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Josh unwittingly took on the task.
“Please, leave this to me! There are many workshops in the Bloodstone estate.”
“Really? Would it be all right to ask that of you?”
“Of course! Isn’t this business one our lord has invested in? That makes it practically his own. Naturally, I must help.”
His lord had invested a significant sum in Lady Whitehouse’s interior design business.
So helping her would surely please his master as well.
“You must be busy yourself, Lieutenant Josh. I feel bad asking.”
“Not at all! If it’s to help you, Lady, I should do at least this much! You must be having such a hard time without proper staff!”
Josh emphasized the words proper staff, thinking of Mildred.
“You’re right. It’s been quite difficult doing it all myself.”
“Oh dear! You’ve already gone through several trial and error rounds making prototypes, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I’ll count on you then. Thank you! You’re so kind!”
“Ki-kind? Ha, hahaha! Lady, don’t worry. Just leave it all to me!”
Josh sprang to his feet, voice brimming with enthusiasm.
—
A week later, in the Cliff Castle lobby—
“Where’s Josh?”
Calix, who was about to go horseback riding, was looking for his aide.
Josh had been frequently absent the past few days.
“I’m not sure. He’s been going out at the same time every day recently. Didn’t you give him a task?”
The butler tilted his head, unsure of Josh’s whereabouts.
“No. I didn’t.”
“Then where could he be? He usually informs us when he leaves.”
“…”
Just a few days ago, Josh had been absent in the morning.
Calix caught him humming and skipping back, so he asked.
“Where were you?”
“Oh, it was nothing. I just visited a workshop.”
“I see.”
He figured maybe Josh had picked up a hobby or something and didn’t ask further. Even an aide has a right to privacy.
“How you spend your break is up to you, but don’t go overboard.”
“Yes, sir. Don’t worry!”
But Josh disappearing every day wasn’t like him.
He was someone you could count on for his sense of responsibility.
“Did he go to a workshop again…? I hope nothing’s wrong.”
“Shall I send someone to find him?”
The butler asked.
Calix brushed his bangs aside and left the castle.
“No. I’ll go myself.”
—
Josh arrived at Whitehouse, excited, and went looking for Marie.
Lady Whitehouse was reading documents on a refurbished bench in the garden.
Mildred sat beside her, sewing.
“Lady! I’m here!”
“Ah, Josh! You’ve come again today?”
Marie set the documents aside and greeted him warmly.
Josh was now being called by name by Lady Whitehouse.
They’d grown close while he shuttled between the workshop artisans and Whitehouse delivering feedback.
“Tada! The prototype of the item you mentioned is finally ready!”
Josh handed her a small package from his coat.
“Oh? Already finished?”
Marie skeptically unwrapped the cloth.
A wooden handle and body were revealed.
“Of course! The workshop in our estate finished it quickly.”
“As expected! Josh handles things swiftly and efficiently.”
“Haha, this is nothing.”
He glanced at Mildred sitting at the end of the bench.
She pushed up her glasses and inspected the prototype closely, seemingly impressed.
“Nothing? It might be easy for you, but it was difficult for us.”
“Ah… is that so?”
The truth was, Josh enjoyed assembling wooden blocks and making things.
He wanted to help Marie and show off to Mildred, but it was also the kind of work he personally liked—so it was fun.
Of course, Marie’s generous praise was the biggest motivation.
“Our carriage broke down, so it’s being repaired. Josh helped by handling all the communication with the artisans. It was a huge help.”
“Oh no, even the carriage! I’m really glad I could be of assistance.”
No wonder Dwayne hadn’t been around—he must be wrestling with the carriage.
Josh felt proud to be helpful in such a shorthanded place.
“You should finish hiring staff soon.”
“Yes. We’re still doing interviews. We already hired a few people for the interior design team.”
“Ah, so you’re being extra careful about who works in Whitehouse.”
“Yes, it’s turning out that way.”
“Shall I recommend a few people?”
“Would you? If the aide of the Duke of Bloodstone recommends someone, they must be trustworthy.”
Marie gladly accepted his offer.
Mildred quietly listened to their conversation.
‘See that? Now that’s what a proper aide looks like!’
Josh didn’t find it tiring at all, running back and forth between Whitehouse and the capital’s patent office these past few days.
“This morning, I lined up at the patent office at dawn. As soon as I finished, I came straight here!”
“You even got the patent? Already?”
“Yes! It usually takes over a month, but since I’m from the Duke of Bloodstone’s household, they expedited it.”
“Thank you! That’s such a big help!”
Hearing Marie’s grateful tone, Josh couldn’t stop grinning.
“Haha, it’s nothing. I’m glad it helped.”
“No, you make it seem easy, but if I’d done it myself, it would’ve been very hard.”
“Oh dear, Lady, doing that yourself? You should’ve made your aide do it. But don’t worry—I’m here.”
“Pardon?”
“From now on, just leave things like this to me! For someone like me, it’s easy! Haha.”
“My, thank you so much, Josh.”
Josh didn’t even realize he’d just offered his labor as freely as he once manipulated Dwayne into doing his own work.
Actually, even if he had realized, he probably still would’ve done it.
Because Marie’s praise made him feel like he was truly someone special.
That’s when it happened.
“So that’s what this was.”
A familiar low voice came from behind.
“Gasp…”
The hairs on Josh’s neck stood up.
He turned around to find a man standing with arms crossed, glaring at him.
Marie and Mildred rose from their seats.
“Calix?”
“M-My lord…?”
Calix narrowed his eyes.
“You’ve been absent because you’ve been helping Marie?”
“Well, uh, that is…”
Calix had personally gone to the estate workshops looking for Josh.
There, the artisans told him Josh had been helping produce Marie’s items—going back and forth between Bloodstone and Whitehouse almost daily.
He came to Whitehouse to confirm it—and sure enough, there was Josh, looking delighted, like a puppy greeting its owner.
“Anyone watching might think your master is Marie, not me.”
“M-My lord…”
Josh stammered, and Marie stepped in.
“Duke.”
“Call me Calix.”
“Oh, right. Calix. I guess you didn’t know. I asked Josh for help.”
“Josh? You two must have gotten close.”
His red eyes flicked to Josh, who began sweating profusely.
“M-My lord, so…”
“Yes. Lieutenant Josh has been very helpful.”
Marie quickly added, “Since you’re an investor in this interior business, Josh must’ve felt responsible as your aide.”
Calix’s eyes softened at that explanation.
His gaze returned to its usual calm green.
“I overheard talk of a patent. Is that also for the interior design business?”
“Yes. We haven’t received any commissions yet, though.”
Calix unfolded his arms and his expression darkened.
“…Not even a single commission?”
“It’s fine. They’ll come soon.”
Marie remained calm, but a thought surfaced in Calix’s mind.
“They must be trying to earn money with interior design after going bankrupt and ending up on the street.”
“Who would entrust work to a reclusive shut-in?”
“No noble would trust someone unproven.”
A vein popped on his forehead. His fists clenched.
There was no telling when their first job would come at this rate.
“Calix? What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
He shook his head like it was no big deal.
But something inside him was bubbling up—hot and furious.
“…Don’t worry about the interior jobs just yet. We haven’t finalized suppliers or labor yet anyway. I was planning to head to the capital again today.”
“That makes sense. Even great designs are useless without the right materials or skilled hands to bring them to life.”
Calix nodded, seeming to agree.
“Are you finished here now?”
“Yes, my lord. I’m sorry to have made you come all the way here. Did something come up?”
“No, that’s not it.”
He’d come because Josh’s absence was suspicious.
But even if it had been for something else—would he have come this quickly if it weren’t related to Whitehouse?
“…”
He
didn’t really want to know the answer.
Just then, Josh cautiously spoke up.
“…My lord, the count’s carriage is being repaired. How about we escort Lady Whitehouse to the capital ourselves?”
