Chapter 47

Chapter 47: The Deputy's Residence

After being shaken in the carriage for a while, we arrived in a slightly larger town as it began to get dark.

The town outside the duke's territory is managed by a deputy, and even the deputy's residence is modest if it's a small town. However, in larger towns, it seems that the deputy's residence is quite a luxurious building. Since the deputy's residence is built by the duke's family, it probably also serves as a display of authority.

This town is quite large, and the deputy's residence is spacious, so there's plenty of room for us to stay.

We passed through the town in the carriage and stopped in front of the deputy's residence. The servants got down first, then me, and Frederick-sama in the same order as before.

In front of the deputy's residence stood a person dressed in what seemed to be the attire of a deputy, and behind him were numerous servants. There are quite a lot of servants, it seems.

I heard it earlier in the carriage; the deputies in larger towns are usually from lower-ranking nobility, the third son or below. Instead of working as officials in the royal palace, many are employed by nobles and become deputies. The deputy of this town is one of them, apparently the third son of a baron. A semi-noble, you could say.

The man who was bowing in front of the mansion lifted his head. He looked to be in his forties, with a portly belly, quite overweight.

"We have been awaiting your arrival. It is an honor for the Duke's family to visit. We will do our utmost to offer our hospitality, so please enjoy your stay."

The man said with a smile. He appears to be very friendly, but... there seems to be something hidden behind that smile. Why do I feel that way?

It's kind of a smile that seems deceitful. As if he's fawning over someone in power...

For now, I should avoid getting too close.

"Morgan, it's been a while. I'll only be here for a day, but I'm counting on you."

"Richard-sama, it's been a long time indeed. I'm glad to see you in good health. Please come inside; I will show you to your rooms."

So, this man is called Morgan. Guided by Morgan, we entered the mansion. The structure of the mansion wasn't much different from the Duke's mansion in the capital. Just that it's a bit more modest and smaller. I feel more at ease with this size.

Come to think of it, if this mansion were in Japan, it would already be considered a luxurious residence. I guess I'm starting to adapt to the values of this world.

Our guest rooms seem to be on the second floor, and Richard-sama and the others were guided to the rooms at the back.

"Richard-sama, please use this room. Catherine-sama, here is your room, and Frederick-sama, this is yours."

I thought it was my turn next, but I wasn't shown to my room. Why...?

"Morgan, where is Leon's room? I told you to treat him the same as us. Is there no other room? Isn't there another room we can use as a guest room?"

"I understand. However, I'm terribly sorry. There are only these three guest rooms. So, could Leon-sama perhaps use one of the vacant servant's rooms?"

"A servant's room? Aren't there other rooms available? Isn't that one of the guest rooms?"

When Richard-sama asked, I saw a hint of panic on Morgan's face, albeit just a little. However, I noticed it because I'm shorter and could see his expression from below. Others probably didn't notice.

"That room is currently being used as a storage room. Since there have never been more than three guests before, we thought it would be more practical to use the other rooms as storage... I apologize for the inconvenience."

Turning a room that could be a guest room into a storage room is strange. Is that really the case?

I had some doubts, but since it might complicate things to say anything here, I kept quiet.

"Morgan, there are rooms available, so prepare one properly as a guest room. Add two or three more guest rooms as well. It's only by chance that there were only three of us before."

"Understood. I apologize for the inconvenience."

"Now, what should we do today..."

Richard-sama began to ponder. I'm just a commoner, so it's fine for me to stay in a servant's room.

I quickly conveyed that to him.

"Richard-sama, I don't mind using the servant's room."

"No, treating you like that would be too much..."

"However, it would be unthinkable for someone of my status to use a room while others use the servant's quarters. It's just for today."

As I said that, Richard-sama seemed quite troubled, but he eventually agreed.

"Well then, I apologize, but Leon-kun, would you be willing to use the servant's quarters?"

"Yes."

With that settled, I parted ways with the Duke's household and was guided to the servant's room by Roger.

"Please make yourself at home here."

Though Morgan-san used polite language, there was disdain in his eyes when he looked at me.

Ah, this person must be one of those aristocrats who look down on commoners. Perhaps he didn't want to put a commoner like me in a luxurious guest room earlier?

"Thank you."

As I said that, Morgan-san glared at me fiercely before leaving.

Is this person an idiot?

Doesn't he understand the significance of Richard-sama requesting me to be treated the same way? Even earlier, Richard-sama hesitated to let me use the servant's quarters. With a little thought, anyone would realize that I must be an important guest.

If he looks at that guest with such eyes, doesn't he realize that I could easily ruin him with a word to Richard-sama? Perhaps he's firmly convinced that as a noble, he can do anything to a commoner without consequences.

Morgan-san might have hidden it well in front of Richard-sama and the others, but what if he belongs to the opposing faction of the Townsend Duke's family? I should probably inform Richard-sama about that.

Sigh, it's just one night, but it's going to be troublesome.

As I was thinking that, Roger came into the room.

"Leon-sama, I was able to borrow the adjacent servant's room, so I will be staying there. If you need anything, please call me immediately."

"Yeah, thanks."

"However, it's surprising that they would have someone like Leon-sama, a guest of the Duke's family, stay in a room like this."

Roger was visibly frowning. It's rare for him to show his emotions.

"And this room is quite dusty."

"Yeah, it is. Could you do me a favor and clean it up easily?"

"Of course."

Since I entered this room, I had thought it was quite dusty. It's probably never been cleaned.

Doesn't he realize that he's making it too obvious that he's trying to harass me? I can't even get angry at him because he's too foolish.

If I were to tell Richard-sama about his actions and the state of this room, Morgan-san might get fired on the spot, but maybe it's better if that competent person remains as deputy? I just have to endure one night, after all.

However, considering his confrontational approach to the Townsend Duke's family's influence, would it be better to have him dismissed? I still don't fully understand the reality of the nobility, so I'm not sure. Power and work might be separate things.

For now, I'll observe the situation.

Roger cleaned the room thoroughly and brought a bucket of water for me to clean myself.

"Leon-sama, there's no bath in this room, so would you mind just wiping yourself off tonight?"

"It's fine, just wiping off will do. Thank you."

With Roger's help, I cleansed myself and changed into clothes suitable for inside the house.

After a while, it was time for dinner, and one of the mansion's servants guided me to the dining hall. The servants here seem to avoid going against Morgan-san, but they don't seem actively inclined to harm me either. Well, we're all commoners, so I doubt they'd take such a risky action.

When I arrived at the dining hall, Morgan-san was already seated, and since the Duke's family members weren't there yet, I braced myself, fearing that something might happen. However, Frederick-sama soon arrived, and that settled it. It's quite tiring...