Chapter 0003: The Servants in the Castle

Even if there is only one nobleman like Liszt to attend to, the daily workload is indeed substantial. For instance, in terms of hygiene, the premises must be cleaned inside and out every morning and evening. Additionally, there is laundry to be done, hot water to be heated, food to be prepared, and toilets to be cleaned, with most of the tasks assigned to the male and female servants.

I am merely asking you if there are any shortcomings in what I have done

Perhaps

There is too much resentment in his heart, but for him, this is not a big deal, after all, he is not the true son of the count. At most, during their meetings, he struggles with how to express closeness, which is quite awkward

The treatment is vastly different

How would I know this? I am not a maid of the Tulip Castle, and I have never seen the master before.

However, the compensation has certainly decreased

Old Carter tactfully took his leave: "Sir, please rest early, and I wish you good night"

Good night to you as well, Mr. Carter

That is good

Although the castle is small, there is no shortage of work

However, Carter had no complaints. He had sold himself to join the Tulip family at the age of fifteen, and it had been a full thirty-five years since then. He had never married and was all alone, having long considered himself a part of the Tulip family

Master, reading at night is harmful to the eyes; you must take more care. No matter how many candles there are, they cannot compare to the sunlight during the day

Task: As the lord, it is necessary to understand everything about the territory. Please take a tour around Flower Town to assess the crises within the territory and prepare for future development. Reward: Elevation of fighting spirit

He knocked on the study door

If one could spend the final years of life alongside the descendants of the Tulip family, Baron Liszt, it would undoubtedly be a happy ending

Liszt smiled faintly, his eyes shifting away from the thick leather-bound book on the table to the somewhat aged butler: "Mr. Carter, have all the rooms been checked?"

Old Carter took a deep breath

He is holding a set of keys and a bottle of red wine, while inspecting the entire castle

Thomas, troubled, slapped the wall and said, "Macy, tell me, why does the master not like me? Although I have never served as a personal valet before, I have worked as the head footman for Lord Roosevelt, and I am capable of handling this job."

Thomas was just about to speak when he was suddenly interrupted by someone: "Don't you need to work, Thomas, Macie? Mind your behavior and do not whisper outside your dormitory and kitchen!" Coming up the stairs was none other than Carter, the butler of this modest little castle.

How was paper invented? Liszt recalled that he found his memory quite good, able to clearly remember the papermaking process he had seen online. "When there is time, paper must also be invented... The Industrial Revolution seems unlikely, but there are still many ways to get rich."

You should ask Mr. Carter or Mrs. Mohsen about this... Moreover, I don't think you have anything to worry about. The master only has three male servants; Jesse is an assistant, and Tom is clumsy and cannot serve the master at all. Perhaps the master's character is just like that. In this small town, no one is more suited to be a personal male servant than you

Maggie, do you regret following the master here

The staple food here is bread

It is likely to be a bit difficult, as you did not bring much wine from Tulip Fortress, and there is not much flour left. The geographical location of Flower Town is quite remote, and no caravans are willing to come here. Even if we have gold coins, it is still challenging to purchase wheat and wine. However, the good news is that there are plenty of wild fruits in Thorn Ridge, so there is no need to worry about not having fruit to eat

A glass of wine is finished

However, this does not mean that Carter does not need to work. On the contrary, in addition to managing the servants, Carter is also responsible for welcoming guests, pouring drinks, supervising the serving of dishes, handling correspondence, safeguarding the fine tableware, managing the underground wine cellar, and attending to the most important guests

Thomas left the study, feeling a wave of disappointment. As he descended the stairs, he paused at the landing, intending to take out a cigarette to light up, only to realize that the cigarettes were hidden beneath the pillow.

"Please come in." A warm voice belonging to Liszt echoed from within, characterized by a refined accent popular among the upper class, known as the "Iron Tone." In the Kingdom of Steel Ridge and its vassal states, countless nobles regard the Iron Tone as a mark of distinction.

If it is said that the minor nobility are the servants of the major nobility, then male and female servants can also be considered the servants of the steward, as the aristocratic system has always been characterized by such clear class distinctions

"Alright, Mr. Carter, I will get to work right away." Thomas and Macy hurriedly left, each attending to their own matters

Very steady, my lord

He did not have much interaction with Liszt at the Tulip Castle, primarily being responsible for a villa of the Count. Recently, at Liszt's coming-of-age ceremony, the Count assigned him to serve as Liszt's steward. His position was elevated, as being a steward is the ultimate goal for all servants

Rest assured, I will resolve this matter. The future of Flower Town will not be constrained by poverty, and the castle will not be so shabby as to lack even a name

Gently touched

Only a magnificent castle can have a name; a humble castle like Liszt's is not worthy of being called a castle at all, and giving it a name would only invite ridicule from other nobles

Have you taken good care of the spirit bug

One person, one glass of red wine

Liszt did not enjoy drinking alcohol, but his predecessor had a strong liking for it, to the extent that his body developed a craving for it

Is the master still not allowing you to attend to him personally

It is nothing

According to his memory, when his sister Li Weila separated from the family, the carriage was fully loaded with thirty carts, while he... had not even a single cart, only a few horses and a group of porters carrying some luggage

Swaying slightly, Liszt took a small sip and asked, "Will the expenses in the castle be able to sustain this year's tax revenue?"

Mr. Butler Carter, it is strictly prohibited for servants to smoke in the castle

After Carter left, Liszt looked at a thick paper book that described the customs and culture of the Sapphire Principality for a while. The book was quite thick, roughly the thickness of a dictionary. However, the actual content was quite limited; the thick paper lived up to its name, with the thickness of a single sheet almost comparable to that of pigskin.

I do not care; life in the castle, no matter how poor, is still better than going back to the farm to starve and wait for death. I have already sold myself to the master, and there is no need to think about whether I regret it or not

However, the alcohol content here is very low; unless one drinks excessively like with beer, it is difficult to get him drunk

Old Carter is already fifty years old this year, and in this era where the average age is less than fifty-five, he is already considered an elderly person

In a moment of distraction, he lost his train of thought again

If there is no white bread made from wheat, one can only eat the coarse and unpalatable black bread made from rye and oats. Liszt can no longer enjoy his beloved hometown dishes, and without the delicate white bread, he will starve to death

As expected, the serpent script formed by smoke once again appeared before my eyes

Opening trade routes is not an easy task; the Thorny Ridge is too dangerous

Very well, then let us have a drink together. Liszt had already noticed the red wine in Carter's hand; the nobility had a penchant for wine to such an extent that it formed an unwritten custom: the master of the castle would have a few drinks with the steward before retiring for the night, discussing matters of the castle

"Thomas, what are you hiding here for?" A maid came up from downstairs, around thirty years old, dressed in a black and white maid's uniform, holding a mop and a bucket in her hands

Ding ding ding

"We cannot do without wheat," Liszt said, putting down his wine glass with an undeniable tone. "The town of Flowers must develop quickly, and the trade routes must be opened up!"

Liszt was not valued by the count, and naturally did not receive much during the division of the family assets

Thomas perked up a bit: "Yes, I heard that the master is at Tulip Castle and is not valued by the Count. Perhaps he will spend his whole life just as the Baron of Flower Town, living in a poor countryside."

Apart from the room where the servants are still working, all other rooms have been locked