"Lily Bathtub, Wendy Bigtoe, Jim Cowdung, Parker Rednose, and John Doorknob, after the selection process, you five have been given the chance to work at the castle."
After three days of trials, the butler Carter finally announced the three men and two women who met his standards for servants. They would become the castle's new footmen and maids.
The seven or eight remaining candidates asked unwillingly, "Mr. Carter, please give me one more chance. I promise I'll do better!"
"I'm sorry, but once a decision has been made, it can't be changed. Still, there's no need to worry. For these three days of trials, each of you will be paid three copper coins, the same rate as a kitchen maid. And I've taken note of how capable you are. If the castle needs more servants in the future, I'll be sure to consider you first."
Strictly speaking, the servants of the castle belonged to Liszt.
But they weren't forced to work without pay. They received wages, which they could save up to buy food and clothes, or send back home.
At the castle, kitchen maids and footman's assistants earned one copper coin a day; maids and footmen, two; the first footman and cook, three; and the butlers, four.
Aside from Carter and Mosen, who had no family, the other servants at the castle all chose to send their wages home to help support their families.
Besides, if a servant grew tired of working, they could apply to buy their freedom and return to being a free person. Of course, the decision to grant that freedom rested with the noble.
The young men and women who hadn't been selected left the castle in disappointment. For them, losing the chance to work in such a beautiful place was a major blow.
The five who had been chosen, meanwhile, could barely contain their excitement.
"Oh my gosh, I got picked!"
"I... I get to stay at the castle?"
"Mom, I did it!"
Carter smiled at the five newcomers, remembering his own youth. He'd come from a struggling serf family, and the castle of the then-viscount family had chosen him to become a servant.
Starting out as the lowest-ranking footman's assistant, he had gradually become an excellent servant. The Tulip Family had also risen by leaps and bounds, and the earl had sent him to manage the family's castle in another town.
Then Liszt came of age, and Carter had followed him here to serve as his butler.
The years had left deep marks on his face. He could hardly remember how overjoyed he'd been when he first became a servant. He had worked at the castle for decades, and his family had been gone for many years. He had known both regret and happiness.
His greatest wish now was to remain by Liszt's side. When the day came that the sun no longer rose, he would choose to sleep forever.
"Young gentlemen and ladies, please be quiet." He lowered a hand to calm the newcomers' excitement. "I'm about to announce your assignments."
Lily and the others quickly quieted down.
"Lily Bathtub, Mrs. Abby thinks highly of you. You'll be a kitchen maid. Erin will show you the ropes for a while, so you can help Mrs. Abby as soon as possible."
Little Lily nodded like a pecking chicken. "I'll learn the kitchen work as quickly as I can."
"Good. But don't put too much pressure on yourself. Mrs. Abby... speaks her mind, but once you get to know her, you'll see she's a good person." Carter felt a little worried for the girl. He wasn't sure she could handle Abby Spoon's booming, blow-dryer voice.
He continued, "Wendy Bigtoe, Mrs. Morson will show you what a maid's duties involve."
"Yes, Mr. Carter."
"Next, Jim Cowdung, Parker Rednose, and John Doorknob." Carter looked at the three young men, whose faces were pale and drawn.
"Mr. Carter." The three of them all puffed out their chests, trying to look as dignified as possible.
Carter was pleased by their attitude. Obedient young men suited him far better than troublemakers like Thomas. "I'll help you learn your duties as footmen as quickly as possible. You'll soon be busy, not only inside the castle, but outside it as well."
He looked at each of the new servants. "You represent more than just yourselves; you represent the castle. You must dress properly, behave courteously, and learn noble etiquette as soon as possible. You must say goodbye once and for all to the laziness of your days as serfs. Understood, ladies and gentlemen?"
"Understood, Mr. Carter!"
"Then you each have half a day off. Go home and share the good news with your families. Starting tomorrow, you'll be living at the castle."
"Mr. Carter, congratulations. You're about to become a head butler." After the new servants had hurried home to share the good news, Mrs. Morson chatted with Carter.
"Yes, it feels nice." Carter gave a rare, playful smile. "I'll have to live a little longer to keep Thomas from rising to the top. I don't want to see him enjoying this feeling, too."
"I think Thomas would rather stay by the lord's side. He really is cleverer than Tom and Jesse."
Carter said in a cryptic tone, "The lord inherited the Tulip Family's courage and the Long-Yam Family's shrewdness. Sometimes, it may be better to seem a little foolish in front of the lord than to seem clever."
At that, he suddenly cocked his head to listen. "Hoofbeats. The lord is back. I must go greet him."
"Go on, you foolishly clever butler."
Carter tilted his head.
He and Mosen had developed an understanding. It took two butlers who understood each other to keep the castle running smoothly.
At the entrance, Carter saw Liszt riding toward him on Fire Dragon Horse. Tall and handsome, he rode with the sun behind him. Golden light fell across his pale-gold curls, making them seem to shimmer with flowing gold.
"The lord was born to be a noble. He has every quality one could ask for," Carter thought.
He bowed slightly. "Welcome home, my lord."
"Mr. Carter, have the new servants been chosen?" Liszt handed the reins to Thomas and loosened his necktie. Summer had arrived, and noble clothing felt stifling. He didn't like wearing it.
The nobles of the Grand Duchy wore clothes inspired by the styles of the continent.
Noblewomen mainly wore long dresses with hoops underneath and padding over their bottoms, so the skirts flared out like pyramids.
Lvera never wore clothes like that. She preferred men's noble attire.
A man's full noble outfit was called a "Frac Habillé." It included a tailcoat-like "Frac," a waistcoat worn underneath called a "Gilet," and a pair of tight breeches called "Breeches." Naturally, it was also paired with knee-high boots and stockings.
There was another item, too: men of noble birth needed to wear an ornament around the neck, a symbol of their noble authority.
For casual wear at home, they could wear a bow tie. When going out on business, they needed to wear something like a tie, called a "Cravat." Liszt called it a neckerchief. For ceremonies, they wore a "Ruff," a large pleated disk encircling the neck, which Liszt called a ruffled collar.
After loosening his tie, Liszt immediately felt the heat trapped inside his clothes escape through his collar. He couldn't help complaining, "I need to start a revolution in clothing!"