Soon enough, the maid finished all her tasks and found Florent lost in thought in the first-floor living room...
Ashley's arrival snapped him out of his reverie. He took out his pocket watch... it was already close to 9:30 p.m. Clearly, this experienced maid was highly efficient.
Florent was quite satisfied with her speed, even if he hadn't yet inspected the quality of her work.
"Your singing was lovely," he said, "I apologize for startling you and ruining the moment."
Ashley quickly replied, "Thank you for the compliment."
It seemed she wasn't as outgoing or passionate as most people from Trier, which gave Florent a better understanding of her personality.
"I'm very pleased with your work today," Florent continued, "I hope you can maintain this standard. Oh, and take this money."
Ashley took it with practiced ease and listened attentively as Florent explained, "I'd like you to replace any cleaning supplies when they run out, as well as the candles. The rest… well, I can handle myself. If the money runs out, just let me know, and I'll give you more."
Ashley nodded knowingly and then quickly bid farewell, "Mr. Florent, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now." After receiving his nod of approval, she swiftly departed.
Florent pondered for a moment, but found nothing else that needed addressing. He then picked up the day's newspaper and headed to the study for some light reading.
Flipping through the 'Trier Merchant Evening News', he found no information about Beyonder gatherings. The rest of the content was either outdated, baseless, or gossip about obscure theater actors and minor government officials.
Speaking of gossip, Florent knew of one newspaper that had risen to fame precisely because of its scandalous stories. Rumor had it that its rise coincided with Roselle's ascent.
Before Roselle, no gossip rag had dared to openly discuss the affairs of the elite... after all, Intis had been a kingdom back then, and was ruled by the Sauron Family ('Hunter' family) also known as the 'Provoker' or 'Conspirer' family.
The royal family hadn't had the best reputation, often criticized for their volatile tempers, sharp tongues, and shadowy dealings.
This particular newspaper had begun reporting on Roselle's scandals when he was still a rising figure, eventually witnessing his meteoric rise.
Roselle had allowed it of course, even encouraging it, effectively granting the paper immunity. From then on, Trier's gossip industry exploded.
'Things really have gotten wild,ʼ Florent mused.
But Roselle's approach had also made Intis more open, aligning somewhat with the republican ideals of the people. Or was that his intention all along? 'Did you plan this too, Roselle?!ʼ
Shaking his head, Florent tossed aside the 'Trier Merchant Evening News' in disinterest and picked up the 'Trier Daily' instead.
This newspaper was far more impressive. Despite its unassuming name, its sales and content quality were remarkable.
<...The Consul is reportedly accelerating the development of new trade routes…>
Florent read...
<...Some journalists speculate that Intis is involved with the rampant piracy along these routes, while others dismiss it as Loen slander, claiming countermeasures are already in place. It seems these rumors aren't just whispers, plenty of people are theorizing. Ah, the wonders of a republic...>
As he skimmed further, his eyes landed on the entertainment section:
<... ~The Bacall Circus Debuts New Act!~ Limited Seats Available. Book Now at the Post Office or Circus Box Office!...>
The bold headline reminded Florent of his plan to watch a magic show. However, he wasn't keen on buying tickets for this new act.
For one, the new act might not even be a magic performance. Secondly, even if he wanted a ticket, he might not get one.
Modern readers might struggle to imagine just how popular large circuses were at this time. Aside from the silent black-and-white films that had emerged earlier in the year, there were few forms of entertainment as beloved.
Even theater, though a classic and revered art form in Trier, couldn't satisfy the weekly demand for amusement.
Theater was exquisite, timeless, and adored... but its production rate was painfully slow. Despite centuries of accumulated masterpieces, even a city like Trier, famed for its theatrical arts, couldn't keep up with the public's appetite for weekly entertainment.
While people had high standards for theater, their expectations for circuses were far lower. For most, circuses were just casual fun, not serious art.
If anyone dared to elevate circus performances to the same level as theater, even the most ardent circus fans in Trier would raise an eyebrow.
Tapping his fingers on the soft sofa, Florent fell into thought. Today was the 8th, and while the 15th wasn't far off, he still had plenty of time to squeeze in a circus visit...
After all, he'd been studying hard, so he deserved a break. Then, he counted the days since his transmigration and froze.
If he wasn't mistaken, he'd only been in this world for 'four days'. He'd studied for less than four days... even elementary school students put in more effort.
"No way!" Florent groaned, running his hands through his hair, 'It feels like I've been here for months, if not years! Why does everything feels so packed?'
"Ugh, fine, I do have a lot on my plate. But I still need to have fun, or I'll turn into a soulless study machine! Even if it's only been four days!"
After indulging in his inner slacker's lament, Florent began planning when to visit the circus.
Then, he mentally slapped himself... why was he overcomplicating this? He had nothing else to do! If he wanted to go, he could just go...
'Guess I really was too much of a shut-in in my past life,' he sighed inwardly...