Chapter 31: The Neighbors
In the rented house’s first floor, I had painstakingly laid the tiles, but now I had to peel some up and redo them.
I also dug up the courtyard to connect the drainage stone pipe to the kitchen’s setup. I had already reconstructed the kitchen’s drainage to prevent any sewer smells from rising, so I knew exactly where to place it. Besides, since I hadn’t used the water supply in the rented house, it wasn’t a problem even if it took some time.
With the tiles back in place, the bathroom floor was complete. The walls were made of brick-sized stone, and since the space was narrow, it was close to the fireplace, which made me wary of the wood. Maybe I should build an oven between the fireplace and the wall, and if I splash water on it, it could turn into a steam bath? It seems like steam baths are quite popular here.
While the renovations to the rented house might not contribute much to the gods, it couldn’t be helped. I was definitely using my Production Talent to the fullest and improving my skills, so I hoped they would forgive me.
I also needed to make a feather duvet. I had washed the down and feathers and spread them out to dry in the barn. I needed to buy some nice fabric to sew it together.
“Hmm?”
A knock at the door.
I didn’t know anyone here, so who could it be? Maybe someone from the houses on either side or a member of the Merchant Guild? Or perhaps Ash?
“Sorry to interrupt you. Here you go.”
It was indeed Ash.
“What’s up?”
I welcomed Ash inside while accepting the gift. Oh, I had been working, so the desk and chair were all over the place.
“Just a moment.”
I moved the desk back and offered him a chair before heading to the kitchen to grab the tea set.
It was cold, so I had already lit a fire in the fireplace, and hot water was boiling. I had brought soft water from home, and since I had left it on the fire, there was plenty.
Here, they usually had hard water. It was rich in minerals and good for drinking, but I thought soft water was better for cooking and bathing.
While I thought about how I wanted a kettle, I plunged a ladle into the pot to pour hot water into a cup. It was hotter than I expected. I poured the water into the teapot from a height to cool it down. Who cares about manners! It’s all about the right temperature!
“Here you go. It’s cold outside, right?”
I placed the cup with discarded water in front of Ash and poured him some tea.
“Thank you.”
“Thanks for this too. I’ll dig in right away.”
Since the gift looked like a sweet, I unwrapped the paper to reveal a rustic-looking tart. I went back to the kitchen to grab a plate and a knife.
“Both the tea set and this are quite rare.”
“Ah, yes. Silverware is the best here, right?”
“Indeed, we also use silverware. During military expeditions, most common folk use wooden utensils.”
The tart had a hard base, making it difficult to cut, but I hoped he wouldn’t mind.
“Silver is beautiful, but it seems like a hassle to maintain. I wonder why it’s so popular.”
Maybe it’s because it doesn’t break? I divided the tart onto a plate and handed it to Ash. I had the impression that silverware tarnished quickly.
“Silverware primarily serves to prevent poisoning, assert wealth, and demonstrate that one has capable servants who can maintain it.”
Silver changes color with arsenic or cyanide, right? That’s impressive; it’s a mix of practicality and noble vanity!
Wait, does this mean I should taste it for poison? A duke’s son, or rather, a young lady. Well, it’s too late now.
The tart seemed to contain figs soaked in alcohol and sugar, and the juice had seeped into the dough, making it delicious. If I made the dough crumble more, I felt it would taste even better. I’d have to try that later.
“This is the best sweet I’ve had in this town.”
“It was recommended by Note.”
The butler is quite capable.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“I came to greet you for moving in.”
“Oh, you found a place! Where is it?”
“It’s on the right side of this alley.”
That’s incredibly close!
“I thought someone lived there. Did they move out?”
“They say they’re going to live with their daughter and her husband.”
What a coincidence! But I wondered if they had been discussing it for a while. We hadn’t interacted much beyond exchanging greetings, so I had no idea.
“Um, sorry about that.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Note found it for me. I don’t recall telling him about your house—”
Wait! Was there some underhanded business going on!?
“Why would he do that?”
“Perhaps it’s because I was a bit too excited when talking to you.”
…Excited? When did that happen!? I’ve come to understand that his serious face doesn’t mean he’s threatening or has bad intentions, but what does an excited face look like?
“Well, it’s fine, but isn’t the rent a bit high?”
When I asked about the prices of vacant houses on the same street, I remembered that six gold coins a month seemed steep…
“It’s better than that inn, and safety is priceless. If, by any chance, an assassin were sent after you, it would be troublesome for an inn or a rental room.”
I nodded, thinking he was quite serious.
“By the way, what exactly are you making?”
“A bath.”
“A bath?”
Ash’s face turned serious again, but I figured it was probably just a puzzled expression.
“It’s not just a bathtub, you know? It’s better to see it.”
I led Ash to the newly completed wall.
“This is… a bath?”
“Yeah, the wall isn’t dry yet, and there’s no door, but…”
“I’ve never seen one like this. It’s beautiful.”
When I told him he could touch everything except the walls, he began to stroke the clawfoot bathtub. It felt smooth.
“I’m thinking of making it a steam bath too, so I was considering building a stone oven between the fireplace and this wall.”
“A bath with a window is luxurious, but this is… I want to try it.”
“Once it’s finished, you’re welcome to give it a go.”
I wanted to show off what I had created a little.