The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

“Lily·Bathing Basin, Wendy·Big Toe, Jim·Bull Dung, Parker·Red Nose, John·Doorknob, after the selection, you five will have the opportunity to work in the castle.”

After three consecutive days of trial training, Butler Carter finally announced the three men and two women who met his standards for selecting servants, to be the new male and female servants of the castle.

The remaining seven or eight trial participants asked unwillingly, “Mr. Carter, please give me another chance, I will do better!”

“I’m sorry, but once a decision is made, it cannot be changed. However, you don’t need to worry. For these three days of trial training, each of you will receive a compensation of three copper coins, based on the standard of a kitchen maid. Moreover, your excellence is already remembered by me, and should the castle need to recruit servants again, I will definitely consider you first.”

The ownership of the Castle Servants, strictly speaking, lies in the hands of Liszt.

But they are not compelled to work without payment; they receive a wage, which servants can save to spend on food, drink, and clothing, or send back to their families.

The wages of the castle are one copper coin a day for a kitchen maid or male servant assistant; two copper coins a day for a maid or male servant; three copper coins a day for the first male servant or Cook; and four copper coins a day for a male or female Butler.

Aside from the solitary Carter and Morson, the other servants in the castle choose to send their wages back home to support their families.

Furthermore, servants can apply to buy their freedom if they become too tired of working—that is, to return to a free status. Of course, the decision to accept or reject the buyout rests with the Noble.

The young men and women who were not selected left the castle disappointed; losing the chance to work in the beautiful castle was a major blow to them.

The five who were selected were beside themselves with excitement.

“Oh my God, I’ve been chosen!”

“I… I’m staying in the castle?”

“Mother, I made it!”

Carter watched the five newcomers with a smile, remembering his own youth when he came from a struggling Serf family and was selected by a castle, then under the Viscount Family, to become a Servant.

He started as a lowly male servant assistant and gradually became an excellent servant. As the Tulip Family experienced leapfrog growth, he was sent by the Earl to manage the family’s other estates and castles in different towns.

Until Liszt came of age, he followed and became a Butler.

The years had left deep marks on his face, and he could hardly recall the jubilance he felt when he first became a servant. For decades, he had worked in the castle, his relatives having passed away many years ago. There were regrets, but also happiness.

Now his greatest wish was to accompany Liszt until the day the sun no longer rose, then to choose eternal rest.

“Young gentlemen, ladies, please be quiet,” he said, gesturing with his hand for the new recruits to tone down their excitement, “I am about to announce your positions.”

Lily and the others quickly calmed down.

“Lily·Bathing Basin, Mrs. Abbie is very pleased with you. Your job will be as a kitchen maid, hmm, Eileen Lady will show you the ropes for a while so you can quickly assist Mrs. Abbie.”

Little Lily immediately nodded rapidly like a pecking chicken, “I will become familiar with the kitchen duties as quickly as possible.”

“That’s good to hear, but also don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Mrs. Abbie… is outspoken, but once you get used to her, you’ll find she is a good person.” Carter was somewhat concerned for the young girl, wondering if she could withstand the blower-like booming voice of Abbie·Spoon.

He continued with the announcements, “Wendy·Big Toe, Mrs. Morson will show you what you need to know as a maid.”

“Yes, Mr. Carter.”

“Then, Jim·Bull Dung, Parker·Red Nose, John·Doorknob,” Carter looked at the three young lads with vegetable stains on their faces.

“Mr. Carter,” all three puffed out their chests, trying their best to appear more elegant.

Carter was pleased with the attitude of the three, preferring obedient lads like these over troublemakers like Thomas: “In the time to come, I will get you quickly acquainted with the work of a manservant. Soon, you’ll be busy not just within the castle, but outside it as well.”

He looked up at each of the new servants: “You are not only representing yourselves but also the image of the castle. Well-dressed, civilized in conduct, you must familiarize yourselves with noble etiquette quickly, and say a complete goodbye to the laziness that came with being a serf. Understand, gentlemen, ladies?”

“Understood, Mr. Carter!”

“Now, each of you has half a day off to go home and share this good news. From tomorrow, you will live in the castle.”

“Mr. Carter, congratulations, you will soon become a head butler,” Mrs. Morson said to Carter after the new servants had eagerly gone home to report the good news.

“Mm, it feels good,” Carter replied with a rare playful smile, “I must live a bit longer to prevent Thomas from taking over. I don’t want to see him enjoying this feeling.”

“I think Thomas would rather stay by the master’s side, he is indeed smarter than Tom and Jessie.”

With a hint of incoherence, Carter said, “The master has inherited the courage of the Tulip Family and the shrewdness of the Long Taro Family; sometimes, it might be better to be a bit dumber than smarter in front of the master.”

Saying this, he suddenly cocked his head to listen, then said, “Hoofbeats, the master is back. I must go to welcome him.”

“Go ahead, Butler Carter, both dumb and smart.”

Carter tilted his head.

He had already formed a tacit understanding with Morson, and two such understanding butlers were what kept the castle in perfect order.

Stepping to the door, riding atop a Fire Dragon Horse, the tall, handsome Liszt came galloping back, the golden sunlight casting a glow on his slightly curly flaxen hair as if it was a flowing mass of gold.

“The master is like a born noble, he has all the attributes of a noble,” Carter thought to himself.

The body bent slightly, “Welcome home, master.”

“Mr. Carter, have the new servants been chosen?” Liszt handed the reins to Thomas and undid the cravat around his neck, tired of the stuffy noble attire, especially in the summertime.

The noble clothing of the Grand Duchy was inspired by continental styles.

Female nobles typically wore long gowns with a crinoline underneath; they would also pad their buttocks, making the whole gown stand up like a pyramid.

Li Vera never wore such attire; she preferred male noble clothing.

A full set of male noble clothing, called “Flack·Abaie,” included a tailcoat-like outer coat “Flack,” a vest “Gile” to be worn underneath, and tight knee breeches “Best”. Of course, it also included long boots and stockings.

Furthermore, male nobles had to wear accessories around their necks that symbolized noble authority.

For everyday household wear, a cravat sufficed; for going out on business, they needed to wear a tie-like “Cravat,” which Liszt referred to as a scarf; during grand ceremonies, they wore “Ruff,” a large disc encircling their neck, which Liszt called a pleated collar.

Undoing the cravat, he immediately felt the hot air from inside his clothing escaping through his neck, prompting Liszt to complain: “I need to start a revolution against clothing!”