Dry hands from water work
“Ah, they really are dry.”
“Yes…you are right. It happens to anyone who cooks a lot… In a way, it is like a badge of honor. Though, a slightly painful one.”
There were cracks in her skin, so it was easy to imagine that it would be painful.
And since we were outside, it was probably more dry than usual.
“Thank you. I can see how hard you worked.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that…”
She looked a little embarrassed.
While it was hard, she also felt a sense of pride.
Still, I felt that if something could be done about it, it would make cooking easier for her.
I would have to give it some thought…
“Mr. Takumi. Is that a treat for Leo?”
“Ah, Ms. Lyra. Yes. Since she did something worthy of praise.”
As I made my way back to Leo, I bumped into Ms. Lyra.
“By the way, do your hands…ever hurt?”
“My hands? Uh…no, I can’t say they do.”
Perhaps that was the wrong way to ask.
It made it sound like some kind of illness or injury.
“Um, I mean like dry skin. Or other trouble, like cracking…”
“Dry skin… Indeed… While I am fine now, that did happen sometimes back at the mansion. And sometimes it would happen with the other servants as well.”
“Ah, I see…”
It wasn’t just the cooks who used water a lot.
The servants also washed clothes and cleaned. So it was no surprise.
Especially since clothes were washed by hand.
“What is the matter, Mr. Takumi?”
“Ms. Lyra, do you also feel… A sense of pride from having dry skin?”
If that was what she thought, then perhaps she would not want me to be concerned about such a thing.
“Huh? Well… I suppose it does show how I am a hard worker…”
“But if there was something to help alleviate it?”
“Even if I can take pride in my work, it is not a nice thing to have. I would be very happy to not have to worry about it. Besides, I hear the others complain about it sometimes.”
“I see, I see.”
“…Mr. Takumi?”
“Ah, sorry. It was just that I noticed Ms. Helena’s hands earlier…”
Ms. Lyra looked at me oddly when she saw me nod.
And so I told her that I was trying to think of something I could do to help.
“Oh, is that so? I do not know about the cooks, but us servants would be very grateful.”
“I see. Well, I am still thinking about it, so nothing is certain yet. But I am quite hopeful that I can make something…that will at least reduce the discomfort…yes.”
In the book I had borrowed from Sebastian, there had been a page about a plant that could be crushed in order to gather a liquid that helped to humidify your skin.
As there had not been a demand for such a thing before, I had not made it. Still, I would surely be able to make some with Weed Cultivation.
“You look very confident, Mr. Takumi. I shall look forward to it then.”
“Re-really? Well, I will do my best.”
Ms. Lyra smiled.
Still, if I could make a hand cream for dry skin… It could become a popular product.
I did not know much about cosmetics myself, but a combination with herbs would surely be beneficial for your skin.
I would have to read the book in more detail when we arrived in Range Village… It would be a while before I could return it to Sebastian.
It was with such thoughts in my mind that I carried the sausages to where Leo was waiting.