The Rebirth of a Noble Servant's Counterattack

The baron's four-wheeled carriage was incredibly luxurious, but unfortunately, I could only stand in the back, gripping the luggage with my arms and embracing the cold wind that rushed towards me. 

It wasn't until now that I realized I had once again been taken away by Baron Oscar. 

This incident happened several years after it occurred in my previous life, and now… 

My reason told me not to approach the baron, yet my actions unconsciously contradicted that, as I found myself getting closer, even taking it a step further. 

Of course, unlike in my past life, no one knew that the baron had 'special' feelings for me. The Bruce family was completely oblivious, assuming the baron's actions were simply a way of thanking me. So, while they saw me as a potential pawn, they didn't pay too much attention to me. 

The most obvious sign was that Miss Katherine did not personally come to ingratiate herself with me; instead, she chose my sister as her maid. In my past life, she had made her affections clear to me. A noble lady showing affection to a lowly servant either meant the lady was foolish, or the servant was foolish. 

In the end, it turned out the servant was the foolish one. 

Spring came particularly quickly to the capital, and in the blink of an eye, the earth turned green. After a hurried few days in the carriage, we arrived at the baron's estate on a sunny afternoon, located on the outskirts of the capital. 

Delman Manor was not in any way inferior to Momon Manor; in fact, it was even more expansive. The baron was quite wealthy, and his lands were astonishingly vast, enough to cover an entire small town. 

I heard from Billy that almost all the farmers in the town were tenants of the baron. He said this with pride; as the baron's personal servant, his status was not to be underestimated. The baron's personal servant ranks just below the head steward in status, so it was only natural for him to have a high opinion of himself. 

Standing on the land of Delman Manor, I felt a rush of emotions. 

This was a place I had lived in my previous life. 

In this manor, I spent the most dignified days of my life, for I was the personal servant of the manor's owner. All the other servants, aside from the steward, had to respect and please me. Though I was quite dissatisfied, loathing the flattery because it felt so disgusting, all of it stemmed from the baron's hidden desires for me. 

When we reached the castle gate, dozens of servants were already waiting at the entrance. 

Delman Manor was very different from Momon Manor; here, the servants generally wore plain dark blue clothing, much like their master's silent demeanor. A middle-aged steward welcomed the baron in front of the carriage and immediately informed him upon disembarking: 

"Sir, Count Harlock is here to visit…" 

The baron nodded and walked alone toward the magnificent castle without even glancing at me. In fact, since we had left, he hadn't spoken a word to me. His behavior made me wonder if the incident from that day was merely an illusion. 

At that moment, a lower-ranking servant came over and said to me, "Sir, please follow me; I'll show you around the manor." 

I followed the servant around the main hall to the servants' lounge. The lounge was not small, but when filled with many servants, it felt cramped. 

Delman Manor had hundreds of servants… 

Due to the land enclosure in previous years, many farmers lost their jobs, flooding into the city to make a living. They either worked in mining or textile factories or became servants in wealthy households. 

It is said that one in ten people in the capital is a servant, showing just how prosperous this profession is. However, most households only hire one or two maids at most, sometimes adding a cook and a coachman. Moreover, many households employ maids who were taken in from the poorhouse; these maids require no payment, as long as their basic needs are met, you can abuse them as you wish, allowing some very poor families to have servants. 

A couple earning around £100 could easily afford to hire two male servants; those earning over £1000 could support ten servants; and those earning over £5000 were expected to employ dozens of servants to match their status. Wealthy individuals must hire servants as a symbol of status, so some people even hire servants despite being broke. You might even see the odd phenomenon where someone is as poor as a beggar yet accompanied by a servant. The number of servants one has is a means for the rich to flaunt their status, representing their ability to avoid doing any work, even having someone help them dress. 

In a large manor, the annual salary for low-ranking servants is about £5, including stable boys, general maidservants, and kitchen staff. For mid-level servants, it's around £10, including doormen, kitchen porters, housemaids, cooks, gardeners, and estate watchmen. High-ranking servants earn between £15 to £20, including personal male servants and female housekeepers. Elite servants earn between £20 to £50, such as male stewards, family priests, and family doctors, establishing a strict hierarchy among the servants in large estates. If you're a general servant, you must never approach the master to serve tea; should you do so, the steward would immediately send you away. 

Of course, not everyone can become a servant, especially those in large estates. Without specialized training, ordinary people shouldn't even think about it. For instance, high-ranking male servants here must be able to read and write. 

Why must someone responsible for carrying trays read and write? 

Because the people they serve are nobles; thus, they must conduct themselves in a manner that aligns with the nobles' aesthetics—elegantly, gracefully, calmly, and intelligently, which naturally requires literacy. 

So you see, even the servants of the nobility look down on others, no wonder society is so hierarchical. 

Soon, I met the head steward of Delman Manor, named Hilton. 

In my previous life, I had dealings with Steward Hilton; this middle-aged man was very strict and often expressed his dissatisfaction with me. 

"The servant's quarters are on the fourth floor. As the master's personal servant, you will have your own bedroom." 

"You may not bring anyone into the castle." 

"You are not allowed to discuss any matters concerning the master." 

"You may not take any items from the estate…" 

Steward Hilton listed countless prohibitions, finally concluding, "You must remain faithful to your duties." 

I hurriedly bowed and said, "I will heed your instructions." 

Perhaps due to my humble attitude, the steward finally softened his stern expression and nodded to me, saying, "I heard you took care of the baron despite the dangers; please accept my thanks." 

"You are too kind; it was my duty." I hurriedly replied. 

"Understanding this makes you a wise person. We cannot rely on our contributions to think we have a favor from the master and lose our sense of duty." The steward nodded and said, "Prepare yourself; you will start following the master from today." 

The male and female servants' quarters are located on the east and west sides of the castle, quite far apart. Like school dormitories, there is a main gate that is locked and opened by designated personnel each day to prevent any inappropriate incidents. 

My room faced the sun, furnished with a wardrobe, a desk, a soft bed, and a small fireplace. 

Here, I changed into the standardized uniform for male servants—a dark blue coat and a simple sailor hat. I even received a new pair of leather shoes, although the heels were rather high; I heard that high and thin shoes were fashionable among men in the capital these days. 

A general servant brought me my lunch. 

The lunch looked quite sumptuous, as I had a large piece of ham on my plate. 

Enjoying all of this, I even felt that I was different from others, which made me realize why I had such a high opinion of myself in my past life. 

After lunch, I went to the baron's study. 

Years later, I once again witnessed the scene of the baron working. 

He was a very diligent man, often sitting for a whole day, signing various letters, managing the estate and overseas properties—there was no way he could be idle. 

This was also where he differed from Viscount Bruce, who spent his days drinking, sleeping, and drinking again; it was remarkable that he could manage the estate at all. 

If one has squandered their family's fortune, then why would they resort to underhanded means to seize the fruits of others' hard work? 

I smiled wryly; wasn't all of this something I had caused myself… 

The baron saw me and paused his quill, asking, "Are you adjusting well?" 

"Yes, sir, I have been welcomed by my colleagues." 

The baron stared at me for a while before suddenly saying, "You look good in my manor's clothes." 

"..." 

The baron often made comments that left me at a loss for words. 

To avoid the topic, I hurriedly made him a cup of tea. Just as I placed it on his desk, he gently shook his head and said, "Remember, you must not place the teacup on my desk; it could easily spill on important documents." 

"...Yes, sir." I was momentarily taken aback before quickly removing the teacup, thinking that in my previous life, he had never mentioned such requests to me. No matter how I served him, he would calmly accept it, even when I presented a cold demeanor. 

Thus, I began my life at the Delman Manor. 

The baron gradually called me to serve him more frequently, and his original personal servant, Billy, had already been left behind. 

Being valued by the master is good; it means my status in the manor is guaranteed, and almost all the lower servants treat me with great respect. But sometimes, it's difficult to manage such attention, as the baron's gaze increasingly lingers on me, a gaze that feels like a prolonged stare. 

At first, when I noticed his gaze, he would look away, but later he would stare back at me boldly, until I felt completely stiff under his gaze. 

He even no longer shied away from me, allowing me to serve him closely, which included dressing him, undressing him, bathing him, and other intimate matters. 

I think he has fallen in love with me again. 

Fallen in love with me once more. 

It was so obvious...