Florent instantly felt like a fool...
He quickly added, "My apologies, I didn't mean to question your integrity. Let me rephrase: which of you lives closest to 34 Corson Street? Please tell me how long it would take each of you to get to the villa."
Ashley, Connie, and Newmay each gave their estimated walking times: half an hour, an hour, and forty-five minutes, respectively. These times were based on how long it would take them to reach Corson Street after completing their previous cleaning tasks.
Thinking about how hard these women worked, running around all day to clean and wash, Florent felt a pang of sympathy...
He continued, "How long would it take each of you to get home from my villa? To be honest, I don't want such lovely ladies exhausting themselves running back and forth."
The words felt so cringeworthy that Florent himself shuddered. He hadn't spoken them unconsciously... he was trying to immerse himself in the local customs...
But as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized this wasn't immersion... it was something a 'Faceless' would do. And for him, it just felt utterly awkward.
The three maids gave similar answers this time: about an hour.
Florent did the math. Ashley and Newmay wouldn't get home until around 10 p.m., while Connie would return by 7 p.m.
'Their lives, though slightly better paid than manual labor, are still far from lifting them out of poverty.ʼ The thought made Florent sigh...
But he knew he had no power to change this... not now, and perhaps not even if he became a deity.
Gods were merely beings with immense power... they didn't exist to pull everyone out of hardship. Florent wasn't about to attempt the impossible, but the realization still left him feeling somber.
Standing up, he said, "Well then, it's a pleasure to work with you, Miss Ashley."
He didn't ignore the other two maids, who also stood and bowed.
He extended his hand and said, "Thank you for coming today. Here's a little something for your trouble."
Florent handed them each a week's wages as a tip. As they left, he glanced at Ashley's expression out of the corner of his eye. Seeing no signs of desperation or greed, he nodded inwardly.
Turning back to Ashley, Florent said, "Well then, my dear maid, let's get the contract signed. Miss Zoe, could you guide us through the process?" He asked, nodding politely to the receptionist who had been sitting nearby.
After following the company's standard procedures, he finally secured a cleaning worker to help manage his household.
Once the contracts were signed and payments made, Florent checked the time. It was almost 1:30 p.m., and Ashley still had another cleaning job to attend to. Although Florent was eager to have the piles of old clothes in his house dealt with immediately, he had no choice but to wait.
Before leaving, he said to the busy cleaning worker, "If possible, I'd like to experience the excellent service of the Golden Hampstead Life Improvement Company's cleaning maids starting tonight."
Clearly prepared for this, Ashley replied with a knowing look, "Of course, sir. Will you be home around 6 p.m.? If not, could you provide me with a spare key? You can trust my integrity."
Florent couldn't help but laugh. It seemed his earlier blunt remarks had left a lasting impression on the meticulous maid.
He reassured her, "I trust you completely. Here, take this as a token of my gratitude for your time today."
He handed her an amount equivalent to more than two weeks' wages and added, "The extra is for the inconvenience of rushing today. I hope the midday contract didn't disrupt your afternoon schedule. Oh, and here's the key. I'll likely be back a bit later."
Florent took the key to the front door from his keyring and handed it to Ashley.
Noticing her hesitant expression, he continued, "Don't worry, I'll find a way to get in. I look forward to seeing you tonight. I'm sure you'll exceed my expectations."
Ashley took the key, and seeing that the gentleman had everything arranged, she simply replied, "Of course, I won't let you down."
"Then, goodbye for now," Florent said with a wave before turning to leave.
After bidding farewell to Ashley, he hailed a carriage. It was the same routine as always, and he soon arrived at the Trier National Library.
Florent grumbled inwardly, 'I don't want to keep coming here, of all places. It's like going back to school. But until I fully digest the 'Apprentice' potion and acquire the knowledge I need, I have no choice. I'm so tired of seeing the Trier National Library.'
Despite his reluctance, Florent knew he had to go. If he wanted to digest the potion quickly, this was a necessary step...
Today, he continued reading the familiar ~A Concise History of Ancient and Modern Philosophy~
Additionally, he ventured to the fourth floor to study some Feysac and Ancient Feysac.
Language was the foundation of everything. Even though Feysac, Loen, Intisian, and Highlander shared common roots, the differences between them were significant...
It was like modern Western European languages; while they shared similarities, their differences were vast...
Some languages retained elements of their origins, others underwent minor changes with new grammar, and some were almost unrecognizable.
Modern languages were already a headache, let alone ancient ones like Ancient Feysac, Dragonese, and Elvish.
Language had never been Florent's strong suit, but the 'Apprentice' potion had alleviated some of his struggles...
Beyond the ability to 'Open Doors', the potion also enhanced his memory slightly. While it wasn't as potent as the abilities of a 'Savant' or 'Reader', among the twenty-two Pathways, the 'Apprentice' did also offer some memory improvement.
With a mix of excitement and resignation, Florent left the library around 7 p.m. and began the leisurely walk home.
He had deliberately picked up his pace today, so he was confident he'd be back by 8 p.m.
This would give him time to check if his new maid was trustworthy and whether his home had been properly cleaned...