Volume 1 - CH 24

Volume 1: Chapter 024: Madam Odille Finds Notes with Odd Symbols on it

I am Elena Odille.

Today, I’m going to talk about something strange and interesting that is happening within our mansion.

It all started about a month ago.

The neighbouring town, Karted, wanted to build a large school in their town and asked us to cooperate regarding matters related to the school cafeteria.

As Ruskia’s most important food-producing region, Delia Fields have a lot of people who specialize in food-related industries so it made sense for them to approach us. I wonder if they wanted to negotiate matters related to the supply of ingredients or something.

Elric had been going back and forth between Karted and Delia Fields for about a month now.

The problem is, Tooru went with Elric.

As someone who had lived in Karted for a while, he is quite familiar with the lay of the land and knew the eating habits of the children there best.

[1] The real problem did not actually lay with Tooru, but with my dear daughter, Makia’s reaction to Tooru having to stay at Karted for a month. [1] I do believe she is throwing a tantrum since it meant they would no longer be together all day.

The only time that child ever made a fuss about anything had always been related to Tooru.

“No, I hate it, I hate it! Tooru is supposed to be my escort, why is he doing in Karted for a whole month!!?”

“Makia, dear, don’t be unreasonable. Tooru and your father are going there to work…”

“No no no no!!”

Makia threw a huge tantrum and refused to leave her room after slamming the door. We found this all very upsetting. It was rare that we ever have to even raise our voices with Makia, so we really don’t know how to deal with this situation.

Elric tried to get Tooru to stay back at Delia Fields, but Tooru said:

“No, I can’t allow Master to go to such places alone. Karted is too dangerous for you,”

“Well… I supposed Tooru would know best.”

It was thanks to Tooru that Elric losing some important documents in Karted turned out to be a laughing matter instead of a tragedy. It was Tooru, while sweeping chimneys for a living back then, who recovered Elric’s papers.

“I can’t rely on Yodel… and I have sent Graham off to another job. So, I’d be really grateful to have Tooru with me, but Makia…”

“I shall speak with Makia-sama about it,”

“…haha, I shall rely on you,”

Elric was laughing as he smacked Tooru on the shoulder. I ended up sighing as my husband openly made such a shameful request from a young boy.

However, not even Tooru could convince Makia.

In fact, it looked like they had a terrible fight in Makia’s room.

Tooru came out with scratches on his cheeks and a sullen look on his face. I have never seen such an expression on the usually laid-back Tooru.

[1] In the end, Tooru and Elric did not stay in Karted for the whole month. Instead, they travelled there early in the morning and came home close to the middle of the night, only to leave early the next day again. This lasted for a month.

[1] However, Makia did not appear to be any cheered up by this compromised

Instead, it looks like Makia had decided not to speak to Tooru for that month and refused to show up or see him in person. At night, she would always make sure to go to bed before the men return.

Nevertheless, there was something odd going on.

Makia [1] began leaving little notes on her door.

The notes were covered in symbols I have never seen before and could not read. However, I could tell that they were different every morning.

Apparently, Tooru had also been placing notes on the door with similar-looking symbols in the morning.

[1] Though I could not understand the symbols, I can tell that the two were communicating somehow and this phenomenon served as a great tea time gossip.

It must be some sort of code the children had made up between themselves.

I could never understand them even when they were much younger, and could hardly understand them now.

Still, I could not help being amused by their actions.

They had had such a big fight, to the point that Makia even swear to never speak to him again and yet, there is always a new note every day.

She must want to meet him badly, but had decided not to do it.

As her mother, I probably should not say this, but, I do wish she would stay up a little later so that the two of them could meet in person.

Last week, Makia looked so bored and miserable that I could hardly stand to look at her.

For her to become so helpless without Tooru in less than a month, whatever would she do once she is married off?

On the other hand, Tooru acted as though everything is perfectly fine, and would insist everything is fine if I were to ask him. [1] He may be competent and rational, but I sense that he cares about Makia in his own way.

I do believe the Karted job is a tough one.

Recently, Elric hurt his back, but still had to go Karted. In the end, both master and servant were nursing dark circles under their eyes.

I do wonder how they would get along after a month of not talking. However, in the end, there is really nothing to worry about.

As expected, after the thing with Karted is over, Makia is sticking to Tooru even more closely than before. I expect it is probably an overreaction after depriving herself for the whole month.

Our servants are relieved too. Apparently, some of the maids had been ‘watching over the two from the shadows’, some more literally than figuratively…

I was a little shocked when I first found out, but, I suppose I understand.

I too have been watching them all this while.

Speaking of which, I really wanted to know what was written on those notes. However, asking them outright would be too inelegent.

Still, it is quite fun to watch these two interact.

[Gumihou: Ahaha, Madam Elena is quite an interesting person]

[1] Filling in the ‘Unspoken’. Often, when it comes to Japanese novels, the translation might feel a bit lacking since the author deliberately chooses to use fewer words and let the reader fill in the blanks through a preset cultural understanding.

If the missing info looks too sparse, Gumi will fill in some of the blanks. This is not to imply that the writer’s craft is lacking, but we do have a cultural gap. Gumi will try to fill in these gaps unobtrusively.