Episode 7. Please Blow on the Napolitan Pasta Before Eating (2)
It was the first time Sasha had heard a stranger’s voice since arriving at the mansion—but instead of feeling relieved, she felt scared.
At this hour, the only person who should be here was the mansion’s owner. But Sasha had just brought a stranger inside without asking for permission.
Would any master be happy about a maid acting on her own?
Her mind went blank, but she forced herself to stay calm and quickly bowed low.
“I-I’m sorry.”
Holding a towel in her hand, she tried to explain calmly.
“I couldn’t leave the injured man outside, so I brought him here for a while. I’ll accept any punishment for making a mess.”
But something strange happened.
“P-please don’t say that! Don’t kneel to me—stand up right now!”
Instead of being angry, the man seemed flustered and rushed to help Sasha stand.
When she looked up, she saw an elderly gentleman wearing a monocle. With his dignified appearance, he was clearly the man from the papers—Alfred Caplet.
“W-was this part of the master’s test? Did I fail? Do I have to leave now…?”
“…What are you talking about?”
The old man wiped sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, looking confused.
“You’re making things awkward for me. Please, get up, Sasha.”
“But…”
“And I’m not the master. The real master is that man lying over there.”
“Huh?”
Sasha turned her head in the direction he was pointing—to the man she had just rescued.
“I’m Alfred, the butler of this mansion.”
“T-then aren’t you the master…?”
“I only hold the title. The real owner is Cerno Caplet.”
Blink.
Sasha couldn’t understand what she was hearing.
So… the messy, unconscious man she dragged in was the actual master of this grand mansion?
“Yes, that’s right.”
As if reading her mind, Alfred confirmed with a clear voice.
“He really looks like a wreck, doesn’t he? To think he’s showing you this side of himself on your first day—definitely not a good first impression.”
“Ah…”
“Don’t be shy, it’s fine to say it. You’re probably thinking, ‘What a disaster to end up with someone like this.’”
“N-no, it’s not that…”
“You could still run away, you know. The door’s over there.”
Alfred smiled gently as he pointed to the door.
Since he was so calm, Sasha was the only one panicking. Unsure what to say, she shifted the topic back to the unconscious man.
“W-why is the master so badly hurt…?”
“Don’t worry. He’s just reaping what he sowed.”
“What on earth did he sow…?”
“Probably everything he could. But he’ll be fine.”
Apparently, collapsing anywhere was the master’s hobby.
With a calm face, Alfred moved the master to a bed.
A hobby of collapsing?
Sasha felt like her understanding of the world was being shaken.
She had heard of thrill-seekers, but they usually still cared about safety. But a master who casually gets hurt whenever he wants?
Why would he do that? Maybe… like people who drink until they pass out, he wants to black out on purpose?
Alfred seemed to notice her confusion and added as he looked around the mansion:
“You shouldn’t be too surprised. The master not only has strange hobbies but also unusual tastes.”
He pointed to an upside-down symbol of Chrenthia on the wall.
“Nothing is placed properly. Symbols are flipped, walls are covered in doodles, the garden’s a mess… and he even keeps strange things.”
Sasha will have to get used to it.
Alfred winked playfully.
“Ah… I see.”
Sasha told herself that everyone is different, and people can have unique tastes. She didn’t say out loud that she actually liked the mansion, since she didn’t want to be lumped in with the master who passes out for fun.
“When do you think the master will wake up?”
Their attention returned to the sleeping man. After cleaning his face and fixing his messy hair, he looked much more at peace.
“Probably in two or three days.”
“…That’s longer than I thought.”
Sasha looked down at him quietly. Earlier, she was too panicked to notice, but now in the light, his face looked very neat and handsome.
His silver hair shimmered like moonlight, and beneath his strong eyebrows were clear, well-defined features.
She thought maybe the mansion’s glory days looked just like him—because this was the first time she’d found a sleeping person so beautiful.
“I hope he wakes up soon.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them. She genuinely hoped he would open his eyes. She was curious—what color were his eyes? What kind of light did they hold?
“Of course he has to wake up. How else will he sign the proper contract with you?”
Alfred joked, though there was a hint of sadness behind his voice.
Sasha thought it must be because he was worried about his odd master. He must’ve had a hard time too.
“Well then, it’s late. Shall we go?”
Alfred suggested they leave. Worried that noise might disturb the sleeping master, Sasha tiptoed out and gently closed the door.
As they walked through the cold, gloomy hallway, they talked.
“So, how was your sleep last night?”
“I’ve never stayed in such a wonderful room. The bed was so soft I fell asleep the moment I lay down.”
“Haha! I’m glad to hear that. We made special preparations because you were coming.”
It seemed the fancy room had been part of the first “trust test” to hire Sasha as a maid.
She had been surprised by all the expensive jewelry and clothes in the room but had felt no desire to take any of it. It was the master’s property, so she didn’t even touch it.
Still, she only shyly fidgeted with her fingers and said:
“Then… did I pass the test? If I may, could you show me the room I’ll be staying in from now on?”
“Pardon? What test?”
Alfred looked confused.
“And what do you mean, show you your room? Is there a problem with it? Is it because it’s near the stairs?”
Now Sasha tilted her head.
“The room was perfectly fine. I actually liked that it was near the stairs.”
“Then why are you asking to change it?”
“Um… because… that’s not my room.”
Head tilt.
The two of them tilted their heads at each other, clearly not understanding one another. Finally, after a long conversation, they realized what had happened.
“W-wait… That room was for me?!”
“Of course! Why would I test you like that? I don’t believe in stressful interviews!”
They realized there had been a huge misunderstanding. But after learning the truth, Sasha’s expression darkened.
“D-do you have a task for me, then? Like cleaning the whole mansion in one day…? Not that I’d say no! I just mean one day isn’t enough time. Or… is it something really dangerous…?”
“No, no! Absolutely not! We only ask one thing of you. Just stay here… I mean, just take care of the mansion.”
Sasha looked even more alarmed and shook her head.
“You want me to repair the mansion, don’t you? But I don’t know how to fix outer walls… If I can’t, will I be kicked out?”
“No! I misspoke! You’re not here to take care of the mansion—but to take care of the master!”
Alfred quickly pointed toward the room where the master was sleeping.
Suddenly, all the facts Sasha had learned about the master came rushing into her mind.
With his strange hobbies and personality, most people probably wouldn’t be able to handle him.
If it was such a hard job, maybe that’s why they gave the caretaker such a fancy room.
Like puzzle pieces clicking into place, understanding finally showed on Sasha’s face.
Alfred finally relaxed a bit.
“So, from now on, I’m supposed to take care of the master?”
“Exactly!”
Alfred answered cheerfully—just as a loud CRASH! echoed from somewhere deep in the mansion.
Something had just fallen over in the silence.
