AN AWKWARD DINNER.
It’s tedious to be repeatedly nagged for 100s of years.
From the early morning, standing beside Dona, Housekeeper Helen was full of reprimands. Usually at this time, she will be busy with allotting maids their duties. She seems to be really pissed. Looking at Dona’s pale face and swollen panda eyes, what happened last night was obvious.
“Next time don’t go out just as you wish.”
“Mm.”
“If Dona is found inefficient in serving Agassi, I will consider someone else.”
“Huh..”
With Nancy, Karen was the only one who was scolded. Is it because of the difference in terms of experience? Thinking so, Karen rubbed her flank. It is not pleasant to wake up to the voice of a middle aged person rather than a tender young girl.
Feeling the throbbing wound, fortunately it was handled neatly this time. I guess it will be good to maintain a good relationship with Dylan until the accident in the future.
Lowering the negligee and checking the wound, it was indeed as Raymond had said, the injury wasn’t deep, but there were 2 stitches. I already broke the forehead and sewn the flanks – what awaits in this one’s years, she felt curious.
“For a corset, a bone corset is indeed the best. It was good that I bought it.”
“Agassi”
“Don’t blame yourself, the injury is not big.”
“There were many casualties in the circus, if not for Lord Raymond, they would have died. No, it will surely be death.”
She ran out of excuses. Currently, in lieu of Karen, the domestic affairs were taken care of by Housekeeper Helena, who is highest ranked among the female servants. As Manservant Bowen doesn’t come under her jurisdiction, how he will be dealt with was still unknown. But due to the reckless action of Karen, Dona’s salary was cut in half for a month and put her back as laundry maid. [TLN: Dona was laundry maid at first only become Karen’s maid due to Nancy’s missing]
“No, I oppose.”
Above all, it was rare for a maid to be light lipped, lively and reckless as Dona. Such an aspect was very attractive to Karen that she intended to make a concession for Dona.
“I made a mistake, so reinstate Dona.”
“Agassi.”
Helen said firmly, while Dona’s eyes lit up.
“I understand your affection as it’s hard to come by with a peer, but to support her like this, it’s not good.”
You are acting like the hostess here. Karen didn’t feel like having morning tea while being nagged at. Now Karen understood the virtue of the people and she knew that she didn’t like Helen. Like the housekeepers of families where the Hostess had no power, she acted like she was the hostess, trying to control Karen like a child.
It was unpleasant for Karen since she mistook it as her morality and responsibility. Kindhearted people are lovable, while dark-hearted, most interestingly they are self-righteous but act non-committal and annoyingly which only make one tedious and displeased. That’s why she wanted to avoid meeting with Helen as much as possible.
“Helen.”
She wanted to rebuke ‘presumptuous’ but she refrained. Because a housekeeper like her held that much power. How many will listen to a 17 year old young Agassi? Karen thought of her distant past.
When she acted like a hostess, which incurred vast displeasure leading to their hunger strike, Karen finally kicked them out. She regretted it after, as the management servants had their cups overflowing, The daughter of Seigneur perfectly taking care of the domestic affairs is only possible in fairy tales.
To manage the housework, the servants must be assigned their work before the sun rises and check on them till the last light. She needed to take care of the accounting, human resource management and all of the general affairs. Nancy who replaced Helen was weak with numbers and ignorant till the extent of blind, things were in a mess.
“No you can’t.”
“I beg you.”
Useful people must be placated, coxed and begged.
“It is uncomfortable when you change people suddenly… .. Then will Helen play with me?”
“My hands are already full.”
“Yes that’s it. It’s not like Helen will attend to me.”
In short she was lonely. The moment Karen pretended to be sad, Helen’s heart weakened. Indeed, she thought of herself as if she was her mother or something
“There must not be a next time.”
“Mm hm, I won’t.”
“Not only are things already in a mess due to Nancy…”
“When will Nancy come back?”
“.… You didn’t know? She quit saying she can’t put up with the work at all. She is indeed a tramp.” [TLN: Earlier it was said that Nancy used to be a gypsy/wanderer/tramp]
Is this going to be wrapped up like this? That Nancy took a vacation but quit saying the work is hard for her?!? Karen put down the teacup. Helen took out a comb, but Karen stopped her as such things were not something she, a housekeeper, must do.
“You are going to do this?”[TLN: combing her hair]
“When I was young, I used to be a seamstress maid. Especially today, I can’t leave this to Dona. It would have been good, If Nancy was here.”
“What day is today?”
“Today is the first day of Lord Raymond’s attendance. Seigneur and Mr. Evans will also attend, so Agassi must behave well.”
“Well.”
“Should look good right?”
That means, for the whole day I have to submerge in perfume and thoroughly curl my hair. An hour for makeup and a full 3 hours for hairdressing? Usually Nancy takes care of things like this, if she is nor here Sarah will take over. It can also be considered a pleasure having another hairdresser. Karen was too old to whine saying ‘I hate such Cumbersome things!’.
“Still, this is a bit too much.”
“What?”
“Like this rose oil and this dress?”
“Compared to Miss Evans, this can’t even be called luxurious. You must match the class not to embarrass the seigneur, don’t you think so Agassi?”
Is it more shameful to wear luxurious dress against one’s will or wear a cheap dress among a group of luxuriously dressed? Often said it’s the latter which is more embarrassing, though it’s only applicable to people who value their face.
There is a thing called minimal courtesy, among people with higher standards the boundary between courtesy, frugality and luxury are ambiguous. So rather than judging their difference or connection, Karen focused on other things. What matters are the end of the novel and preference of the hero. Raymond’s criteria is the important factor not the worth of Karen.
“Did Father ask for it?”
“No.”
With a wink, Helen led in a masseuse. Karen was soon undressed in Helen’s deft hands and then laid on a wooden bed to wipe her whole body with a damp cloth moistened in rose water.
“Uhhh.”
Karen groaned when the wound was touched – it hurt. Finally Helen stopped wiping her body then said,“I think, bathing will be too much for you now.”
“Right.”
“Then we can only go with just perfuming.”
It felt like the wound would burst open.
Dona took over washing her hair with water and re-lubricated with oil.
“Though you struggle with laundry, you wash your hair quite well.”
“Hehe.”
“Do I need to make a good impression on Lord Raymond that much?”
“Of course there is! Primarily Isella….. Miss Evan being overshadowed by Agassi’s beauty is something to be pleased with. As for the second.. mm, that…”
“What?”
“That…”
Helen and the masseuse chuckled with a slight blush. Though they didn’t answer, from their chuckle in that stretch of silence, Karen understood their meaning. Dylan was an unwelcome Lord, unsuited to their beautiful ‘Agassi’. Helen wants Raymond to have a good impression of Karen in an open manner.
In her eyes, Dylan, with lots of shortcomings, was a kind of a spare tire, rather than Karen’s future partner. Karen didn’t feel disgusted with such an arrogance of Helen. Cause Karen has neither love or hate for Dylan. But she does have the impulse to break out of the box.
To say to those who disregard Dylan, He is still quite good at night. Whether size or durability…. by the way a monk’s attire is quite stimulating?, she wondered how they would react. She wanted to watch a reversal but she must hold back. Just like wanting to mess with the hornet nest even knowing that it’s dangerous, Karen felt an urge to say it out.
“Dylan…”
“H,How about putting some above?”
“AAh! Lord Dylan?”
Dump.
A slight commotion ensued. He could not be a gentleman any longer. Flustered by the sudden intrusion of Dylan, Dona almost tripped over and Helen hid her shock with an expressionless face, the masseuse hurriedly handed over the cloth and stood back while Karen felt slightly relieved. Before Karen could spout out something due to her curiosity, the arrival of Dylan cut off all her miscellaneous thoughts. Would I have said something, if he didn’t come? I wonder what would happen then.
“What is it?”
“H . . Hurt….”
“It’s already handled.”
“It can’t touch wa. . water or oil.”
“.… you came just to say that?”
“.….”
That’s not the standard procedure here. [TLN:their emotions become more conflicting] But this time, she wanted him to be more obsessed with her, so he needed to be coaxed and kinked moderately.
“I am not blaming, just asking.”
“To check the degree of inflammation.”
By the way, things related to his work were much smoother [TLN: Stutter less when saying things related to his work, in the previous ch, it is said that Dylan knows medicine]. He slightly pulled back the negligee, he disinfected the wound with cotton. Sensing the mixture of alcohol smell mixing with rose oil scent, Karen felt an urge to drink wine.
“Can I have Whiskey at night?”
“Are you insane?”
The best wine would definitely be brought out tonight – Karen felt depressed. The 60 year old whiskey was made in Haier county and there were probably only 70 bottles. Can’t I savour it’s taste this time? Fu*king Hans, I want to cut his head and sink it in the wine.
“Maybe a glass of Rosè wine?”
“Not even mixed beer?”
“You . . ”
He was needlessly careful. With a click of tongue, she made up her mind to secretly get a taste at night.
“Now can you leave?”
“Wh . . what?”
“Um? I need to finish my massage.”
“Th . . this is.. so unreasonably expensive…..sce . . scent…. Not taking care of yourself, just care about other things.”
“There will be many important guests. This is courtesy.”
“…So . . So far never done such things for me, in your head….”
Seems like Dylan doesn’t like Karen cultivating her appearance. Anyway, her purpose was not that different from what he thought but she still felt out of place seeing Dylan acting like this. He is particularly annoying in this life. Sleeping with him was a mistake.
“Lord Raymond Saytes is a Baron and has a deep relationship with Mr. Verdick Evans. Above all he is my saviour. Isn’t it given to make a good impression?”
“.….When.. you never done so before.You are… already..” he criticized with a sneer.
“Lascivious….”
“Hey, you…huh.”
Will get I caught like this? Karen stared at Dylan.
It was unfair. Why can’t people tell if a man has lost his virginity? Only if they hurt their lower body would it be fair. Karen stared at Dylan as if wanted to eat him. Helen came to urge Dylan.
“Sire, the time is tight, Karen Agassi needs to groom.”
“But… it’s still mo. . . morning”
“Women are different from men.”
“Huh, wa . . wasting time on pointless th . . things, they…are nothing but vanity.”
At the end of his words, the expression of each and every woman in the room turned ugly. You dare to say that. What do you know?
“Such vanity, do you want to try?”
“Wa . . waste of time…. I got evening prayer…”
“Don’t start with me.”
Squeezing his lips shut with her hands, Karen called for the masseuse. Raymond was bound to be extremely handsome tonight, even if it was stone next to diamond, the dirt must be removed [TLN: Being beside handsome Raymond, Dylan, the stone must at least dust off the dirt]. Helena, Dona and the masseuse nervously approached Dylan.
As time passed by, the three women were tired and worn out. It was indeed as expected of Dylan.
“Like being handsome..mm…. or something like that?”
The three, Dona, Helen and the masseuse were frustrated while Karen was indifferent. Just dusting the dirt is enough, she didn’t expect much from Dylan, just that much.
“A per . . . person’s worth is not judged by appearance.”
Then what worth do you have? Personality, prowess, wisdom, none can’t be compared with Raymond. Without saying it out aloud, It’s my turn now, move, saying so she entrusted her body to the women folk.
While Dylan watched an already beautiful girl turning into a mesmerizing beauty . . . . .
* * *
Isella gritted her teeth.