Thomas stood in front of the main door. His cloak covered his whole being, and he had a case of his belongings in his right hand. His aged hair was swept back in a clean manner, and the thick, white mustache in his upper lip carefully groomed. The doors of the manor opened, and he was welcomed by an unfamiliar servant. He seemed surprised at the sight of him, his cloak covered in a thick layer of melting snow and a thick red scarf covering his neck, up till his jaw.
"May I help you?" That shouldn't have been the first thing he asked. A servant exists to protect and serve their master. Why is he just letting me, an unidentified person inside? And without even verifying my identity?
Thomas didn't know what James had done since his retirement, but it seems Alixandre had left out certain details that would have sent the old man into a spiral.
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Riven is a territory in the northern outskirts of Edaria. It is a town that belonged under the jurisdiction of Count Sinclair where winter is the predominant season. It was a quiet and peaceful town where the main source of livelihood was the bartering of winter crabs. The weather remained the coldest all year, and it wasn't a popular vacation spot for nobles which is perfect for the butler who wanted to remain under the radar. However, for Thomas who had grown up in the cold mountains of the North, such chilly air never bothered him.
For the last 3 years that he had been permanently retired, Thomas remained in this town. He made a small livelihood with bartering winter crabs, and he lived in a humble home in the outskirts of a forest, just a few distance away from the people. Few people chose to live here in Riven, but for those who choose Riven as their home, it truly became their home. And this became true for Thomas, as well.
Count Sinclair, who ruled this small town, didn't permanently live in Riven due to the frail health of his wife who wouldn't have survived the harsh winter air. But whenever he occasionally visits to check on his people, he brings about an abundance of frozen meat for the community to enjoy, and few vegetables and fruits that wouldn't have grown in the snow-filled land of Riven. These small moments of generosity warmed the hearts of his people. Though Count Sinclair wasn't rich, per se, the generosity and care he had for his people was far richer than any treasure in the land. In return, Count Sinclair received the loyalty of the people of Riven, and they often sent hauls of winter crabs to bring back to the warm Capital with him.
For Thomas, who had been living as a part of this small Northern community, receiving a letter from Duke Evrian became a surprise for him. The letter came with an Evrian knight, who looked very strange and out of place with his maude uniform, an iron sword with the Evrian crest, and his intimidating demeanor that gathered the attention of all the people in Riven.
"Sir Harrison, his grace, Duke Evrian, has asked me to deliver this letter to you" the knight, though dressed in the everyday uniform of his legion, still looked far too intimidating for the common folk. Even when Thomas' home was located singularly outside of the main town, onlookers from afar stood as they observed them despite the snow harshly storming outside.
"Would you like to come in? It seems awfully cold where you're standing" the knight's shoulders were trembling as he stood. Though a similar maude cloak came with their uniform, the unidentified knight shivered harshly when another gust of wind hit him.
"I…I need to get back as soon as I deliver this letter" the knight was dutiful, a value Thomas greatly treasured in servants. He handed a lilac envelope to Thomas, who accepted it immediately.
"I understand. Then, you may go immediately, a knight shouldn't stay in the cold weather like this, you're not even dressed properly" he nags like the old man he is, and the young knight chuckled quietly as he sniffed in the cold air, and his short laugh caused a puff of warm air to appear.
"I wouldn't allow myself to catch a cold, it'd be too disgraceful for an Evrian knight" he says, and Thomas smiles kindly at him. A young knight like him with proper morals, and his loyalty in the right place should be deeply treasured by his employer. It was hard to find someone like him these days.
When they both bid their goodbyes, Thomas entered the safety of his own home once more, and he sat in the kitchen, where the heat of the fireplace, and the harsh winds bellowed outside had somehow comforted him. There was curiosity in his mind as he knifed the letter open and hadn't even bothered to sit down on the kitchen chair.
To my friend and trusted aide, Thomas,
I write this letter to offer you once again the honor of accepting my proposal for your employment as a butler and trusted aide of my family. I know you have decided to retire 3 years ago, and have been enjoying a quiet life in Riven, however, James, who had been your replacement, was recently fired on the grounds of embezzlement. I have prepared and asked another to be your assistant in doing managerial work as my aide in order to help you, but I leave the position of head butler entirely on your hands.
Thomas, would you be willing to work for me again and come out of your retirement?
With regards,
Alixandre Evrian
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"Thomas, how are you?"
The grey-haired old man paced slowly towards Alixandre Evrian as he removed the wet cloak with melting snow on top of it. The common white shirt and the brown pants he wore contrasted deeply to the elegant navy three-piece blue suit and the polished black shoes that the Duke wore. They were at the formal office of the duke. Crackles of wood burning against the fire sounded in the room where silence came for the two men. Thomas folded his wet cloak and folded it carefully, allowing it to hang on his arm, as he didn't want to make a wet mess in the office where important documents were laid. Alixandre gestured for him to sit, and he did so, making a space for him in front of the Duke who sat on the other leather couch.
"I have been well, your grace"
Alixandre wore his spectacles, chained around his neck in a golden strand. His attire was formal, and it might've been an indication that he just returned from an important meeting with his vassals. He sat on the couch, his legs crossed and his arms folded in his knees. There was authority emanating from him, the kind that makes common folk fear and admire him at the same time. The authority was paired with elegance like no other, the kind of quality that had women on their knees for him when he was but a young Duke.
Thomas had always been in awe of Alixandre Evrian.
"I have questions, your grace" it was impudent to speak before a noble, but he knew that Alixandre had no care for rules and stifling etiquette.
"Ask away"
"What happened in the last three years that I have been gone?" Thomas straightened his tired back.
Alixandre seemed hesitant to answer him. He averted his gaze and his posture became loose and stiff. There was no doubt that Thomas had just asked an awkward question. But he ignores the Duke's discomfort when he sensed that it could've had something to do with his youngest daughter. There was no other reason that the Duke had called for him, specifically. Suddenly, he feels terror creeping in his bones.
"Has something happened to Lady Ciana?" He didn't dare to call the lady by her other name in front of Alixandre. There was concern in his brown eyes when the Duke stiffened even more at the mention of his daughter's name.
"Ciana is well, Thomas…" he trailed off and stopped to take a breath before continuing. "Ciana is getting married"
"What?!" Thomas shouted, and though it was insolent of him to do so, he just wasn't able to stop himself. The little girl that he cared for, is now getting married?
"She is getting married to Duke Lorian Fremont, they are of the same age, and he seems quite smitten with her" Alixandre explains, though Thomas didn't think any amount of explanation would help him recover from the shock that went through him.
"But is she smitten with him?" Thomas rebutted, he regained his calm expression back as he questioned the Duke's reasoning of letting his daughter, who is deeply afraid of men, and abhors physical touch, marry a Duke. "Has she recovered from her phobia?" he added.
"Ciana is able to touch my hand now" he feels the warmth of hope filling his chest as he leans forward as he hears Alixandre's words and when he saw the same expression on the Duke's face, Thomas feels the terror slowly easing from his chest.
Alixandre barely convinced Thomas to retire three years ago. The butler had been having problems with his back and his joints. He got old, really. There was no other reason for it. Although his memory remained at its sharpest, his body couldn't handle the long hours, and the overtimes in his work as the Duke's aide. It was when he really had a major accident with his back after attempting to carry a potted plant, that he was finally convinced by the Duke to retire and recuperate. Thomas had no desire to leave Aina, the child that he somehow helped raise, and when he spoke to her about the matter, she only said,
"Thomas, I don't want you to stay here. I know you love your work, but you deserve to see the world. At least in your retirement, you would be able to properly rest" Aina had tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she attempted to convince him.
"You have taken care of me for so many years, it's now time to take care of your own self" she added.
If it wasn't for Lady Aina convincing him herself, Thomas would've stayed in the manor until he died.
Still, before he left, Thomas ensured he had taken care of everything. He found a replacement who would take his job. A commoner named 'James' who had reminded him of himself. James was a commoner who had been allowed to study at the Imperial Academy for the scholarship he got from a noble. His story sounded eerily similar to his, and though James seemed a bit arrogant, Thomas thought he would have proved a great asset for the Duke with his ambition and skills. I never thought he would be insolent enough to embezzle money from the Duke himself. Thomas never thought there'd be someone so desperate to die.
"James was stealing from me, as I have told you in the letter"
Thomas nodded as the Duke spoke, and he waited for Alixandre to continue his story.
"But I didn't tell you how he treated my own daughter inside my own home. I found out from her maid that he had been limiting the dishes served to Ciana. And reducing the amount of wood that she could use during the winters. The maid stated that Ciana had to live in a cold room, served with cold dishes for the past three years" there was anger and shame in Alixandre's voice as he told everything to Thomas. Alixandre seemed ashamed, once more that he let such a thing happen to his daughter, though nothing could've compared to the regret he felt 9 years ago.
Thomas, on the other hand, looked ready to combust. His old age has caused his patience to run on a very low level. At the age of 65, he was easily irritated, and would act first before thinking of his own actions. His old age caused his impulsiveness to increase, but it seemed the natural thing to develop after dealing with ill-tempered nobles for most of his lifetime.
"What?" he softly asked, attempting, with all of his might to prevent himself from shouting profanities in front of the Duke.
"I am ashamed. I know I should have been more attentive to Ciana" Alixandre sighs as he removes his glasses and lets it hang on his chest. "I trusted James too much," he added.
Somehow, Thomas felt as if he had a clear understanding of what had happened. It was clear that the Duke was afraid of his daughter's rejection, therefore, hadn't bothered to check on her directly and instead trusted the words of a servant more. It was also clear for the butler that Alixandre hadn't interacted with his daughter for the last three years that Thomas had been gone. After Lady Aina had lost her memories, Thomas made sure to have her spend dinners with her family in hopes that her memories would return, and so she'd realize that her family deeply cares for her. Thomas never thought the Duke would stop those dinners as soon as he was gone. What had he been thinking? Thomas had the urge to strangle his employer.
"Your grace, I shall accept your offer" he only said. If he were to reply to any of Alixandre's words, he would have hurled insult after insult due to his uncontrollable temper. Although the Duke is younger than him, Thomas will never dare to do such a thing.
Instead, he remained silent.
He'll accept this job.
For Lady Aina.
I have a lot of work to do.
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