TMIAP Chapter 9

Despite turning in early, Monica spent the night wide awake.

It wasn't that the bed was uncomfortable. In fact, through all her twenty-some years of life, it was the most luxuriously soft and comfortable bed she had ever lain in. Yet genuine rest eluded her.

She rose at last, exhausted, and washed again in the bathroom. When she turned the tap and waited a moment, warm water began to flow.

In former days, she might have been newly moved by such warm water, but she found she had no wish to be grateful for it.

She went down to the kitchen early in the morning, where the maids greeted her warmly.

"Good morning, miss."

Maria, whose face and name she already knew from yesterday, made room for her at the kitchen table.

Monica glanced at the maids. They were all perched casually in the corner with only small wooden bowls, eating their breakfast. Maria noticed her expression and smiled.

"This is more comfortable for us. We've got heaps to do once we finish eating."

"I hope I'm not creating extra work..."

"If you think that, then pick up your spoon quickly. The most helpful thing you can do is finish your meal fast."

Maria was a cheerful person. Her manner of speech was unadorned, but comfortable.

After finishing her breakfast of warm soup with white bread, Monica asked Maria about the location of a nearby market.

"What do you need?"

"A hairbrush and... just simple things."

"Ah."

She'd managed the larger items like clothes, but many small necessities were missing. The sun was fierce, so it would be good to buy at least a straw hat or something similar. The ones the sailors at the harbor wore didn't look expensive.

After hearing what Monica intended to buy, Maria said, "For those things you'll have to go all the way to the train station area! Hey! Hans!" She went to the side door of the kitchen and called out loudly.

"What?"

The person who came to stand lounging at the side door was a pleasant-looking young man.

He wore a newsboy cap carelessly pressed over his reddish hair, with leaves stuck to it, and his hands were covered in dirt—clearly a gardener.

"This is Miss Monica, who's come to be the young master's teacher. You're going to the market soon, aren't you? Take her with you."

Hans stuck his head out over Maria's shoulder. Monica tried to decline, but Hans grinned first and answered.

"I'll be leaving shortly, so come to the front gate of the estate!"

Monica nodded somewhat helplessly.

Now that she thought about it, this worked out well. Martinael's physician wasn't coming until around lunchtime. If she went quickly with someone who knew the way, she'd have plenty of time to return.

Monica put on the most comfortable dress she owned. It was the dress she'd worn at eighteen when she left the orphanage to be deployed as a nurse.

Though it was a dull grey and already five years old and worn, like all clothes worn by orphans it was extremely sturdy. Moreover, the sleeves could be rolled up freely and then rolled back down. The hem ended around her calves, allowing her to run about without dignity—a practical garment.

She pulled her hair up and braided it. When she went to meet Martinael, she could coil the braid up into a neat bun.

Hans, meeting her at the estate entrance, widened his eyes.

"I heard you were a teacher..."

"Ah, I'm not actually a teacher—I'm a nurse. Everyone's just being polite calling me that. Please, speak comfortably."

At Monica's response, Hans waved his hands.

"No, no! That's not what I meant—I didn't notice earlier, but now that I see you properly, you look very young."

The gardener's cheeks were flushed as he said this. Though the morning had been long, the hour was still early and the air cold. The chatter they exchanged on the way to the market was ordinary, but some of it was information Monica needed.

"Now that I think about it, you're the same age as our eldest young lady! So you're not that young at all."

"Ah, is that so."

"Of course. The servants all gossip that Lady Liella's about to become an old maid!"

Then am I an old maid too?

Monica rolled her eyes. But Hans immediately continued, speaking boastfully about Liella's marriage prospects.

"But Lady Liella's spinsterhood will soon end. There's talk of an excellent match with a distinguished family. Someone saw him—magnificent golden hair..."

The servants seemed to delight in this household's good fortune as if it were their own. Monica, however, had no desire to dwell on topics like Liella's marriage prospects. She quickly changed the subject.

"Ah, those roses are very pretty. Are there any at the Mollette estate?"

"Oh! Those are imported roses. Terribly expensive and precious, but amazingly our master grows tulips that cost even more! That pink is nothing compared to our tulips..."

Fortunately, Hans didn't notice Monica had changed the subject, and he rattled on about the garden for some time. All the while, the young man navigated long, narrow alleyways without pause. He said it was the fastest route from the estate to the market.

"The carriages of the gentry don't come this far, so no need to watch where you're going!"

"I see."

But I'd better not try this route alone.

Monica glanced at the ground. Once they'd left the wealthy district, the alleyways had rapidly become filthy. Old ropes, rubbish, and things like someone's long-lost single shoe lay scattered everywhere. Mixed with the salt smell blowing from the sea, there was a musty odor.

Hans skillfully avoided it all as he walked, but Monica naturally slowed.

"I'm going to the blacksmith to order a new spade. If you go that way, there's a general goods shop—if it's all right, let's meet here and go back together!"

"Ah, that sounds good. But don't wait too long if I'm late."

"But it's your first time here! This market is complicated, and there are lots of drunks... Ah, should I just come with you?"

Monica firmly refused Hans's offer to accompany her to the shop. The young man's somewhat obvious interest made her uncomfortable.

He waved vigorously until Monica disappeared down the alley. Monica smiled with effort and waved back.

"Phew."

The market was crowded even in the morning.

People carrying fruit and vegetables, merchants with heaps of fish piled up for sale... Withered vegetable scraps and splinters fallen from wooden crates were scattered on the ground. Between them, men pushing carts hurried past.

Monica nimbly dodged it all and entered the general goods shop. Among glass jars filled with small white candies and silk ribbons sold by length, she bought a wooden comb and a straw hat. Then, as she turned to leave, she turned back.

"Could you give me just enough of that blue ribbon to tie around this straw hat?"

"Ah, miss has very good taste!"

The shop owner grinned and held up the ribbon.

"Sixty shing!"

"That's expensive!"

"Don't you know silk ribbon is dear!"

After a bit of haggling, Monica walked away with a length of ribbon sufficient to make a small decoration as well.

"Hoo, miss is going to be rich!"

The owner, having sold expensive ribbon so early in the morning, grumbled with laughter at Monica's back.

Regardless, Monica's spirits lifted. She'd be penniless until she received this week's wages, but since she wouldn't need to spend money while working at the estate anyway, it would be fine.

'And once I get my wages, I'll be rich with five hundred shing!'

The shop owner put the ribbon in a small paper envelope. Though the ink was cheap quality, there was a purple floral pattern stamped on the envelope, which pleased her further.

It would be nice to use this envelope when she wrote a thank-you letter to Diana, who had written her letter of introduction.

"What should I do?"

Near the spot where she'd arranged to meet Hans, Monica hesitated. She didn't dislike Hans, but somehow she wanted to take a different route back. There was still plenty of time until lunch.

Monica deliberated, then finally turned down a different path. She'd told him to go ahead, so he wouldn't wait for her.

But Monica soon regretted it. Hans's words had been no idle warning. Having underestimated the market's complicated alleys, she got lost.

"Where am I..."

She asked several people, "Excuse me, how do I get to the wealthy district?" but still couldn't find her bearings. Only now did she truly understand that La Spezia was a city built through expansion upon expansion.

Worse, the path she'd taken was growing increasingly squalid. Until now it had been a street with many restaurants, but the alley she'd turned into, which seemed to lead outward, was lined with taverns.

Moreover, it didn't seem to be a decent area—drunks who'd been drinking all night lay sprawled in the street.

'This won't do. I need to turn back...'

Rather than wander aimlessly, it seemed better to retrace her steps. Monica turned around. But the next moment, she collided violently with someone.

"Eek!"

Thud—the sound rang out. Stars flashed before her eyes.

Monica cried out involuntarily and tumbled backward. Her skirt nearly flipped up entirely.

Her collision partner staggered as well, letting out a grunt. Monica, unable to see properly, immediately blurted out, "I'm sorry."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Are you all ri—"

But what burst from the other person was a stream of profanity.

"Damn it, what idiot..."

Monica stopped trying to get up and looked forward in confusion.

Her collision partner was a solidly built man who, despite having merely collided with a small woman like Monica, was clutching the wall and swaying. Immediately after, Monica realized why he was so unsteady.

'The smell of alcohol...'

He was dead drunk.

"Bloody hell. Just my rotten luck..."

If this had been the old Monica, she would have gathered her belongings and fled the moment she heard that.

But Monica couldn't do that. The drunk now clutching the wall and groaning was someone Monica knew.

Even in the shadows of the back alley, his golden hair shone unmistakably. And that unusually broad set of shoulders. Though he was hunched over, his considerable height couldn't be hidden.

"Luis?"

At those words, he raised his head and looked this way. Deep, blue eyes. Familiar, like the night sea...

"What, are you?"

"What do you mean, what idiot are you looking for in front of me?"

Monica's mouth fell open. It was absurd.