That was rather awkward, especially for Doris. The moment she saw Claude enter, she blushed and hurriedly lowered her head to wash the clothes in the wooden basin.
Well, that's still a good thing. Doris knows how to be shy. She doesn't look like a slut like Lonkdo said.
Women who had a sense of shame were much more moral than those who had no sense of shame. For instance, when she first saw Claude yesterday, she stuck her tongue out and licked the corner of her lips. She was teasing him, not seducing him. She was just joking around to see if he would lose his composure and show off her own charm.
She didn't think she would forget that Claude had already moved in last night and was living in the room below her.
When she woke up in the middle of the night, she forgot about that and started comforting herself like she always did. Claude, who was downstairs, heard everything she did.
The moment she thought about that, she felt really embarrassed and didn't even dare to raise her head to look at Claude.
Claude was a little embarrassed too. He nodded at them as a form of greeting and prepared to bring his steed to the barn.
Halbena, on the other hand, looked at Claude curiously and asked, "Mister Officer, why are you back so early today?"
"School has started. Even though there are many things to do, it's not my turn yet. So, I've been quite free these few days," Claude replied as he tied the steed's reins to the railing.
"By the way, your father and mother aren't home, are they?" Claude asked as he tied the reins of his horse to the railing.
"My father went to the fields to check on the growth of the winter wheat. My mother went to visit the neighbors next door," Halbena said, "Do you need them for something?"
"No." Claude shook his head. "I just saw that they weren't home, so I asked. I'll be going back to my room. You guys go about your business."
He returned to his room and stuffed the underwear he had changed out of last night into the wooden basin beside him. Then, he changed into his military uniform.
Ever since he was promoted to second lieutenant and Myjack became his orderly, he hadn't had to wash his clothes or anything like that. He didn't even need to ask Myjack to do it for him. He didn't have to worry about such trifling matters in his daily life.
But now, he was in the military academy and Myjack was in training. Even though he was a captain and had participated in the advanced seminar, he was still a cadet. He didn't have the right to have an orderly assigned to him.
That would have to wait until his training was over before he could be assigned to a new unit. In other words, from now on, he would have to wash his clothes, get his meals, collect his salary, and do all the other chores himself.
When he walked to the door with the tub filled with clothes, he stopped.
Only Doris and Halbena were washing clothes in the yard. If he were to join them with the basin, it would be easy for others to misunderstand and think that he was purposely using the excuse of washing clothes to get close to them. That would make people look down on him and think that he was up to no good.
Claude placed the wooden basin on the table in front of the window. All he wanted to do was wash his clothes and nothing else. However, no matter how honorable he was, people would still think he was a wretched person.
So, the best thing he could do now was to wait for the two women outside to finish washing before he went to wash his clothes. That way, he could avoid a lot of trouble.
He had just moved in, after all, so he had to avoid certain things.
Since he had nothing to do, he lay on his bed and wondered if he should take a few days off from the military academy to visit Madam Maria in the royal capital.
Even though what happened between his sister and her children was rather embarrassing, Madam Maria still took care of his family and that was something he couldn't ignore.
Since he had the time now, he felt that he should pay her a visit. She was his herbalism teacher, after all.
Additionally, he planned to buy some books in the royal capital. Just like now, his room felt empty without a single book and he didn't know what to do when he returned.
With books, he would be able to kill his boredom.
It was already February and when the rainy season arrived in March, he would spend most of his time cooped up in his room. If he didn't find some books to read, he would die of boredom.
But since it was the first day of school, he didn't feel like taking a day off.
He decided to look for Manrique the next day. Since he had nothing to do in the academy, he should be able to get permission to visit the royal capital for a few more days.
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, the door to his room was pushed open and Natalie's voice rang out. "Oh, Claude, you're back."
Damn it. Claude sat up with a grunt. Aunt Natalie, why did you come in without knocking? What if I did something inappropriate like changing my clothes? Wouldn't you see everything?
It seemed that he would have to lock the door in the future. Also, the soundproofing on the first floor was too good. He wouldn't be able to hear anything from the yard even if he was in his room.
Even though he grumbled inwardly, he still put on a smile. "Aunt Natalie, you're back. I didn't have anything to do in the academy today, so I came back early to rest."
The moment Natalie entered, she saw a wooden basin full of clothes on the table in front of the window. "Oh, so many clothes. Are they going to be washed?
Why didn't you bring them out? "
Claude smiled sheepishly. "I saw them washing clothes by the well outside, so I didn't want to join in the fun. I was going to go wash them after they were done."
"Just bring them over to wash. What's there to be particular about? We're all family, so it's fine."
Natalie smiled even more warmly. "Why don't I get Bena to wash them for you? You're a man, so you won't be able to wash them well.
Just like that old man of mine of mine, he just puts everything in the water and swings it around. He doesn't even check if it's clean.
Compared to us women, men are just more careless and impatient. "
With that, Natalie turned around and called out to the yard, "Bena, come over here for a bit."
"It's fine, Aunt Natalie. I can wash them myself." Claude found it odd that Natalie was being so friendly.
"Listen to me. You're living here now, so you're part of our family. It's fine for Bena to help you with some chores," Natalie said.
Then, she changed the topic. "By the way, Claude, how old are you? Where are you from? Who else is there in the family?"
Claude understood that Natalie was trying to sell her daughter.
He shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly. "Aunt Natalie, I'm from Whitestag, one of the three southwestern prefectures. I'm 24 years old.
But I got married last September. My wife is a middle school classmate of mine. Technically speaking, we grew up together. "
As expected, the moment she heard that Claude was married, Natalie's expression changed. She lost most of her enthusiasm and muttered, "Why do they all get married so early …"
Claude felt like he had done something wrong and let her down. He felt rather awkward and didn't know how to respond.
Fortunately, Harbena poked her head in and looked at Claude curiously before asking, "Mother, what's up?"
Natalie forced a smile and pointed at the wooden basin on the table. "Isn't this Claude's dirty clothes? I want you to help him wash them."
"Mother, I still have a lot of clothes to wash." Harbena didn't seem to be willing to increase her workload.
Claude said, "There's no need to trouble Miss Harbena. Aunt Natalie, I'll wash them when they're done."
"Mother, look, even the officer said he doesn't need my help." Harbena turned around happily and prepared to leave.
However, her actions made it seem as if she didn't respect Natalie, the head of the household. She had promised to let her daughter wash Claude's clothes for him, but her daughter's arrival made her promise become empty talk. Natalie felt that she didn't keep her word and felt rather embarrassed.
She grabbed Harbena's arm and said, "Stupid girl, is it really that hard to ask for your help?
No matter what, Claude just moved in and he's still a guest. What's wrong with helping him wash a few clothes? Are you not going to listen to me anymore? "
"Ah! Let go! Mother, it hurts!" Harbena cried.
That put Claude in a difficult spot. The two of them were in their own room. Aunt Natalie, even if you want to teach your daughter a lesson, you shouldn't do it in front of me.
But since he saw it, he had no choice but to stop it. "Aunt Natalie, let go of Harbena. I'll wash the clothes myself."
Natalie, on the other hand, was rather domineering. "Don't worry about it, Claude. This has nothing to do with you. I'm going to teach this stupid girl a lesson today.
How dare she disobey me? I'll make her wash your clothes no matter what! "
"Ah, I'll wash them! I'll wash them!" Harbena begged.
Natalie let go of her daughter, satisfied, as if she had gained a lot of face in front of Claude. "Wouldn't it have been fine if you'd just listened to me earlier? Why do you always have to be taught a lesson? You're already an adult, yet you're still so disobedient."
Harbena rubbed the spot on her arm where Natalie had pinched her and pouted unwillingly towards the wooden basin on the table.
Claude looked at the smug Natalie who looked as if she had won a battle. He had no choice but to play his trump card. "How about this, Harbena? Let's discuss this. You can wash all my clothes from now on. How much do you charge me for washing them every month?"
Harbena was taken aback. Her eyes widened and she turned to Claude. "You mean I can get paid for washing your clothes?"
"Yes."
Claude nodded. "You can wash all my clothes from now on. It's like you're my laundryman. I'll pay you for it."
Harbena cheered up immediately. "Let me see. How many clothes do you need to wash in a month?"
"I can't say for sure. Sometimes it's more and sometimes it's less. In the summer, I have to shower and change my clothes every day. Of course, my bedsheets will have to be washed and dried once in a while." Actually, Claude didn't have many clothes to change into. The reason he paid for it was because he didn't want to take advantage of her.
"Then, give me three riyases a month. I'll wash your clothes and clean your room every day." Harbena looked at him expectantly.
If one thale was equivalent to a hundred dollars, three riyases would be equivalent to thirty dollars.
Paying for a month's worth of clothes to be washed and a room to be cleaned was a rather reasonable price.
His monthly salary and benefits amounted to one crown, which was equivalent to 500 dollars.
Most commoners earned between one to two thales a month. While three riyases was a high price for Harbena, it wasn't even worth mentioning to Claude.
"Deal," Claude nodded. "I'll pay you at the end of every month, alright?"
"Alright, I trust you, Mister Officer."
Harbena happily picked up the basin filled with clothes. She turned around and seemed to have thought of something. She looked at her mother and said, "Mom, this is the pocket money I earn from washing Mister Officer's clothes. Don't even think about it."
She then turned to Claude and said seriously, "Mister Officer, you have to give me three riyases at the end of every month. I won't allow anyone else to take it for me."
Claude nodded, not knowing whether to laugh or cry as he watched her leave happily.
Natalie, on the other hand, was flabbergasted by the unexpected turn of events. She only snapped out of it after Claude and her daughter settled the payment for the laundry. She rubbed her hands together awkwardly. "See, see? That stupid girl really loves money …"
"It's fine, Aunty Natalie. My parents only gave me pocket money because I helped my family out when I was young. It's an honor to earn money with one's own hands. There's nothing strange about it.
Also, I'm very grateful to Miss Harbena for taking care of my laundry and cleaning my room. I'm more than happy to pay her that little bit of money every month, "Claude said on Natalie's behalf.
"Then, I'll be leaving now. Have a good rest." Natalie left the room and closed the door behind her.
In the end, money solved all his problems. Claude let out a long sigh and lay back on his bed with his eyes closed.
It seemed that he would have to rely on money to get along with Zahirak's family in the future. But when he thought about it, they weren't much different from the commoners in Whitestag.
Claude was so bored that he had nothing to do in his room, so he could only meditate to pass the time.
After two rounds of meditation, he felt that it was about time and got out of bed to head to the military academy for dinner.
When he came out of his room, he saw that a few ropes had been tied around the yard and all the washed clothes were hung on them to dry.
His uniform and underwear had been washed and hung on a rope that dripped with water. It had probably been a while since they were dry. There was a large puddle of water on the ground.
The large yard seemed rather narrow with the ropes and clothes hanging on it. He carefully led his steed out of the barn and tried his best not to touch the ropes and clothes. He slowly made his way out of the yard through the gaps between the ropes and clothes.
"Hey, Mister Officer, where are you going?"
Harbena was standing at the door with a roasted potato in her hand. The corner of her mouth was stained black as she chewed on it.
She looked like she was secretly eating it.
"I'm going back to the military academy. I'll come back after dinner," Claude replied. He then asked curiously, "Why are you eating this outside?"
"It's because of my mother," Harbena grumbled.
"I'm starving after washing so many clothes, but she says I'm too fat and needs to lose weight. She won't let me eat anything.
All I can do is secretly roast a few potatoes and eat them here. "