I'm tired...
--- Kitchen.
"So, Missy, you came here to make dinner, right?"
"Yeah, correct. I want to let my grandfather and grandmother taste my cooking. Also, there are cousins I'm meeting for the first time, right? To get along with them, I’ll win their stomachs."
"Miss Joan, 'winning their stomachs'... that's a phrase usually used for catching a man, isn’t it?"
"Huh? That’s the same in this world too?"
"Yeah, we say that. Well, actually, everyone in the mansion is already won over by your cooking."
"Haha, really? Then, do you think I can win over my grandfather and the others too?"
"““No doubt about it.””"
"Alright, I’ll do my best to cook. Oh, by the way, where’s Anny?"
I looked around for Anny, who I haven’t seen.
"Ah, she said she’s feeling like she’s coming down with a cold and is resting."
"What? Is she okay?"
"She mentioned having a high fever, but she’ll be fine after resting, no worries."
Arthur says nonchalantly.
"Feeling like she has a cold? Did she see a doctor?"
"No, she’s just resting… And probably only we know about it?"
"What!? Even Mr. Grey and Nancy don’t know? You can’t take colds lightly! (One of the causes of my death, even if I was a senior citizen...) And being alone must be so lonely! Jeez! … Bang … Saraaaaaaaah!"
I opened the door and called for Sarah.
Can she hear me?
Tap, tap, tap.
"Yeeees. Did you call, Miss Joan?"
As expected of Sarah, she came right away.
"Anny seems to be bedridden. Please inform Mr. Grey or Nancy and have a doctor look at her."
"What!? Really? Understood. I’ll do so immediately—"
"And after you report, could you give this to Anny and make sure she drinks it?"
I said as I handed over a special sports drink from my storage.
"Yes, understood."
She said that and went off to find Nancy.
Bang.
"Hey, all of you, how could you not notice something like this? When a family member is sick, shouldn’t you worry? Shouldn’t you call a doctor? How can you say she’ll be fine? Are you a doctor? I told you during the barbecue, didn’t I? Everyone here is family!! Especially Anny... you understand, don’t you? You’re adults, aren’t you? You drink alcohol, don’t you? Think a little more, will you!?"
"Sorry, Missy. We were careless."
"“Sorry.”"
The three of them bow their heads.
Clap, clap, clap.
Someone is applauding?
Nervously, I turn around, and there they are—
"Eh!? M-Mother, Grandmother... since when have you been here?"
"Hmm~ since the 'you all' part?"
Oh no, they’ve been listening since the beginning! This is bad, really bad.
Out of habit from my previous life, my tone... It was just like when I scolded my juniors. What do I do?
1. Apologize
2. Play it cool
3. Run away
Options 2 and 3 are too risky later on.
"I-I’m sorry."
"Oh? Why are you apologizing?"
"Uh, um, because my tone…"
"Yes, that’s true. It wasn’t ideal. But you were angry because you were thinking of Anny, right?"
"Yes..."
"Then we’ll overlook it this time. Because what you said isn’t wrong."
"Exactly, Joan. Say what you need to say. And if they still don’t understand... right, Abe? You know what that means, don’t you?"
"Y-yes! Of course, Madam, I understand!"
"Good... If you understand, that’s fine. Abe, there won’t be a next time."
"Yes!! I’ll be careful!!"
"Arthur and Ben too, do you understand?"
"“Yes!!”"
"So, Joan, what are you doing here?"
"Uh, I was going to prepare dinner."
"Oh my, you are? Is it your cooking from your previous life?"
"Yes, though I’m not sure if it’ll suit your tastes."
"Mother-in-law, Joan’s cooking is delicious. You can look forward to it."
"Oh? Really. Then I’ll look forward to it."
With that, the two of them left the kitchen.
"““““Haaaah.””””
"Somehow, I feel exhausted."
"Yeah. Getting scolded by Missy and then having the Madam show up, too."
"Well, it’s because you did something worth getting scolded for, isn’t it?"
"We’re really reflecting on that."
"“Sorry.”"
What do you think about this chapter?
