Maid, Butler And Cooks

The crew directed the ship to the nearest settlement, the village of Albe that is located by the river. The ship moves past others that made them curious and followed it.

More people gather once they saw a ship while it was put into a stop by the crew on board of it. Their curiosity written on their face as they saw a wooden board that would act as a stare being put.

Arden slowly and safely walked down the wooden board as the people gathering start cheering. Their lord has returned back to them and ready to rule the lands once more.

The crowd getting bigger and bigger as the people that were there to arrive tell the information to others and came back with more people to watch and cheers.

The village leader came to the scene hurried and worried about people unwanted coming to his village. But once he saw Arden, he bows and with respectfully said.

"Sir, what are you doing here?" to which Arden responded with.

"Just came back from a lengthy journey, I will need your help though, I would leave my ship here, please take care of it," the village leader getting nervous at this point and the heat generated by the people is not helping him either.

"Oh yea, of course sir, that wouldn't be a problem" Arden just responded with smiles as he saw a group of people riding a horse coming closer from the distance.

Some nobles arrive at the scene with their horse huffing and tired. Thinking of an imposter. But once they saw him, they kneeled down and began clearing the crowd.

Making way for him to leave the scene that has been caused by the crowd joyful reaction seeing their lord returned to them.

Even when they never met him, posters were given with his face painted in it. Some of the villagers were lucky enough to get invited to the marriage party when they were off to sell their fish.

The crowd lasted 15 minutes since he put his feet for the first time after a 5 months journey on searching his sibling. A good welcoming ceremony. The people have not forgotten about him after all.

At the way back to his castle from the settlement, more and more people cheer at them upon seeing the flag of nobility flying above the group. Their cheers returned with smiles as the noble passes them.

It took about an hour or maybe even more travelling through the lands and getting back to his castle. While the road halfway there is not at its the best condition, it's still good enough for use.

But now… at his mind, a thought came up.

'What would be the best way to trade the jungle people? By river or by lands? I should ask some of my people' He decided to ask some people once he got back into his castle and focus on controlling his horse before trampling anyone to death by accident.

Once he got into the big town of Ailreh which he developed from a small and poor village since 5 years ago. The sight of how everything changed put a smile into his face.

As they rode past the streets, of course with more cheers and greeted by various kinds of people, from blacksmith to merchants.

He waved at them as he rode past the audience and getting closer and closer to the castle before fully entering it which made him can't be seen anymore.

He thanked the nobles and invited them to go inside and have a meal with him, but they politely refused the offer before going back to their own home to do some works.

He asked all of the crew and guide he had gotten from Mitsuo to wait at a room and then left them there alone before going to the kitchen.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen, long time no see," he shouted as he opens the kitchen door.

"Welcome back. My lord, is there anything you want?" the people at the kitchen gave a surprised look once they saw their lord has come back.

"Prepare a meal for the people at that room please, if there is anything you need, meet me at my office" he left the room and close the door while seeing the maid and cooks already starting making the food.

He entered his own office and felt the familiar and comfortable feeling where he spent almost all of his day thinking about developing his land and the future of it.

He sat down at his seat as he felt more of the familiar feeling coming to him accompanied with the wind coming inside the room from the window.

But now, back to thinking about what to do. The first thing to do would be expressing his gratitude to all the crew and the guide that make him successful, safe and sound getting back home.

Which mean… getting them accommodation and giving them a good new life at his land. The total of people with the crew and guide combined altogether is 16 people.

'I think a room for 4 people each is good enough' He thought to himself before continuing to the second thing he needs to think about.

Accommodation for his sister that he found 3 months ago and for the squire he had gotten from the journey… well, about to be a squire once his page, Maverick turned 14.

'For my sister… I will need to talk about this with the butler' He thought to himself for a few seconds before realizing he never actually appointed a butler.

';-;' this expression came to his face as he thought about it again.

"Damn it, I need to appoint a head butler or maid really quick" he started searching for the document at his office before realizing that he never actually bother to think about the maid, butler and cooks.

To which came an unclear memory of him talking to his wife while he was sitting at the office doing some works.

"Darling, I appointed some maid and butler and also cooks" Arden focused on the paperwork.

"Uhh yeah, thanks," he thinks of it for a bit before leaving his room and rushing to his bedroom that is also his wife's bedroom since they shared the room together.

He opened a room and saw Valen staring at him with a surprised look with a book in her hand. Her belly became so much bigger than the last time he saw it and that shock him much too.

She tried to get up off the bed and getting stopped by Arden that looks worried the 7 months pregnant lady will get in an accident or some sort of things.

He rushed to her and place his left hand at her back and right hand on the belly and gave it a soft, weak and slight push to get her to stay in bed.

After that, he grabbed a chair near him and sat down in front of her at the 2 o'clock based on Valen's point of view. Looking straight at her.

"What?" the situation getting awkward and she started getting annoyed of his own husband seeing her right into the eyes.

"You look pretty and also, how could you didn't notice me arriving" he answered before giving a light giggle.

"Thanks... I was too focused on the books and too lazy to look out of the window. Also, is there anything you need?" Arden answered honestly without any lies.

"Yea… you know, I need to start thinking about the castle and the room it has in it, because of that, I need to appoint a head butler or a head maid or something like that" she gave him an "oh" look.

"The document is in here, I always kept it with me knowing you will search for it soon" she opened a drawer beside the bed and there it is, the holy bible… I mean the document.

"Oh, okay. Thanks!" he gave her a kiss before leaving the room back to his office.

Now… at his office, he opened the document and saw many outstanding candidates and learned about the people managing the castle.

5% cooks which can be butler or maid if needed, 55% maid and 40% butler. Valen kept it balanced, not doing favouritism like my parents. ;(

Most of them were her friends that are likely to come from the lower middle class. Some are Lannis and Sean friends, which also came from the lower middle class.

This meant they would be humble and not hungry of power and not selfish and like to boast like some of the nobles that are born from the higher class family.

After all, the nobles are born from higher class people, which is a lower class family at the past but have risen and proved their loyalty to the king.

But some of them brag about it like they have done all the achievement accomplished by generations of their family...