Chapter 72
Peeling the potato skins and cutting it in half .
I repeated the steps over and over again when I raised my face and was met with Paul’s eyes .
Why am I being stared at? Is there something on my face?
I tilted my head .
“You’re used to this . That’s surprising . ”
Paul placed his hands on his chin and muttered in admiration .
Eh… Is that so?
I said it myself that I’ll do this . I would never make a promise I can’t keep .
Maybe my expression spelled it out for Paul that he quickly waved his hand in denial .
“I wasn’t doubting you! It’s just that I thought you wouldn’t be used to it . ”
“Is it because I’m a child?”
“Nothing like that . There’s plenty of girls about your age training to be a bride or to help their mothers . So I thought you’d make quite the ideal wife . ”
“!!”
Shock
My whole body jumped as if electricity ran through it .
Even though that was a normal response, I laughed at myself for misunderstanding it for just a second . Paul hasn’t noticed at all .
“Why- Why do you think so?”
I imitated my hair and dress with the girls around the market . I’m also careful not to talk too politely .
…Though, since the person inside is already quite uncouth, I wouldn’t worry about it that much .
“You’re… how should I say it? You have a gentle expression . Even your attitude is kind . ”
That was the first time someone ever said that to me .
’I know you’re happy but don’t be glad!’ I scolded myself .
“And also, your hands are flawless . That’s why I assumed you’re a rich girl from somewhere that’s never done rough work in her life . ”
Hands! …It’s the hands!
Certainly, I don’t do labour tasks at all . When I’m in the mood I’ll use the kitchen, but that’s only once or twice a month at most .
Just watering greenhouses won’t get your hands rough either .
And besides, even if they do get a bit rough, the maids would probably polish it until it became smooth again .
“But no matter how high-class they are, they surely won’t be able to peel potatoes . ”
Paul smiled with a big grin while my face became stiff . Cold sweat dripping down my face as I forced out a dry laugh .
“It’s surprising, to think that cute lil’ Miss like you could have a strength to be reckoned with . Look at how thin the skin is! It’s perfect . ”
Kurt picked up the skin I recently peeled and his eyes shone with a strange glint .
I’m happy that I’m praised, but I’m afraid to say anything in return .
Following that, Klaus looked at me as if acknowledging something and nodded with a smile .
Why are you acting as if you’re a grandparent proud of their granddaughter being praised!? It’s nothing like that! Can you please read the mood for once in your life!?
While I glared at the escort who I couldn’t get through his thick head, I wished someone would change the topic already . Right at that moment, the kitchen doors flung open and Mr . Yang came back, carrying produce in his hands .
“You guys, don’t get sidetracked with lil’ Miss while on duty!”
Mr . Yang scolded them and the two promptly returned to their work . Although Paul is responsible for the kitchen, the real hierarchy seems to be a bit different .
Well, anyway, the topic diverted and I was saved .
“Mary!”
“Eh-?”
I touched my chest in relief after I got called out by a woman’s voice, my eyes wide .
“Were you here all this time? No wonder I couldn’t find you!”
“Miss Bianca!”
Following Mr . Yang, it was Miss Bianca who came into the kitchen . They seemed to have met in the middle of returning from the warehouse . He had heard that Miss Bianca was looking for me .
“I was worried since you suddenly disappeared . ”
“I-I’m sorry . ”
“Oh no, there’s no need for you to apologise . I simply wanted to see you so I looked for you on my own accord anyway . And it took quite some time for me to get changed, you see . ”
Miss Bianca smiled and said so . Certainly, her clothes are different from when she was boarding the ship .
Until a while ago, it was a neat dark blue dress . But now she’s wearing hemp shirt with brown gilet along with black pants and boots combo .
Her wavy rich black hair was tied up behind her head .
“Those clothes…”
No matter how you look at it, that’s a man’s clothing .
A beautiful woman crossdressing as a man . At first glance it may seem off, but…
“Does it suit me?”
“Yes, very much . ”
Rather, it suited her so well it’s scary .
I’ve never seen Miss Bianca dressed as a man even in the game . She looks cool and dignified . This might flip a weird switch inside me…
While I let my imagination ran wild down the stairs of degeneration, Miss Bianca’s lustrous lips smiled in an arch .
“Thank you . I’m happy you’re the one who said it . ”
An awfully cool smile was directed at me and striked my mental health .
But soon I could no longer appreciate her smile, because Klaus came in between me and Miss Bianca .
“…What’s the meaning of this?”
Miss Bianca’s voice changed to a low hard tone .
“Whatever do you mean?”
Klaus’s opposing voice is also rough .
The air inside the room fell down by a few degrees . I rubbed my arms to keep warm .
“I ask that you step aside from me and Mary . You’re in the way . ”
“Nobody asked you to come and yet you’re still here . That’s quite selfish of you . Who’s really in the way here?”
“That’s my line . ”
“This is a kitchen, it’s not a place for someone who can’t even help . ”
Look who’s talking . I wanted to retort, but my mouth didn’t open .
It was me who told Klaus to stay put after all .
However, that’s also not something one should say after only watching other people work .
“I just have to help, right?”
With a Hmph!, Miss Bianca declared loudly .
“Mary is peeling the potatoes . ”
Miss Bianca pushes Klaus away and approached me .
Looking at my hand, she picked up a potato and glared towards Paul .
“Hey, sailor guy, do you mind if I help out?”
“Ah… Sure . I’d be glad to have such a beautiful lady help us out . ”
Paul who was watching the exchange between Klaus and Miss Bianca desperately nodded .
His smile was puffy, but Miss Bianca paid him no heed, took a chair from nearby and quietly sat down next to me .
“I’m not very good at cooking, but I will do my best . Good luck, Mary!”
Even Miss Bianca who is full of confidence said such humility .
I also had a time when I thought so .
We sat beside a tub to peel the potatoes, and only three seconds in an echo came out from the tub . My eyes were open wide .
Looking inside, one can see a potato cut in half rolling at the bottom .
I guess her hand probably slipped and it fell . As I thought so, a quarter of a potato was dropped in this time .
I stopped my hands and picked up the quarter-potato . My mind went blank .
That’s weird . Wasn’t I asked to peel the potatoes?
Maybe I misheard and I was supposed to be cutting them .
’That’s gotta be it . ’
As my thoughts wandered off to a faraway land, an eighth of a potato dropped into the tub brought me back to reality .
“M-Miss Bianca!?”
“Hm?”
In contrast to me who was frantically panicking, Miss Bianca only tilted her head a little . The look is pretty cute . However, it’s what in her hands… my eyes were fixed on a tiny piece of potato .
It’s chopping potato rather than peeling it .
“That potato…”
As I was struggling for words, the potato were cut further in half .
“I’ve peeled it!”
Miss Bianca spoke with a huge grin while holding up the potato that is now the size of a die .
After looking at her with an understanding gaze, I gave her a warm smile .
“Miss Bianca . Can you please leave the rest to me?”
“Eh? But why?”
“I love peeling potatoes, I love doing it so much I could die . I love peeling so much that it’s not an exaggeration to call it more than a hobby . I yearn to peel so much that I couldn’t bear being robbed of my opportunity to peel them by others!”
So please . Just stay put .
Have you been swallowed by my momentum so much that it made you force out a dry laugh? It wasn’t certain whether she actually gave it any thought when she stood up but Miss Bianca nodded as if knowing that she’s being pushed away .
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login