Chapter 0009: A Family

"Ladies and gentlemen, hurry up and dress yourselves. Master has returned, and we need to welcome him in grand style. Mrs. Moore, instruct the maids to get ready. Master's first order of business upon returning is to wash up. The water shouldn't be too hot or too cold, and there should be no mistakes. Mrs. Abigail, the kitchen needs to make adjustments and prepare the dishes Master likes."

The chief servant, Carson with white hair, wearing a pair of old-fashioned spectacles, walked through the castle corridors. His voice was not loud, but his deep baritone was able to convey the message to every servant perfectly.

Including the bustling kitchen.

"Has Master returned? That's wonderful. Can we have a little extra tonight? I'd like to have a cream pudding."

"Don't just think about eating, Daisy. Do your job properly, and don't give me a reason to scold you."

"Yes, I will, Mrs. Abigail."

"Do we need to sprinkle rosemary on the avocado and egg salad for the old lady?"

"How many times have I told you? The old lady doesn't like rosemary in her salad. Old Leaver, you're a chef in the castle of a Baron in the Empire, not a small tavern in the market! Remember the tastes of every master and lady, it's your duty to do so!"

"Oh, my apologies, Mrs. Abigail, please forgive me this time. I will definitely remember it."

"The master only returns to Butterfly Castle on the old lady's birthday and festivals. There are still seven months until the festival. Mrs. Abigail, do you know why?"

"Butterfly Castle is the master's home, and he can come and go as he pleases. Remember your identity, servant, and don't guess at the thoughts of the nobility, Philip. Go throw out the slops, Philip, Philip, dammit, this b*st*rd must be hiding somewhere smoking again. I'm going to dock his wages!"

Compared to the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, in front of the castle, the chief servant, Carson, and the female chief servant, Mrs. Moore, were leading the male and female servants in two lines to welcome Oldington.

The master returns from a journey, and the servants must greet him.

Even the two female heads of Butterfly Castle had come out and stood in front of the main gate, waiting for their grandson and son to return. Only the Baron himself was sitting on the sofa in the parlor, reading a newspaper, as if he didn't care at all about his son's return.

After a moment.

Accompanied by the patrol team, Oldington, riding Red Bean, had entered the castle. After crossing the city wall gate, there was a green lawn, with fine pebbles laid out to form a broad road leading directly to the castle gate.

He dismounted, handed the reins to the approaching groom, took a deep breath, and according to the knowledge taught in "The Actor's Work on Himself," put on a warm smile, and walked quickly towards the two ladies in front of the gate: "Grandmother, Mother, I'm back."

The elderly lady immediately took Oldington's arm: "My little iris, come here and let Grandma see you. It's not easy to see you, and is this a surprise for Grandma?"

She was Oldington's grandmother, the mother of Baron Orenol, Carley Greenlight, born into the Carley Greenlight family of Count Greenlight in Amiens.

The other middle-aged lady was the Baroness, Oldington's mother, Helen Sky Strike, born into the Sky Strike family of Count Sky Strike in Eagle Strike City.

Mrs. Helen looked at her son with contentment and pointed to the banner being carried by someone behind her: "Mother, there's an even bigger surprise. Oldington has become a cadet knight."

Carley the elder lady only saw the fluttering banner then, and exclaimed in surprise: "Oh, the tail feather flag, I knew it. Our little iris is as outstanding as his father. Wilson captain, please take down the tail feather flag and let me get a close look at it."

"As you wish, old lady."

Immediately, a patrol soldier lowered the tail feather flag, removed the cloth banner, and handed it to Carley the elder lady.

The old lady stroked the cloth, looking at the iris emblem on it, her smile as if she had gone back twenty years. Back then, Baron Orenol was just like Oldington today, having just been promoted to a cadet knight and receiving a tail feather flag embroidered with an iris: "Is this the tail feather flag given by Baron Bonber or Marquis Dukedom?"

"It was given by Baron Bonber," Oldington smiled and answered.

Carley the elder lady nodded without comment.

Mrs. Helen then said: "Baron Bonber is thoughtful, Wilson captain. Tomorrow morning, use it to replace one of the iris banners. I want this tail feather flag to flutter above Butterfly Castle."

"As you wish, madam."

After the two ladies had appreciated the tail feather flag.

The chief butlers and the housekeepers, along with the servants, then bowed to Oldington. Oldington did not put on airs; the good education of the nobility allowed him to maintain an equal posture with anyone: "Mr. Carson, Mrs. Moore, gentlemen and ladies, thank you for your welcome."

"Master, the bath has been prepared for you," said Mr. Carson meticulously.

"Well, then I'll take a bath," Oldington said casually, supporting his grandmother into the parlor and helping her sit down on the sofa, then turning to his father, who had put down the newspaper, "Father, I'm back. I was promoted to a cadet knight three days ago. Mr. Wilson asked me to greet you."

"Thank you, Marquis Dukedom. Be sure to pass my regards when you go back."

"Yes."

Baron Orenol seemed to have no emotion at all. After a few simple greetings, he waved his hand and said, "Go take a bath."

"I'll go up first."

Oldington didn't want to continue his awkward conversation with his "father." No matter how much he inherited the memories of the original owner or how well he had read "The Actor's Work on Himself," this kind of occasion was still uncomfortable.

The bathroom was on the second floor.

There was a maid waiting in the bathroom, of course, in the Golden Rose Kingdom, it was not customary for maids to help their masters bathe, but they only provided services such as undressing, handing over soap, and heating water.

After washing up, he changed into a home dress, Oldington did not immediately return to the parlor but began to wander around the corridors of the castle.

In the city, the magic net provided magical illumination, and Butterfly Castle also had a small magic net to provide magical illumination for the castle. This small magic net was not only expensive to build but also consumed a huge amount of energy every day. If it were a small castle, it might still be using primitive oil lamps for lighting.

Even in Butterfly Castle, they often only kept a few magical lamps lit after dark.

Today, because Oldington had returned, most of the rooms and corridors had their lights on, and he slowly appreciated the oil paintings hanging on the walls.

Suddenly, a wolf's howl echoed not far from the castle.

He went to the window and looked out. In the grass behind the castle, under the bright moonlight, he could see a massive, silvery wolf. The wolf was lying on the ground with three small wolf pups suckling. These pups, though called small, were actually bigger than a wolf dog.

"Hawk," Oldington whispered the name of the giant wolf.