Traces

Something came up and I could use some help.

I need to update the inventory list for the supply storage, but there's quite a lot to go through.

We need a count before sending them out to our contractor.

Couldn't you just leave that to the lizard and—

Why are we talking about a lizard? Since when does Candle Square have a pet lizard?

My apologies. She's a new trainee working alongside me.

Please forgive her. She tends to make odd remarks now and then.

Well, I'm not sure how reassuring that is... but help is help. Come along.

At least we didn't attract too much suspicion.

This book falls under humanities, so we'll store it in the lower-left section...

As for this...

How to Spend a Perfect Night With Your Maid...?

W-Who even brought this in?!

I was still new at the time, so I never knew about things like this.

I could never allow inappropriate material like that into Candle Square.

...Well, with that one out of the way, we should be finished here.

I've updated the catalog and marked any books that don't meet the standards for removal.

Whoever handles the task next should be able to use it as a reference.

Don't you think you're working a bit too hard?

Couldn't we just do enough to get by? Why go this far?

Regardless of what this world is, it is still Candle Square.

Leaving work unfinished is unacceptable for a maid.

We spend the entire day doing nothing but work...!

Then every time we're told to go somewhere or call it a day and get some rest...

Suddenly it's the next morning with more work waiting for us!

We've already repeated this who knows how many times!

We don't even know what's going on, so why bother—

...If we head back to the lobby, we'll probably end up working on another task, won't we?

If what happens next matches my expectations... then we'll have our answer soon.

Remember that handsome young neighbor I mentioned before?

More importantly... What's she doing over there?

I wouldn't say your feelings are entirely one-sided.

Emotions can be fickle, and affection has a way of obscuring reason.

Do you remember what I told you to do when you feel anxious and impatient?

Give yourself time to organize your feelings, and start with something small.

Perhaps you could start by visiting his workshop as a customer.

Ah...! I never thought of that!

Conversations with Ms. Carnelia had a way of making people open up.

She knew how to make people share what was really on their mind.

Oh my, I lost track of time.

I'll return to my duties now!

I was beginning to worry about how long you've gone without rest...

I apologize for not noticing earlier.

Since summer is coming, make sure you take a proper vacation. No need to worry about anyone else.

I appreciate your dedication to the Saviors...

But managing your own condition is also an important part of being a maid.

I'm sorry to have troubled you.

...Come to think of it, we've never had a proper one-on-one meeting.

Shall we have tea together sometime soon?

I believe I'm going to have tea with Ms. Carnelia.

But managing your own condition is also an important part of being a maid.

Everything we've gone through so far follows the sequence of my early days here.

Soon after arriving, I was put in charge of tending the garden...

Then there was the supply storage task, the clothing repairs...

A little later, I helped sort the library's collection.

And sometime around then, Ms. Carnelia gave me time off.

So this world is reproducing the past as it happened?

Of course, our presence changes things, so the details won't be perfectly identical.

But I suspect the major moments and conversations may be playing out again.

So it was quite some time before we finally sat down together.

To be fair, you and small talk don't really go together.

*Sigh*... No, maybe you're right. Aside from a few people, I suppose I haven't opened up like that since.

I suppose you knew her better than I thought.

But... she pulled away far faster than I could reach her.

Almost as though she intended to distance herself from the very beginning.

Come to think of it, I've never heard how you first met her.

Others might find it interesting, but for me, it touches on a shameful chapter I'd rather forget.

Though she's my sister, she was barely ever home after she became Master Maid.

I want to understand what kind of person she really was.

Not that I have to tell, anyway.

I'm only telling you because I believe you can handle it now.

Then we'll have to go back quite a long way.

After all, it happened even before the period we're going through now.