How much longer was I supposed to suffer from this bizarre disconnect between the Pitts’ cute appearances and their oddly mature speech?
All my worries about fitting in seemed absurd now, given how quickly I’d adapted to life in the sewing room. The two squirrels turned out to be genuinely adorable, both inside and out. Once I accepted that fact, my heart felt lighter. Plus, their professional skills were beyond question—absolute perfection.
“Honey, cut this for me, would you?”
“Just hold your horses, dear.”
Grandpa Tail swiftly marked patterns onto the fabric with chalk, and Grandma Rosie sliced through them effortlessly. The fabric pieces appeared in a flash, neatly cut without even the slightest error. Their skills were almost supernatural.
“Dearie, could you help me down onto the table? I can’t climb the wall with these scissors in hand.”
“Of course!”
Occasionally serving as a human taxi had its perks, like getting to feel their soft fur against my palms.
But there was just one problem.
“Thanks, sweetheart. Now sit and take it easy.”
“Already?”
There was simply nothing for me to do.
The Pitts spoiled me relentlessly, as if I were their grandchild visiting for the holidays.
On my first day, sitting around awkwardly felt natural, but after several days of this pattern, it became uncomfortable—especially since the small squirrel couple poured so much effort into clothes meant for me.
My dream was indeed to be a wealthy idler, but not one who felt uneasy lazing about like this.
“Are you finished with that fabric over there? Should I tidy it up?”
“No, leave it as is. Everything has its own spot, and mixing things up makes it harder for us later.”
“Then should I iron out the wrinkles on that fabric?”
“Those wrinkles are intentional, dear. Really, just sit and relax.”
“You can snack on peanuts if you’re bored.”
“Right, there’s a plate of peanuts there. Feel free to munch on them.”
Even when I forced myself to offer help, I simply knew too little about sewing. As a beginner, blindly interfering wasn’t appropriate either. Was I really destined to spend yet another day eating peanuts while watching them work, reduced to being utterly useless?
Just as I gloomily reached for another peanut, I overheard the Pitts’ conversation.
“Say, dear, wouldn’t yellow fabric look better here instead of green?”
“We’re all out of yellow fabric.”
“Oh, right, I forgot to order some during the last shipment. Still, it seems a shame. Wait—aren’t chrysanthemums in season right now? We could dye some fabric ourselves.”
“My body isn’t up for that anymore.”
I didn’t fully understand, but this seemed like an opportunity. I immediately raised my hand, eager to volunteer for the new task.
“I’ll do it!”
“Hmm? You, dearie?”
“Yes! Just show me how, and I’ll handle it.”
“Oh no, it’s too taxing.”
Grandpa Tail waved his tiny paw dismissively, but Grandma Rosie stepped in to support me.
“Come now, dear. A young person shouldn’t idle around too much, anyway. And I’m sure being cooped up with us old folks all day is dull for you. Would you mind fetching some chrysanthemums from the garden? Yellow ones, please.”
“How many should I get?”
“Hmm, a basketful should do. Just let Jack know Grandma Rosie needs flowers for dyeing, and he’ll help you out.”
“Got it! I’ll be back soon.”
Taking the basket Grandma Rosie gave me, I left the sewing room feeling excited. It had been ages since I’d felt this productive.
“Haha! Grandma Rosie’s dyeing fabric again, huh? It’s been a while! Yellow chrysanthemums, was it? You can pick some from this flowerbed.”
Jack, cheerful as ever, guided me around the garden, and it didn’t take long to fill the basket. As I headed back toward the mansion, lugging the now-heavy basket, I suddenly ran right into Kalz.
“How strange. Weren’t you done with garden chores six days ago?”
Kalz eyed the basket in my hands suspiciously. Six days? Did he really remember something as trivial as that? No wonder he seemed like such a demanding boss.
“That’s right. But I’m not slacking off—this is legitimate work. We needed yellow fabric, so we’re dyeing it ourselves.”
“What a bother. If you need fabric, you could just buy it.”
“We need it right away.”
Besides, thanks to this little chore, at least one person had escaped feeling awkwardly idle. Kalz let out a faint sigh, muttering under his breath.
“What was Rosie thinking, planning to dye fabric herself with her frail body? What if she falls into the boiling water or something?”
“You don’t need to worry. I’ll handle anything dangerous or strenuous.”
“…You? Are you making some beggar’s clothes?”
Ugh, this guy.
Seeing him worry about Grandma Rosie, he clearly wasn’t all bad—but his attitude was still irritating. Deciding not to bother with a retort, I turned away, but he followed close behind. Didn’t he have anywhere else to be?
“Are you dyeing the fabric today?”
“Probably.”
“Then stop by to see Almond before you start.”
“Why? Do you have something else you want me to do?”
“We should check how much burn ointment we have.”
“Hey! Why are you assuming I’m going to get hurt?”
Exchanging these meaningless barbs, we somehow reached the mansion entrance together.
—Swish.
“Oh! Thank you, Mr. Gold!”
“O!”
Right on cue, Mr. Gold swung the door open just as we approached. I hadn’t even knocked—how did he always know exactly when to open the door? Maybe that’s what it meant to be a professional doorman.
I nodded respectfully, only to notice Kalz giving me a strange look.
“What? Why are you staring?”
“What was that just now?”
“What was what?”
Honestly, I should be asking him that. Had I done anything weird just now? As I mentally retraced my actions, Kalz spoke again.
“You said, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gold,’ didn’t you?”
“Oh, yeah. So?”
Was he really nitpicking over basic politeness now? This guy truly had a talent for finding the strangest things to complain about.
“He opened the door for us. Sure, it’s his job, but gratitude matters. Besides, he’s my sunbae here.”
“Sunbae?”
I’d given him a perfectly logical explanation, yet Kalz’s expression twisted oddly. Why were his lips scrunched up like that, and what was with his nostrils flaring?
“Is there a problem?”
“No. Nothing at all. You’re technically correct, I suppose. Being here longer does make him a sunbae.”
If there was nothing wrong, why was his voice shaking? Wait, was he… touched?
“I believe that small gestures like this improve the work environment. Even if it’s just work, we’re still people. We can’t ignore each other’s feelings.”
“…I see. Carry on.”
“Oh, yes. Goodbye.”
After I cheerfully shared my thoughts on workplace harmony, Kalz abruptly left without another word.
Maybe my enthusiasm made it too obvious I was hoping for a good performance review.
In any case, despite Kalz’s worries, I successfully completed the dyeing task without so much as a scratch. Thanks to the beautifully dyed yellow fabric, I earned heaps of praise from the Pitts. Of course, that beast hadn’t bothered checking in during the crucial moment—his timing was always terrible.
The next day, the outfit was finally ready.
“Dearie, have you finished changing?”
“Yes, I’m coming out now.”
When I emerged from the storeroom corner of the sewing room, Grandma Rosie and Grandpa Tail joyfully clapped their tiny hands.
“Hoho, you look just like an angel!”
“Oh my, so handsome! Ah, this feeling is exactly why I started making clothes in the first place. It’s been so long I’d almost forgotten. Remember making clothes for the young master, honey?”
“Of course.”
“Back then, the young master was truly beautiful—just like a little doll.”
The pair gazed nostalgically into the distance, reminiscing fondly.
If the “young master” they mentioned was Kalz, he certainly still looked like a doll—though less a cute plush and more a creepy mascot costume.
“Oh, look at us old folks getting carried away. Come see for yourself, dear.”
Grandma Rosie gently tugged at the hem of my pants, leading me in front of the mirror. Her dark eyes sparkled proudly as she admired her handiwork.
“Well? How is it?”
“Oh, it’s fantastic!”
I wasn’t flattering her—this uniform truly was exceptional. Reflected in the mirror, dressed neatly in a fitted white shirt with a black vest and trousers, even I had to admit I looked impressive.
Thanks to the tailored fit emphasizing my slender waist, my shoulders appeared broader, and my legs looked longer. I’d always stood out a bit too much for a mere servant, but now, with these new clothes, I might draw even more unwanted attention.
“Let me know if anything feels uncomfortable. We can fix it quickly.”
“No need, it’s perfect!”
Amazingly, the outfit created by the Pitts was comfortable, despite fitting like a glove. I tested it out—sitting, standing, even lifting my knees to my chest—and felt no restrictions whatsoever. It wasn’t just stylish; it was also practical.
“How’s the length?”
“Perfect.”
“Good. We’ll finish the final touches tonight and send it to your room by morning. Today’s your last day reporting to the sewing room.”
“Already? But I haven’t even done much to help.”
It wasn’t humility—aside from yesterday’s dyeing, I’d mostly sat around eating peanuts.
“Hoho, you’ve done plenty by keeping this old couple happy.”
“Indeed. Chatting with us old folks all day must’ve been hard enough.”
“Thank you, dear.”
The adorable squirrel couple smiled warmly, gratitude shining in their eyes. I’d quickly grown fond of them.
“If you ever need more clothes or repairs, come by anytime. The castle’s rather dull without work, you know.”
“The more often, the better!”
“Absolutely! Thank you so much, Grandpa Tail, Grandma Rosie.”
I carefully shook each of their tiny hands between my thumb and forefinger, bidding them a heartfelt farewell.
