Attendant Ascends

"Dear Mother, I am well, and the journey has been smooth. Please rest assured..."

"Hello, my dear younger brother, welcome home." Upon hearing Sean's greeting, his elder brother Jamie spoke flatly. His younger sister Julie followed Jamie's words with a greeting: "Hello, Brother Sean." Both merely rose slightly as they spoke, then sat back down on the sofa.

Clearly, the attitudes of elder brother Jamie and younger sister Julie also displeased their mother, Lady Margaret, who frowned as if about to say something. Sean noticed his mother's intent but did not wish to upset her. He immediately interrupted: "Mother, I would like to go wash up and change clothes first. Please allow it." This was a matter of course, but Sean used it as an excuse.

Upon hearing Sean's request, Sean's father, Viscount Uss Winchester, glanced at Sean with some surprise. Lady Margaret, as expected, had her attention diverted and said to Sean with a smile, "Yes, yes... go ahead. We'll have dinner together as a family soon." She then instructed the maid to prepare.

So Sean took his leave from his father, brother, and sister respectively, then returned alone to his room to bathe and change.

Half an hour later, Sean changed into a white thick-cotton knight uniform and returned to the living room. At that moment, Butler Al was quietly reporting something to Viscount Uss Winchester, whose expression shifted between solemn and astonished.

In Sean's original memories, he had never seen his father's face change so dramatically. When his father saw Sean come downstairs, he even gave him a strange smile. This puzzled Sean, and upon reflection, it could only be that Butler Al had reported his performance on the journey home. Sean bowed to his father and they went together to the dining room, where his mother, brother, and sister were already waiting.

The table was laden with food, and everyone took their seats. As they began to enjoy the lavish dinner, Sean's father, Viscount Uss Winchester, spoke while eating: "Sean, on your way home this time, you encountered bandits..."

Though phrased as a question, it was clearly a statement of fact. This made Lady Margaret, who had just heard it, tense up and scrutinize Sean closely. Even Jamie and Julie turned their gazes to Sean. Sean first gave his mother a reassuring smile, then addressed his father, Viscount Uss Winchester, with a smile: "Yes, Father, we encountered bandits at Golden Wolf Ridge. But... rather than bandits, I'd say they looked more like a group of farmers."

"You killed someone." Another statement disguised as a question came from his father, his expression grave.

"Yes, Father. After the new year, the academy will recommend me as a cadet officer, so this gave me a chance to gain some early experience." Sean answered his father's question while revealing the academy's recommendation.

Hearing Sean's reply, his mother, Lady Margaret, first looked at him with some worry, then felt a measure of joy that Sean had received the academy's recommendation. Her emotions became conflicted.

Upon hearing Sean's words, his father immediately demanded that Sean recount the full details of the academy's recommendation.

When he heard Sean admit that he had already advanced to a rookie knight, Sean's father, Viscount Uss Winchester, for the first time, stopped deliberately controlling his emotions. Together with Sean's mother, Lady Margaret, he burst into joyful laughter.

Sean's elder brother, Jamie, was also very happy for Sean and said to him with a smile, "Dear brother, congratulations. It's truly incredible—you are the pride of our entire family." He even proposed to his father, Viscount Uss Winchester, that they should increase their support for Sean. Sean's unexpected advancement completely changed his elder brother Jamie's attitude. If Sean were merely a "useless" brother looking to divide the inheritance, he would have to be constantly wary. But if he were a promising younger brother, then as the elder brother, it was natural to show affection, which would also strengthen the family's cohesion and expand its influence. Finally, it would spare their mother's feelings.

Sean's younger sister, Julie, sensed the shift in the dining atmosphere. Her little mind was quite confused...

Sean's admission that he had become a rookie knight greatly pleased his parents, Viscount Uss Winchester and Viscountess Margaret. His elder brother, Jamie Winchester, immediately abandoned his usual guarded stance toward Sean, shifting to strong support to mend their fraternal bond. As for the confused younger sister, Julie...

Though Sean had anticipated this, the reality far exceeded his expectations. He was not particularly surprised by his mother Lady Margaret's joy or his brother Jamie's change in attitude. But his father, abandoning his usual stern and harsh demeanor toward Sean, showed an unusual excitement. It looked like a kind of heartfelt relief, leaving Sean with mixed emotions.

Though the description is lengthy, only a dozen or so seconds had passed. Upon hearing his eldest son Jamie's proposal, Sean's father, Viscount Uss Winchester, considered it briefly and said with a smile, "Jamie, you're right. We do need to give Sean more support..." He paused, then addressed Sean: "I will prepare a set of knight armor for you. Also, Sean, your annual allowance will be doubled to 40 gold coins. Finally, I will arrange a knight squire for you. Sean, do you have anyone in mind?"

"Thank you, Father. As for the squire, I haven't considered it yet. I leave the decision to you..." Sean replied immediately after his father's words. A knight squire is an assistant serving a knight, responsible for managing the knight's warhorse, maintaining weapons and knight armor in peacetime, and acting as a servant caring for the knight's daily needs in wartime. In ancient times, knight squires would charge into battle alongside their knight masters and die together on the battlefield. Thus, the squire was a vital presence for a knight. Once an agreement was formed, it would last a lifetime or even be passed down, with squires rarely betraying their knights.

Over the 200-plus years of Sean's family lineage, the squires of his ancestors had left behind bloodlines. These bloodlines had, to this day, formed over a dozen small families, all loyal to each generation of the Viscounts of Winchester.

A qualified knight squire needed certain combat skills and the ability to maintain weapons and armor. But most important was a loyal heart—absolute loyalty to the knight they served.

Once a knight received a squire's oath of loyalty, they had the duty and responsibility to fully train the squire. In ancient times, the knightly tradition was for a knight to train his squire to become a knight himself. Though modern rules of knighthood had changed, knights still fully trained the squires loyal to them. For a commoner chosen, this was an opportunity to change their fate.

"Hmm... then I'll instruct Butler Al to select several who are usually honest and reliable... The final choice will be yours, but you must be careful and deliberate..." Viscount Uss Winchester said after weighing his options.

"Very well, Father. I will follow your instructions and choose carefully." Sean replied with some delight.

After this interlude, dinner continued in a cheerful family atmosphere. Though Sean's younger sister, Julie, still didn't understand what was happening, she too changed her attitude toward Sean, becoming more affectionate.

After dinner, everyone chatted for a long time before taking their leave. Sean completed his knightly training afterward, then returned to his room to rest early.

In the following days, aside from training and knightly practice, Sean stayed in the castle to spend time with his family.

Three days later, on Saturday, November 26th. After his morning workout and breakfast with his family, Sean rode out of the family castle with two guard cavalrymen arranged by Butler Al, heading toward Blue Fortress Town.

During the skirmish with the bandits a few days earlier, Sean had noticed the inconvenience of using a knight sword while mounted. Over the past few days, he had been considering a suitable weapon for future horseback combat. Here, knights typically used battle axes or long spears. After weighing his options, Sean chose the long spear. After all, his agility attribute was more outstanding, and over the past half-year, his high perception had made him more adept at mastering techniques. With a technique-focused long spear, Sean could unleash even more terrifying power. But he was dissatisfied with the standard long spears used in this world, so he decided to visit the family's blacksmith workshop personally, to discuss with the smith and also have some small items made to better adjust his saddle.

Soon, Sean and the two cavalrymen arrived near the territory's garrison, southeast of Blue Fortress Town, where the family blacksmith workshop was located. After stating his purpose, the workshop manager quickly summoned several skilled blacksmiths.

After Sean gave more specific instructions, the manager recommended a master smith named Judd. Master Judd was of medium height with an extremely sturdy build, around 40 years old, with a full beard.

"Master Judd, I've drawn a sketch of a long spear. Please take a look..." After the manager and other smiths left, Sean immediately pulled out a simple drawing he had made in his spare time over the past few days and said to Master Judd.

"Certainly, young master." Master Judd immediately extended both hands to receive it. Besides Master Judd, the only one remaining near Sean was a burly young man standing behind him. The young man, with a simple expression, stretched his neck curiously to peek at the drawing. When Sean looked at him, the young man scratched his head sheepishly.

Master Judd's eyes were on the drawing as he asked Sean about the specific specifications of the long spear. After a brief exchange, Master Judd looked up and smiled: "Don't worry, young master. In just a week, you'll have the long spear you need." Seeing Sean sizing up the young man behind him, he quickly explained: "Young master, this is my son, Thor. He's also my blacksmith apprentice..." As he spoke, he gave the young man a hard kick, signaling him to bow to Sean immediately.