moments later, her eyes widened as a short gasp escaped her lips.
Why, what is it? At Celine’s reaction, the others, unable to contain their curiosity, crowded around.
And then, they all repeated exactly what Celine had done moments earlier.
“Goodness…”
The mysterious picnic baskets contained food.
Mini tarts topped with fine foie gras, spring rolls filled with fresh vegetables and meat, chocolate mousse for dessert, and a pie made with tangy lemon and crisp meringue.
Oh, and with the fine champagne in the third basket, it was the most perfect combination for a picnic.
The maids’ eyes widened at the luxurious menu, fit for a noblewoman’s picnic.
The duke sent this? Why?
The earlier question resurfaced, but even Robin, who was supposed to explain, seemed clueless.
With an awkward smile, Robin shrugged.
“Well, maybe it’s to encourage you for your hard work…?”
Haha, haha—his awkward laugh echoed in the air like a reverberation.
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By Anna 💓
