CH 83

As the sun began to set and it gradually got darker, Claudia and I hugged each other like we would keep at it forever. Claudia is a little sweaty, but I don’t feel bad about it. Unlike in Japan, or even on modern earth, people from countries other than Japan and the people in this world don’t usually take baths.

Besides, the smell of a beautiful girl’s sweat is also good. I shouldn’t have a smell fetish, but if it’s like this… it’s like something is wrong with me, and I can’t stand this immoral feeling.

It’s not like I’m a pervert! We are about the same age as high school girls in Japan, so I don’t think many people think the sweat of a female high school athlete smells bad or disgusting. Of course, it can’t be helped that they stink of sweat, but you shouldn’t think it’s disgusting. It’s beautiful to see someone working hard on something.

“Ahem! Miss Flora! Isn’t it better to send Sir Frieden home soon?”

“Hii…!” I squealed. “Ka-Katharina? Since when have you been there?”

Katharina called out to us who were hugging each other for eternity. This is my private room, and Katharina was not in the room with me. Helmut and Katharina followed me to the front of the room, but it should have been just me and Claudia who entered.

And yet, before we knew it, Katharina was in the room with us……, or rather, she was right in front of us and was appealing to us with her eyes, “Hurry up and leave.”

“Did you knock and ask for permission before entering the room?” Claudia said.

Huh? Did she? Really? I didn’t hear anything at all… I wonder if I was too absorbed in embracing Claudia…

“And what is with this girl?” Claudia asked. “You must have been miseducated to interrupt your own master’s private rendezvous, aren’t you?”

Sir Claudia? Weren’t you crying a little while ago? Why do you suddenly have such a scary attitude toward Katharina?

And when did this turn into a private rendezvous between me and Claudia? It was a discussion to clear up the previous misunderstanding, and due to the flow of the conversation, the two of us ended up hugging each other, but Claudia and I shouldn’t be lovers. What are we now? In the future, it may not be strange if we became that, but… what the hell!

“Don’t get too carried away just because of Miss Flora’s fancy tilting your way for a bit,” Katharina said. “If have a sense of propriety, you may continue to keep Miss Flora’s favor, but behave in that manner too much and you may find yourself losing it…”

Scary! I’m scared, Katharina!? And what are you talking about my fancy and favor? I’m still innocent, aren’t I? I met Claudia for the first time in a long time today and just talked to her, but I didn’t do anything with her!?

“And what are you going to do?” Claudia countered. “Do you really think you can get rid of me by force? Right now, I’m one of two female members of the Royal Guard Division. I don’t think you can do anything about me.”

Claudia, don’t provoke Katharina anymore! Stop it! My stomach can’t take any more of this!

“Hey, hey wait a minute, you two,” I said. “I don’t know what on earth you’re arguing about but let’s calm down for a moment. Katharina and Claudia, stop fighting and provoking each other.”

“Beg your forgiveness……” Katharina said.

“Sorry……” Claudia went.

The two of them apologized as I asked, but that was only for me. They were still glaring at each other with sparks flying between their eyes.

Come to think of it, I feel like Katharina was a little aggressive towards Louisa even though it wasn’t so obvious. What happened? Katharina was supposed to be a good maid who had properly learned her etiquette, but I get the feeling that she had a pretty terrible attitude toward Louisa and Claudia.

“Haah… it seems that Floto doesn’t understand, does she…?” Claudia said.

“You’d be right about that…” Katharina said. “That is one of her cute aspects, but… at the same time, it’s bothersome.”

Looking at my face, Claudia and Katharina sighed for some reason and shook their heads. Ah, but maybe they got along a little better? I don’t understand what they’re saying, but it seems like they understand each other, so if possible, I’d like them to get along.

“Then, I will see you on your way, Sir Frieden,” Katharina said.

“Ah, I’m fine with just Claudia. Your family is probably of a higher rank than mine, aren’t they?” Claudia said.

Certainly, Helmut and Katharina’s family, House Royce, is a high-ranking viscounty that is close to a county, while Claudia’s family is House Frieden, a knighthood. But Claudia is my guest, so even if the family is of a higher rank, there’s no way the servants would disrespect their master’s guests.

“Then please call me Katharina, Claudia,” Katharina said.

“Mm,” Claudia said. “Nice to meet you, Katharina… (And now that I get a close look at you, you’re also quite nice… it might not be bad for the two of us to have fun together with Floto as a trio…)”

Katharina and Claudia smiled and exchanged handshakes. Somehow, the two seemed to hit it off. It’s funny though… for some reason, I felt a tingle down my spine right now. And Katharina also has a forced smile. It seems that Claudia is not going to be easy to handle for her.

The misunderstanding with Claudia was resolved, and today was a wonderful day. I still have some regrets about Alexandra, but more information will come out eventually.

After Claudia went home, Katharina came while I was doing paperwork and thinking in my room.

“Katarina? What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Miss Flora…”

Oh? Oh? Oh? What in the hell?

Katharina knelt by my feet as I sit on a chair and put her head on my chest as she hugged me. What’s this? What is it? A reward?

“Did something happen?” I asked.

For the time being, I pretend to be undisturbed and calmly stroke Katharina’s head. She smells nice and dreamy. The Carruthers Residence mansion has a complete bath, even though it is temporary, so all the family members and servants should be taking baths often. I’m not managing everyone, so I don’t know all the bathing situations…

Then there is soap as one of the products of Caan territory. Soap itself has been around for a long time, both on Earth and here, and it seems that it was made several thousand years BC.

Soap in the early days could be roughly described as a mixture of hot oil and ash. Soap is said to have originated from a mixture of animal fat dripping from the meat of an animal and the ashes of the burning plants. I don’t know how certain that is. It’s just that I’ve seen such stories on Earth TV.

From my vague knowledge, I remembered that soap can be made by mixing alkaline substances with oil while boiling it down. The story behind the origin of soap is that soap was made by mixing the ashes of burned plants that contained alkaline with heated animal fats as the oil.

Furthermore, whether the soap becomes solid or liquid depends on the alkali to be mixed. Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) should make solid soap, and potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) should make liquid soap.

Based on that knowledge, I asked Eins to experiment and perfected the soap. Originally, liquid soap was overwhelmingly common in the past, both on Earth and in this world. The liquid soap used animal fat, so it smelled very bad. But before long, bar soaps made in some areas had less odor and became popular and spread.

Liquid soap used ordinary wood ash for animal oil. Bar soap, on the other hand, was made by using seaweed ash in olive oil. Caustic soda was obtained from seaweed ash.

However, if it becomes popular, caustic soda will not be enough from seaweed ash alone. In order to industrialize and mass-produce soap, a method for refining caustic soda is necessary. So, I gave Eins some kind of knowledge and made him research it, and managed to mass-produce it.

Of course, even if I say mass production, it is a matter relative to the present age of this world, and it is nothing compared to the industrialized production after the industrial revolution, let alone the modern age. However, it is enough to satisfy the current demand, so there is no problem for me.

From there, I asked Anneliese to cooperate with me in researching how to apply scents extracted from plants to soap. Anneliese had already been doing experiments with essential oils, so it worked out as it aligned well with her ongoing research.

The resulting soap has a variety of scents and is a wonderful product that removes dirt well. It has become one of the popular products of Caanza and Kruck Trading Firms, and even high-ranking nobles are waiting for their reservations to buy it. Since we are the manufacturer, even our family servants use it casually.

Like Claudia, it’s not bad to smell as you are naturally. But it’s also nice to have a nice floral scent like Katharina’s. After all, girls should be like this.

“You’re terrible, Miss Flora,” Katharina said.

“Huh? What?” I asked.

Did i do something terrible? I don’t remember it at all. If I had done something terrible to Katharina without knowing it, then I have to apologize…

“Even though you have never given me such a passionate embrace… is it only Claudia who’s special? Do you not want me?”

Huh? What is that? There’s no way I wouldn’t want Katharina. Without Katharina, I would still be worried about various things. After Katharina came back, there have been many things around me that started turning in a positive direction.

Besides, I think I hugged Katharina. No, we hugged each other. She hugged me when she bowed her head saying she wanted to be my maid.

“What are you talking about? Because of your coming back, Katharina, how much relief have you brought me…? I never once thought you’re unnecessary, you know?” I said.

“Honestly?” Katharina asked.

Uuu… Katharina, who is clinging to my waist and looking up at me with wet eyes, is so cute. It may not be a line to say to someone who is about to cry, but how can I say this… that’s it! Seeking reassurance? That’s how it is.

“Isn’t it natural?” I said. “If possible, I would like you to stay by my side forever without marrying someone else.”

…… Ah! Oops! I said too much… it’s true that I really mean it, but I shouldn’t have said that regardless.

Katharina’s life is hers to decide. Katharina shouldn’t give up on her marriage because of what I said. As far as I’m concerned, I’m not pleased by the thought of Katharina being taken by a man somewhere, but I can’t force it. The words I spit out can no longer disappear, so I regret letting my mouth slip.

“Are you serious? Miss Flora? You’re going to be serious with me?” Katharina asked.

“Uuu…?” I whimper.

So bewitching…, as if the crying face just now was a lie, she peers at me with such a charming face that makes it hard to believe she’s about 15 years old.

“Katharina……”

“Miss Flora…”

Is it because of the floral scent of the soap? I can see flowers behind Katharina. Katharina, who was clinging to my waist, suddenly raised her body enough to face me, and both our faces and bodies are gradually approaching each other… maybe if we stay like this…

Knock-knock…

“Hiii!” I squealed.

“Tch…” Katharina spat.

Before our faces could touch, someone knocked on the door and I jumped away from Katharina. I heard a voice calling out to me. Apparently, Isabella has arrived. When I allowed her to enter the room, Isabella came in while Katharina left.

“… Was I interrupting something?” Isabella asked.

“Huh…?! Wha-What are you talking about?” I asked

Isabella’s words made my heart jump. Could it be that she was able to see that I and Katharina had a delicate atmosphere between us?

“Nevermind…” Isabella said. “I’m here to report what I found out about the Lingerburg family, who you ordered me to investigate.”

“Huh?! Are you serious? What did you find out?” I said.

What does she know about Alexandra? I care deeply about her. The happy feeling of being able to reconcile with Claudia until just a little while ago, and the sweet moments with Katharina were both blown away. What the hell happened to Alexandra? I’m losing my patience.

“After moving to the capital, House Lingerburg came under the protection of the Nassam Duchy.”

“The Nassam Duchy…? Is that part of her father’s will or the King’s will?” I said.

Why did that happen? Why under Duke Nassam?

“That is… I’m sorry. I don’t know the details,” Isabella said. “But it seems the story is widely known in the royal capital, and Duke Nassam has been recognized as the guardian of the remaining Lingerburgs.”

You’ve got to be kidding me… why was House Lingerburg, a vassal of Margrave Carruthers, now under the protection of Duke Nassam? Duke Nassam is not related to the current royal family even though they still a ducal family. Normally, dukes are given to relatives of the royal family, for them to serve as vassals.

However, in Kingdom of Ploiss, this is not necessarily always the case. In the Holy Roman Empire and the German Empire, there were feudal lords with strong power in various places in a system like a federation. The feudal lords acted with territories like sovereign countries, and there were many principalities. The ruler of that principality was a prince who was subordinate to the king or emperor who existed in the center of political power, but they were sovereign ruler in their territory.

The same goes for Duke Nassam, who is a vassal of the Kingdom of Prussia while being the ruler of the Nassam Duchy. Of course, even though he rules over territory like a principality, he’s still a noble who serves the Kingdom of Ploiss, but why was it necessary to entrust House Lingerburg to Duke Nassam?

Besides, there are bad rumors about Duke Nassam… they say his House has connections to the Principality of Aust in the south…

“This is… it looks like I need to ask my father and the King for a bit…” I said.

It doesn’t make sense for me to go out of my way to spread this story around. Let’s talk to Father first. Depending on the situation, it may be necessary to ask King Wilhelm, as well. It’s not easy for me to go talk to the king, but I have to do it.

What can I do for Alexandra? I frantically racked my brain as I worked out what to do next.