Golden Cask, the most popular tavern in Ironwood Viscountcy
“Ms. Voss? It’s pretty rare to see you out here,” Randell said, sliding onto the stool next to the head maid of the Lord’s Castle as they drank late into the night.
“Ah... Mister Randell,” Ms. Voss replied, blinking clearly. “I just had to work a bit of overtime today, so I decided to stop by for a quick drink. We staff members of the castle used to be very frequent regulars here, after all.”
“Yeah, we certainly had a lot of fun drinking here whenever the work got tough under Miss Maria,” Randell noted with an amused smile, swirling the liquor in his glass.
Ms. Voss looked at him curiously. “It’s been a while since then, but I heard you haven’t joined any of the other vassals’ households as a butler yet? I thought that was the reason why you quit your post? Do you happen to need a recommendation from me?”
“Ah... no, no. I have been saving up my funds, you see,” Randell replied with a smooth smile, taking a slow sip. “I have been eyeing a brand-new business venture. It seems I possess a real knack for it.”
“Ho... Ho... Mister Randell, you are looking to hit it big, huh!” Ms. Voss clapped her hands together, laughing as she poured him another drink.
Randell accepted the refill gracefully before leaning in to ask, “So... why exactly did you have to work overtime today? After Her Ladyship's grand restructuring of the castle staff’s schedules, you fiercely vowed to never do overtime again, didn't you?”
“Well... Her Ladyship’s brother has arrived in the territory for the Moon Light Day festival, so we were all asked to put extra, meticulous care into everything,” Ms. Voss explained with a heavy sigh, taking a generous sip of her own drink.
Randell continued to smile politely, pouring her another glass while casually looking around the tavern at another off-duty castle staff member.
That doesn’t really tell me much... Randell thought, his mind calculating. I already know young Lord Ivan has arrived in the Viscounty, I learned that directly from him. I don’t think I can fish any valuable new information out of Ms. Voss at this rate.
While those dismissive thoughts were running through his head, Ms. Voss completely slammed her glass down, let out a loud hiccup, and began to complain bitterly. “Man... that lazy stable boy gets on my nerves! He was caught fast asleep taking a nap, even though Lord Miller had clearly instructed him beforehand that he would be riding out to the lakeside tonight after everyone else in the castle had retired for the night!”
What?
Randell's ears perked up instantly. He turned around fully, putting on a sympathetic face. “I know, right?! I didn’t like that new stable boy one bit!”
“He was literally grinning when I forced him awake just five minutes ago right as Lord Miller left the stables! I ought to file a formal complaint with Her Ladyship first thing tomorrow morning!” Ms. Voss grumbled, nodding aggressively.
Randell nodded along in perfect agreement as he handed her another glass of beer. Downing it in one go, the head maid immediately passed out over the wooden counter.
“Bartender,” Randell called out smoothly, waving the staff over. “Can you please inform Ms. Voss' son to come over and walk her home? Here, I will pay up for her share of the tab as well.”
Leaving the Shella coins on the bar, Randell got up from his stool with a sharp, greedy smirk and began walking toward the exit.
What exactly does Lord Miller need to do in the dead of the night at the lakeside, especially when he has a high ranking noble guest staying over at the castle? Randell amused to himself, his thoughts racing with excitement in the cold night air.
A simple midnight check on the local fishermen doesn’t seem to be the case at all. I ought to travel down there and take a quiet peek at this myself... Who knows? I might just find some incredibly valuable information to sell.
Morning, Lord’s Castle, Ironwood Viscounty
Miller stood quietly outside Francesca’s room, waiting for her to finish getting ready. He was tapping his foot lightly against the stone floor with his arms folded across his chest when he caught the sound of approaching footsteps from the far end of the corridor. Glancing up, he found Ivan walking over, coming to a halt right next to him to wait as well.
“Morning, Lord Miller. I expected you to be inside with your wife, given that you are newlyweds and all,” Ivan remarked, striking up casual small talk with a smooth, measuring gaze.
Miller simply shrugged, offering a quick cover story to hide his absence last night. “I happen to snore quite loudly while I sleep, so I try to stay in my own quarters during the days when she needs to wake up early.”
“Hmm.” Ivan's lips curled into a slightly amused smirk at the lie, though he didn't press it.
Miller took the opportunity to ask a question of his own. “Do you often attend the Moon Light Day sermon with your siblings, Lord Ivan?”
Ivan let out a subtle chuckle, shaking his head. “I am not really the religious type, to be completely honest. In fact, I would say my dear sister and I are easily the least religious two out of everyone in our entire family.”
Miller blinked, genuinely surprised by the statement. “What? That’s rather hard to believe.”
“Is it really?” This time, Ivan looked a bit confused by Miller’s reaction. He leaned his back against the wall, crossing his arms. “Tell me, Lord Miller, you spent years fighting out on the battlefield, right? Despite that, how many times have you attended a religious event in the last five years?”
“About six to eight times a year, if I had to count,” Miller answered, his tone hardening slightly as he calculated his memories.
Ivan instantly countered, “Francesca has stepped foot inside a holy space exactly four times in the last five years. And of those four times, two of those times took place just last year, her official baptism portrait and her wedding to you.”
“What?” Miller was thoroughly astonished now. “But... I have heard her recite complex passages from the Goddess’s holy stories flawlessly to win a theological argument against a priest before.” remembering her talk with priest Roland to confess during the embezzlement case while he was outside.
“Well, she is incredibly clever, as any true LeonCraft ought to be,” Ivan shrugged, dismissively tossing the anomaly aside.
Just then, the heavy wooden door to Francesca’s room clicked open.
Tak... tak...
Accompanied by the familiar, sharp sound of her cane, Francesca emerged from her chambers. She wore a thick, luxurious fur coat draped beautifully atop a very thin, elegant religious revealing dress underneath. Offering a radiant smile, she seamlessly placed her hand into Miller’s for solid support.
“My apologies for keeping you waiting, Miller. Let’s get going,” she said softly.
Ivan let out a sharp scoff from right behind them, stepping into line. “You kept me waiting as well, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure,” Francesca sighed lightheartedly, not letting his attitude ruin her mood.
With Miller providing a firm, steady anchor by her side, the three of them turned and began walking down the grand stone staircase toward the main entrance of the castle.