Machinist of Mana Chapter 101 Unhappy Housekeeper

“Young lord I've held my piece, for a long time, but there are limits,” Mrs. Rider began.

“Excuse me?” I asked, a bit taken aback by her tone. Earlier I'd been angry and she knew it, and got out of my way, but now I was in a different mood, and she knew well she could get away with saying whatever was bothering her.

“No, no I won't. For quite some time I've seen how you favor that girl, seen how you look at her when you think others aren't watching, but tonight is beyond what I can overlook my lord. I cannot have you in... relations with one of the maids, if it got out it would be a scandal, and I'm not beyond bringing this to your mother, you father perhaps listened to you, but I've known her a long time and I assure you she'll agree with me on this.”

I was honestly taken aback. That she'd noticed that I favored Kaylee wasn't too much of a surprise, it wasn't like I was hiding it or anything, but that she thought that we were, well doing what teenagers were wont to do was something else. I also had to stop myself from laughing, because that would have truly been inappropriate.

“Mrs. Rider, I believe you've misjudged the situation,” I informed her as calmly as I could.

“Oh? And you didn't confront your father, causing him to inform me she would be fine to stay before running off with that girl into your private room for nearly an hour? Do tell me that isn't what happened.” I did have to give it to her, from an outside perspective it was suspicious.

“You do know that her mother was my nursemaid and nanny correct?” I asked.

“I... I hadn't really thought of it, but that doesn't mean,” she began.

“Or that through my childhood I spent much time with the girl?” That wasn't too true, as we'd been separated after a couple of years, but she didn't know that.

“Hm.”

“Mrs. Rider, my interest in Kaylee isn't of the nature that you seem to believe. When we were young I viewed her, well almost as a younger sister nothing more. My anger stemmed from those feelings, not any infatuation. And as for the time in my workroom, I was giving her advice on magic, so she could hopefully grow should she encounter problems when I'm not around.”

The best deceits were sprinkled with truth. I couldn't tell her that Kaylee really was my sister, but I could tell her that we'd been childhood friends and that I'd come to view her as such. The magic part was partially true as well, as I'd given her a fair bit of advice on combustion.

“Then you'll have no issue with me taking her to the Temple of Lovers tomorrow to have her examined?” she challenged in a whisper.

“None so long as she doesn't, but should I find that you harass her about it I'll be quite cross.”

Priests, so far as I knew, they could detect a number of things, and if one wanted signs of sex was possible. The Order of Lovers were experts in all kinds of magic related to such and if anyone could they certainly could. Mrs. Rider doing as she'd threatened would put that to bed once and for all, and allow her to douse anything the other staff was saying as well.

This sort of invasion of privacy would be unheard of on Earth, but here it would be merely frowned upon. While it would be a scandal for a noblewoman to be asked such a thing maids and their employers getting into bed together was one too, and the privacy of staff was basically zero. Without some knowledge of their superiors they weren't supposed to have relationships at all, though many did.

Added onto that Kaylee's age, younger even than me, and the suggestion was invasive, but not altogether unheard of. Mrs. Rider probably even counted as some form of guardian since Kaylee's mother would be back at the main estate.

“Then I shall,” she declared.

“Take the cost from the house's funds Mrs. Rider,” I informed her before turning. “And keep in mind what I said about being cross.”

Kaylee

This was horrid, and I wanted to crawl into a corner and die. Mrs. Rider had been absolutely up in arms last night, taking me off into her office for a full interrogation once she'd finished speaking to lord... no, my brother. She seemed convinced beyond reason that I had been with him, an idea that made my very skin crawl, and had been quite clear of what she would do if I refused to join her on this little trip.

Her plan was to go to the lady of the house, consequences be dammed, and inform her of her suspicions. That alone would cause me to lose my job, and who knew what else would come of it when she came down upon me and most certainly my mother too. That was, unless I proved that I was innocent.

The housekeeper had even taken my uniform last night 'to be laundered' which meant she was checking it of course, neither of us said it, but both of us knew that. That too was such an invasion, I wondered of she'd dare if she knew the truth, and dreams of living like I'd seen the rich do flashed in my mind. Anyone would want that wouldn't they? To not have to labor and struggle and break yourself to keep others comfortable? It seemed too good to be true.

It also made a sort of sense. Mother had never talked about my father, telling me only that she hated to think about it. She also had no magic of her own, so mine was seen as a blessing, but if I was the child of a mage that would've almost been a given.

“Greetings and welcome, come to get the young miss a Lover's Mark?” a priestess asked as she approached us, looking at me. She couldn't have possibly been more wrong.

I turned crimson, feeling it fly up my cheeks. Those marks as they were called were magical tattoos, made to prevent pregnancy, almost the opposite of why I was here.

“No,” Mrs. Rider answered. “You see there's been an... accusation about my ward here, and I'd like to settle it if possible.”

The priestess gave me a long look before nodding. “Please come with me.” When the housekeeper tried to follow she was motioned back. “Only her.”

The robed woman was tall, half a head above me, and walked with purpose to a small private room. I'd been to temples few times, and seen priests for any sort of medical treatment fewer still.

“Thank you for keeping her from coming,” I said as the door shut.

“It is standard practice, as are the questions I'll be asking you next. I should inform you that I won't lie, but I also won't force anything on you if you don't want it.”

“Ah, thank you,” I murmured.

“Have you been assaulted in any way? At your age that's a real concern, and if you have tell me now and I'll help you.”

“No,” I spat out.

“If the man was older that's an issue too.”

“What? No, nothing like that.”

She gave me a long look. “You can tell me, you're safe here.”

“I really haven't...”

“Having problems with a boyfriend then?”

“I, what? No.”

“Very well, if you're ready I can examine you, assuming that's alright with you?”

“Well if you don't it'll be big problems, do you... need me to undress or anything?”

'What!? No, has someone been having you undress for healing?” She looked completely stunned by that question, and not pleased in the least.

“I-I've never been to a priest for healing before. There was a butler who could fix wounds, but I guess I never did for him. Otherwise it's just been nurses for exams and minor illnesses.”

“Oh thank goodness. No, just hold still a moment.”

There was a small flash of magic and a weird static across my body, causing me to jump just a bit.

“Well, I can say you've not been with anyone in a few days at least,” the priestess said.

“Ever,” I corrected her, getting truly tired of this woman.

“I can't check for that, just for recent signs. Are you sure you don't want a Lover's Mark though? I can sense your mana and see you'd be able to charge it yourself, even if not by much.”

“No thank you.” Getting one of those would undoubtedly send a certain housekeeper into a fit, and it wasn't like I was even interested in anyone.

“Very well, all done then. I'll tell your employer you're innocent.”

As we left I had to try hard not to shake my head. It was so weird how flippant they were about such things, as if it wouldn't be an embarrassment at all. They were just out in the public about it, well, private here, but still!