Chapter 33.1: Pearl Tears

When Rishe told Elise what she wanted to do, she nodded curiously and willingly extended her hands.

Sitting across from her, Rishe first disinfected her slender fingers.

Making sure there were no stinging scratches on her fingernails or fingertips, she began preparing.

“In Eastern Countries all the way from here, there’s a culture of dyeing nails with flowers. This is a combination of that culture and nail art reinforcement.”

She dipped her brush into the milky liquid and explained as she painted Elise’s nails.

Elise listened curiously as she talked about the distant land.

“Does that mean the nails will be stronger?　Mine are always brittle.”

“The area where it’s applied should be less prone to cracking. But the best thing you can do is to eat a well-balanced diet of meat, fish and beans.”

Nails were a part of the skin. What was good for the skin was also good for the nails.

“Meat, fish, beans,” Elise murmured and nodded.

“I’ll remember. From now on, I’ll ensure I’ll be able to eat on my paycheck.”

“I know your family is in a difficult situation.”

“We’re poor and I have many brothers and sisters. Now, if we manage to get some meat or vegetables, they’re fed to my little brothers and sisters.”

Rishe has heard about it when she wasn’t yet her handmaiden.

Elise was working to contribute to the family and she said she really wanted to be employed at the castle as a handmaiden.

I’ve heard there are shanty towns in this country before. As I recall, on the way to Garkhain, during a break after being attacked by bandits…

At that time, she was told that one of the knights, who was a vassal of Arnold, was from the favelas.

Even His Highness Arnold’s policies didn’t save everyone. In the first place, his policies were partially obstructed by someone else…

With that in mind, she finished applying the primer solution to all her nails.

When she finally dipped the brush in the flower-dyed sap, Elise’s eyes were glued to the brush. While she was carefully applying them evenly, she couldn’t help exclaiming in wonder.

“Really, it’s so beautiful. I’ve never seen anything so sparklingly beautiful before.”

Else was a very fashion-conscious girl.

She seemed to enjoy picking out Rishe’s dress and styling her hair every day. She was also very dexterous with her hands, so she probably could paint her nails well.

“It’s only pink right now, but let me know your favorite color, too. I hope you’ll accept it once it’s done.”

“N-No. It’d be a waste for me to take something so wonderful. I think I’m going to pass it.”

“Oh, no, not at all. I’d be happy to let Elise and the others use it.”

“Rishe-sama…”

Rishe breathed a sigh of relief as she finished painting her entire right hand. The process was hard to fix once it failed.

“What color do you like?　There’s also the blue of a forget-me-not and the yellow of a sunflower. There’s red, orange, pink and even purple.”

“…”

“I bet any color would look great on your white fingers.”

With her smiling and saying so, Elise looked at her with a somewhat pensive expression.

Then, beads of tears trickled down her large, round eyes.

“Elise!”

Rishe panicked in front of the maid, who suddenly began to cry.

“Hey, what’s going on? Have I scratched you!”

It would be terrible if it was smeared with the liquid. But Elise shook her head repeatedly.

“No, no. I’m just very happy.”

Elised paused for a moment and then blinked.

“I-I’ve never had anything so beautiful in my life.”

While speaking, tears ran down her cheeks.

“What I needed most was food for my brothers and sisters. When I had a little money, I had to buy what I needed to survive.”

Her tiny voice gradually turned into choking sobs.

“I never had a hair ornament, and my clothes were always tattered. I always wore boy’s hand-me-downs. So I was really happy when I received such a pretty uniform at the castle.”

Rishe remembered.

When she first met Elise, she had been very sad that her uniform had been soiled.

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“I was just happy that Rishe-sama hired me and I got my official uniform. I had to put up with all other beautiful things. So…”

Elise wiped a tear with the back of her hand.

“I’m so happy, Rishe-sama. So happy that I don’t even know how to thank you…”

“Elise…”

Rishe gently patted her head.

All the maidservants of this detached castle were working for their families. Just like Elise, there were more than a few kids who have been stifling their own aspirations and dreams.

The business I’m trying to establish lacked the ideas that I needed urgently!