The Status Effect Count - Chapter 40

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

An Abnormal Count — Episode 40
Just as Hayden’s grip tightened, about to exert full force, he caught sight of the gardening gloves on her hands and felt his anger dissolve.
She’d been working.
The round-eyed girl who flitted busily from place to place—this Ann—somehow weighed on his mind.
Small and lean, her head barely reaching his waist, Ann was efficient and capable at her work, yet oddly reminded him of a child left alone by the water.
She had more than enough to do as the Count’s dedicated maid, yet during her breaks she’d run errands for others without hesitation.
‘That time she was mending clothes—she said the knights had asked her to do it.’
A girl who accepted pittance as payment for her trouble, yet cheerfully helped the knights with their odd jobs whenever they were in a bind.
‘Isn’t helping with the mansion work part of a maid’s duties? And you do pay me for it.’
Watching Ann’s eyes widen in innocent surprise at her own logic before she’d vanish again—it left everyone else looking bewildered.
Perhaps it was because she’d grown up in the Temple. She threw herself into any task as though it were her own, and showed respect to everyone alike. Surely, if she ever encountered a swindler, she’d be the first to lose out.
He’d grown anxious from the moment he heard that Ann had offered to tend the garden in Hugo’s place.
As if the work at Frenetia Mansion weren’t enough, now she was taking on work at the Imperial Castle itself. This place where people would gouge out your eyes the moment you blinked!
At the Imperial Castle, where no one hesitated to push work onto someone else’s shoulders, the image of one obstinate little black rabbit—who didn’t know the meaning of refusal—drowning beneath a tide of trivial errands until she collapsed from exhaustion had been haunting him.
He should have stopped her. Yet forcing this girl, who could barely sit still even at the mansion, to remain confined to an office seemed equally wrong, and it pricked his conscience a little.
‘Well, if something’s wrong, she’ll tell me. The other knights seem to be keeping an eye on her too.’
Hayden scratched his head and handed water to Ann, who was gasping for breath.
“Where’ve you been running around like this? Did someone send you on an errand?”
“Sir Hayden.”
“Hmm?”
“Have you ever—huff—ever thought that having a low station is a blessing—wheeze—in life?”
“What?”
What was she talking about now?
“I have.”
Ann drained the cup of water Hayden offered in one long gulp and spoke.
“Right now, in fact.”
Hayden had no idea what she meant, but……
‘Well, Ann’s smiling contentedly, so I suppose that’s good enough.’
* * *
“Good morning! Sir Hugo.”
“Welcome, Ann.”
Ann, who had come to the Imperial Castle again today, offered a cheerful greeting, and Hugo returned it with a gentle smile.
“Oh, as soon as you’ve arrived—my apologies, but would you mind taking this to Sir Nadan?”
“Leave it to me. By the way, those documents you mentioned yesterday—?”
“Ah, that report hasn’t come through yet, so it might take a bit longer.”
“That’s troubling. The Count was determined to have everything settled today.”
“It sounds like today will be noisy again, then.”
Hugo and Ann exchanged smiles as they faced each other.
Hugo, the sole administrator of the 2nd Knight Order, always knew Nadan’s schedule well in advance.
“That’s right. A new meeting was just scheduled for this afternoon.”
“Is that so? Then I should arrange for the Count’s meal to be something simpler. I’ll go!”
“Don’t run! You’ll fall!”
Ann answered lightly and quickly dashed out of Hugo’s office.
Knights passing by nodded in greeting when they saw her.
A young maid with black hair hurrying about from early morning—
It had become a familiar sight in the eastern wing of the Imperial Castle.
“You’ll hurt yourself that way!”
“Take your time!”
A few of the knights called out anxious reminders at her back.
Perhaps because they were knights, they all treated Ann, though merely a maid, with utmost courtesy.
‘I’ve never once tripped, so why do they all worry so?’
Ann nodded vigorously at the overly concerned knights, then shot off toward the kitchen like an arrow.
It had been a month now since she’d begun commuting to the Imperial Castle with the Count.
Ann had grown close to the people here. It was the result of her running about meeting faces all day long.
Just around that corner was the kitchen…… She had to hurry before the place filled with people.
The moment she turned the corner, a massive figure loomed abruptly into her path.
“Eek!”
She was going to fall!
Ann squeezed her eyes shut. Yet rather than the anticipated crash, what met her was something slightly firm—like an unyielding chest.
Before she could even lift her head, a soft click of the tongue sounded above her hair.
“Didn’t you hear me tell you to stop running around?”
“Ah. Master.”
Nadan held Anne around the waist, his expression one of exasperation.
“Watch where you’re going.”
“I was trying to hurry, and I didn’t see the corner coming.”
“You came back in a mess the last time too. Where are you gallivanting off to this time?”
Anne’s mouth snapped shut.
She’d thought he wasn’t paying attention when he saw her all tattered after the garden incident. But Nadan had been remembering it all along.
Anne squirmed in his grip, her body dangling helplessly.
“No, I won’t do it again this time. Please put me down!”
“Only if you stop getting into dangerous situations.”
Nadan scolded her as though she were a troublesome pet, then set her down on the ground.
“This is what Hugo asked me to deliver to you…….”
Anne thrust the stack of documents she’d been carrying toward Nadan.
Oh no—they were a bit creased.
She pulled the papers back and smoothed them out briskly before offering them again, and Nadan’s expression suggested he had plenty to say.
“You seem to be under a misunderstanding. You’re my maid, not my secretary.”
“I know. I’m your personal attendant, after all.”
“Then why do you keep—”
—meddling in everything like this?
He didn’t finish, but Anne could guess what he’d been about to say.
Still, she had plenty to say in return.
Anne crossed her arms and spoke in that bright, clear voice of hers. “It’s because you’re so busy, sir. There are so many knights, yet you’re handling all the work by yourself. If you damage your health doing that, how am I supposed to face Valence? The other knights are worried about you too—they say you’re taking on too much work. Everyone’s so concerned about you that they can’t even get their own duties done. So I have to help with whatever I can.”

Nadan had opened his mouth to scold her, but after receiving three times the words in return, his lips fell silent as though they’d been glued shut.
He was quiet for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Use Hayden.”
“Hayden is busy following you around, sir.”
There was nothing more to say. Nadan let out a long sigh and waved his hand.
“You’re too restless. Spend the afternoon sitting still in my office. I’m going to the Northern Checkpoint for a bit before the meeting.”
This time Anne cried out in protest too.
“You should send Hayden instead!”
But both Nadan and Hayden departed for the Northern Checkpoint.
‘If he keeps working like this, he’ll collapse without even needing a curse. Then who’s going to support me in my old age?’
Anne grumbled as she made her way down to the kitchen.
The kitchen was already steaming with heat, its staff deep in the work of preparing ingredients to feed the knights for the entire day.
Anne hurried to the woman directing the cooks in the center of the kitchen.
“Rozanna!”
“Oh my, the commander’s—. Is the commander eating simply again today?”
“Yes. That’s why I came to ask for a favor.”
Rozanna, the head kitchen maid of the Imperial Castle’s eastern wing, greeted Anne warmly.
She’d taken a liking to Anne, who moved about with such cheerful efficiency. The girl was quick with her hands and kept her work neat—a worker anyone would envy.
The only flaw was her dark hair, though that was the same for Hayden too.
“It’s easy enough for us, but is it really all right for you to eat like this every time?”
“It’s fine. Just put in plenty of meat.”
Ordinary knights ate in the dining hall at each meal, but those who held positions like commander of the guard had their food brought separately.
Preparing customized meals to suit the particular tastes of such personages was no simple task, but Nadan Frenetia, the current commander of the guard, required little fuss.
On any day without special guests, he always finished his meal simply in his office.
A modest meal was arranged in a basket—the sort of plain food nobles wouldn’t deign to touch, the kind servants would wolf down quickly before returning to their duties.
As always, Rozanna felt a bit awkward about it, so she tucked a sandwich, fresh-baked scones, and jam into the arrangement.
“Do eat something yourself too, Anne.”
“There’s no need for you to look after me!”
“I couldn’t do that. You’ve helped us so much.”
That was true enough.
The great kitchen of the Imperial Castle was always busy.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————