Volume 1 - CH 5

Washboard

Translated by Raizu

Few more weeks had passed, and autumn seemed to have arrived.

I was so relieved to know that this world has four seasons too.

After finishing breakfast, I absentmindedly watched the siblings Rona and Rolo doing the laundry.

The two were trampling the laundry in a large bucket.

Keep stepping on it for a while, throw away the dirty water when the water turns black, draw water from the well and put it in the bucket.

Looking at it this way, doing laundry is quite hard work.

…it’s still fine now, but it’ll be a problem once the day gets a little colder…

For a modern person like me, each and every one of these casual everyday things is unavoidable.

After a while, the two of them noticed my gaze and clearly showed a sense of caution.

It seemed that these siblings were bullied severely by Varian before I came in, and they still hate me.

I had no intention of interfering, so I turned around and left.

…I want to properly apologize, but even that is not allowed…

Rona and Role are slaves, thus it’ll be a problem if I, Varian, who is a noble, bow my head to them.

The values that I’ve known up until now don’t work here.

I’m trying to learn the common sense of this world as much as possible, so I try to follow the advice of others.

…Come to think of it, why don’t the two of them use the washboard?

It should be more efficient than stepping on it with your feet…

I suddenly remembered the existence of the washboard.

Speaking of old-fashioned laundry, the image of the washboard is strong.

Even in the picture book Momotaro, the old woman should have been washing on the washboard.

The washboard is secretly popular even in modern times, and it is an item that is also distributed through the jungle mail order.

In addition to the functionality, cost, and environmental aspects, it should also have the meaning of preparing for disasters.

At Tanaka’s house, when shirt cuffs and socks are very dirty, they use a small silicon washboard, which is very convenient for washing small amounts of laundry.

……Washingboard, if I have the chance, maybe I should make one.

I vaguely imagined a wooden washboard.

Actually, Varian did not know that the washboard spread unexpectedly late, in the 19th century.

So of course, it hasn’t been invented yet in Amoros Kingdom.

As I was vaguely remembering the washboard, Giroude approached me with a grin.

[Young Master, you looked troubled.]

[No, well, yes, I am]

When I answered vaguely, Giroude nodded his head proudly.

[Young master, if it’s about a girl…]

I completely ignored Giroude’s lecture, who seemed to have misunderstood.

Since a while ago, he’s been saying incomprehensible things like [There’s an execution of a criminal this month, so invite Rona to see it].

It’s hard to understand why I should bring a woman to watch someone being tied up and whipped.

In general, I don’t want this square-faced youngster to explain how women should be treated.

I had a wife and children, you know?

I ignored Giroude and tried to remember the structure of the washboard, but surprisingly I didn’t remember anything that should have been familiar to me.

Shouldn’t it be easy to make?

Even if the material is wood, can you imagine the number, depth, and angle of the grooves?

The groove of the washboard has a fixed front and back and a gentle U-shaped curve.

If you inadvertently use it in the opposite direction, it will damage the fibers, so please be careful.

[Hey, Jiro, for the laundry…don’t we usually use a board like this?]

I drew a washboard on the ground and showed it to Giroude.

[Hmm… I don’t know. Young Master may not remember, but when it comes to laundry, we do it like what Rona does, or beat it with paddle.]

Apparently Giroude didn’t know about the washboard yet.

I guess I’ll do a little more research.

=========

In conclusion, everyone didn’t know about the washboard.

The people that I questioned were Giroude, Rinel, Mom, and a few random servants.

I consulted with Giroude about trying to make one, and asked him to lend me only suitable wood and a chisel, but this turned out rather difficult for me.

In the end, I ended up entrusting most of it to Giroude.

By the way, the groove was randomly set to 20… I think it was something like this.

I failed twice, but I managed to complete something that looked like it on the third try.

It pitifully took a few days, but it’s also thanks to Giroude’s dexterousness it only took that long.

[So, what are you going to do with this jagged board?]

[Oh, let’s try using it for a bit.]

We asked Rona’s mother to lend us two sheets of laundry.

If you turn the curve of the groove downward and rub it vigorously, you can see that the black dirt seeps out.

[Wash the laundry like this… It’s faster than stepping on it and replacing the water many times, and it saves water.]

When I showed it to Rona’s mother, she had a mixed expression of surprise and suspicion.

Meanwhile, Giroude was mumbling a [Huh?] with a blank expression on his face… perhaps he still didn’t understand.

[For now, I want you to try using it… I want to improve it again, so I’d like your opinion. Also, when you’re done using it, turn the curve up so it’s easier to dry.]

I pushed the washboard against Rona’s mother and left.

I don’t think she has good feelings for me for hurting her daughter, so I didn’t want to stay too long.

[Young Master, does that make washing easier?]

[Maybe… I wish I could improve the detergent, but that’ll be impossible for now.]

I thanked Giroude for going out with me, and told my father, Rudolph, about his ability during dinner.

Rudolph listened with a strange face, but he may have suspected that Giroude was teaching strange things into the 7-year-old child… Sorry Jiro.

And just like that, I made my first footprint in Amoros Kingdom with the washboard.

Now don’t start calling me inventor or something. That would be pushing it too far.

Thankfully, the washboard’s reputation was excellent, so Giroude and I decided to increase production.

My parents Rudolph and Rushieno also reacted by saying, [You’ve come up with a good idea], and didn’t seem to have any particular thoughts.

I personally think that an invention(?) like a washboard would be just right, as it would be annoying if my true identity were found out.

In the first place, this was meant as a present for Rona and Rolo who are doing their best.

The washboard itself did not become very popular in the world, but it became very much used in the Lioncoeur family.

===========

[Umm… Young Master.]

One day, Rona called out to me.

[Thanks to Young Master, washing has been made much easier. Thank you very much.]

Rona bowed her head awkwardly.

I was a little taken aback since it came out of nowhere, but perhaps Giroude had pulled some strings here.

[I’m glad if it really makes things easier. You’re welcome, and… I’m sorry for everything I’ve done until now.]

When I apologized in a low voice, Rona’s eyes widened in surprise.

As expected, bowing your head would be unpleasant, but since I casually conveyed it, no one would have heard of it. In short, it would be better if they weren’t asked.

[Excuse me, but what is the point of saying all that?]

So, I boldly told Rona, [I want you to be my friend].

Perhaps it’s self-deserving, but Varian doesn’t have friends of his own age.

And in this mansion, there are only Rona and Rolo who are the same age as him. So, I want to make friends with the two of them.

After all, it’s unnatural to live as a Varian and not have a single friend. And I’m a little concerned.

Besides, as an adult, I don’t think it’s a good idea for these siblings to continue to have memories of being unilaterally bullied by the noble Varian.

[Young Master, umm, that will be a waste.]

[…it’s alright if you’re not willing. I’m sorry for saying that out of nowhere.]

I realized after I said that, but when I thought about it, I wouldn’t be able to say no if my employer’s son said, [Let’s be friends]….. I did something naive.

When I was about to leave, Rona raised her voice, [It’s not like I don’t want to!].

I was a little surprised because I heard Rona’s loud voice for the first time.

[Both I and Rolo don’t have any friends, so…]

Rona lowered her head while fidgeting.

When she looked down, I could see the scar on her forehead and my heart ached.

[Just call me Varian. Because we’re friends.]

[…..Yes, Varian-sama.]

Rona looked embarrassed.

She’s not pretty by any means, but she looks cute when she smiles.

Suddenly, I sensed someone’s presence, and when I turned around, Giroude and several other retainers were looking at me with a smirk.

[Good for you, Young Master.]

[Now they’re going to be happily ever after.]

[Hahaha, Young Master shouldn’t make the young lady cry again.]

They are making fun of us as much as they want.

From an adult’s point of view, this interaction between children must be heartwarming.

Rona dropped her head down after being teased by the outfield. Red to the ears.

But since I’m mentally over 40 already, this much teasing won’t faze me.

[Yep, I’m friends with such a cute girl. You must be jealous since you’re still single, right?]

When I gave Giroude such a reversal, the retainers looked at each other and burst out laughing.

It’s already been three months since I came to Amoros Kingdom…

I finally have some time to spare. I guess I got used to it.

Having repaired the relationship with Rona and Rolo, I feel like my heart has been lifted.

As a side note, the “execution date” that Giroude proposed was apparently common sense.

Because entertainment is extremely scarce in the Kingdom of Amoros, it seems that whipping and hanging are a kind of thrilling show.

The square where the execution will be held will be so crowded that there are even food stalls.

In other words, it’s something like a fair date in Japan.

When in Rome, do like Romans do… I’m sorry for doubting you, Jiro. But no matter how I put it, it’s your fault to have a square face that you aren’t popular with ladies.