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.
ā¦itās still fine now, but itāll be a problem once the day gets a little colderā¦
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.
ā¦I want to properly apologize, but even that is not allowedā¦
Rona and Role are slaves, thus itāll be a problem if I, Varian, who is a noble, bow my head to them.
The values that Iāve known up until now donāt work here.
Iām trying to learn the common sense of this world as much as possible, so I try to follow the advice of others.
ā¦Come to think of it, why donāt the two of them use the washboard?
It should be more efficient than stepping on it with your feetā¦
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 Tanakaās 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.
ā¦ā¦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 hasnāt 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 itās about a girlā¦]
I completely ignored Giroudeās lecture, who seemed to have misunderstood.
Since a while ago, heās been saying incomprehensible things likeĀ [Thereās an execution of a criminal this month, so invite Rona to see it].
Itās hard to understand why I should bring a woman to watch someone being tied up and whipped.
In general, I donāt 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 didnāt remember anything that should have been familiar to me.
Shouldnāt 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 laundryā¦donāt we usually use a board like this?]
I drew a washboard on the ground and showed it to Giroude.
[Hmmā¦ I donāt 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 didnāt know about the washboard yet.
I guess Iāll do a little more research.
=========
In conclusion, everyone didnāt 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 20ā¦ 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 itās also thanks to Giroudeās dexterousness it only took that long.
[So, what are you going to do with this jagged board?]
[Oh, letās try using it for a bit.]
We asked Ronaās 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 thisā¦ Itās faster than stepping on it and replacing the water many times, and it saves water.]
When I showed it to Ronaās mother, she had a mixed expression of surprise and suspicion.
Meanwhile, Giroude was mumbling aĀ [Huh?]Ā with a blank expression on his faceā¦ perhaps he still didnāt understand.
[For now, I want you to try using itā¦ I want to improve it again, so Iād like your opinion. Also, when youāre done using it, turn the curve up so itās easier to dry.]
I pushed the washboard against Ronaās mother and left.
I donāt think she has good feelings for me for hurting her daughter, so I didnāt want to stay too long.
[Young Master, does that make washing easier?]
[Maybeā¦ I wish I could improve the detergent, but thatāll 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 childā¦ Sorry Jiro.
And just like that, I made my first footprint in Amoros Kingdom with the washboard.
Now donāt start calling me inventor or something. That would be pushing it too far.
Thankfully, the washboardās reputation was excellent, so Giroude and I decided to increase production.
My parents Rudolph and Rushieno also reacted by saying,Ā [Youāve come up with a good idea], and didnāt 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.
===========
[Ummā¦ 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.
[Iām glad if it really makes things easier. Youāre welcome, andā¦ Iām sorry for everything Iāve done until now.]
When I apologized in a low voice, Ronaās 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 werenāt asked.
[Excuse me, but what is the point of saying all that?]
So, I boldly told Rona,Ā [I want you to be my friend].
Perhaps itās self-deserving, but Varian doesnāt 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, itās unnatural to live as a Varian and not have a single friend. And Iām a little concerned.
Besides, as an adult, I donāt think itās 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.]
[ā¦itās alright if youāre not willing. Iām sorry for saying that out of nowhere.]
I realized after I said that, but when I thought about it, I wouldnāt be able to say no if my employerās son said,Ā [Letās be friends]ā¦.. I did something naive.
When I was about to leave, Rona raised her voice,Ā [Itās not like I donāt want to!].
I was a little surprised because I heard Ronaās loud voice for the first time.
[Both I and Rolo donāt have any friends, soā¦]
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 weāre friends.]
[ā¦..Yes, Varian-sama.]
Rona looked embarrassed.
Sheās not pretty by any means, but she looks cute when she smiles.
Suddenly, I sensed someoneās presence, and when I turned around, Giroude and several other retainers were looking at me with a smirk.
[Good for you, Young Master.]
[Now theyāre going to be happily ever after.]
[Hahaha, Young Master shouldnāt make the young lady cry again.]
They are making fun of us as much as they want.
From an adultās 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 Iām mentally over 40 already, this much teasing wonāt faze me.
[Yep, Iām friends with such a cute girl. You must be jealous since youāre still single, right?]
When I gave Giroude such a reversal, the retainers looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Itās already been three months since I came to Amoros Kingdomā¦
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 āexecution dateā 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, itās something like a fair date in Japan.
When in Rome, do like Romans doā¦ Iām sorry for doubting you, Jiro. But no matter how I put it, itās your fault to have a square face that you arenāt popular with ladies.