Chapter 63
Eugenia didn’t head to the inn where the children were waiting—she went straight to the market instead.
“I hope it’s still open…”
It was near closing time, and she was in a rush.
“Ah! It’s still open.”
Eugenia all but ran into the shop.
“Welcome!”
Catching her breath, she quickly looked around the store.
“Do you have shea tree seeds?”
“Yes, of course! Are you planning to make shea butter?”
Out of breath, Eugenia could only nod. The clerk offered a suggestion.
“Starting from seeds takes a lot of effort and time. Would you be interested in purchasing already-processed shea butter instead?”
“Oh…? You have some? Most places don’t stock it.”
Eugenia’s voice rose with excitement as she picked up the shea butter the clerk handed her.
‘And it’s high-grade!’
This was a lucky break.
“I’ll take it!”
She immediately brightened and made the purchase.
Her shopping ended quickly.
‘Thank goodness—I found nearly everything I needed.’
Clutching the paper bag of supplies to her chest, she hurried toward the inn.
“I’m back!”
The children ran over to greet her.
Selmia grabbed Eugenia’s hand, and Joshua nearly snatched the bag out of her arms to carry it himself.
“What about dinner?”
“I kinda ate,” Joshua muttered with a scowl.
“Kinda? They don’t feed you at the duke’s estate?”
“They do.”
Eugenia quickly answered, then clamped her lips shut.
“It’s just… a figure of speech.”
They had, technically, served food.
The servants’ meals had been quite luxurious, in fact.
But no one had spoken to her all day, and eating alongside the other maids felt uncomfortable. So she had stepped outside alone with a buttered roll.
Of course, no one had stopped her from going either.
‘But there’s no need to explain all that.’
It was over, and telling Joshua would only make him feel worse.
So Eugenia brushed it off, saying she’d eaten something.
Joshua’s gaze narrowed.
Before he could press further, Eugenia made her retreat.
“I’m going to go wash up.”
She headed straight to the bathroom and filled the tub with hot water.
As her body soaked in the warmth, her muscles loosened, and drowsiness crept in.
‘Don’t fall asleep!’
Slapping her cheeks a few times, she dried off and came back out.
“Alright. Let’s get started.”
The children, curious about what she was up to now, sat down in front of her.
Eugenia began taking things out of the paper bag—shea butter, nut oil, and lavender essence.
She measured everything her way and mixed the ingredients together. Soon, it thickened into a smooth, white cream.
“Ah! It’s done!”
Stretching, she turned to Selmia.
“Selmia, could you help transfer this into those small tin cases?”
“Sure! Leave it to me!”
Selmia loved making things with her hands and eagerly helped spoon the cream into the tins with her tiny fingers.
What Eugenia had made was hand cream—something essential for the laundress maids who constantly had their hands in water.
“All done, sis!”
“Our Selmia’s got such clever hands.”
Eugenia praised her warmly, then looked down at the ten tin cases.
“Hehehe…”
With a meaningful smile, she picked up one tin and muttered, “Let’s see if they can still snub me after trying this.”
Hehehe.
As Eugenia continued to chuckle darkly to herself, Joshua glanced over at her like she was pathetic, then shook his head and returned to his book.
The Next Day
Eugenia returned to work at the Duke of Herais’ estate. After changing into her maid uniform, she headed straight to the laundry area.
She thought she had arrived early, but all the other maids were already there, hauling water and working on the wash.
‘Well, they all live in the servants’ quarters…’
Compared to them, Eugenia, who commuted, had less leeway with time.
‘Still, this is good.’
It was better to speak to everyone at once than explain repeatedly.
She bit her lower lip and mustered her courage to greet them loudly.
“Good morning!”
Some glanced at her, but not a single one returned the greeting.
It would’ve been easy to shrink back at the cold reception, but Eugenia steeled herself.
Smiling deliberately, she walked up to the maids.
“Here—try this.”
She opened the pouch she had brought and handed each maid a tin case.
The maids were caught off guard and took them before they could even decline.
Looking down at the tins in confusion, they glanced around at each other.
“What is this?”
“I dunno?”
Eugenia caught their murmurs and demonstrated herself.
“Just scoop some with your finger and rub it onto your hands.”
But even then, no one opened the tins.
‘Their guard is way up.’
Eugenia sighed inwardly, then dabbed a bit of cream onto the hand of the maid closest to her.
“…Ah.”
The maid flinched and gave Eugenia a sharp glare.
Just as she opened her mouth to protest, Eugenia cut in first.
“Just try it. What’s the harm?”
“…Ugh, so annoying.”
Grumbling, the maid began rubbing her hands together.
And then… her expression slowly softened.
She rubbed her hands again, and the white cream turned transparent as it melted into her skin.
“Wow.”
The word slipped out before she realized it.
Eugenia smiled proudly.
That single word of awe was exactly what she needed.
“What is this? Where’d you buy it?”
The maid turned to Eugenia with an excited voice.
“I made it.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
As Eugenia nodded, she glanced around.
The commotion seemed to pique everyone’s curiosity, and one by one they cautiously opened their tins, scooped some cream, and tried it out.
Small sounds of admiration followed.
“…It’s real.”
“So smooth!”
“My stinging hands feel better already.”
That was thanks to the soothing herbs and aloe gel Eugenia had added.
‘I wasn’t sure if I should, but I’m glad I did.’
Soon, the maids gathered around her.
“You really made this, Eugenia?”
“How’d you even know how to do it?”
Eugenia responded humbly to the flood of questions.
“Just a little side hobby, that’s all.”
“This isn’t just a hobby!”
“This is the best I’ve used. It sinks right in and isn’t sticky at all!”
Then one maid pushed through the crowd and stood next to Eugenia.
It was the freckled maid who had dumped a pile of laundry on her that first day.
She spoke casually.
“Could you make more next time? Oh—and my name’s Jenny. Call me that.”
“Oh? Then me too!”
“Can I ask for more too, Eugenia?”
For the first time, someone called her by name.
That alone meant she’d achieved her goal, and Eugenia nodded with a bright smile.
“Of course. I’ll make a bigger batch soon.”
At her words, the maids’ faces brightened with excitement.
“Let’s eat lunch together later.”
“Yes, let’s.”
Thanks to the hand cream, Eugenia was able to blend in with the laundry room maids without issue.
“Phew! Done.”
Eugenia stood up with freshly washed sheets, and Jenny rose with her.
“Going to wring it out? Want help?”
“That’d be great!”
The two of them grabbed opposite ends and twisted the sheet to squeeze out the water.
“Ugh, this is tough.”
“Right?”
Eugenia laughed and took the sheet back from Jenny.
“Thanks for the help. I’ll go hang it up.”
“Okay.”
She put the sheet into a basket and picked it up, her legs wobbling under the weight.
Wet laundry was definitely heavier than dry.
Carrying the basket, Eugenia made her way to the drying racks.
“Nice sunshine. It’ll dry well.”
She shielded her eyes with one hand and looked up, then turned her gaze toward the empty rack.
She struggled to hang the sheets up by herself.
That’s when she heard—
“Miss Eugenia.”
A man called her name with a bright smile as he approached.
Parting the white sheets fluttering on the line, a familiar face came into view.
