74: Servant Orian

Servant Orian

Rafal immediately lowered his head and started talking like a parrot. "Not at all, Your Highness. I am used to doing my things on my own. My family's Head Butler is acting ahead of himself due to ignorance. If I had known, I would have stopped him already. I will return home at this instant and tell Orian that he could work in the palace—."1

"No need."

"Huh?" Rafal looked at Arlan as if he heard something wrong. "No need?"

"Let him be."

"Uhm…"

"I have my own plans. Treat him as you would a real servant."

"Yes, Your Highness," Rafal said promptly, though in his mind he was yelling, 'I would not dare!'

"And tell the butler to arrange a separate room for him. He won't be sharing quarters with other servants."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Inform your House that they will be given the privilege of my presence gracing your  residence in the next six days."

Rafal understood what Arlan meant. "All the preparation of Your Highness's stay will be made at the Ahrens and secrecy would be maintained."

"I would prefer to have him as my personal aide when I am there."

"Understood, Your Highness."

"Also, about your long vacation?"

"I will consider His Highness never said it," Rafal replied calmly. 

Arlan nodded in satisfaction. "You can leave now."

After the royal knights left his study, Arlan picked up the scroll he was reading earlier. 

His butler, Roman, asked, "When shall I arrange your things to be sent to the Count's residence?" 

"I will leave for the Ahrens tonight."

"Yes, Your Highness." 

Both Roman and Lucas watched their master's expression turn playful in an evil way. 

—-

"...begin dusting the highest shelves, moving downwards, and then only after can you begin sweeping the floor."

"...ensure that the floor is wiped spotlessly clean, but the rag should be damp, not sopping wet. Too much water dripping can damage the floor and dramatically extend the drying time, which can bother the other servants who are hurrying to their tasks."

"...make sure your appearance is tidy at all times. Even if you are a mere servant, you should maintain the dignity of your master. We are people fortunate enough to serve the household of a high-ranking noble. Our work is our source of pride!" 

"...do not enter the main mansion unless ordered. If the butlers catch you loitering beyond your assigned area, your salary will be deducted. Worse, you might be tagged as a spy and be thrown in the dungeons."

"...the most important rule: we, servants, should remain invisible. We are the ghosts of the household. Work as efficiently as you can, but do not make sounds. You should avoid being seen by our masters and their guests—that's the purpose of the side entrances in each chamber and the small hallways in the mansion. 

"If our masters give you an order, obey it without question. Keep your head low and do not meet their gaze. You shouldn't speak unless spoken to and—" 

Oriana was busy understanding basic house rules from Smith, the butler in charge of the guest residence, and then learning from other servants on what to do. Aside from Oriana, there were three other housekeepers: one scullery maid, one cleaning maid and one other manservant.

With her surface age of fifteen, Oriana was the youngest of them all, and she was tasked to work alongside the cleaning maid in maintaining the cleanliness of the small mansion.

'House rules, etiquette, that was too much to learn in just one day. These people have so many rules even with cleaning a simple room. Bigger homes, bigger the useless demands. I do not even understand the need for this big space. I bet the young master staying here won't even enter half of the rooms we clean…'

Oriana was currently going through one of the side chambers belonging to the temporary bedchamber of the Third Young Master of the Ahrens. She was wiping down the dressers and arranging the clean clothes within the wardrobe. 

As she hung the clean shirts to the hanger, she mumbled, "What a huge shirt. Is the Third Young Master a giant? He seemed taller than Luke, though their shoulders should be about the same… 

"I wonder what this young master does. I heard them saying he is the pride of this family for this generation. Umm…then he should be working for royalty. Is he serving the King? A palace official with a high rank? If so, I have to impress him and be good enough to be his personal aide. I might get a chance to enter the palace. 

"But in order to get into his good book, I need to learn what kind of person this Third Young Master is. A young palace official. Is he a serious bookworm? A social butterfly? A spoiled brat? Hmm, I should ask the others later when it's time for our break. I can just make small talk with them and try to fish out small details, nothing too suspicious."

After she arranged all the clothes, she stepped out of the side chamber and looked at the main bedchamber. It was the grandest room Oriana had ever seen, the size of it alone twice the size of Ken's house including the front yard.

"Butler Smith told me to clean this before he returns to check. He says the young master will be staying here tonight…"

As Oriana was setting the heavy duvet on the large bed, she heard voices approaching the chamber through the open door. 

"...understood, Young Master. It will be done." It was Butler Smith's voice. 

"There shall be no mistake." It was another voice of a man, sounding younger with an accent that sounded vaguely familiar.

"Yes, Young Master."

'Seems like the Third Young Master came home early! Oriana straightened up and looked around the chamber. 'Thank the spirits I have finished my tasks early as well.'

Two men entered the chamber, and seeing the younger one between them, the color of her face changed. 

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