When the world brightened. I found myself staring at a decorated ceiling. A color mixture of Silver and Gold in a spiral pattern with a Chandelier of sparkling crystals. It was beautiful.
"Ah, my Lord Duke!" The one who greeted me with this statement was one of the maids sent in by my chambermaid. The chambermaid is the one looks after the decoration and tidiness of her employer's room. And to clean, she would send any maids as she exploits a higher position between servants. Chambermaids answer to the Head Maid, Mia in my castle.
She was shocked because she was waiting for me to wake up around 1 hour later as usual to tidy my bed or clean my sheets if needed. I woke up a little early today.
I got up from the bed and stood up. In my furry nightwear made from a rare magical beast and stretched a little.
"Lord! This is?" The maid was holding up the sheets with visible bloodstains.
"Ah! Err... that is" But I was cut off with her face right in front of me, checking out my face and then slowly lifting her hand up and tracing the side of my mouth gently.
"I can see the blood trail" She said gently.
"I'm fine." Saying so I moved away but my hand was grabbed by her hand and sandwiched between her chest. Even in her maid clothing, I can feel the softness.
"But It is worrying me, My Lord" She said in the most gentle voice she could muster. I pulled my hands and turned around saying not to worry. I have gotten used to it. The maids in a higher noble castle are the daughters of lower nobles and they will try to seduce the heads and even their children. Same with Lyon, acting clumsy, caring, emphasising their breast and even swaying their butts when they clean the room for me to see. I better stay focused because with any maid sounds a lot of trouble.
"It is quite a surprise to see you awake this early, master." The one who addressed me was Marvic, my butler and acting guardian. I gave him a blank look with my bed hair which made him chuckle.
"Bloodstains? Why are they there?" He also noticed it. I sighed deeply, told him to not worry and ordered the seductive woman to wash that sheet and entered my lavish bathroom.
After freshening up, I was brushing my teeth slowly looking at the mirror. Wait a minute! I took out the brush and looked at it. My brush had a silver body and the paste was jelly-like. A memory struck my mind. Hero Yuuji, the first summoned Hero was the one who introduced this. With this, it seems he was from a pretty modern timeline of Earth.
After getting out of the bath, Marvic, as usual, escorted me, through the huge lavish hallway, decorated with paintings and walls filled with different light-emitting magic crystals towards the Dining hall for my breakfast. I was greeted by bowing servants and guards along the way who wished good morning and I replied their greetings with encouragement to work hard. All servants and guards had a surprised look when I did that and after repeating these situations, Marvic stopped and turned around with a bewildered face.
"Master! I think you are ill." He asked calmly. It kind of irked me off.
"Why did you say that?' I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because you got up early, in a good mood and now you are even replying to the servants." He said monotonously which made me give him a blank look again.
"I apologize." Saying so he bowed and continued his escorting.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
After walking for ten more minutes, I finally reached the Dining Hall and there stood Mia, the head maid waiting for me outside. She bowed.
"Good morning, young master." She greeted as usual.
"Good morning, Mia" And again I got a surprised look from her but it disappeared in an instant and again she bowed and went inside. We followed behind.
A large table was decorated with a variety of food. Marvic pulled the chair for me and I sat. And then Mia stood next to me and began to inform me about today's breakfast. Bread is the staple food in this country so it is always there and along with it is pork, geese, salad, two variety of vegetables, vegetable soup and milk. Yup, I would lie if you say I'm not enjoying this. This much power, this much luxury is surely yearned by everyone.
Breakfast was delicious, the bread was soft and a little sweet, pork and geese were cooked nicely and tender to eat, vegetables were fresh and milk was thick and creamy. Well, the people remained standing because the master, a high ranked noble eats alone. And. that I'm a royalty and title Duke is just my public title is also known by many more than just us.
"I really wish we could grow spices here in Saluda." I murmured while in deep thoughts. Spices were only grown in Bravick kingdom.
"Mia, I enjoyed my breakfast today." I smiled at her and her too after a pause smiled back. I was walking through the hallway again but this time, I was walking towards my office. On my way, I saw a little boy standing with his little butler suit. On his left side, there was a table with a jug and glass on top of it. There are several more people like him spread all over the castle for the purpose of serving water to an important person like me or my guest walking around the castle.
The one that got my attention was his shoes. They were too big for him. I stopped right in front of him. He nervously bowed and began pouring water in the glass, placed it in a tray and offered it to me. I took it and gulped on it once.
"Say what is your name?" I asked him.
"I-It's Will, Lord Duke" He answered stuttering.
"How old are you?" I asked after another gulp of water.
"I'm 8, Lord Duke" He answered on the brink of tears.
"Will, aren't your shoes too big for you?" I asked him gently.
"Uh....I'm sorry, Lord Duke. It's because my mother is ill. Her medicines are very expensive so, I have to save everything to afford it as soon as possible. I borrowed these shoes from another servant, Brother Adam. Please overlook this mistake. I will buy my size ones after my mother's medicine" he prostrated himself and broke into light sobs.
I sighed. Ordered Marvic to make him quit prostrating. He got him up, still bowing and sobbing.
"Don't cry now. I'm not firing you." When he heard that he began raining flattering words like Duke, you are the kindest, I will begin worshipping you etc,etc. I secretly asked the nearby guard if it was true or not which he testified as truth.
"Now stop crying seriously. Guard, bring me a paper." A nearby guard went away for a while and after some time brought to me, a coarse rectangular sheet, yup it's modern paper's ancestor.
I wrote something and with my signature and Purgarian family stamp on it(which Lyon always keeps in his breast pocket. I rolled it and gave it to the guard again.
I gave him a task. To go to Viscount Espirit, my treasurer and give him this written letter. He will keep it and give him 20 gold coins for Will"s mother's medicine. He has to go along with Will, purchase medicine, shoes for him and return. Give the total bill to Mr.Espirit and for his extra work, he will be awarded 2 big silver coins.
Will wasn't one to keep quiet. He denied this help strongly but he quietened down when I reminded him about his mother's illness. But, instead, he promised to remain loyal to me all his life while sobbing again with happiness. I just nodded and walked off towards my office. Again being greeted by numerous servants and guards. My castle has hundreds of servants and guards by the way.
I finally reached my officer room, door flanked by Guards on opposite sides. As I entered, I saw the working desk and chair at the far end. Both the left and right walls consist of book racks filled with books. Two windows, on the wall behind my desk on the left and right side of it. A map of Sovern and neighboring countries right behind the desk between the windows. I walked towards the desk and as I was reaching it, I felt something cold on my neck.
A murderous aura surrounded me. The coldness on my neck was the blade of an orichalcum sword. A super rare and expensive metal in this world. And the one who was holding that was......... Marvic
"I will ask you once. Who are you?"