"Which would you like me to explain first—the reasoning or the financial side?"
"Then… let's start with the financial matter."
"Yes, Mother."
It seemed she hadn't expected me to come out this confidently. Her eyes trembled noticeably and she looked flustered, but she quickly composed herself and asked me to speak about the money first.
"Hmm~ To begin with, the cost of making the first set of uniforms and distributing them to the maids would come to about 9 gold. If we assume the clothes last at least five years, the annual maintenance cost would be around 1 to 2 gold. Mother, last year the household expenses related to the maids were about 300 gold, weren't they?"
"…It was a little over 270 gold."
"If you look at it that way, it's not such a large expense, is it?"
"Could you explain how you calculated it? The fabric cost, labor, and so on."
"One moment."
I took out the pen and notebook I always carried with me and began writing down, one by one, the figures I had used to calculate the cost of the clothes.
Fabric: 2 silver per meter for cotton, 10 silver per meter for silk.Each dress requires 3 meters of fabric.Aprons and headpieces will be reused, so no change from existing costs.Each maid will be issued three outfits in total: two work uniforms and one for receiving guests.For the head maid and personal maids, the guest-service uniform will be made of silk.There are 13 maids in the estate: 1 head maid and 3 personal maids.Therefore, 35 cotton uniforms and 4 silk uniforms are needed, for a total of 39.Labor costs to produce them: …… Therefore, the total is estimated to be 8 gold and 87 silver.
"I calculated it based on these standards. Is there anything strange about it?"
"Hmm…"
I turned the notebook around and slid it toward her. Mother picked it up and stared at the page as if she might bore a hole through it.
Then, as if flicking an abacus, she busily moved her left hand across the dining table. Suddenly she stopped, smiled, and carefully set the notebook down.
"There is one mistake."
"Huh?"
"You need to include the maids managing the townhouse in the imperial capital as well. If you include them, the cost will increase by about ten percent. That would bring it to roughly 10 gold."
"Ah…"
I hadn't even thought of the townhouse in the capital. I let out a small groan and bit my lower lip.
For someone who had spoken so confidently, it was an embarrassing oversight. Shame flooded over me.
As I reddened and awkwardly rubbed the back of my neck, Mother tapped the notebook with her finger, wearing an unexpectedly satisfied smile.
"You prepared better than I expected. I thought this was just childish whining, but it seems you've put in real effort. From now on, I'll evaluate your plan not as your mother, but as the lady of this house."
"Please go a little easy on me…"
"Hmph, not a chance."
She snorted lightly, and her gaze sharpened.
...
It was the same fearsome look she wore when scolding Father. Without realizing it, I straightened my back and swallowed.
"First—why are maid uniforms necessary? As you said, it's not a huge expense, but that doesn't change the fact that it's still an unnecessary one. Why should we spend 10 gold in the first year and 2 gold every year after that?"
"They can raise a sense of belonging and loyalty to the family, and make the maids appear more professional."
"Professional? Explain in more detail."
"Clothing plays an important role in shaping a group's image. Creating a maid uniform is like establishing a standard for what a maid is—like soldiers or clergy."
When you think of a school uniform, you picture fresh, lively students. When you see a military or police uniform, you imagine someone rigid and disciplined.
"And a unified outfit immediately gives an impression of cleanliness. It helps establish order and discipline, and strengthens their sense of belonging. It makes them feel not like they've simply come to work, but that they are members of the Count's household. If these elements accumulate, people will start saying, 'Even the maids of the Count's family are refined.'"
Of course, that assumed the maids were trained properly.
If they were raised poorly, the uniforms would vanish into history.
"And how does such an image benefit us?"
"Managing the maids reflects the lady of the house's competence, doesn't it?"
"That's right. Matters of the household fall under the lady's authority."
"A positive image of the maids will help shape the image of Hays and the young women working in the estate. The image of 'a woman who knows how to properly train and manage her servants' isn't something easily obtained."
"Hmm…"
Mother tapped the table lightly with her fingers and closed her eyes as if turning my words over in her mind.
In the silence, only the steady sound of her fingers tapping echoed.
When the silence broke, what would she say?
I was tense.
After about a minute, her fingers stopped. She opened her eyes and spoke quietly.
"You're too optimistic."
"Mm…"
It was closer to a negative answer.
I bit my lower lip and let out a faint groan.
"You seem to be looking only at the positive aspects—almost excessively so. You may be overestimating the effect of image."
"I see… Is that so…"
Her continued remarks were just as hard to interpret positively.
I had tried to exaggerate the favorable aspects as much as possible, but it was difficult to deceive Mother's eye.
Of course, she had lived as a countess for decades—if she were fooled by such trivial wordplay, that would be stranger.
Still, I couldn't help feeling disappointed.
I wished I had slept more and prepared better—but it was too late.
"Tch…"
As I smacked my lips and gave a bitter smile, Mother let out a small chuckle and added,
"Still, it's not entirely impossible. And the idea of visually presenting the maids' professionalism isn't bad."
"Yes. Nobles do like appearances."
"Appearances… That's not incorrect. I'll consider the matter of maid uniforms positively for now."
"Thank you."
It was a fairly good answer, but not a final decision. I didn't relax, waiting for her next question.
"Next, I'm curious why you differentiated the guest-service uniforms."
"The head maid and personal maids handle duties entrusted only to those the lady of the house can trust. If that's the case, we need to clearly show that we place a certain degree of faith and trust in them."
"They are already treated well—materially and otherwise."
"That's true. But as I said before, what's visibly noticeable feels different. And for a head maid who's served the estate for over a decade, or a maid who attends closely at your side, isn't it worth investing an extra thirty or forty silver?"
"That's true as well. You have a point."
She let that answer pass without particular criticism.
"Then why distinguish between guest-service uniforms and work uniforms?"
"Work uniforms need durability and ease of maintenance, while guest-service uniforms require cleanliness and elegant design. I thought it would be unreasonable to combine those into a single type of clothing."
"Then the outfit you had Emily wear—what was that for?"
"For guest service."
"I see."
Mother nodded lightly, and her fingers began tapping the table again.
"You're optimistic, and there are a few issues, but the plan itself isn't bad."
"Then…"
Unlike before, this time a positive remark came first.
I desperately hoped what followed wouldn't be a refusal as I waited for her words.
"If you can resolve the problems I point out within a set period, I will personally go to your father and help persuade him."
"Really?!"
There were conditions attached—but Mother had given her approval.
And if things went well, she would even help persuade Father.
I wanted to run over and hug her immediately.
"Yes, if my son who's always been so listless is finally taking on a new challenge, it would be disappointing if I were too strict about it."
"Mother, I really love you."
"Oh, that's enough. Why are you saying something so embarrassing?"
At my heartfelt expression of affection, Mother waved her hands in protest, clearly flustered.
Even so, the corners of her lips twitched upward, and she wore the brightest smile I'd seen on her all day.
"And I'm only helping you if you resolve what I ask of you, so don't celebrate too early."
"I'm grateful just for the opportunity."
She tried to put on a stern expression as she delivered a warning she didn't truly mean.
It didn't carry much weight.
"First of all, it wouldn't be fair to make new uniforms just for the maids, so I'd like you to make similar uniforms for the butlers as well."
"Yes."
That wasn't a particularly difficult request.
Since she wanted something similar to the maid outfits, I could just reference the knights' formal uniforms or tailcoats and come up with something appropriate.
When I nodded with a smile, Mother continued without hesitation.
"And as for what Emily is wearing now—I can't quite tell whether that outfit is meant to be shown to others or if it's meant to be practical for work. I'd like you to discuss it with Emily and revise the design a bit before bringing it to me."
"Hmm… yes…"
I wasn't entirely sure what she found ambiguous, but I answered somewhat awkwardly and nodded anyway.
"And lastly, instead of shutting yourself in your room all day, come out for tea time at least and have a cup with us."
"Haha… yes."
That last one was the usual nagging from Mother.
I wondered why she had to include even that as a condition, but thinking about it, I had been skipping tea time rather often lately, so I couldn't really argue.
"Then… how much time will you give me?"
"One week. Can you manage?"
"I can."
I wasn't completely certain, but if I failed, I'd gain nothing at all—so I nodded with the determination that I would succeed no matter what.
"Hmm…"
Seemingly pleased with my response, Mother hummed softly and picked up the notebook she had placed in front of her, handing it to me.
"Confidence suits you well. I do hope you bring me good results."
"I'll do my best."
"Very well. This mother will be going now. You finish your meal."
"Yes, I'll see you at tea time later."
"Hehe~ Very well."
With that, Mother rose from her seat and left the dining room with a bright smile.
Eager to return to my room as soon as possible to fulfill her demands, I grabbed my fork and knife and hurriedly stuffed the meat into my mouth.
The meat had cooled slightly and was a bit tough, but right now, it tasted better than anything else.