I put the final one of the many, many documents Mrs. Rider had provided to the side. Over the past months the housekeeper had done a magnificent job, at least so far as I could tell. The books were in order, nobody was complaining about her behavior in any way I cared about, and things were running smoothly.

“Well, I would have liked to have finished sooner, but it's nice to finally be done with this chore,” I said to her and I put the papers away.

“Oh I'm sure if you continue in it you'll be an expert soon enough. You're already paying more attention than most my lord,” she retorted with a small chortle.

I didn't really think I was, but shrugged, if it was worth doing something it was worth doing it right. It had taken so long because I honestly didn't dedicate the amount of time I needed to it. Add to that the fact that we were still gaining expenses when I'd started and I really didn't understand certain parts of them and it had been a learning experience.

Had that been what my mother intended anyway? She hated 'the season' with a vengeance, and getting me to do this was one of her most important chores of the year, but it also served me. Learning what I had would help me to manage a house in the future if I needed to. Normally it was the women who ran household expenses and the like, but being capable was a good skill to have.

The sexual division of labor was still a thing in this world, though it was perhaps not as extreme as it had been in my previous one. Women, particularly those who had magic, could and did rise to very high places in society. However that wasn't as common as it was for men, with many opting instead to stay and manage households, raise children, and generally work at home. Mother was like that, selling her mana at times, and certain magical services only available to those with that power, but generally remaining at home while my father worked.

Within the majority of the population, those who didn't wield the power of mana, the disparity was far higher. The sad truth of the matter was that pregnancy is debilitating and without a way to change that disparities arise. There was of course a form of birth control in this world, though I knew it required magic to keep going, and as such limited itself by that fact to those who had power or money to buy it.

“Ah, where was I? Oh yes, good work, and you're sure we're ready for this year?” I continued, realizing I'd been lost in my thoughts for a few moments there.

“Absolutely, of course we'll be having less visitors overall, so that will make things far easier.”

I nodded, even if my parents weren't around that didn't mean I was getting the annual party season off. No, I was still expected to go and attend to everything still, though this year I would be accompanying my grandparents, and at their homes for dinners more than my own.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

“On that note, have you yet received word on when my grandparents will be arriving?” I inquired, having not gotten that letter yet.

“Indeed, three weeks from now. They're arriving the day you get off from school, isn't that wonderful?”

There was a zero percent chance that was unintentional. My father's parents might live in the city, but knowing that my maternal grandmother would be showing up just in time for me to have no peace at all during vacation really was a wet towel atop my head. At least grandpa was coming, and he was an absolute blast to be around.

“Wonderful is a word one could use,” I admitted.

“Oh don't pout, it's unbecoming, and I do hear your grandfather is bringing quite a few things with him.” That got my attention fully. “Just a rumor though,” she teased.

“Come now, you must share after saying something like that,” I actually pouted this time.

“I was told you could hear the general news, but even I wasn't given details.”

“Would you share them if you were?” I questioned.

“Of course not my lord. I may respect you but your parents employ me.”

I laughed at her candor. “True enough, I can't blame you for that sort of loyalty.”

“I think your grandmother wishes to inspect the staff though, so we'll have to get them into top shape.”

“You will indeed, grandmother makes mother look like a kind, gentle soul. Though I don't expect she'll find any problems, I certainly haven't.”

“You say that, but I'm worried about the new footman lord Percival.”

One of the boys was new indeed, but he was fine. There were standards, and while he didn't blow them out of the water he was certainly well within them. If grandmother had any real problem with him I might have to address it, but that wasn't an issue. I did worry however about my favorite maid, but even if she was found wanting she'd stay, I would see to that personally.

“Trust me, it will be fine. He's not exceptional, but he'll do well enough, and with my parents gone we won't have many visitors for this year. You've an entire year more to get him ready for a real season and the madness that follows it. Just make sure everyone is ready as you always do and let me handle her if she finds something she doesn't like.”

“Not quite sure that will work...”

I snorted. “You've all been under my direct supervision for most of this school year, and shall continue to be for the coming winter. I may be barely a man.” She raised her eyebrow but said nothing, I was only fifteen. “But I'm enough of one to stick up for my people when they need it.”

“Well, if you say something like that to her I'm sure we'll all come out alright. I'll do my best to make sure you need not though.”

After a bit of an early dinner I returned to my school. I didn't eat at the house all that often, but there was always food of some sort around. The food made by the staff here was also leagues above that made for us students. I'd spent years giving feedback to Sinea and the others, so they all knew what I liked. She too was still with us, but had gone from the young girl I'd met as a toddler to a proper woman now. She'd even married a few years back, easily able to have a family with the fact that we were only here so much.

I reflected on that, how much people had changed over the years, how much I had. I knew that with the few drops of elven blood I had I would age slower than most, perhaps not much slower, but slower. Mother still looked a couple decades younger than she actually was, and grandfather, though I knew he would be considered quite ancient by human standards had only a smattering of gray in his hair. How much more would I get to see? Would it be like my previous life, where I lost loved ones one by one, or worse because of it. Some of my family at least had a good chance to keep pace with me, but not all of them, and not necessarily forever.

Putting those thoughts aside for now I got into the little carriage that would return me to the academy and my friends, knowing I should savor them while I had them.