A Toast

"Black Pearl, as its name suggests, gleamed within its ebony bottle like a magical black pearl nurtured by an ancient clam at the bottom of a legendary lake."

Swirling his crystal goblet and inhaling the fragrance of Black Pearl Wine, Charles recited like a poet.

"A bottle of Black Pearl Wine aged for many years carries a richness like an old story dancing out of a deep tunnel of time. It enters smooth and soft, quietly telling you what true romance is."

"Tch." Eric curled his lip. "It's a little sour. Not as good as brandy."

Charles shot Eric a disdainful glance. "Pouring Black Pearl Wine into your mouth is simply a waste of something precious."

Eric snorted. "Putting on airs."

"What do you know? Black Pearl Wine is a fine drink made for nobles to appreciate. Its color, vintage, and grape variety all create different flavors. How could a mudfoot like you understand its charm? Go drink some malt beer."

"I may be a mudfoot, but you're just from a fallen family!" Eric shot back.

He had been born into a commoner family, with generations of serfs before him, and he longed to achieve great deeds and join the ranks of the nobility.

Charles's father, meanwhile, had once been a Baron Knight. But he had died early, and the family had declined, falling back into commoner status.

"A fallen family was still glorious once. How could you understand its heritage?" Charles took a delighted sip of Black Pearl Wine. "I drank Black Pearl Wine when I was little. What about you, mudfoot? You've probably never even tasted wine."

Eric clenched his fists. "You!"

"Enough, teachers." Afraid they might actually come to blows, Russell, who had been watching the show, raised his glass. "Come, everyone, let us share a toast. Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Charles echoed, raising his glass high.

Eric had not truly meant to hit Charles, so when Russell gave him a way out, he raised his glass as well and muttered, "Cheers!"

Tom, John, Jack, and James, the four Knight Retainers, hurriedly wiped the grease from their mouths and raised their glasses together. "Cheers!"

With that toast, the atmosphere immediately turned cheerful.

Everyone present was a knight. Their Battle Aura surged, their expenditure was great, and so were their appetites. The Male Servants would bring out one platter after another, only for each to be cleared in moments.

Russell was no different. He set aside his usual noble restraint and ate heartily.

Perhaps it was psychological, but the manor annex was his true home. As he ate here, he felt far more at ease than he had at Fluorite Castle.

"Russell, let us drink to the future of Wuyou Snake Manor." Charles was more animated at the banquet than at any other time. "Black Pearl Wine with a meal... I truly hope this kind of life can be repeated every day."

Russell took a small sip. "It will be, Teacher Charles. We will have everything."

After a while, James raised his glass again. "My lord, cheers!"

As Knight Retainers, James and the other three were responsible for following Russell at all times and protecting him. When traveling or going to war, they were also to attend to all his daily needs.

It was an extremely intimate relationship.

The Knight Retainers of many High Nobles eventually earned themselves the title of Baron Knight.

Of course, Russell himself was only a Baron Knight and had no authority to grant titles to his subordinates. Still, he would certainly feed and provide for his Knight Retainers well, so that they would risk their lives for him when it mattered.

"Cheers, James!"

The banquet lasted a full two hours. The two teachers and four retainers all drank themselves drunk, while Russell alone retained a trace of sobriety.

He left the dining room and stepped into the corridor beside the courtyard.

Butler Morris followed him over. "Master."

"Have the servants eaten?"

"Thank you for your concern, Master. The servants have already eaten."

"Are there enough rooms in the manor?"

"I was just about to report on that, Master." Morris took out a sheet of draft paper with a layout already drawn on it. "There are twelve rooms downstairs, and each one is quite large, around fifteen or sixteen square meters. The servants can squeeze in together, while your retainers can temporarily share two to a room..."

The manor annex had been built in a rugged style, all piled stonework. There had been no pursuit of elegance, only size and sturdiness.

Nearly every room was about the same size, four meters long and four meters wide.

In other words, the entire manor was twenty meters long and twelve meters wide, and even larger if the walls were included.

"The current arrangement can only serve as a temporary measure. You can divide each downstairs room into two rooms, Master. Then two or three servants can sleep in each room, while your retainers can each have a room of their own... The three rooms at the front can be opened up and turned into a reception hall, while the rooms on either side can become a tea room and washroom..."

Morris possessed quite a talent for design.

The manor annex plan on the draft paper was remarkably detailed. The first floor clearly marked the reception hall, retainers' rooms, servants' rooms, and kitchen. Even the latrine, boiler room, storage room, servants' dining room, and bathhouse had been labeled.

As for the second floor, Morris had not made any notes. Russell would have to decide that himself.

"Very good, Morris. You've arranged this well." Russell did not stint on praise. "Let us do it this way for now. Once the weather warms up, we'll properly renovate the manor annex. Also, arrange upstairs guest rooms for Charles and Eric."

"As you command, Master."

After saying that, Morris suddenly seemed to hesitate.

The evening breeze had cleared much of Russell's head, and he asked, "Is there something you wish to say?"

"As far as I know, noble masters have a tradition of sharing a drink with their butlers in the study at night... I wonder whether you enjoy that tradition as well, Master." When Morris finished, he looked at Russell expectantly and waited for his answer.

Russell raised an eyebrow, then smiled calmly. "Since it is a tradition, let us continue it."

Overjoyed, Morris bowed. "As you wish, Master."

Then he asked, "Shall we begin tonight?"

"Go settle the guests first. I'll take a bath, then head to the study... When you come tonight, don't bring any more wine. I've had too much already."

"Yes, Master."

There was a bathing room on the second floor, though it had no shower. Male Servants had to carry water up from the boiler room on the first floor.

The Maids were responsible for preparing Russell's bathwater and bringing him clean clothes.

However, no one attended him while he bathed. Russell had to do that himself.

After soaking in hot water for several minutes, the effects of the alcohol melted away. Battle Aura could achieve the same result; circulating it for half an hour could effectively ease drunkenness—provided one was not already completely drunk and still knew how to circulate Battle Aura.

"Comfortable!"

After drying himself and changing into fresh clothes, Russell felt light and refreshed.

"Master, dry your hair." Head Maid Leona brought over a dry towel, then began tidying up the clothes in the bathing room.

She was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old and still unmarried.

She wore the standard Maid uniform: a black ankle-length dress, a white apron over it, and a white headscarf.

Though her clothes were ordinary linen, Leona had an excellent figure. When she bent over, the curve of her hips was full and round.

Perhaps the lingering alcohol was at work.

A casual glance from Russell made him stiffen slightly in tribute.

But as a gentleman, he quickly shifted his gaze to the enchanting moonlight outside the window and could not help thinking, No wonder they hold coming-of-age ceremonies at sixteen here. This body... has already reached maturity.